March 1, 2020

As you are no doubt very aware, the impact of COVID-19 on the country and Washington state continues to develop on a near hourly basis. We wanted to reach out to share what our Emergency Response Team is doing to monitor and prepare for a potential increase in frequency of the COVID-19 in King County. I am writing today to bring you up to date on our current community status as well as the plans and procedures we are putting into place in our classrooms.

We also know that some of you may be wondering about school closures in our area, and our plans related to this. At this time, we are planning on starting school as usual on Monday morning.
As the Head of School, I take my duty seriously to communicate immediately any and all relevant information as the situation continues to develop. Each of the following sections will illustrate what we are currently doing to be proactive in preventing the virus’ spread, our advice for how to help assist us in these preventions, and our plans for possible developments. I also encourage everyone to remember that feelings of anxiety in situations like this are normal; on the same token, it is important that we all aim to strike a balance between vigilance and calm, measured response.

It’s also important for our community to remember that the risk of COVID-19 is not at all connected with race, ethnicity or nationality. Viruses do not discriminate, and neither should we. It’s important that we share vital information but limit the spread of fear and hysteria based on gossip and rumors.
Finally, we have included resources we have used to make decisions so far. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we attempt to guide our community with the most up to date information, and please reach out to me with any questions you have related to this message.

​Our Current Response at MCH

Currently, we are not aware of any known members of our community with symptoms or diagnoses related to the COVID-19. The MCH Emergency Response Team has already begun implementing proactive procedures, which are an elevated version of what we put into place during influenza season. This means:

• Starting on February 3rd, based on the recommendation from the CDC, MCH asked known individuals who had traveled from China to the United States after February 2, 2020 to self-quarantine for 14 days.
• Additional and increased vigilance in hand-washing culture within the classrooms. This includes encouraging frequent hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after they blow their nose. EC teachers will be actively helping young children do the same. When soap and water are not readily available, we will have students use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 70% alcohol.
• Increased coaching on avoiding touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Increased coaching on covering coughs or sneezes with a tissue when possible, then throwing the tissue in the trash and cleaning hands with soap and water or 70% alcohol hand sanitizer when soap & water are unavailable. When tissue is not available continued coaching to cover coughs or sneezes into the elbow.
• Snack will no longer be student-served. Teachers will place snack out of children’s reach and will be served and managed by the adults in the classroom.
• In-class tooth brushing will be paused until further notice.
• Additional cleaning measures have been implemented by our staff, faculty, maintenance and janitorial service, including increased frequency of daily disinfecting of surfaces, doorknobs, light switches and materials.
• Staff will be extra vigilant in ensuring that adequate supplies for good hygiene, including clean and functional hand-washing stations, soap, paper towels, and alcohol‐based hand sanitizer are always available.
• Hand-sanitizer bottles with 70% alcohol content have been placed throughout campus but are in positions where adults can monitor that they are being appropriately used.
• We have designated a space on campus for anyone showing signs of respiratory illness, for both staff and students.

​MCH Protocol Concerning Signs of Illness

​We recognize that our community is strong because we all work together. The following directions take this into mind, and we are grateful for your support and understanding in this time of stress. All the criteria are based on recommendations from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH-WA), World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

• Any staff or students showing ANY of the following signs of illness will be directed to our designated screening area on campus until either picked up or sent home:
  *Fever 100 degrees or higher
  *Coughing and or runny nose
  *Vomiting
  *Diarrhea
  *Sore Throat, especially with fever or swollen glans
  *Rash especially with fever or itching
  *Unusual behavior: abnormally tired, unable to participate,
  *Shortness of Breath
• If staff or children exhibit ANY of these symptoms, they will be sent home immediately.
• Should staff or students be sent home due to the above illnesses, they may return to school when symptom free and in the case of fever or respiratory symptoms we will require a written release from a medical professional. We understand this may be difficult and advise you to start planning on how this will work for your family should it become necessary.
• Please have a plan in place to pick up your child immediately if illness is identified. If we are unable to reach a parent or guardian, we will immediately be contacting your listed emergency contacts.
• If you are sent home due to illness, call a medical professional to discuss your symptoms and get advice.
• If your medical provider suspects COVID-19 please notify MCH immediately.
• If staff or children exhibit ANY of these symptoms, they will be sent home immediately.​ 
• ​Should staff or students be sent home due to the above illnesses, they may return to school when symptom free and in the case of fever or respiratory symptoms we will require a written release from a medical professional. We understand this may be difficult and advise you to start planning on how this will work for your family should it become necessary.
• Please have a plan in place to pick up your child immediately if illness is identified. If we are unable to reach a parent or guardian, we will immediately be contacting your listed emergency contacts.
• If you are sent home due to illness, call a medical professional to discuss your symptoms and get advice.
• If your medical provider suspects COVID-19 please notify MCH immediately.

In the Event of an MCH School Closure

• Should we determine that the MCH campus is compromised and requires a school closure we will immediately update all families. Please be prepared that this may include asking you to pick up your children immediately. If this happens, we will be notifying all families through our Easy Alert our emergency response system via text and email communication. Please rest assured we will not do so unless it becomes absolutely necessary.
  
• Should we have to close the school due to either an outbreak within our community or direction from local, state or federal government, we will communicate a specific and direct plan to continue education remotely for Upper School (1st – 7th grades) to the best of our ability, based on the nature of the hands-on curriculum inherent to a Montessori education. Unfortunately, due to the hands-on, material-based curriculum, it will not be possible to educate Lower School children remotely.
  
• Families are encouraged to begin developing plans for dealing with the complications of having to keep children at home should this occur.

​How Families Can Be Prepared Off-Campus

• First, follow up to date guidelines from King County, WA State DOH, the WHO, and the CDC
• Wash your hands frequently and keep sanitizer on hand for when you are not able to wash your hands.
• Avoid touching any part of your face as much as possible.
• Cough and sneeze into tissue and throw into a closed trash can and wash or sanitize hands immediately.
• If you feel that you or any family members show signs of flu-like illness, contact your doctor or other local medical providers for further advice.
• If you or a family member is sick stay at home and quarantine yourself from your family members if possible.
• Avoid travel if you have a fever or cough.
• Stay up to date through referencing the links listed at the end of this document as well as paying attention to announcements from local, state, federal and international government agencies.
• If you or your children have not gotten a flu shot, it is recommended, as it will allow medical resources to be prioritized for COVID-19 and not the common flu.

​Local, State, Federal and International Resources

The following list of resources are the sources provided in the vast majority of news articles, and we recommend checking these pages out first. The pages listed should be updated regularly with the most up-to-date information.

• WHO (World Health Organization)
• CDC (Center for Disease Control)
• DOH-WA (Department of Health - State of Washington)
• King County Disease Control Resources