![]() July 15, 2020 MESSAGE FROM HEAD OF SCHOOL ![]() Dear MMA Families,
Before we know it, the new school year will be upon us. While we are all hopefully replenishing after a difficult spring, rest assured that I'm back in Philadelphia, energized and ready for our fall semester.
Our goal is to open school in person for the 2020-21 school year. Given the evolving nature of the Covid-19 disease and the increase in reported cases, we are preparing for a variety of scenarios. We are preparing to offer distance learning to the greatest extent possible for parents who are not comfortable sending their daughters to school.
We are working on plans to ensure we all keep the recommended six feet apart throughout campus by limiting time spent in the hallways between classes, at lockers and in community spaces. We plan to establish one-way traffic patterns in hallways and staircases. We are also working on adjusting our floor plans in each classroom to allow for appropriate distancing between desks.
Every student will be required to complete a health screening that includes a temperature check before arriving at school via RUVNA, an intuitive platform specifically designed to screen and track COVID-19 in schools. We will also ask that anyone running a temperature higher than 100.4 remain at home. If you do not have access to a thermometer at home, we will put you in touch with Mrs. Katie Hogan, our School Nurse, to coordinate. Additional health protocols will be included in our detailed plan, including a sick policy that's aligned with CDC guidelines.
Every student, faculty, staff and admin must wear a face covering when at school, as recommended by the CDC and Commonwealth Department of Health. We will provide more guidance on masks in our detailed plan.
We are developing new protocols and schedules to ensure high-touch surfaces, common spaces and bathrooms are frequently cleaned and disinfected during the day. We've added additional sanitizing stations throughout the building.
We are working to adjust our lunch program to ensure fewer opportunities for shared meals and potential contamination. We will be offering boxed lunch options, including pre-made salads, and organizing new areas inside and outdoors where our girls can eat in spaces that comply with CDC guidelines.
We will be strictly limiting visitors on campus, including parents and other members of the community,, to protect the health and safety of those in the building. As guidelines change, we look forward to welcoming you all back to campus to fully participate in the life of our school community.
Warm Regards, ![]()
Laura Farrell Head of School 511 Montgomery Avenue • Merion Station • PA • 19066 |