Health Update from Our Head of School

Keeping our community well is our highest priority. As such, we have been monitoring our community health during the normal cold and flu season, and also in consideration of the media coverage of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus.

It is important that families continue to monitor the health and wellbeing of their children and themselves, and take all necessary, routine precautions that we would expect: washing hands, remaining home from school for at least 24-hours following any symptoms of illness as outlined in the Gillispie Parent Handbook, and consulting with your family’s primary care physician, as appropriate.  Additionally, the School is working with our contractor and maintenance team company to ensure additional sanitizing of campus spaces as a continued preventative measure.

Based on information from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO), an annual flu vaccine is recommended for everyone in your family over the age of 6 months. As indicated on their websites, it is not too late for this flu season. In addition, the CDC website outlines the following precautionary measures:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
• If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. This will help prevent spreading your illness to others.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Flu and other serious respiratory illnesses, like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), whooping cough, and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), are spread by cough, sneezing, or unclean hands.
• Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

With recent news regarding the Coronavirus, Gillispie is monitoring the CDC website, California Department of Public Health, and San Diego County Public Health Services Coronavirus Information Page for the most up-to-date information. This is a rapidly evolving situation, and we will follow the latest updates for guidance on the most effective and sensible prevention measures.

The Coronavirus has a reported 14-day incubation period. So, out of an abundance of caution, we are asking families who returned from China as recently as last week (January 20-26), or have been exposed to someone who has, self-impose a 14-day quarantine from your date of return or date of contact with another traveler. At your request, your child’s teacher will do all he/she can to provide appropriate work and materials. Before re-entry, please provide a doctor’s note stating that the child is cleared to come back to school.

If you would like to discuss your family’s circumstances or have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. We’ll continue to monitor the situation and will give updates as new information is presented. Thank you in advance for your understanding and patience as we work together for the health and safety of all our students.

Alison Fleming
Head of School