Dear People’s Prep Community,
The health and well-being of our students and staff is front of mind for People’s Prep’s Board, Administrative and Operations Teams. While the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that risk of the coronavirus (COVID-19) to the general US public remains low, we are being proactive in our measures to ensure that students, staff, and visitors to our building are in a healthy and safe environment.
We are following the current guidance posted by the New Jersey Department of Education and the New Jersey Department of Health. Please note that at this time we have no immediate concerns about this virus in our school. However, as recommended by the CDC, which has encouraged communities to develop specific measures to prepare themselves to respond to any potential local transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19, People’s Prep will be working to update our existing Emergency Management Procedure to address any possible disruption to our school.
The NJ Department of Health recommends that all families with a child returning from the area of the world highly impacted by the coronavirus – most notably, at present, Mainland China, South Korea, Italy, Iran, and Japan (see the list at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html) – to please contact People’s Prep’s Principal, Keith Robinson, prior to sending their child back to school.
If a child has traveled to one of these areas within the last two weeks and has already returned to school, we ask that the family remove the child and alert Principal Robinson. People’s Prep will work with these families to determine the appropriate timeline for re-entry to school.
Similarly, we are asking all People’s Prep staff members to refrain from traveling to highly impacted areas during spring break. If travel to these regions is unavoidable, we are requesting that staff members remain at home for two weeks following travel and return to work after that time, assuming they are asymptomatic.
We know that COVID-19 has begun appearing in New York and New Jersey that it is now beginning to spread among people who have not traveled to or been in contact with those who have traveled to impacted areas. For this reason, please review the guidelines below with your student to ensure we’re working together to stay informed and to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses.
Currently, our students and staff have direct access to hand sanitizer. While frequent, quality hand washing is the preferred method to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, if and when soap and water are not available, hand sanitizer is an alternative.
At this time, People’s Prep is implementing the following protocols if COVID-19 is detected in the area or if any student/staff has recently traveled to a country impacted by the coronavirus (or has a close family member who resides in the same household):
– Sick students with a fever should not attend school. A school nurse and school administrators will have the authority to send sick and feverish students home (any sick students waiting to be picked up will be kept in an area separate from the general student body).
– A surgical mask will be placed on any sick student waiting to be picked up;
– Sick staff are encouraged to also stay home and can be sent home by a school nurse or administrator if infection is suspected.
– Students traveling from endemic areas or those who have infected family members should stay home for two weeks and only return if asymptomatic. The same is true for all People’s Prep staff.
– As a continuing preventative measure, custodians will clean high contact surfaces (door handles, handrails, etc.) as well as large contact areas more frequently with disinfectant products to help lessen the transfer of common bacteria/viruses.
There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. We strongly recommend that everyone follow the CDC guidelines provided below to help prevent the transmission of respiratory infections:
– Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
– Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
– Stay home when you are sick.
– Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
– Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
– Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
– If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
Also, as Spring Break is near, if you are preparing any international travel for yourself or family we encourage you to check the CDC website for precautions and updates on non-essential travel. As more information becomes available, these guidelines may need to be adjusted accordingly. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our students, staff, and community safe and healthy.
If you have any questions or concerns, or need to share important health updates about your child or someone in your home, please call the People’s Prep main office at 973-622-1790.
Wishing us all a healthy spring,
Jess Rooney
Founder, Co-Director