Dear JCS Families,
As we approach Spring Break next week, the health, well-being, safety, and security of our JCS community of students, families, faculty, and staff remain our highest priority. JCS will continue to closely monitor updates and advisories as they become available concerning COVID-19 (Coronavirus). We are consulting with the Palm Beach County Health Department in conjunction with the CDC and the School District of Palm Beach County.
We have formed a Health & Wellness Preparedness Committee that is meeting regularly to proactively plan and ensure the healthiest learning environment for our JCS families. We are committed to keeping you informed of important changes, to safeguarding your well-being and safety, and to making decisions based on the latest public health guidelines and emerging information. We are also developing a distance learning plan in the unlikely event of a prolonged school closure.
As you consider traveling for Spring Break, we suggest that you check the CDC Travel website to help ensure a safe experience for your family. If you are traveling to an area where either the State Department or the CDC has issued an Alert Level 2, or Warning Level 3 or 4, or if you have been in contact with a traveler who has recently returned from these areas, please notify our clinic@jupiterchristian.org. JCS reserves the right to require a family member, student, or employee to remain away from school for up to 14 days from your date of contact in order to follow CDC guidelines and requirements. A physician's release may be required before returning to school.
The best international travel advice comes from the World Health Organization:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/travel-advice and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
If at anytime you, or a family member feels sick with fever, cough or has difficulty breathing, please do the following:
- Avoid contact with others and do not travel while sick. Individuals need to isolate so that they do not contaminate those around them.
- Seek medical advice. Call ahead before going to a doctor's office or emergency room. Tell them about your symptoms and any recent travel.
The CDC advises the best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus. Please review the JCS sick policy in the Parent/Student Handbook. The facilities department and teachers continue to clean and disinfect touched objects and surfaces frequently. The school nurses are carefully monitoring students and following JCS sick policies. In addition, here are everyday actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses:
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throw the tissue in the trash.
- Stay at home when you are sick. Do not return to school until fever-free for 24 hours without a fever-reducing medication. Provide a doctor's note if evaluated for flu or symptoms related to coronavirus.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Clean and disinfect touched objects and surfaces frequently using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (about the time it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice), especially before eating, after blowing your nose, sneezing or coughing, and after going to the bathroom. Be sure to pay attention to thumbs, wrists, and in between fingers, which are some of the areas most commonly missed when hand washing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
For further information, including links to FDOH resources, please visit: http://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/COVID-19/index.html
For those concerned with travel precautions, please visit the CDC's website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html
Thank you for partnering with JCS to keep our community safe and healthy. We pray you and your family have a blessed, happy, and healthy Spring Break!