Covid-19 Updates

• Students in Grades K–12 will follow the all-virtual, COL at Home schedule through January, 20. Childcare is available on campus for families with children in Grades K–5.
• We plan to return to the COL Hybrid schedule on January 21. Families will have the option to have their students remain in COL at Home. 
• All students and faculty who will be returning to campus will be tested January 15 or 16.

If there is a significant weather event this winter, and school must close, the first day will be considered a snow day for all students. There will be no classes, virtual or on-campus. After that first day, school will be conducted virtually.

Baseline Testing—Prior to implementing hybrid instruction, Maret conducted mandatory baseline testing the weeks of October 26 and November 2 for all students, faculty, and contracted employees who had been or would be on campus.

Routine Testing—The School is conducting ongoing testing with FiveMedicine. The next round of community testing will occur on January 15 and 16. All students and faculty who will be returning to campus for any reason are required to participate in the testing on those dates.

Community Members may review testing results on our COVID-19 Dashboard.

Community members should monitor CDC and DC guidance regarding travel. In addition, we ask those who travel to designated high-risk states to quarantine for 10 days before coming to campus.

If a state was not designated high-risk at the time you returned from travel, quarantining is not necessary.

High-risk states are defined by the DC Department of Health as locations where the seven-day moving average of daily new COVID-19 cases is 10 or more per 100,000 people.

Based on the most recent guidance from government and public health officials and what we know about the science, the quarantine period after “close contact” with someone who tests positive for COVID-19 can now end after 10 days, provided no symptoms appear. Community members with questions should reach out to Maret nurses.

Currently, access to the campus is limited to students, faculty, and authorized personnel during designated times. As of August 17, those coming to campus will need to register with AUXS, conduct a home health screening before arrival, and show a Green Pass. Anyone who has a cold or any symptoms of illness will be expected to stay at home.

While on Maret's campus, every person will be required to adhere to specific hygiene practices.

• Completing a daily health survey
• Wearing masks 
• Regular handwashing 
• Social distancing

Families of students and faculty members will be required to report to nurses@maret.org if

• They have a confirmed case of COVID-19 
• A person in their household has COVID-19 
• They present symptoms or suspect they have been exposed 

If a student or faculty member takes a COVID-19 test, they must remain home until test results are received and send school nurses documentation of the results as soon as it is available.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Official Coronavirus webpage
• DC Department of Health Official webpage
• World Health Organization Official Coronavirus webpage
• CDC Official Map of Confirmed US Cases
• Johns Hopkins CSSE Map of Global Cases
• The Washington Post’s Coronavirus Coverage

• Ask clarifying questions to get a better understanding of what your child is asking.
• Be developmentally appropriate. Don’t volunteer too much information, as this may be overwhelming. Instead, try to answer your child’s questions. Do your best to answer honestly and clearly, but do not give more information than is age-appropriate and/or necessary. Instead of tackling a conversation or a question in one conversation, you can always circle back if needed.
• Invite your child to ask questions. It is okay if you cannot answer everything; being available for your child is what matters.
• Don’t let your own anxiety take over. Parents can get worried about explaining everything rather than just answering the specific question that was posed.
• Avoid overly focusing on the subject. Gauge how much you talk about the topic depending on the age of the child. Young children may not need to know much.
• Share what you are doing to stay safe. An important way to reassure children is to emphasize the safety precautions that you are taking.
• Empower children and help them feel in control. Help them figure out what they can do to manage their emotions or change a situation.
• Avoid excessive blaming. When tensions run high, sometimes we try to blame someone or something. It is important to avoid stereotyping or negative comments about a specific group of people.
• Monitor television viewing and social media. Try to avoid watching or listening to information that may be upsetting when children are present.
• Stick to routine. Structured days with regular mealtimes and bedtimes are an essential part of keeping children happy and healthy.
• Reassure children they are loved, safe, and protected by you and others.

Additional Resources

TALKING TO CHILDREN ABOUT COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
National Association of School Psychologists

TALKING TO KIDS ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS
Kids worry more when they're kept in the dark
Child Mind Institute (4-Minute Video)

HOW TO TALK TO CHILDREN ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS
Harvard Medical School

TALKING TO TEENS AND TWEENS ABOUT CORONAVIRUS 
New York Times

Common Sense Media is a non profit organization whose goal is to help "all kids thrive in a world of media and technology."

