Click here to read – A message from our Head of School

Click here to read – A Message from our Chaplain

Click here to read – A Message from our Chaplain

Click here to read – A Message from our SHA President

Click here to read – A Message from our Chaplain.

Click here to read – A Message from our Head of School

Click here to join us for a Health and Wellness Town Hall

Click here to read a message from our Director of Technology

Click here to read a Message from our Chaplain

Click here to read a message from our Chief Financial Officer.

Click here to read A Message from our School Nurse

Click here to read – A Message from our Chaplain

Click here to read a message from our Head of School

Dear St. Philip’s Families,

St. Philip’s Episcopal School was founded during a time of uncertainty, not unlike this one. At the end of World War II, Episcopal families in Coral Gables were banding together and driving to Coconut Grove to be spiritually fed at the one Episcopal Church in the area. Due to the premium price of gasoline and rationing, this weekly Sunday trip for families was not sustainable. Therefore, the parish agreed to send a priest from Coconut Grove to Coral Gables, and soon St. Philip’s Episcopal Church was born. Ten years later, Marian Krutulis approached the Rector and Vestry and suggested the founding of a school focused on early childhood education. That was 67 years ago, and St. Philip’s Episcopal School has never looked back.

St. Philip’s Episcopal Church and School weathered the storms after the Second World War and several national crises that have occurred in the years since. This was done by pulling together as a community. This time will be no different. 

As we begin to look to next school year, I want to let you know that St. Philip’s is standing with you and is committed to ensuring that your child’s early educational years are not interrupted by our current crisis. I encourage you to reach out directly to me or to our Chief Financial Officer, Renee Castillo, if you have financial concerns regarding the 2020 – 2021 school year. Additionally, if you would like to change the payment plan you selected when you signed your child’s contract, we can assist with that as well (and will certainly waive the fee that such a change would normally incur). And while billing for next school year will not occur until June 1st, it is important that you feel free to reach out to us now if you have questions about your options. 

Next school year might seem like a lifetime away, but it will be upon us in a matter of months. Our community will emerge stronger and more connected than before. Bearing that in mind, know that we are here to listen and to provide guidance in any way that we can. 

In service,

Dr. Jasmine B. Harris

Head of School

The angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid. I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.  He isn’t here, because he’s been raised from the dead, just as he said.” — Matthew 28:5-7

Dear Members of the St. Philip’s Community,

May the season of Easter, that now begins, fill your hearts and homes with hope and joy!

We could have never imagined we would celebrate Easter without being able to attend church. Easter Sunday is for sure the most amazing service of the year. The extraordinary music, with trumpets and cymbals; the altar filled with the best flower arrangements we can imagine; a liturgy that makes us feel glorious joy; and people–hundreds of people– that fill the church with their most beautiful spring-colored outfits.

Let us then remember that the first Easter Sunday was a quiet and solemn morning. The disciples were all locked up in the upstairs room where they had celebrated Passover, the Last Supper, and they were afraid of being arrested. The women went to visit the tomb and found it empty. I wonder about the silence of that morning. I wonder how the women were feeling and how their feelings must have been very far from celebratory.  This Easter Sunday I embraced the silence. In the quiet of our days, with just the members of our household by our side, is where the joy of Easter resided.

This past week, I asked the students to share one highlight of these weeks of social distancing, and without fail the answer was, “I am grateful for spending time with my family.” What is happening these days is frightening and unsettling, but let us not allow fear to steal from us the goodness of time with our families. I pray we didn’t miss out on the opportunity of rejoicing in the quiet of Easter morning with the hope and joy it brings.  

Here is the chapel for this week. Our Chapel leader is Student Council Chaplain, Ryan Eichhorn. Join him in prayer and together let us continue to pray for the world to heal, for our community to be safe and healthy, and for us to be together again soon.

Happy Easter,

Mrs. Blanca Famadas

Chaplain

Greetings Members of the St. Philip’s Community, 

The uncertainty of our return date is a constant thought for us all. To continue to support remote learning, we want to ensure that students have all materials needed for instruction. The Governor’s Executive Order declared school an essential activity. Therefore, picking up instructional materials is permissible. Over the next few days, in addition to providing virtual instruction, your child/children’s teachers will organize and label each student’s items. 

