MCS to continue with its face-to-face classes

In light of recent news about community transmission of COVID-19 in the CNMI, Mount Carmel School will continue with its face-to-face classes, with parents given the option of keeping their students at home for the time being.

The school assured, though, that it remains in close contact with the CNMI COVID-19 Task Force and the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. and has been assured by CHCC that the school’s current COVID-19 mitigation protocols are more than adequate to prevent spread at the school.

This includes conducting temperature and symptom checks for all incoming employees, students, parents, and guests; requiring everyone on campus to wear a mask; enforcing a physical distance of at least 6 feet from others; continuing the use of plexiglass partitions in the classroom; continuing the use of UVC lighting fixtures in all classrooms, which kill all types of coronavirus particles circulated in the rooms; continuing procedures for ensuring physical distancing during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up; and continuing procedures for ensuring the safe delivery of student meals

All faculty, staff, administrators, and vendors will also reinforce all COVID-19 mitigation guidelines set forth by the school and the CNMI COVID-19 Task Force.

“Despite these measures and assurances, we understand that some families may feel anxiety and uncertainty over the current situation. That is why we will allow families to keep their children home if they so choose. We ask parents to please notify teachers and/or the main office if they would prefer online learning at this time. Student absences will be excused and we will do what we can to continue student learning with asynchronous and synchronous options,” the school said in a statement over the weekend.

“We also urge all families to remain vigilant in their efforts to stop the spread with these three simple Ws:

• WASH your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing;

• WATCH your distance by maintaining a physical distance of at least 6 feet between yourself and other people you don’t live with; and

• WEAR a mask in public settings around people who don’t live in your household.

“Further updates will continue to be published on all our media platforms. We thank you for your continued support and understanding,” the MCS statement added. (MCS)