COVID-19 Updates

Dear Derby Families,

We hope this communication finds you all healthy and safe!

As you are all likely aware, Governor Baker has extended the closure of the state’s school buildings to continue to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The earliest schools can now reopen their campuses is Monday, May 4, 2020.  While it is with a heavy heart that we accept and share this reality, we are certainly not surprised.  

Over the past several weeks, as our world has struggled to cope with the pandemic, our Derby community has demonstrated its strength and unity in many ways. Parents are reaching out to the school and one another to offer support and shared resources, students have taken the opportunity to use devices to connect with friends remotely, and our faculty and staff continue to check in on each other and work together to develop our distance learning plan. In addition, our Board continues to speak daily about how this environment impacts our short-term and long-term initiatives and is ensuring we have the resources we need to deliver exceptional learning experiences remotely while supporting the needs of our faculty and administration.
 
On any given day under normal circumstances, a Derby teacher explores the best ways to engage, support and connect with each individual student. While this shift into remote learning is not one we anticipated at the beginning of the school year, it won’t prevent us from completing our ultimate objectives of challenging, supporting, and most importantly, connecting with students as we navigate these new logistical hurdles. For the past few weeks, faculty have been gathering research, participating in webinars, and collaborating to design a flexible distance learning plan so that we can continue moving forward with our instruction and curricula.

So it should go off without any problems, right? No. There will be things we need to change, mistakes that we will learn from, and pivots we will have to make. The world is in a fluid state right now, and we, as educators and parents, need to recognize that the ability and willingness to adjust and change course will be vital to our children finding success during this time. They will follow our lead as we respond to “the new normal,” and our positivity and reassurance will go a long way in a time when their sense of normalcy is being transformed. 

So, we will keep connections at the forefront of our distance learning plan - the connections the students make with one another, with their teachers and with their families. The human connection that takes place within a classroom cannot be replicated, and the learning that takes place remotely may look a little different; however, through the use of multiple technology platforms, Derby’s students will continue to have opportunities to engage intellectually with their teachers and peers. Each student will receive feedback daily in a variety of forms: written, verbal, visual, and real time. The connections students make at Derby are the foundation for their emotional well-being. It is our goal to continue to strengthen that foundation during this time that may be creating anxious and uncertain feelings for most of us. 

Given the timing of our break and the extension of our closure, we have decided to use Monday, March 30 as a Faculty In-Service Day to ensure consistency and continuity amongst teachers, grades and divisions. 

The first day of online learning will be Tuesday, March 31. You will be receiving more detailed information about your child’s distance learning schedule from individual teachers and advisors on Monday.  In the meantime, we are including the attached tips, guidelines and general information to help with your preparations at home.

In these uncertain times, teachers’ dedication to ensuring that each child is ‘known’ and our commitment to improving both mind and heart will ensure that Derby remains a connected, successful, sustained learning community.

Respectfully yours,
Scot Chandler, Head of PS/LS
Kate Howell, Head of MS/US
Improve Both Mind and Heart
Derby Academy
 

Dear Derby Community,

We are writing with an update to the evolving coronavirus (COVID-19), specifically Gov. Baker’s announcement of a series of measures across the state to slow the spread of COVID-19, including closing all schools for three weeks.

While we know campus will be closed until at least Monday, April 6, with the first day back tentatively being Tuesday, April 7, we wanted to reiterate that we have established distance learning platforms for all our students. 

Although distance learning will look different from our traditional classes, our goal is to provide continuity with the curriculum and continued connection with teachers and peers. We will provide resources for students and guardians to ensure the implementation of distance learning is productive and seamless. You will be hearing more about our learning resources as we near the end of our March break, and students will be hearing directly from their teachers about resources, lesson plans, and expectations. 

Events On Campus

As expected, many on-campus events in early April will be postponed, canceled, or rescheduled:

• The Secondary School kick-off evening event has been postponed. 
• The Accepted Student Revisit Day and the Reception For Newly Accepted Parents have been postponed. Future dates and times will be announced.
• The campus visit and evening presentation from Interim Head of School Tom Reid will be rescheduled. Dates and times for a future campus visit will be announced.
• The Talent Show has been canceled. While unfortunate, we will find alternative times for students to showcase their amazing talents, either at future morning meetings or additional school gatherings when we know more details.
• Derby Serves events at Father BiIl’s and Linden Ponds have been canceled.
• Family Math Night has been canceled. 
• The Quebec Trip has been canceled. Families who had planned on going will be contacted with additional details.

As for now, we’re recommending families continue to follow the CDC’s guidelines about social distancing and prevention.

