Head of School's Message: March 9

As the Coronavirus situation evolves, Chandler is fortunate to receive expert help from members of our parent body in the medical profession and from parents who work for corporations closely monitoring developments. 

 

On March 4, City of Pasadena Public Health Officer Dr. Ying-Ying Goh declared a Local Public Health Emergency to empower the City to more effectively respond to the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19. Currently, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Pasadena.

 

The declaration of a Local Public Health Emergency mobilizes City resources, accelerates emergency planning, streamlines staffing, coordinates agencies across the City, facilitates seeking and utilizing mutual aid, and allows for future reimbursement by the state and federal governments. Additionally, an official declaration helps raise awareness about how everyone can prepare in the event that COVID-19 appears in our community. This declaration does not signify an immediate increase in risk to the residents of Pasadena.

 

I spoke with Pasadena’s Health Department on Friday regarding protocols for school closure, and I was told there are none at present. Young people seem less vulnerable to COVID-19 and may only be potential carriers. Chandler’s Board President Dr. Joe Lin attended a briefing at Huntington Hospital on Wednesday and was told it is unclear how long the Coronavirus season may last and likely will extend at least until the end of April. Therefore, we’re preparing for at least two months of vigilance.

 

If school should close, once we have made the announcement, there will be two quiet days, as you make plans to take care of your children at home. Starting on day three, teachers will send homework and activities via push pages and e-mail to cover eight days. Should closure extend to the third week, we will initiate an age-appropriate online learning module that will begin on day 11 of the closure. Once the school is closed, we will explain how the online learning modules will operate.

 

Precautions to prevent the spread continue to be taken at school by all faculty and staff. Students are being given extra time to wash their hands before lunch, after recess and whenever they visit the bathroom. We have ordered, “I washed my hands stickers,” as a nudge. A disinfectant protocol has been initiated to disinfect all horizontal surfaces at the end of each day. We have plenty of hand sanitizer available and hand washing stations have been restocked. I will be bumping forearms or elbows rather than shaking hands for a while. 

We ask that you do your part by revising spring break travel plans according to CDC guidelines and keeping sick children at home.