On Monday, April 13th, we will be offering curbside pickup for your child’s instructional materials.  A member of our Facilities Team will bring a cart with your child/children’s items in a bag and place the cart near your vehicle. Placing items directly into a vehicle or trunk will not be permitted. Please remain in your vehicle and allow us time to deliver the items and return to six feet of social distance before you retrieve the items. It would be extremely helpful if you would write your child’s last name on a piece of paper and place it on your car’s dashboard so that our team can identify you easily while keeping their distance. If another family has asked you to retrieve items for their children, please make a sign with their last name on it as well.

Families with multiple students will be able to collect items for all of their children at the scheduled time for the oldest child. For everyone’s safety and well-being, we ask that you adhere to the schedule outlined below, which will help expedite the process. During your scheduled time, we ask that you form a carpool line (from east to west) beginning at the entrance assigned to your class below (Stone Cross Entrance or the Fountain Entrance).

Pick-up Schedule:

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. – 5th Grade  (Fountain Entrance)
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – 4th Grade  (Fountain Entrance)
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. – 3rd Grade  (Fountain Entrance)
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – 2nd Grade (Fountain Entrance)
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – 1st Grade  (Fountain Entrance)
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Kindergarten (Stone Cross Entrance)
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. –  PreK4 (Stone Cross Entrance)
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. –  PreK3 (Stone Cross Entrance)

If the scheduled time does not work for you, please email Mr. Greene directly, and he will assist you with other arrangements.

Our current focus is on instructional materials. If the quarantine is not lifted before the scheduled end of the School year, we will provide a final opportunity for you to retrieve additional belongings. And while my fingers are crossed that this is not the case, we will be prepared. 

Additionally, we are continuing to follow the School calendar. To that end, the Easter Break will begin this Thursday at 12 noon. Remote learning will resume on Tuesday, April 14th, in the morning. While this is not the Easter weekend any of us had in mind, I am encouraging our entire faculty and staff to unplug from their professional duties and connect with their loved ones. I am going to attempt to follow suit. There are many things going on in the world at this time, but I am looking forward to using this break to refocus on my spiritual purpose. It is now more critical than ever. My prayers are with you all. 

Respectfully, 

Dr. Jasmine B. Harris
Head of School

Dear St. Philip’s Families,

I hope you all are doing well and staying healthy. Life has surprised us with some new challenges. While these challenges can be stressful, some may find it helpful during this time to relax, reconnect with family and enjoy this beautiful weather. I’m looking forward to seeing your children’s beautiful faces and bright smiles soon.

Today marks the second week of remote learning. While this will be a different experience for us all, it is important that we remain aware of what is most meaningful to us. Allow yourself gratitude, joy, and peace; sometimes the most difficult challenges in life come with a silver lining. Enjoy being with your family, practice mindfulness, and have fun. 

I am reachable by phone at 305.244.3590 or via email at mrobbins@saintphilips.net. Please reach out to me if you need any emotional support. I’m here for you.

Best regards,

Molli Robbins, LCSW

School Counselor

Greetings Members of the St. Philip’s Community,

How wonderful is it that we have completed our first week of remote learning? May I say how grateful I am for technology!

In the midst of these quiet days, familiar faces and voices on my computer screen are rays of sunshine. I am so happy we have started our remote learning and look forward to visiting with all of you in the coming weeks. I would like to add that as I enjoy this moment, I find myself thankful for Mr. Diaz and his Tech Team who make all this possible. I am sure that like me, many of you have reached out to them for assistance.  We are most certainly blessed to have them.

Next week, we will resume Chapel time. Going forward, the Student Council officers and advisors will send you a video each week. This will allow you and your family to begin the week with prayer, as is our tradition. This coming Sunday is Palm Sunday, which marks the beginning of Holy Week, the holiest of times in our Christian tradition. Monday Chapel will be the readings of the Stations of the Cross. The video will have the images of the Stations of the Cross and the prayers to help you actively participate.  

As we journey through this new normal, please know that I pray for you every day. I pray that each of you is healthy, safe and hopeful, and for the day when we are together again.

I am available via email, or Google Hangouts. Here is the schedule of my office hours:

Mondays: 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. 

Tuesdays: 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. and 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Wednesdays: 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Thursdays: 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. and 1:00 – 3:30 p.m.

Fridays: 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.

We are in this together, do not hesitate to contact me.

