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Resources for Parents
What is Cornerstone’s COVID-19 action plan?
There are 4 levels to the school’s pandemic action plan: Monitoring, Limiting, Postponing, and Closing. We have rapidly transitioned through each level and as of Monday, March 16, 2020 the school will be at Level 4 – Closing.
Due to mandate by PA Governor Tom Wolf, Cornerstone will be closed through the end of the 2019-20 school year. Families will be kept informed.
Are there any activities, events, or programs being suspended or canceled at the present time?
Yes. As of Friday, March 13, 2020 all school activities, events, and programs are suspended or canceled indefinitely.
How will information be communicated during Cornerstone’s closure?
- Families will be kept informed about school closing and opening by means of email and the RenWeb Emergency Call and Text Messaging system.
- Phone calls to the school will be regularly monitored and messages forwarded to the appropriate administrator, teacher, or staff member.
- Families will receive school updates at least weekly via email or by means of the RenWeb Emergency Call and Text Messaging system.
Are students being assigned work to do at home and will it be required to be completed?
Yes, during the school closure students will be required to complete assignments at home. A plan is in place for instruction to continue in the following way(s):
- Teachers will provide ongoing instruction during the school closure using Google Classroom and Google Hangouts/Meet.
- Attendance will be taken as students log-in to Google Classroom and complete the required assignments, including participation in class meetings on Google Hangouts/Meet if scheduled.
- Many teachers have printed packets of assignments for students to complete.
- School administrators and teachers will inform families and students of times they are available for calls and conferences.
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When school reopens, if a parent chooses to keep a child home can her/his teacher provide daily assignments?
Unless the school remains closed for all students, teachers will not be able to provide daily assignments for individual students. All teachers have a Google Classroom where daily assignments are posted for access by students and parents. Please remember, too, that a doctor’s note is required after 3 consecutive days of absence from school.
What are Cornerstone’s recommendations for students, families, teachers and staff to remain healthy?
We advise all school constituents to follow these recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
- Cover a cough or sneeze with your elbow or a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
- Stay home if you are sick
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Frequently clean and disinfect touched objects and surfaces using a household cleaning spray or wipes.
- CONTACT THE SCHOOL IMMEDIATELY IF ANYONE IN YOUR FAMILY HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH A CONFIRMED CASE OF COVID-19 OR HAS RECENTLY TRAVELED OUT OF THE COUNTRY.
How can parents talk to their children about COVID-19?
There’s a lot of news coverage about the outbreak of COVID-19 and it can be overwhelming for parents and frightening for kids. The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages parents and others who work closely with children to filter information and talk about it in ways children can understand. These tips can help:
- Simple reassurance. Remind children that doctors and researchers are learning as much as they can, as quickly as they can, about the virus and are taking steps to keep everyone safe.
- Give them control. It’s also a great time to remind your children of what they can do to help – washing their hands often, coughing into their elbow or a tissue, and getting enough sleep.
- Watch for signs of anxiety. Children may not have the words to express their worry, but you might see signs of it. They might be cranky, be more clingy, have trouble sleeping, or seem distracted. Keep the reassurance going and try to stick to your normal routines.
- Monitor their media. Keep children away from frightening images they may see on TV, social media, computers, etc. For older children, talk together about what they are hearing on the news and correct any misinformation or false rumors.
- Stay informed. Families are encouraged to stay up to date about this situation as we learn more about how to prevent the virus from spreading in homes and communities.