COVID-19 Response and Resources
March 9, 2020 Student Assembly
Basic Hygiene Tips Presentation
Update #2: March 6, 2020
Dear parents and guardians,
I am writing to you with an update on our school efforts around the COVID-19 virus. I want to let you know that I have appointed Ms. Mary Ella Marion, dean of students, to lead the school’s taskforce around our response. The taskforce will include Ms. Jeanne Blakeslee, principal; Ms. Diana Rego, director of finance and operations; and me, together with other key school leaders in facilities, athletics, security, IT and operations.
We continue to take measures to educate our community about how to best protect ourselves and others against respiratory viruses. We are continuing to follow a regular program of cleaning and disinfection throughout the school. Handwashing reminders have been posted in bathrooms, and the only girls’ restroom without touchless sinks on our campus has been closed. Today, we began the day with announcements highlighting some best practices. On Monday, March 9, we will begin the day with a brief school assembly on best practices and precautions with a focus on handwashing, coughing or sneezing into one’s sleeve, staying away from those who are ill, and staying at home in the event of illness. If your daughter is ill, please keep her home so other students and teachers are not infected. She may return to school 24 hours after symptoms have abated, including a return to normal body temperature.
As I shared with you initially, we are formulating our efforts in accordance with the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Maryland State Department of Health, the Archdiocese of Baltimore, and the Association of Independent Maryland & DC Schools (AIMS). Many AIMS schools are cancelling field trips, as well as activities that bring students, faculty and staff into close proximity with each other or with people who may have respiratory infections. Out of an abundance of caution, we are cancelling field trips for the next few weeks. We are also changing the format of Career Day, which would have brought more than 100 guests to campus on Friday, March 13th. Instead, Career Day will feature a keynote address, a panel presentation, and a handful of speakers.
We recognize that these changes in our schedule are disappointing for our Mercy Girls, and we ask your help in processing this information with your daughters and in encouraging flexibility on their part. We do not want to create fear or anxiety, and we ask your partnership in talking about the role we each play in staying healthy and preventing the spread of illness.
Finally, we have created a page on our website, where you can find our communications to you and web resources.
Please know that your partnership at this challenging time is deeply appreciated. Be assured that we will provide further updates as this situation requires.
March 3, 2020
Dear Mercy families,
I am writing to you to make you aware of our focused attention on the COVID-19 virus and the information that we are receiving from the Archdiocese of Baltimore, the Association of Independent Maryland & DC Schools, and, of course, the Maryland Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Archdiocese of Baltimore recommends that schools continue to focus on the following preventative measures as advised by the Maryland Department of Health and the CDC.
Flu-like symptoms are fever, cough, and shortness of breath. In general, people can protect themselves and others against respiratory viruses by taking the following precautions:
- Wash your hands frequently with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or soap & water for at least 20 seconds.
- Cover your mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- If you are sick, stay home from work or school.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Practice good health habits.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- Get a flu shot. While the influenza vaccine does not protect against coronavirus infection, it can help keep you healthy during the flu season.
If there are concerns that a person in the Mercy community might have been exposed to COVID-19, either through travel or by other means, we will follow the health department guidelines and reach out to the health department immediately for guidance.
The safety of our Mercy students, faculty, and staff is our primary concern. The best prevention is to avoid exposure to the virus. Student travel or school activities will be assessed and may be canceled out of an abundance of caution. We are making plans now, should school be interrupted, so that our students can continue their learning from home. As you may recall, we have a plan for online learning in the event of inclement weather that has served us well.
We are closely monitoring all COVID-19 virus information and recommendations, and we will modify our response in compliance with the directives provided by the various health authorities and experts. Please know that we will continue to communicate updates to you. Kindly be in touch with Ms. Mary Ella Marion, dean of students, at 410-433-8880, ext. 202 or at memarion@mercyhighschool.com if you have any specific concerns.