Blessings to all you,

Mrs. Blanca Famadas

Chaplain  

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your
steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night.” Psalm 92:1-2 

Greetings Members of the St. Philip’s Community,

I pray that my note finds you and your loved ones safe and well. Yesterday marked the official launch of remote learning for our students, and I am proud of the commitment, collaboration, and ingenuity demonstrated by our faculty and staff to make the day a success. At the moment, our teachers continue to participate in webinars, research independently, and work across grade levels to provide the best virtual experiences for our students. Their hard work and dedication is deeply appreciated and is a testament to how much we all love and miss our students. 

To say that I miss our students is an understatement. There is no substitute for hugs from our kids and the joy that ensues from seeing their smiling faces. I often tell my 5th-graders that spending time with them is the best part of my day—and, that is the truth. Our students are intellectually curious, courageous, and encouraging. Most importantly, they are resilient and kind.

As we all strive to adjust to the challenges of social distancing, I ask us to consider three points as we continue educating our children in this academic partnership:

1. Read with your children. Find books, magazines, and articles that you can read and discuss as a family. Literacy is the cornerstone of all academic success. 
2. Discuss current events in an age-appropriate manner. Remind children that other events are happening in the world in addition to our current pandemic.
3. Remember the Arts. Be intentional in seeking new art mediums and genres to present to students at this time. Listen to music that is culturally different than your own, or explore a new art form as a family. 

I am confident that our community will continue down a path toward growth and excellence despite our current challenges. I miss you all and look forward to reuniting with you soon.

Sincerely, 

Orlando Greene
Interim Assistant Head of School

Dear St. Philip’s Families, 

I hope you all have been able to stay healthy and safe.  

I am writing to share the latest Centers for Disease Control (CDC) updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) and how we can all do our part in limiting the spread of this disease in our community. We encourage all families to follow the National Guidelines regarding social distancing and the importance of avoiding all unnecessary travel. 

While we currently have no reported cases of Coronavirus in the Church or School, we want to ensure that the lines of communication are open. To that end, please let us know of any suspected or confirmed (positive or presumptive positive) cases of COVID-19 in your household by informing our Head of School via email, Dr. Jasmine B. Harris. 

For your reference, I am including a link to the GLOBAL LEVEL 2 TRAVEL ADVISORY and information applicable to the State of Florida and our community regarding travel.  

• If anyone in your household travels, please ensure that you monitor your health and practice social distancing for 14 days after returning. 

• Please be sure you are symptom-free for 14 days after the arrival date of any travels prior to returning to campus. Proof of being symptom-free for 14 days will be required from your child’s physician prior to returning to school. This includes travel within the United States.

• Anyone who has recently traveled from the New York Tri-State area (Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York) should self-quarantine in their home for 14 days. This mandate was put into place on March 24th by Governor DeSantis. Self-quarantine should also be practiced when returning from a country with a Level 3 travel advisory. 

I encourage you to continue to follow the CDC and local government recommendations and updates. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to email me. I hope to see you all soon.  

Sincerely, 

Stephanie Begert, BSN, RN

School Nurse

Dear St. Philip’s Families,

I recently shared with the faculty and staff that for weeks, I had been excited about being able to drive down to the beach during Spring Break, and dig my toes into the sand. I was planning on waking without an alarm (although my body wakes up before 5:30 a.m. regardless), working out twice a day, and getting caught up on some of the fiction books gathering dust on my nightstand. Needless to say, not one of those things came to fruition. 

On the contrary, I spent this week providing support to our faculty, staff, and Leadership Team as we prepare to implement remote learning. I have watched with pride as our teachers have taken the master schedule, which takes months to prepare, and transformed it into a virtual reality for our students in a matter of days. What we are learning from our peer schools in Miami, and schools around the country, is that we must be open to change and flexibility throughout the entirety of this new instructional method. 

As we embark on this new path of distance learning together, I would like to respond to some questions which have been raised and provide a few tips.

Questions you may have about preparing for remote learning:

Q. How will parents and students receive information specific to their class.
A. Each evening, beginning on Sunday of each week, the teachers will send an email with classwork and the schedule for the  following day. The first email will be sent on Sunday, March 29th.

Q. When can parents and students talk with teachers one-on-one?
A. All teachers will have daily office hours with available sign-up times. Next week you will receive a link to schedule a virtual parent conferences.

Q. Is it mandatory for all students to participate in the virtual learning plan?
A. It is not mandatory for students to participate in virtual learning; however, students are required to submit and complete their assignments.

