Spring Break is upon us and our scholars and educators are looking forward to the well-deserved break. With the recent media coverage of the coronavirus, we recognize that the excitement of the long-awaited Spring Break can be a bit subdued this year. As a reminder the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has not issued any travel advisories against traveling within the United States.
We are pleased to report that College Field lessons for all grade levels and campuses are scheduled to continue as planned. We will continue to actively monitor recommended travel restrictions from the CDC. Should field lessons be suspended, you will receive direct campus communication.
We know that many of our families may have plans for personal travel over Spring Break. With the well-being of our entire community foremost in our mind, IDEA asks that you do the following if you are traveling internationally in coming weeks:
- Consult the CDC’s latest travel advisories and country-specific risk classification levels prior to travel.
- Consult the CDC again for updated information upon your return, as the situation is rapidly evolving.
- Inform your school administration if travel plans include one of the countries classified by the CDC as Level 2 or Level 3.
We respectfully request that families carefully consider travel plans, the possibility of travel interruptions and/or quarantine, and the potential impacts of these on you, your family, and others in your community.
If you aren’t traveling but instead looking forward to a ‘staycation,’ remember to continue regular handwashing and health precautions. Since person-to-person spread is still viewed as the primary source of infection, we wanted to share some tips to keeping yourself and others healthy while our Team & Family is on break.
- Wash your hands well. Wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Pro-Tip: Find a fun tune to hum that will make the 20 seconds fly by.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Pro-Tip: Swap in elbow bumps for handshakes.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Pro-Tip: Some kids are bringing back the Dab (or Destroy All Bacteria) to cover their coughs and sneezes.
- Get your flu shot. While the flu shot does not protect against the coronavirus, getting the flu will weaken your immunity causing an increased vulnerability to the coronavirus.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
Pro-Tip: You can find a list of 100 disinfectants that are effective against coronavirus.
- Get rest! Getting enough sleep helps keep your immune system up and better prepared to fight off germs.
And as always amid staying healthy, don’t forget to read! The break is always great opportunity for students and families to catch up on some reading. IDEA’s Accelerated Reader & iLearning Hotspot software will be available during the break. If you read a book during the break, you can test on it via the Accelerated Reader software, and you can also access fun math games and enrichment activities. You can access online information and login credentials here.
