COVID Hub

We encourage parents/guardians to find a comfortable mask for their child. Gators, fleece, masks with vents or valves and bandanas will not be considered acceptable mask protection.

To facilitate laundering rather than expensive dry cleaning at the end of the day, to minimize or eliminate the need for back to school clothes shopping, and to make it more comfortable to wear masks and engage in learning outdoors more often this year, we met with our Elmore Student Leaders to adjust our regular dress code for this year to allow our students and our teachers to wear clothing that they find presentable and comfortable.

All Country School Students PreS - Grade 8 will need to come to school wearing a mask. Families should have a few at home so that the masks can be washed frequently. Students should have two extra masks in the backpack in case something happens to the one that is being worn. We recommend keeping masks in a small baggie for safe keeping. The neck gaiter/buff style masks, while popular in the summer, do not seem to be as highly reviewed or recommended as the three-ply cloth, KN95, and N95 masks. If you can feel your breath through your mask (or blow out a candle) when you exhale, the mask is not appropriate for school.

Many students make trips to the Health Office for items like lip balm, hand cream, an extra hair tie, or a nail file. Please consider your child’s needs and send them in with any items they might need so that we can reduce traffic to the Health Office. Any student presenting to the Health Office in need of a throat lozenge will be assessed for a sore throat and potentially COVID-19.

In an earlier communication we suggested that students bring in beach chairs. After discussion with faculty, instead we are asking students to use a camp chair, which is lighter to carry and folds up easily. Use this as your guide; be sure the chair your purchase is sturdy enough for your child’s height and weight.

Most Middle School students bring their own tech device to school. If your student needs to borrow a Chromebook from the school, please email bill.leidt@thecountryschool.org. Devices must be fully charged each evening. Chargers may be brought to school but experience shows that they sometimes get left behind so be sure to label them. Making sure it’s charged each evening is key.

Due to the continued spread of COVID-19, effective immediately, The Country School is implementing travel restrictions and providing additional guidance for all travel for faculty, staff, and students.

The Connecticut Travel Advisory is putting restrictions on visitors from dozens of states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The most recent Executive Order from the Governor has led to a major change for many of our students: If you are coming from one of the restricted states, you will have to quarantine for 14 days upon arriving in Connecticut.

You must also fill out the Connecticut Travel Health Form. Please visit CT.gov for a list of restricted states, and keep in mind that this list is subject to change due to health conditions across the country.

International students should follow the guidance outlined on the CDC website, but in most cases will also quarantine for 14 days upon arriving in Connecticut.

 

Be mindful that children are vectors (they spread the disease) and are not usually victims. It is, therefore, important that your child maintain social distancing while out of school. Schools are closed so the children are not in close proximity to each other.

Please avoid social situations.

During the distance learning period, all extracurricular programs will be suspended. We will not host practices, games, rehearsals, or clubs.

Students are required to be fully engaged in their coursework by:

 

General Information:

 

Death-oriented grieving:

 

Here are five strategies to build resilience and have reassuring conversations with children.

Stay Positive: Remember to stay calm. Children are intuitive and can easily pick up on the worries and fears of the adults around them. If you show anxiety or fear, child will mostly likely also feel nervous and afraid. Changes to the environment and routines can create uncertainty. Having calm, open discussions can ease emotions around these changes. Continue to check in with how children are feeling. Acknowledge and address their worries rather than ignoring them.

Stick to the facts: It is important to have thoughtful conversations regarding the coronavirus to distill anxiety, worry, or fear. Examine the facts from a reliable source such as the WHO. Consider the child’s age, processing, and emotions to determine how to frame these conversations to ensure children understand. Let them know that the adults are doing everything they can to contain the spread of the virus and help those that are sick. Reassure children if they have additional questions you can look to find the answers. Check in on what children are thinking and address their worries. Discuss that not everything they hear or see is real. It can also be comforting to be reminded that doctors around the world are looking for ways to address the coronavirus and highlight positive news as well.

Consider Media Consumption: When looking online, consider the source and double-check to prevent fake news, and think before sharing. Be mindful of how much media you are checking and minimize how often you are reading stories. Try to keep a healthy balance (both online and offline) in your daily routines and lifestyle.

Eliminate Stigma:It is important to be aware of how the coronavirus is explained to children to avoid any person/group being blamed. Also, to communicate that if someone has a fever or cough does not mean this person has the coronavirus.

Boost Your Coping Strategies: Change or uncertainty can create some levels of worry or anxiety. When the worry becomes too big it is important to recognize and manage these emotions. There are a variety of strategies to calm emotions or modify thinking to improve outlook and overall well-being. Coping strategies can include: positive self-talk, singing, dancing, reading, drawing, music, movies, creation of a gratitude list, meditation, yoga, coloring, exercise, cooking/baking, talking to a friend or family member, or doing other activities that are fun or provide joy, improving general well-being.

A small dose of worry is a normal. Continue conversations providing care for children. If you find additional support is needed, please reach out to one of the school counselors who can refer you to outside counseling or to schedule time with you or your child to make a plan on how to support them during this time.

-taken from Shanghai American School