Dear Foote Families,
I am writing to update you on our planning related to the rapidly evolving situation with the coronavirus (COVID-19). While much remains unknown about the scope and severity of this outbreak, we are taking the warnings from health officials seriously and planning our response accordingly. The health and safety of the Foote School community is always our highest priority.
We are monitoring updates daily from the CDC, the WHO, our partners at Yale and the National Association of Independent Schools. I want to address a few specific steps we are taking and to ask for your continued partnership in promoting the health and wellbeing of our community.
First, in order to safeguard the health of our entire community, we are requesting that all parents inform us if your children will be traveling outside the U.S. over Spring Break. This also applies to our faculty and staff. Please complete this International Travel Form.
Following recommendations from the CDC, any student or faculty/staff member who travels to a country designated by the CDC as a "Warning Level 3" area will be subject upon their return to a 14-day period of self-isolation away from school. Presently, only China and South Korea are designated "Level 3." If your child will be traveling to an "Alert–Level 2" country (check CDC's website for updates), we are suggesting that you seriously consider your plans in the event that country is elevated to Level 3 status at a later time.
Our 9th Grade trip to Spain is still planned for April and we are closely monitoring the situation there. As we get closer to the departure date, we will make decisions based, among other things, on travel advisories from the CDC. Ninth grade parents will be receiving a separate email in the weeks ahead with more information about the Spain trip.
Finally, we are exploring options for remote learning should we find ourselves in a position where the school needed to be closed for a period of time. We will share more information about this contingency should the need arise.
This is a fluid and challenging situation and we will continue to provide updates as events unfold. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me or the Student Health Office. Thank you for your partnership in keeping our community safe.
Sincerely,
Carol Maoz
Head of School