Dear Foote Community,

I am writing to update you on the situation related to the coronavirus emerging from China. We have been closely monitoring news reports as well as updates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the World Health Organization and Yale University concerning suspected infections, including those involving Connecticut residents.

We take seriously our role as a partner in your child's health and our Student Health Office is here as a resource to support your family. As we do every flu season, we are reminding students about the importance of hand washing to prevent the spread of germs. The CDC's website has helpful information and updates about the virus, including a list of frequently asked questions.

If your child displays any flu-like symptoms, he or she should be kept home from school (see school illness policy below), and we strongly encourage you to see your pediatrician and follow their recommendations regarding diagnostic testing.

As a reminder, our school health policies can be found on page 45 of the Parent Handbook. A student should not attend school if he or she:

Has a temperature over 100 degrees or has had one within the previous 24 hours
Has had vomiting or diarrhea within 24 hours
Has been prescribed antibiotics and it has not been 24 hours since the initial dose
Has severe or excessive coughing

Please note that parents must immediately report to the Health Office any communicable diseases and/or exposure to communicable diseases.

Lastly, we have made the difficult decision to cancel our ninth grade trip to China in light of the rapidly evolving situation there. While we are deeply disappointed for the students, traveling to China at this time would pose unacceptably high risks to health and safety; just this evening, the CDC posted a warning recommending against all non-essential travel to China. We are working on plans for an alternate trip for the ninth grade that will connect to their curriculum and serve as an experiential capstone to their years at Foote.

Thank you for your partnership in keeping our school community healthy during cold and flu season. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Sincerely,

Carol Maoz

Head of School