Q. Are students required to wear their school uniforms while participating in virtual learning?
A. Getting dressed “for school” sets the tone for the day. Students are strongly encouraged to wear their school uniform (shirt and shorts/skorts) when participating in remote learning with teachers and classmates. However, students will not be penalized if they are not in uniform.

Q. Will 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders be tested and receive grades over the coming weeks?
A. At this time, assignments are being graded using a pass/fail system.

Q. Will the School closure affect grade promotions?
A. Any parent whose child was in jeopardy of non-promotion would have been contacted prior to the School closure. 

Q. How does the School closure affect ERB’s, if at all?
A. We do not know at this time. Considering that all other major tests (SAT, ACT, AP Exams) have been canceled or rescheduled, ERB testing this year is not likely to take place. We continue to wait on information from the Educational Records Bureau.

Q. How will the School closure impact summer break?  Will time need to be made up?
A. At this point, the answer is no. As long as we can provide instruction, remotely or in person, through the scheduled last day of school (this differs by grade), we will meet the minimum state guidelines of 170 days of instruction per school year.

Q. What should the children in PreK3 – 3rd grade focus on before their virtual learning program launches on April 6th?
A. Students should continue to focus on the work that was provided by their teacher until further notice. Parents will be receiving an email from their child’s teacher regarding the next steps in remote learning no later than Sunday, March 29th.

Q. What can parents do to help?
A. During this time of transition, parents can support their children and the faculty by remaining patient, and being flexible and understanding.

Q. Who should parents email for tech support, if needed?
A. The entire Tech Team is available to support you and your family. Please send all tech support questions to tech@saintphilips.net, and one of our team members will respond as soon as possible.

We are a school, and next week will be full of learning–not only for our students, but for our teachers, parents, and Leadership Team. I look forward to being on this journey together.

Warmly,

Dr. Jasmine B. Harris, EdD
Head of School

• How long will remote learning continue? We will continue remote learning as long as the School is closed. Currently, the plan is to re-open on Monday, April 20th. This date may change depending upon recommendations for the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, and local, state, and federal government mandates.
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• What should parents do to assist their children with remote learning? Distance learning is new for us all. The teachers will be in regular communication with parents regarding expectations before each day begins. One of the most important things for parents to keep in mind is that remote learning activities will vary depending on the age of the student. Some students will need less assistance and some will need more. Later this week, our Interim Assistant Head of School, Orlando Greene, will share information with parents about ways to support their children during this time.
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• How will students be assessed and/or readiness for promotion to the next grade be determined? The goal will be moving to a pass/fail system during this time, and assessments will be limited over the next few weeks. Any conversations regarding promotion would have already occurred before this point.
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• What if we are unable to reopen on April 20th? St. Philip’s, along with the rest of the world, is following the changes brought on by COVID-19 daily. Our faculty and staff is committed to providing instruction, whether in person or remotely, through the end of the school year. Our concern for the health, safety, and well-being of our students, teachers, and families remains of the utmost importance, and will guide the next steps as this crisis continues to evolve.
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• Have plans been made for end-of-the-year activities? At this time, we are discussing all end-of-year activities and are waiting to see how the next few weeks unfold before official decisions are made.

• Will the school year be extended? At this point, the answer is no. As long as we are able to provide instruction, remotely or in person, we will meet the minimum state guidelines of 170 days of instruction per school year.
• Will the campus open any time before April 20th? To minimize exposure to the virus, the campus will remain closed for the next few weeks. Faculty and staff will report on Thursday, April 16th, assuming we are permitted to reopen. The campus will be open to families on Monday, April 20th.
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• Is St. Philip’s Episcopal School in alignment with what other schools are doing? While our Head of School is in daily contact with heads in Miami, throughout the state, and across the country, it is critical that we keep our unique community in mind. We serve a very specific age group in regards to virtual learning. It is incumbent upon us to be considerate of how much screen time we are asking of our youngest learners, and to ensure that the lessons and activities are developmentally appropriate for students in PreK3 – 5th grade. We are in sync with the recommendations of the National Association of Independent Schools and the Florida Council of Independent Schools.
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• How do we speak to our children about the current crisis? Our School Counselor, Molli Robbins, and our Chaplain, Blanca Famadas, have both sent out tips for talking with students about what can feel like a scary topic. Their missives have also contained links to helpful resources during this time. Additionally, Mrs. Robbins has made herself available via office hours to guide parents in these conversations.
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• Are all employees—part-time and full-time being compensated during this time? Yes.
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• What is being done on campus to ensure that the classrooms and Church are virus-free? The campus has been deep-cleaned, sanitized, and fogged twice since we closed on March 13th. One cleaning occurred immediately after we closed and the second cleaning occurred after we opened the campus for teachers to come in and pick up supplies. Special attention was given to student seats and desks, the restrooms, and commonly touched surfaces, i.e. doorknobs, cabinet handles, and shared electronic devices.

