COVID-19 Response

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Foote School is closely monitoring the ongoing spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and its implications for our community. We have set up this page as a resource for families to find accurate, current information from the school as well as helpful links.

General Questions

How is Foote responding to COVID-19?

Foote School campus is temporarily closed until at least April 20 due to coronavirus. We are actively monitoring the situation and will base any decision to re-open on guidance from the governor and public health officials.

Head of School Carol Maoz and members of the administrative team have been meeting daily over spring vacation to share information, coordinate distance learning plans and respond to other issues related to school operations.

Foote will transition to distance learning beginning on Monday, March 30 when we return from our two-week spring vacation. Click the following links for information about the plans for Grades K–5 and Grades 6–9.

Our maintenance staff and contracted cleaning company conducted a deep-cleaning and disinfecting of the entire campus during spring vacation. A member of our staff is coming to campus each day to pick up mail and receive enrollment contracts coming in.

How Will Distance Learning Work?

Distance learning will begin on Monday, March 30. On that day, you will receive a welcome email from your child’s teacher(s). Assignments will begin on Tuesday, March 31. Week 1 will consist primarily of posted assignments which students can complete on their own schedule. As things progress, teachers will schedule live connection opportunities. Click the following links for more detailed information about distance learning plans in Grades K–5 and Grades 6–9.

We recognize that distance learning is not a substitute for the in-person learning that takes place in our classrooms, especially the social-emotional benefits of collaboration, and we will do our best to make these daily lessons meaningful, engaging and consistent with Foote's academic standards and approach to experiential learning.

What if someone in our family is sick?

In an effort to continue to keep our community healthy and safe, we are asking all of our families to please share with us if anyone in their family has been diagnosed with COVID-19, or has come into close contact with someone who has been diagnosed so we can communicate potential exposure to our faculty, staff, students and families in a responsible manner. Please know that we will not share any personally identifiable information unless you allow, but we do believe it is critical to our collective wellness to ensure our community has accurate information regarding potential contacts.

The Student Health Office has put together a page with general health guidance and information about what to do if someone becomes sick, Click here to access it.

Is the Business Office Open?

Are public events cancelled?

What About Field Trips?

Is COVID-19 impacting the admissions process?

Foote's admissions process for the 2020-2021 school year has not been affected by the outbreak. Acceptance letters for the first round of admissions were mailed out in March and signed contracts are due by the April 10 deadline. Second round admissions will be considered on a rolling basis as space and financial aid funding allow.

If you are interested in being considered for admission, please begin by filling out our inquiry form. If you have questions, please contact Director of Admissions Rachelle Byron at rbyron@footeschool.org.

For families who have been offered admission to Grades K–5 for next year, there will be an online event to share information and answer questions on Thursday, April 2 at 8:30 a.m. Watch your email for further information.

Is Alumni Day Still Happening?

From the Student Health Office

We understand the anxiety of many members of our community in the face of continued uncertainty surrounding the progression and treatment of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. As the number of people diagnosed with COVID-19 continues to increase, it is important to remember that the majority of people who have COVID-19 are going to do well. This page will provide some general health recommendations from the Student Health Office as well as additional, external resources.

General Health Guidelines

Refill prescriptions (especially inhalers for those with a history of asthma or breathing problems). Try to obtain a three-month supply from your pharmacy, if possible.
Ensure that you have medications available at home to treat symptoms of pain and fever, as needed (e.g., acetaminophen/Tylenol or ibuprofen/Advil/Motrin). If you or your loved ones have pre-existing health conditions or develop a fever, please consult with your physician first regarding the safety/appropriateness of using these medications to control your symptoms.
Maintain a supply of tissues, water, tea, honey, cough drops, Vicks Vapor Rub (to rub on neck and chest), and Vaseline (for application to dry skin) to help relieve symptoms if you become ill.
Have a working thermometer available at home to complete the recommended daily temperature checks for you and family.

What to do if someone gets sick

Try to stay calm. The majority of people infected with COVID-19 thus far have developed cold or flu-like symptoms, and recovered well.
Stay home to prevent the spread of illness. If you develop symptoms of severe respiratory distress, immediately seek care from the hospital, Urgent Care, or a doctor’s office. If you develop symptoms that are consistent with COVID-19 (e.g., muscle aches, cough, fever) call ahead to discuss your symptoms with your health care provider and to receive additional instructions. In the case of an emergency, call 911, and notify the emergency personnel that you have been exposed to/ may have COVID-19.
Although multiple treatments are currently in development for COVID-19, there is not a cure for the virus. The best approach will be to treat the symptoms of your illness, get plenty of rest, drink fluids (especially water and hot tea), and of course, follow all of your physician’s recommendations. If possible, isolate yourself from other family members within the household if you become sick.
Ensure that all household surfaces are thoroughly cleaned (e.g., countertops, sinks, doorknobs and silverware). It is recommended to place used tissues in separate trash bags to prevent the spread of infection. Of course, thorough hand-washing and covering coughs/sneezes are always recommended health practices!
Fever: Monitor your family’s temperature daily from home. A temperature over 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C.) is considered to be a fever. Fever is the body’s natural response to fighting infection, and helps our immune systems by heating the body to a temperature in which many viruses cannot survive. Some symptoms of fever include: achy muscles, headache, sweating, fatigue, dizziness, flushed skin, and rapid heartbeat.Some medication-free techniques to reduce fever include: tepid sponge baths, applying a cool wash cloth to the forehead/neck, and wearing only a single layer of light weight clothing. Please consult with your primary care provider directly regarding the use of medication to bring down a high fever.
Congestion/cough: Drink plenty of fluids. Hot fluids in particular are recommended because they help to break-up mucus produced by the body. Taking a hot shower can also help to loosen up mucus due to the steam that is produced. In addition, use of a humidifier can be helpful for reducing symptoms of nasal and chest congestion.
Take the time every day to get outside with your family for walks and exercise. This can be accomplished with safe social distancing. The change of scenery and fresh air can really help with keeping a positive attitude and feeling emotionally/physically healthy during this time of uncertainty.

Further Advice

We want to reiterate the importance of reaching out to your family’s primary care doctor if you feel that you require specific treatment recommendations and/or COVID-19 testing. It is, of course, critical to be mindful of any recent travel to countries/regions with high rates of infection, and to immediately self-quarantine if you have be exposed to individual(s) with known COVID-19 infection. We strongly recommend that everyone continue to follow the guidelines of the CDC, the Connecticut Department of Public Health, and local authorities. We want to stress the importance of staying home at this time as much as possible to slow the spread of the virus and to protect our communities.

Upholding Community Values

Foote School values the diversity of our community as the strength of our school. We seek to create an inclusive, equitable and just community and to embrace anti-bias practices in our teaching, academic program, admissions, employment and interactions with one another. To maintain a community of inclusion, we must prevent the spread of misinformation and bias based on fears about the pandemic. We encourage parents to have conversations with their children about the importance of being inclusive and not making assumptions based on someone's perceived ethnicity or country of origin.

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Contact the Health Office

If you need to contact the Student Health Office for any reason, please email healthoffice@footeschool.org. One of the school nurses (Ariye Krassner, Ann Regan or Kathy Lufler) will get back to you promptly.

External Resources

CDC: Coronavirus Information for Travelers

CDC: Coronavirus Situation Summary

CT Department of Health: Coronavirus Information

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