While our task force continues to communicate daily to monitor the local and national news, our strong focus remains on protecting the safety and health of our community. Recognizing that this situation is challenging and fluid, we may err on the side of over-communicating with all of you. That said, we appreciate that this is our March break; we wish everyone a safe and healthy break and hope that you may find opportunities for restoration and meaningful time together as a family:

Some at-home fun:

• 50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12
• Best Family Movies
• Common Sense Selections highlighting the best movies and TV shows
• Sibling Watch-Together TV

As previously shared, School Counselor Julie Browne recommends a few guidelines when talking with kids about the coronavirus: 

• Be factual and correct misinformation
• Model calm and compassion
• Do not dismiss their concerns
• Focus on what we can do to keep ourselves healthy; hand washing, social distancing

Additional resources for parents that may help guide conversations:

• Open Circle’s How to Talk to Kids About Coronavirus 
• Parent Resource from NASP: Talking to Children about COVID-19
• American School Counselor Association’s Coronavirus Resources 
• ChildMind’s Talking to Kids About The Coronavirus 

Fun ways to de-stress/manage anxiety:

• Meditation apps for kids and families
• Helping Kids Manage Anxiety Around the Coronavirus

As always, please reach out to us individually with any questions or concerns. We are grateful to all of you for your understanding and support during this situation.

Sincerely,

Head of PS/LS Scot Chandler | schandler@derbyacademy.org
Head of MS/US Kate Howell | khowell@derbyacademy.org

and the Derby COVID-19 Task Force

Dear Derby Community, 

We are writing with an update on Derby’s response and policy to the evolving coronavirus (COVID-19).

Out of an abundance of caution, Derby Academy will begin its March break a day early. Campus will close after normal business hours on Thursday, March 12, 2020 at 4PM.

There have been no reported cases of COVID-19 related illnesses within our community; however the situation is evolving and we feel this is the most appropriate decision at this time. While the immediate risk to our community remains low, the growing number of cases in the US and the state of Massachusetts has prompted us to shift our approach to prevention. 

This scenario will allow for our students and faculty to access classwork before March break.

As of now, it is our intention to return to school at the end of March break on Monday, March 30, 2020. Due to the constantly changing nature of this situation, our goal is to prepare for a range of possible scenarios, with our focus being on the safety of our students, families, and faculty. Over the last several days, our faculty and students have been instructed in distance learning in the event of a prolonged closure.

We have created a webpage (https://www.derbyacademy.org/who-we-are/covid-19-updates) on Derby’s website that offers additional resources for families, as well as prior communications and helpful information from the CDC and WHO.  

The progression of COVID-19 is evolving, so our recommendations for our community may change based on state and federal guidelines. We will continue to assess the situation closely as it continues to develop, with guidance from the CDC, state, and federal health officials, as well as Derby’s COVID-19 task force, always focusing on protecting our community. 

When talking with kids about the coronavirus, Derby School Counselor Julie Browne recommends:

• Being factual and correcting misinformation
• Modeling calm and compassion
• Do not dismiss their concerns
• Focusing on what we can do to keep ourselves healthy

Helpful resources for parents, teachers, and children include:

• Open Circle’s How to Talk to Kids About Coronavirus
• Parent Resource from NASP: Talking to Children about COVID-19
• American School Counselor Association’s Coronavirus Resources 
• ChildMind’s Talking to Kids About The Coronavirus 

As always, please reach out to us with any specific questions. We wish everyone a safe and healthy March break, and we are grateful to all of you for your understanding and support during this situation.

Sincerely,

Head of PS/LS Scot Chandler | schandler@derbyacademy.org

Head of MS/US Kate Howell | khowell@derbyacademy.org

Nurse Maye Magner, RN
Trustee Curtis Cetrulo, MD ’85
Trustee Demi Isenstadt 
Trustee Jennifer Lowe Newell ’90
CFO Phil Cantillon

Dear Parents,

With Spring Break approaching, we write with an update on Derby Academy’s response and policy to the ongoing threat of coronavirus (COVID-19). While the risk to our community remains low, we have been closely monitoring the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control websites.
 
In order to provide the safest environment for our children, there will be an intense deep cleaning and disinfecting of all facilities over break. However, in preparation for the necessity of a temporary school closure, teachers would have lesson plans prepared and will connect virtually or through email with your children, if needed.
 
Our guidelines and policy for all of our students and families are:
 
1. We strongly advise families and immediate family members against visiting countries with a Level 3 travel advisory (currently China, South Korea, Iran, and Italy), as determined by the CDC. We also ask you to notify KHowell@DerbyAcademy.org or SChandler@DerbyAcademy.org if you or immediate family members have travel plans to these areas by 3/10/20. In addition, if a family or immediate family member travels to a Level 3 area, we will require a 14 day self-quarantine, as per the CDC, of your child and will require written approval from a medical professional and MMagner@DerbyAcademy.org before returning to school. The physician's written approval should be submitted to Nurse Magner for her review and clearance.
 