They have created Wide Open School, a distance learning hub, with helpful resources for parents and educators, including:

• advice, tips, and how-tos for parents
• resource libraries for learning activities by subject
• professional development for educators
• student activities

We know that many people are looking for ways to support the wider community at this time, and so we wanted to share some opportunities that are available and also send a shout out to our Maret families who are leading some of these initiatives. Please remember, anyone who is volunteering should make sure to wash and sanitize their hands, phones, and any other surfaces that might get touched regularly during pickups or deliveries, as well as on-site work. They should make sure to wear gloves and masks, avoid contact when delivering, and should call to cancel their volunteer shifts if they are experiencing any symptoms.

Community Groups and Requests:

• Sign up here to join a city-wide network of volunteers to run errands for our elderly or immunocompromised neighbors
• DC Public Schools—In need of volunteers to help keep running their many meal sites for kids in DC during school closures! Please fill out the linked survey.
• Capital Area Food Bank—In critical need of volunteers to help sort and pack food in their warehouse and assist at their offsite food distributions.
• Families 4 Families DMV—Volunteers donate or assemble a week of groceries for families in need.
• Food and Friends DC—There are two volunteer opportunities: food preparation and packaging OR meal and grocery delivery.
• Food Rescue US—Volunteers with vehicles needed to pick up and deliver food from businesses to DC residents in need.
• Grace’s Table—Looking for volunteers to help feed those without housing each Saturday.
• Martha’s Table—Volunteers needed to help prepare and bag food for their emergency food sites across the city.
• We Are Family—Volunteer to deliver groceries to seniors.
• Food for All DC—Volunteer to drive groceries to seniors, immunocompromised, and other DC neighbors who are homebound. Volunteer here.
• Working with Seniors: If older students are interested in doing virtual volunteer work with the residents of a senior facility by leading games or other activities, being a virtual pen pal, and forging connections with residents who are under strict changes in the visitor policy, contact Krystle Merchant, Maret’s Director of Community Engagement and Partnerships (kmerchant@maret.org).
• Children's Hospital Bloodmobile—There is a huge need for blood right now. Volunteers can donate blood in a safe, socially distant environment. Only a limited number of appointments are allowed at one time so as to adhere to social distancing standards. Please visit the Children's National Medical Center website to learn more about blood donation, to schedule an appointment, and get information on when it might be visiting your neighborhood.

If you are able, please consider donating even a small amount to the following organizations:

For Students No Longer Receiving Meals at School 
DC Central Kitchen

Meals for the Homeless
So Others Might Eat

Domestic Abuse Response for Confined Victims
DC SAFE

Donate Gift Cards from Local Businesses or to a Worker Relief Fund
Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington's Coronavirus Worker Relief Fund

Donate at a National Level
"How You Can Help Victims of the Coronavirus Pandemic," New York Times

"How Your Can Help During the Coronavirus Outbreak," Washington Post

UNPLUG: People consume so much news and social media and spend so many hours on their phones that no wonder there are increased levels of anxiety for teens in general. Too much social media has been linked with health issues, including depression and a lack of self-esteem. Taking a break to disconnect may encourage you to spend more time with your friends and cultivate healthy relationships. Try leaving your phone in another room or setting a time limit on addicting apps.

If you are feeling anxious, taking a break or scaling back from the news cycle.  Trust that your school and your parents/guardians will share important information. Try finding a non-digital distraction like reading, spending time with family/friends, or another creative activity.

MEDITATE: Having a regular meditation practice, for 10 minutes per day, can be life-changing. Research shows that meditation reduces stress, controls anxiety, and makes you more mindful and self-aware. Even a few deep breaths in the middle of the day can help you to regain focus and relieve stress. A short, daily practice can be more effective than long sessions, so if you’re new to meditation, try starting with a mindfulness app like Headspace or Calm.

CREATE: Creative expression has multiple benefits for emotional health. It gives people a way to release complicated emotions through music, journaling, visual arts, or hobbies. Extracurricular activities that invoke a sense of peace and calm can be very effective for reducing stress. Try spending 15-30 minutes writing, drawing, dancing, or making music.

GET OUTSIDE: Research has consistently shown a correlation between being outdoors and lower levels of stress, depression, and anxiety. With the weather warming up, try to find time to take a walk or sit outside.

MOVE YOUR BODY: Whether it’s sports, gym workouts, walks, running, dancing, or yoga, movement helps both physical and mental health. The physical activity doesn’t matter as long as it’s consistent. Daily exercise releases endorphins like serotonin and dopamine that help improve our mood and help to reduce stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.