March 11, 2020
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Below are updates regarding Cromwell Public Schools’ response to COVID-19 and our efforts to prevent its spread of the Coronavirus. We are actively addressing our readiness and response to this quickly evolving situation and will continue to provide frequent updates as information changes.
Athletics
Glenn Lungarini, Director of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC), announced yesterday all remaining CIAC winter championship tournaments have been cancelled. All Cromwell winter athletic tournaments are therefore suspended. We will continue to assess the situation and follow the guidance of the CIAC regarding athletic events for the spring season as it becomes available.
Events
Commissioner of Education Miguel Cardona, Governor Lamont and State Health Officials conducted a conference call with Connecticut superintendents in which they recommended limiting school activities where there is an expectation for large numbers of people in attendance. Cromwell Public Schools will cancel in-state and out-of-state trips, conferences, concerts, plays and large community events until further notice. You will be notified of these cancellations and postponements directly from the schools. Additionally, we will look at numbers in our lunch waves and limit the group size where possible.
Cleaning
We continue to focus on sanitizing our schools with emphasis on touchable surfaces such as door handles, stair railings, faucets, push bars, keyboards, and countertops. Extra measures are being taken to disinfect our health offices, bathrooms, classrooms, and common spaces. Dattco is similarly focusing on school bus surfaces.
Preparation
As a reminder, we will follow a half-day early closing schedule tomorrow, Thursday March 12th, to allow teachers to plan for distance learning opportunities should we need to close a school or provide extended academic support to students. Cromwell High School and Cromwell Middle School will dismiss at 11:30. Edna C. Stevens and Woodside Intermediate School will dismiss at 12:10.
The Department of Education is working with other state agencies to provide guidance in the coming week regarding student attendance, truancy, and waivers on the length of the school year. Unless there is an emergency declaration from the federal government or governor’s office, school closures are local decisions made in concert with our town officials and health department. We hope this will not be necessary, but we want to consider alternatives to keeping our students academically engaged and to provide equitable services should they be required.
Remember
The best way to stay healthy is to practice the following:
1. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
2. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
3. Cough and sneeze into the crook of your arm or into a tissue. Dispose of tissues immediately
4. Clean shared spaces frequently
5. Stay home if you are sick
6. Do not share drinks, utensils, and personal items
I will continue to keep you updated with information on the Coronavirus and its impact on our school community. I appreciate your understanding and concerns as we work through this new challenge.
