We want to share important information with students and families, now that a case of the Coronavirus has emerged in a nearby school district. More will likely occur in the weeks ahead, and we want to be as prepared as possible. 

First and foremost: if your student is feeling ill, keep them home. This will help contain the spread of any virus or infection. Make sure any fever is below 100° for 24 hours without medication before returning to school. If you have traveled to an infected country or think you have been exposed to the coronavirus, please see a health professional and contact your principal to make a safety plan before returning to school.

While we can’t promise complete safety, we will do what is in our power to contain the spread of the virus. For students with a compromised immune systems, additional care should be taken. If families make the choice to keep your student at home, call the school. The secretary can connect you with a counselor and/or teachers to develop a plan for school work at home.

The best way to prevent the spread of coronavirus or any illness is careful hygiene.

• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. 
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces that are often touched.
• Take care of your health overall. Staying current on your vaccinations, including flu vaccine, eating well and exercising all help your body stay resilient.

What have the schools done?

• Custodians have been and will be making extra effort to clean all hard surfaces that students touch, including door knobs. 
• Washing stations will be regularly stocked with soap and paper towels. 
• Extra effort is being made to repair sinks that aren’t functioning correctly as quickly as possible.
• We are in regular communication with public health authorities and following all recommendations.
• Hand sanitizer is on order from our custodial supply company. Several employees were unsuccessful in purchasing immediate supplies this weekend. If you have any bottles you can share with your school, it would be greatly appreciated!

In the unlikely event of any sort of health emergency, Newberg School District would work with local public health leaders to ensure the safety of our students and staff. Yamhill County's Public Health Division will let us know if there is any virus exposure in our school community, and leaders will work with us to implement a proper containment and response plan. We are reviewing protocols in our emergency planning to prepare for any eventuality.

Resources:

Oregon information page on the coronavirus: http://bit.ly/2IbZoDT

A comic book to educate children on the coronavirus: https://n.pr/2Ib89OI

Attached below you will find an English and Spanish version of the fact sheet on the coronavirus put out by the Oregon Health Authority

Thank you! We will work together to get through this.