UPDATE Coronavirus: ensuring the safety of our students, families and staff
March 5, 2020
Aloha mai kākou,
The safety and well-being of our students, families, and staff are the highest priorities at Kamehameha Schools. Accordingly, our leadership team continues to carefully monitor the novel coronavirus COVID-19 situation. This is serious, and our approach is simple: to do the right things in the right way.
We have three key principles to guide our decisions as an organization:
- First, we need to ensure the health of our students, families, and staff.
- Second, we must do our part to keep our communities healthy.
- Third, we must plan appropriately to fulfill our educational mission and continue with normal business operations.
This situation is evolving every day. It may be necessary for KS to continue to adapt and update our practices in response to guidance and directives from state and federal health officials. As more information becomes available, we are committed to providing timely, relevant updates about any impacts on KS operations.
For the latest, please go to: https://www.ksbe.edu/malama_
School/Business Operations
- All campuses/preschools, community programs and business operations will continue as normal until further notice.
Events
- All KS school and community events will proceed as scheduled until further notice.
Health Precautions
This is also a good opportunity to remember that flu season is still with us. The same everyday precautions that help prevent the spread of COVID-19 can also help prevent the flu. Please continue to follow school protocols, in that any student exhibiting a fever or flu-like symptoms should stay home and have appropriate medical treatment. In addition:
- Students and staff should stay home from school and work until free of fever (100.4°), signs of fever, or any other symptoms for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing or symptom-altering medicines.
- KS students and staff are reminded to practice good respiratory etiquette:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Our goal is always to maintain a clean and healthy learning environment for our students. As such, maintenance and facilities staff are following all routine cleaning procedures, using effective and safe cleaning solutions.
Travel
- All travel to countries, where the CDC has issued a Level 2 Travel Advisory or higher, has been suspended.
- All other international or domestic U.S. travel at this time is discouraged and will not be permitted, unless deemed essential by the school. All travel requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. For the month of March, all international and domestic U.S. travel involving students has been cancelled.
- All interisland travel will be permitted without restriction, at this time.
Visitors to KS
KS has suspended hosting any visitors from CDC Level 2 or higher countries. Visitors from CDC Level 1 countries and other international or domestic U.S. visitors will only be allowed if deemed essential.
Personal Travel
Personal travel plans are discretionary and a family decision. For the safety and health of our students, families, and staff, we ask for your cooperation in the following:
- We do not recommend traveling to a CDC Level 1 or higher country. Be aware these classifications may change without any notice.
- If you are traveling to a CDC Level2 or higher country, you should notify your respective school administrator prior to leaving.
- Based on conditions at the time of your return, an appropriate quarantine period may be required before your keiki returns to school.
It is not clear how long this situation will continue, so it would be prudent to start reviewing any future travel plans. For the latest, please go to https://www.ksbe.edu/malama_
If you have any questions, please talk with your keiki’s kumu or the Hope Poʻo Kumu.
Me ka ʻoiaʻiʻo
Shelli Kim
Poʻo Kula
Kamehameha Preschools