March 25, 2020

Greetings St. Philip’s Families, 

We hope you enjoyed yesterday’s video, highlighting how much we all truly miss our students and coming together as a community. We continue to pray that you are safe and doing well during this time of change and social distancing. 

As we collectively adjust during this period, Mr. Greene and I would like to share some of the things our teachers are working on this week in preparation for our March 30th return. Although we are technically on Spring Break, our faculty and staff are collaborating around the clock to provide our students with an academic experience that remains consistent with St. Philip’s academic goals and standards of excellence. In preparation for continued remote learning, our teachers are working on the following items to be initiated March 30th and fully implemented by April 6th across all grade levels:

1. Preparing consistent daily and weekly communication that outlines daily lesson plans and objectives
2. Reviewing schedules to identify the best large-group and small-group meeting times
3. Incorporating special-area teachers into weekly instruction
4. Ensuring all lessons remain developmentally appropriate despite increased technology usage 
5. Testing (and in some cases upgrading) their home internet bandwidth to ensure connectivity and sustainability

As we embark on the journey of virtual learning, (click here to read A Message from our Director of Technology & Facilities) we would like to give you some tips that can help you keep your children safe online. As online usage increases, so do challenges surrounding the Internet. Below are some tips that we ask you to review in preparation for the virtual learning reality that we are now forced to live. As always, Mr. Greene, myself, and the entire St. Philip’s Tech Team are here to help you in any way we can. If you have any questions or need any tech assistance, please do not hesitate to email the team at tech@saintphilips.net.

Here are some steps to help protect children online.

1. Start the chat

It is not possible to be at your child’s side every second of the day, so it is important to talk with them about online safety issues to help develop their critical thinking and ability to make good choices. It is also good to let them know they can come to you for help if they have any concerns. You may feel they know more about the latest technology than you do, but you have more life experience to guide them.

• Take the opportunity to set some boundaries around when and where they can use devices like tablets, smart TVs and gaming consoles, to help limit potential tech tantrums — you could even fill in an Early Years Family Tech Agreement.
• While you are all at home more, it is a great time to jointly view and play with your kids, so you can understand what they are doing and experiencing online.
• Research the games, apps, social media and platforms they are using. Check sites like common sense media for tips about talking with your child about tricky personal subjects they may “stumble” onto online. 
• Learn how to protect their information and report inappropriate content or conduct.

2. Use parental controls and safe search options

Parental controls can help block your child from accessing specific websites, apps or functions. They can also monitor your child’s use of connected devices and set time limits. But beware! You cannot always rely on them — they should be used in combination with other online safety strategies.

• Parental controls are available on most tablets, smartphones, computers, TVs, and gaming consoles.
• You can also download family safety controls or buy robust filters out of the box. 
• You can set up child-friendly search engines, or select safe search settings on digital devices, to help prevent your child from stumbling across inappropriate sites and content.

3. Check smart toy settings

It is surprising how many toys or devices can connect online these days, from drones and smart teddies to tablets and wearables. While they can be both entertaining and educational, they can reveal your child’s personal details and location — and allow other people to contact them without you knowing. You can help keep them stay safe by:

• Setting strong passwords
• Turning off location settings
• Limiting the amount of personal information shared

4. Look out for unwanted contact and grooming

Unwanted contact is any communication that makes your child feel uncomfortable or unsafe, even if they initially welcomed the contact. It can come from a stranger, an online ‘friend’ or even someone they actually know. At worst, it can involve ‘grooming’ — building a relationship with the child in order to abuse them.

You can help by:

• Making sure their accounts are private — including chat functions on games
• Encouraging them to delete requests from strangers and any contacts they do not know or have met in person
• Reporting and blocking anyone suspicious on a website or service
• Remembering that if someone online becomes aggressive or threatening you should contact your local police

Thank you for your unwavering commitment and support of our faculty and staff. Click here to review our previous communication regarding COVID-19 and the School closure. Additionally, please be on the lookout for a letter from Mr. Greene this Friday regarding academic expectations for the weeks to come. Stay safe!

