Coronavirus Update 

This is a day in a world that I didn't imagine that I would see. Borders and airports being closed down around the world. It is certainly unsettling and a little scary. 

Times of challenge and uncertainty, do test us however we can choose how we respond. Many of the ISPS community are away from their home countries. This is extra challenging, even though there doesn't seem to be any good place in the world at the moment. Stories coming from my friends and family in the UK  at the moment do not make me proud. 

I do think it is important to stick to the facts. I actually find facts reassuring. I also only look at the news once or twice a day, over obsessing about things doesn't help me.  I enjoy the funny memes circulating. Knowing that we can laugh at the situation with others helps me to put things into perspective.

Well, we started the ISPS virtual school today and I would like to thank and celebrate everyone for the fantastic start. 🙂

We have had children and teachers learning together online all day! 

I know that there were some challenges, we just finished a tech meeting, but overall we were successful, I hope that you agree!

I hope that you had a good day as far as you as possible, under the circumstances.  

We are ready to start virtual school tomorrow. Work will be posted by 7.30 am in the morning by teachers.

Please do go through the online learning plan which I sent yesterday and read the advice and recommendations for parents.

It is strongly recommended to get the children into a routine similar to a usual school day. Starting work by 7.45 and with breaks and lunch as usual. The closer that the children can keep to the usual times, the better.

Please find attached the ISPS online learning plan.

Onlne learning will start on Tuesday at 7.30am. 

Work will be posted by 7.30 every morning and there will be a combination of activities and learning approaches.

From Grades 3 upwards, teachers will be available on-line during their usual teaching schedule for questions or queries either by email or Google Meet.  

I am sure that you will agree that it has been quite a week. Trying to plan on shifting ground is challenging.

As we start the weekend, I wanted to thank you all for your support and input this week. Uncertain times test us.

As we start Saturday, I hope that you might find a minute or two to listen to one or two of these and reflect on the joy and strength that comes from community. 

We have been informed that this afternoon, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, has announced that all schools should be closed for a week starting from Monday. As stated previously, ISPS considers the advice of the Trinidad government as well as the US State Department in making decisions.

The Board has therefore decided that ISPS will move to online learning for next week.

I write to update you regarding our response and planning to COVID-19 following the Ministry of Health’s announcement yesterday that there is a confirmed case of the virus in Trinidad and Tobago.

Following this announcement, ISPS has moved to Level 2 of our emergency response plan.  

This means:

• All external trips and events for students are suspended.

• All visitors to the campus are by appointment only.

• Community Sports Nights and events are only open to ISPS staff, students and parents. 

• We are taking additional precautions with cleaning and sanitising of the facilities and are issuing reminders about personal hygiene.

• We are also asking all ISPS community members to take their temperatures daily.

It has been a very busy week at ISPS. With the coronavirus (Covid-19) continuing to spread around the world, we have been working hard to ensure that we have robust plans in place to make sure that learning continues in a meaningful way, whatever the eventuality in Trinidad and Tobago.

We are currently finalising protocol and expectations for learning in the different sections of the school in case we do have to move to on-line learning. Teachers and students are being trained in a variety of software which supports online learning, for example Google Meet, which used to be called Google Hangout, and Screencast for recording themselves, amongst others. You will be sent an on-line learning plan early next week which clearly lays out our approach and structures. 

As we all track the progress of the Corona flu virus, I would like to update you regarding our response to the outbreak.

We realize that it is concerning time for everyone and we are checking daily with the US and local health authorities as well as the Association of International Schools Heads and our own regional international school association.

ISPS has a detailed four-stage emergency plan which lays out our reaction to a virus, such as Coronavirus, coming to Trinidad.  It covers things like who can visit the campus, what trips or events can go on etc.

It also lays out our response should ISPS have to close for any period of time. We are currently on level 1.

Like many International Schools and organizations around the world, ISPS has developed contingency plans in case the COVID-19 situation seriously affects our community in Trinidad.

During the last week, the COVID-19 Coronavirus situation has evolved rapidly. The school is still monitoring the situation carefully and following the advice of the various international and regional health authorities who have extensive expertise in managing infections. Please read on for the latest information and advice.