The Miami Valley School’s Plans for Reopening Campus
On August 6, The Miami Valley School announced that it would begin school with remote learning on August 19, with the target date for a full in-person reopening being four weeks later on September 16. Our plan remains to have all students on campus by September 16. We continue to watch some downward trends on the Public Health advisory system and are completing installation for Aerobiotix air disinfecting units in all MVS classrooms.
As long as general public health trends head in the right direction, we hope to reopen in stages, starting with the early childhood school, followed by the lower school, and finally the middle and upper schools. This will allow orientation of each division to new protocols and practices for social distancing and still have everyone on campus by the 16th. The dates we are looking at for return to in-person classes are:
- Early Childhood – Sept 8
- Lower School – Sept 10
- Middle School – Sept 14
- Upper School – Sept 16
Again, this remains a very fluid situation. As we receive weekly health department reports, the Task Force will be sending updates on Fridays with the most up-to-date information.
With thanks for your patience and partnership,
Elizabeth F. Cleary, Head of School and The Task Force for Reopening School
Click to Download PDFFrom our school counselors
Children will naturally look to trusted adults in their lives as their guides, and will follow the verbal and non-verbal reactions they observe. As we discuss this crisis with children and young adults, remaining calm and reassuring when communicating with your child will be important as you navigate uncomfortable emotions and the “unknowns” that each day brings. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you open the door for a conversation about Coronavirus:
- Stay available to listen and discuss concerns, fears, questions, and disappointments. Allow yourself to share, without oversharing, in the disappointment and discomfort, too.
- Being honest and accurate is a safe approach, so children avoid the need to “write their own story” about what’s happening in the world.
- Create a routine: times of uncertainty can heighten stress or anxiety. Establishing a routine or semblance of predictability will help children cope with potential stressors.
- Be aware of your child’s exposure to news and/or social media as a way to not only monitor screen time but filter the information so children can receive it in a manageable way.
Here is some developmentally appropriate language you can say if you get “stuck”:
Early Childhood/Lower School Age
- Validation of feelings: “I hear that you are scared”, “This is very disappointing”, “You’re not the only one feeling this way right now”, etc.
- “Adults are working hard to keep you safe”
- “Right now our job is to stay healthy”
- “I’m not sure how to answer that, but I do know we are together and safe, which is what matters the most.”
Middle/Upper School Age
- Validation of feelings: “I hear that you are scared and worried”, “This is very disappointing”, “You’re not the only one feeling this way right now”, etc.
- “How are you feeling about this?”
- “How can I support you?”
- “I’m not sure how to answer that, but let’s look it up together.”
As we start the Learning from Home Program on March 30th, Ms. Peterson and I will be available via phone, email, and Google Chat for messaging or video meetings with students, as well as parents. Please know that our virtual door is open to you, and we will send more information periodically as a way to remotely support your child’s social and emotional well-being.
In the meantime, please also explore these resources:
New York Times Parenting
How to Talk to Kids about Coronavirus
Psychology Today
How to talk to your Anxious Child about the Coronavirus
NPR
Just for Kids: A Comic Exploring the New Coronavirus
Sincerely,
Christie Kemper & Kara Peterson
MVS School Counselors