Respectfully, 

Orlando Greene
Interim Assistant Head of School

Edward Diaz
Director of Technology & Facilities            

Dear Parents,

I hope you are all doing well in this time of uncertainty.

I have compiled some information to help you to talk to your children about COVID-19, remain calm, and manage stress and anxiety. There are also some fun activities to do with your children. 

I am reachable by phone 305.244.3590, or email mrobbins@saintphilips.net. I can also set up a video session by FaceTime, or Doxy.me. I am flexible and will make myself available to you with complete confidentiality. 

Below are some tips for discussing Coronavirus with your children:

Keep calm.

These trying times can be very overwhelming and stressful for everyone, including kids. They pick up on everything from the adult conversations around them to the information they encounter on social media and from peers, so it’s important to be a good role model. Remember that panic only creates more panic. If you are afraid, it’s important that you work through your anxiety so that you do not further escalate your child’s worries. Kids do not learn well when they are feeling stressed.

Listen and be supportive.

Being a good listener is key. Let them raise and share their own concerns. Reflect on and validate their feelings. It’s okay to say, “I’m feeling a little worried too, but we will take care of ourselves and get through this.” It’s important to meet children where they are and to answer their questions and to address their concerns. Help children communicate their feelings and remind them that it’s okay to feel sad, mad, afraid, or confused.

Be honest and accurate.

Information is useful, but too much information can have the reverse effect. Talking about the facts that we know helps to relieve anxiety. And, most importantly, be honest and accurate but not gloomy. Be careful not to give them too much information. Provide them with enough to satisfy their curiosity for the moment. This should be an ongoing conversation, not a one-time thing.

Emphasize safety.

Reassure your children that they are safe. Doctors, and scientists across the country and the world are working on finding a vaccine and ways to treat patients with COVID-19. They are doing everything possible to keep us safe. Focus on all the other caring adults around them who are working to protect us.

Encourage healthy habits.

Many of the things we practice as adults—such as eating healthy, mindfulness activities, and getting plenty of sleep—are important to do at home, not only during school closures but every day. Give kids instructions on how to stay safe and healthy and regularly review and model basic hygiene and health practices for protection.

Limit social media.

Your kids might be scared of things they’ve heard or seen on television or social media. Monitor and limit their social media and screen time to prevent children from becoming oversaturated with frightening and/or inaccurate messages.

Enjoy quality time together.

Above all, engage in enjoyable activities together. Some activities to do at home as a family include: reading books together, doing puzzles, building forts, going for walks, painting, playing with Legos. Simply put, spend time together actively interacting with your children. While this is a scary time, the time that you spend with them could very well be remembered as one of their best childhood memories. And, above all, remember to always give children choices whenever possible.

Adapted from Bonnie Rubenstein, University of Rochester school of Education.

In addition, here are some trustworthy resources you may use to talk to children about Coronavirus:

https://childmind.org/article/talking-to-kids-about-the-coronavirus/

Managing stress and anxiety

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html 

Meditation Apps to download

• Calm App
• Stop, Breathe and Think Kids

Keeping Normalcy and Structure

https://www.nurturelife.com/blog/create-sense-normalcy-kids-coronavirus/ 

Fun Mindfulness Activities

https://www.kidsyogastories.com/kids-yoga-poses/

https://biglifejournal.com/blogs/blog/5-fun-mindfulness-as/

Best regards,

Molli Robbins, LCSW

School Counselor

• Go to a quiet room.
• Make sure the room is well lit, preferably lights should be facing you and not behind you, if possible.
• Make sure the room has good internet connectivity.

1. Keeping the conversation flowing is essential. Know how your children feel and what they understand about what is happening. Answer their questions with age-appropriate information. Be honest. It is okay to say we don’t have the answer right now.
2. Share specific things that, as a family and individually, they can do and have control over, such as hand-washing.
3. Stay connected with family and friends through Facetime or Skype. Knowing everyone is doing well and seeing them will mean a lot to children.
4. Stay positive and make your time together fun. Go back to basic board games, play in the backyard, and make daily family time.
5. Have a structured routine at home for schoolwork and playtime. Creating a plan for the day will give the day normalcy.
6. As part of the day, set a time for prayer. When you gather for a meal, say a prayer of gratitude and a prayer for the world to heal. In the midst of all that is happening, our faith will be a source of reassurance and strength.

