Dear Latin Families,
As we enter the last week of school before spring break there are several things to share with you regarding COVID-19.
Travel Travel is a primary source of COVID-19's spread. The first case of the virus in N.C. was traced to the person's visit to the long-term care facility in Washington state at the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak. The second case in N.C. is linked to the person's travel to Italy. That said, many of us have long-standing travel plans for spring break — airline tickets have been purchased, deposits have been paid. Charlotte Latin School cannot tell you what to do regarding travel over the break, or at any time, but we do need to work together to keep your children and our community safe. This is why we request that you inform us of your travel — at spring break and any time during the COVID-19 outbreak. Please notify us of your travel to:
Why are we asking for information about where you travel? Because it may affect our school like the current case in Westchester, New York. A 50-year old man in New Rochelle, N.Y., a suburb of New York City, has been linked to the infection of 18 people. Two schools that his children attended have been closed as a precaution.
We ask that all families report spring break travel plans by Monday, March 23, via this form, even if not leaving the city.
To report all other travel any time during the COVID-19 outbreak, fill out this travel form.
These forms will continue to be available on our COVID-19 web page.
COVID-19 Testing and Quarantine For the same reason that we request you notify us of your travel, we also request that you inform us if you are self-quarantined, have been tested for COVID-19, or are under recommended quarantine. This form is available on the COVID-19 web page. UPDATES ON HOW LATIN IS PREPARING
Pandemic Risk Matrix We continue to refine our Pandemic Risk Matrix, our plan-for-action that ensures a coordinated effort across all areas of the school. It also ensures that we respond and act fairly without discrimination.
Academic Continuity Plan The EdTechs, Division Heads, and teachers continue to meet and prepare for continued instruction and communication in case of school closure.
Communications The Question Form is available on all portals of MyLatin. Thank you for sending in your questions. Not only can we direct your questions to the proper person for a reply, but also it lets us know what concerns you have and helps us with planning and communications. Questions will be used to create an FAQ for the benefit of everyone in our community.
Students Exhibiting Signs of Illness in the Classroom Several of you have reached out to ask how we handle students who appear sick during the school day. Teachers have been reminded that they are to send any student who appears ill to the nurse for evaluation. After Nurse Asinger spoke to the Upper and Middle School students and teachers last week on COVID-19, she emphasized the importance of sending students exhibiting illness to her office — and since that assembly has seen an uptick in health office visitors coming for evaluation.
Flu and Pneumonia We have several cases of confirmed flu and pneumonia. Please continue to follow school guidelines on when to keep your child at home. Students must be fever-free for 24-hours without taking fever-reducing medication.
FERPA and Confidentiality CLS must legally act in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). As such, we may not share private information, including health status, about students. Know that if you ask us for information about a specific student or students, we cannot legally provide you with that information.
CLS Employee Travel and Quarantine All non-essential work travel, e.g., conferences and professional development travel, will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
CLS employees who have traveled to an affected area will self-quarantine for the requisite 14 days. If they are symptom-free, throughout the 14 days, they will return to work at Latin.
Field Trips Field trips will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Cleaning We have scheduled a comprehensive cleaning for the school over spring break, due to the increase in flu cases.
FLIK FLIK has provided their plan of action addressing COVID-19 and the service they provide to schools. The plan includes education about the virus, quarantine guidelines, and best-practice reminders. FLIK has also moved to input all pay codes by the FLIK cashier, rather than have each person use the keypad to input their code. Read the plan.
COVID-19 Team The Team continues to meet regularly. Dr. Topher Gee, Upper School biology teacher, has joined the team. He brings a broad understanding of infectious diseases and science to the group; you can read his CV here. We are also adding a physician to the team as a medical advisor. I will share more information once this is finalized.
I will continue to update you regularly via email.
We continue to closely monitor COVID-19. Our COVID-19 web page and the resources listed are all excellent ways to stay abreast of the situation. Keep following the Stay Healthy Tips, and if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out or use the orange Question Form box on MyLatin.
Sincerely, Chuck Baldecchi Head of School
Charlotte Latin School | 9502 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC 28277 |