Dear Burgundy Community, 

Like you, we have been tracking the Centers for Disease Control updates (CDC) and world news of the COVID-19 Coronavirus for weeks now. Although there are no reported cases of the virus in our region, we expect there may be going forward. We have been relying to date on standing policy and procedures to keep campus healthy.  We will outline some of that information here and want you to know that we are taking an appropriate and informed, proactive and measured approach to the health threat, armed with facts, data, and best practice, to ensure we continue keeping a safe and healthy community. And we will continue to keep you informed.

As part of our Burgundy emergency procedures we have standard pandemic guidelines. We will tune these general procedures for pandemics to any specific situation that evolves as a widespread virus outbreak or pandemic. As well, we are convening our Board risk management committee and special administrative planning sessions for managing the school through a pandemic, including ‘e-learning’ if school has to close for any period. Although much remains unknown about how the virus is spreading and what may happen, we will be prepared for a local outbreak.

Parents, you are excellent partners in everything we do at Burgundy, and your cooperation is one of our very best tools for keeping our community safe and well. We particularly ask you to seek medical attention or advice (see CDC again) if you have been traveling and have any questions about your own or your children’s health.

We remind parents and employees to follow Burgundy policy and to keep children or ourselves home when there is a fever or evidence of a contagious medical condition. Please contact the Health Coordinator or an administrator with questions.  

We remind everyone about basic good habits to discourage the spread of all viruses. These habits are remarkably effective. At school we have been re-emphasizing:

  • Using the cough- or sneeze-in-sleeve technique;

  • Washing hands thoroughly, often, and with good technique (review with children);

  • Disposing of dirty kleenex with care.

We are also working with our maintenance team, cleaning company, and teachers to ensure we have ample soap, sanitizer, and daily disinfecting to discourage the spread of viruses.

Following the CDC’s advice and local jurisdictional and our own guidelines we will continue to track this situation and to make calm, informed decisions while implementing an organized, thoughtful approach to a dynamic international and national health situation as the need arises. It is natural that we may all feel some anxiety in a situation with as many unknowns as this one. I think we can reassure children that at this time there is not a known outbreak in our region, but if there is one, the adults have plans to manage it. And, meantime, following good healthy protocols that we already have in place can help keep us safe and healthy.

Jeff