• Warning Level 3:  You are required to keep your child home from school for 14 days from the return date.
• Warning Level 2:  You are strongly requested to keep your child home from school for 14 days from the return date.
• Warning Level 1:  We encourage your child to stay home from school for 14 days from the return date.

• Work or engage in schooling from home whenever possible.
• Avoid social gatherings of more than 10 people.
• Avoid eating or drinking at restaurants, bars and food courts – use drive-thru, pickup or delivery services instead.
• Avoid all unnecessary travel, shopping trips, and social visits.
• Do not visit nursing homes, retirement homes or long-care facilities.
• Continue to practice good hygiene practices.

Greetings St. Philip’s Families,

Thank you for your patience and flexibility during the expeditious closure of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church and School. As educators, it is our number one priority to provide your child with an exceptional academic experience in a safe environment. The rapid spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) has challenged schools across the nation to reimagine the educational experience for students while simultaneously striving to mitigate the range and impact of Coronavirus.

To ensure learning continues during the School closure, our teachers sent home materials for all of our students on Friday, March 13th. The work each student received is developmentally appropriate and addresses the needs of our learners who range in age from three to eleven-years-old.

We are aware of a number of requests for students to participate in a teacher-led interactive online learning experience. As the School’s academic leader, I assure you that we are examining ways to integrate more comprehensive remote learning opportunities for all of our learners. We have provided students with 10 days of remote learning activities. Five days now, followed by Spring Break, then five more days just in case we need them.

If we find ourselves in a situation where we need to continue remote learning after Spring Break, we will have virtual check-in times for each grade once a day. In the interim, we ask that each student use the resources provided for the next five days, and then make the best of the week of Spring Break as a family. We will communicate any updates via email in the days to come. Stay safe and healthy.

Best regards,

• Warning Level 3: You are required to keep your child home from school for 14 days from the return date.
  .
• Warning Level 2: You are strongly requested to keep your child home from school for 14 days from the return date.
  .
• Warning Level 1: We encourage your child to stay home from school for 14 days from the return date.

• As stated in last Friday’s communication, we ask that if your child is showing any signs of illness, no matter how mild, please keep your child home.
  .
• As per St. Philip’s protocol, any child with a persistent cough, and/or noticeable congestion should stay home.

1. We have instituted mid-day cleanings of all restrooms, along with more frequent cleanings of commonly touched surfaces, such as door handles, telephones, desks, and shared electronic devices.
2. Surface cleaners have been purchased for all classrooms and offices for use by faculty and staff throughout the day.
3. We have instituted additional hand sanitizing stations to encourage hand washing.
4. The nurse has reviewed proper handwashing techniques with each class this week.
5. We will thoroughly disinfect the campus weekly, with the use of a fogger, and will complete a deep cleaning of the campus over spring break.
6. In an overabundance of caution, the School will not offer the chalice during Eucharist.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer for hands that are not visibly soiled.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Remain at home when you are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Cover your mouth when coughing and nose when sneezing with a tissue, and then dispose of the tissue in the trash. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
• Disinfect objects and surfaces you touch often.

• Warning Level 3: You are required to keep your child home from school for 14 days from the return date
• Includes China, Korea, Iran and Italy
• Warning Level 2: You are strongly requested to keep your child home from school for 14 days from the return date.
• Includes Japan
• Warning Level 1: Please practice usual precautions.
• Includes Hong Kong

February 28, 2020

Dear St. Philip’s Families,

The health and safety of your children are always our highest priority. For this reason, we are monitoring the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website for the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus (COVID-19). This is an evolving situation, and we will follow the latest CDC updates for guidance on the most effective and sensible prevention measures.

The CDC has emphasized that there are no reported cases of the coronavirus in the state of Florida. 

As with any respiratory illness, and given that it is also flu season, we remind you to take the precautionary steps used routinely to prevent the spread of illness:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer for hands that are not visibly soiled.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Remain at home when you are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Cover your mouth when coughing and nose when sneezing with a tissue, and then dispose of the tissue in the trash. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
• Disinfect objects and surfaces you touch often.

To stay informed and receive the most up-to-date information, please refer to the websites from the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization below:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

We will continue to actively monitor the CDC’s updates and make any adjustments to our day-to-day school procedures as needed. Any update that will directly affect our community will be communicated accordingly.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Begert, BSN, RN
School Nurse