Wednesday, HCPSS principals met with our Superintendent, Dr. Martirano, to discuss realities and concerns regarding COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and HCPSS. At the time of that meeting, there were no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Howard County. However, given the realities of the potential for spread of any virus, it is important that we approach the rest of the flu season and Coronavirus with an abundance of prevention.

The HCPSS website has a very informative page regarding Coronavirus current status and how to prevent the spread of this illness. Please visit the HCPSS website at this link to track HCPSS updates and information.

To that end, the following has taken place or is in process at the time of this email to prevent the spread of germs at Stevens Forest:

• Staff members are developing plans to ensure more frequent opportunities for student handwashing and/or sanitizing.
• Handwashing procedures will be reviewed with students in their classrooms. Please use this link for handwashing guidelines from the CDC.  It would be helpful for families to reinforce thorough handwashing practices at home with your child(ren). Please encourage your children to wash their hands when they get home from school. We are also talking with students about refraining from touching their faces, a habit that is hard to break!
• Hand sanitizer stations are in our cafeteria and outside of the gym for student use prior to eating lunch and after gym.
• A hand sanitizer pump is at our visitor sign in area for our visitors to use when entering and exiting the building.
• If your child is in the Health Room with flu like symptoms, he or she will be wearing a mask when leaving the Health Room. The CDC reports that healthy persons who are non-health care providers do not benefit from wearing a mask. Masks can be a deterrent with preventing the spread of any germs when worn properly by persons who are sick.
• If your child is sick, please keep your child at home until he or she is fever free, without the benefit of ibuprofen for 24 hours.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call me or to contact our Health Room staff. Working together in a spirit of care for one another, we can ensure that our students are learning and practicing preventative healthy habits.