Family Partnerships and Responsibilities

We are all in this together! Your child will be on campus in the care of BHA for approximately seven hours a day, five days a week. That means each weekday, they are in your care for seventeen hours and, during the course of a full seven-day week, your child is with us less than a quarter of the time. We will do everything in our power to keep students healthy and safe during school, and we know that the re-imagining of our school for the fall will likely make it one of the safest places for our children, as well as, our staff. That said, much will depend not on what they—and we—do in school but, rather, what students and families do out of school. 

 

SARS-coV-2: Adolescents, Spread & Responsibility

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics:

“Although children and adolescents play a major role in amplifying influenza outbreaks, to date, this does not appear to be the case with SARS-CoV-2. Although many questions remain, the preponderance of evidence indicates that children and adolescents are less likely to be symptomatic and less likely to have severe disease resulting from SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition, children may be less likely to become infected and to spread infection.”

Nevertheless, it is imperative that our families/guardians understand their responsibility in limiting the spread of COVID-19 and keeping their children healthy. There are several ways that you can help:

  • Model hygiene and best practices for your children every day. Wear face coverings/masks outside the house. Routinely wash your hands. If you have not already done so, begin to engage your children in these practices in advance of school. Limit contact with those outside your immediate family. 
  • Limit your child’s exposure to other children and adults during non-school hours. While multi-family get-togethers, group playdates and sleepovers, team sports, visiting restaurants/bars, birthday parties, and group gatherings may be desired, they can facilitate the spread of the virus.
  • Limit your own interactions with adults outside your family. Transmission between adults is much more prevalent than it is between children.
  • Model responsible positivity with your children. Their emotional well-being is ours to protect and we know that children are greatly influenced by their family’s behaviors and attitudes. Help them get excited about the start of school and help manage their expectations.
  • Children need to be protected against vaccine-preventable diseases. Well-child visits and vaccinations are essential services and help make sure children are protected. Children who are not protected by vaccines may be more likely to get diseases like measles and whooping cough. As communities are opening up, it’s important for families to work with their children’s doctor or nurse to make sure their children stay up- to-date on routine vaccines including the flu shot. 

Want to learn more about our approach?  Contact us   for more information and to schedule a socially distant tour.