2. Families traveling to countries identified as Level 1 (currently Hong Kong) or Level 2 (currently Japan) will be subject to a 14 day self-quarantine if the CDC advises or if the threat is heightened to Level 3. We also ask you to notify KHowell@DerbyAcademy.org or SChandler@DerbyAcademy.org if you or immediate family members have travel plans to these areas by 3/10/20. You and your child will require written approval from a medical professional and MMagner@DerbyAcademy.org before returning to school. The physician's written approval should be submitted to Nurse Magner for her review and clearance.
 
3. If a family or immediate family member travels to an area that becomes designated as high risk, please do not send your child back to school without contacting MMagner@DerbyAcademy.org. Furthermore, if your child is sick, please contact MMagner@DerbyAcademy.org. A written approval from a medical professional will be required to return to school. The physician's written approval should be submitted to Nurse Magner for her review and clearance.
 
4. We will continue to be vigilant in monitoring our students’ health and, should anyone show or report symptoms of concern, they will receive immediate medical evaluation and care. We will continue to promote common sense strategies to avoid the spread of illness and have a protocol in place specifically for COVID-19 that follows state and federal guidelines for school closure as well as suspected cases.
 
The progression of COVID-19 is evolving, so our recommendation may change based on state and federal guidelines. If the CDC suggests elevated precautions, we will adjust our protocols accordingly. We will continue to assess the situation closely as it emerges, with guidance from the CDC, state, and federal health officials, an MGH pediatrician, and our school nurse, always focusing on protecting our community. We are grateful to all of you for understanding our need not to panic, but rather to be cautious and proactive.
 
We are hopeful that everyone will have a wonderful vacation and will return for a healthy and productive spring.
 
 
Sincerely,
 
Nurse Maye Magner, RN
Trustee Curtis Cetrulo, MD ’85
Trustee Demi Isenstadt 
Trustee Jennifer Lowe Newell ’90 
Head of PS/LS Scot Chandler 
Head of MS/US Kate Howell
CFO Phil Cantillon

Dear Derby Community,

We want to update you on what Derby is doing to best educate and protect our community in light of the developing information regarding the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

We have assembled a coronavirus response task force at Derby to monitor current guidelines and provide recommendations to the community. That task force includes Derby Academy Trustees Curtis Cetrulo, MD ’85 and Jennifer Lowe Newell ’90, School Nurse Maye Magner, RN, Division Heads Scot Chandler and Kate Howell, and CFO Phil Cantillon, who will continue to closely monitor the local, state, and federal guidelines providing recommendations to best protect us all from illness. 

We are prepared to respond swiftly to any sudden changes and will keep our community informed of recommendations and updates from multiple health organizations and agencies, including state and local authorities.

We will continue to best support our faculty, students, and academic programs in the event our daily schedule is impacted by this virus outbreak.

The school administration is working to educate our students through regular reminders about best practices in staying healthy this winter and spring. One of the ways you can best help us keep Derby healthy is to keep your child home if they have a fever and contact the primary care physician for follow up care. Children may not return to school until they are fever-free without the use of Motrin or Tylenol for well over 24 hours and must feel well enough to attend school.

At this time, Massachusetts has one confirmed case of COVID-19 and the risk to residents remains low. Viruses are best prevented with standard health precautions, including:

• Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or, if unable to wash, using alcohol-based (at least 60%) hand sanitizers.
• Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Covering your coughs or sneezes with a tissue or your sleeve (not with your hands).
• Staying away from people who are sick and staying home when you are sick.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• All families, faculty, and staff who are planning to travel during the March break are asked to please adhere to the travel restrictions and safety guidelines shared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, as well as The State Department Travel Advisories system. Please also share with me or members of the administration any health-related issues that arise from your travel that might pose a risk to your child or the Derby community.

 
We are also currently working with our custodial services to ensure our facilities remain as clean as possible. Recognizing the small chance that this unprecedented outbreak may require the need to close our campus for a period of time, Derby may need to make use of online educational resources to support distance learning and allow for the continuation of classes. We have a range of digital platforms and resources to support teachers in moving instruction and assessments online. If access to Wi-Fi may be an issue for your family, please contact our division heads to discuss alternative solutions.

As we monitor how this outbreak evolves, we remain hopeful that the spread of COVID-19 plateaus and dissipates soon. Please know how closely we are watching the situation, and how committed we are to the safety and wellbeing of our students.

More information about COVID-19, how to talk to your child about events in the news, and ways to stay healthy can be found below:

• Mass.Gov’s Information on the Outbreak of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website provides updates on COVID-19 (including general travel tips and advice on traveling to affected areas) 
• The National Association of Independent Schools provides a number of resources and information on how to talk to children about news and traumatic events.
• Derby Academy School Counselor Julie Browne has also recommended Healthychilden.org’s latest information on COVID-19, including additional resources on how families can stay healthy.

As always, thank you for your continued support as we work together in navigating this developing situation.

Nurse Maye Magner, RN
Kate Howell, Head of MS/US 
Scot Chandler, Head of PS/LS