Message for PSA Students & Families
Dear Students and Families,
Your health and safety is always our number one priority. We’re in communication with the City of Aurora and the four local health departments and are following the school guidance set forth by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) as it relates to COVID-19. At this time, we feel a responsibility to help “flatten the curve” of contagion and protect our students, their families, and our staff by practicing social distancing. Effective Monday, March 16, we will be closed with all classes suspended through April 4. Classes are currently planned to resume on April 5 after our regularly scheduled spring break, pending IDPH’s future recommendations. We plan to extend most of our classes for two weeks past their planned end date to make up missed classes, and will be reaching out to participants in each class separately to announce specific plans for each class. We appreciate your understanding in these uncertain times.
Classes scheduled for today, Friday, March 13 and tomorrow, Saturday, March 14 will go on as planned. We have implemented a more frequent cleaning schedule for touch-points throughout the school (door handles, railings, counters, pianos, etc.). We ask that you join us in the fight to keep everyone healthy.
Please do the following to keep our school as safe and healthy as possible:
- All students and staff are required to thoroughly wash their hands with soap for 20-30 seconds before entering their classroom and before they go to their next class or leave for home. If your child requires assistance, please help your child wash their hands.
- Please keep yourself or your student at home if you/they are ill. They should not attend class or a lesson until at least 24 hours after their fever (temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.8 degrees Celsius or higher) is gone. Temperature should be measured without the use of fever-reducing medicines (medicines that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen).
- Note: Not everyone with flu will have a fever. Individuals with suspected or confirmed flu who do not have a fever should stay home from classes at least 4-5 days after the onset of symptoms. Persons with the flu are most contagious during the first 3 days of their illness.
- If we witness any person with flu–like symptoms, we will ask for them to leave school to diminish the risk of infecting others.
- If you’ve recently returned from a country with widespread or ongoing transmission of COVID-19, we ask that you follow the precautions set forth by the CDC: CDC COVID-19 Travel
IDPH recommends that staff and students do the following to protect themselves and others:
- 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 with at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- Consult with your healthcare provider about getting an influenza vaccination if you haven’t already done so.
For up to date information and recommendations, visit IDPH’s website (IDPH School Guidance). We will continue to monitor their guidance and give updates as they become available.
Thank you for your efforts to help keep everyone healthy in our Paramount community.
Sincerely,
Shannon Cameron
Director of Education and Community Engagement
Paramount School of the Arts