April 18, 2021

Dear Staff and Families of Jewell School,

Recently, we were notified that a person in Jewell School has been diagnosed with COVID-19.  At this time, only one of our cohorts is affected.  As members of the school community, we understand that this might raise concerns alongside a caring response. We are working closely with our local public health authority to respond to this news and protect the health of our community by temporarily closing our PRESCHOOL cohort.

Each situation calls for different protocols. In this case, we will follow the following steps:

  1. Isolate and quarantine any close contacts to the infected individual.
  2. Complete a thorough cleaning and sanitation of areas of the school that the infected individuals work.

The best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is through staying home when ill, wearing face coverings, physical distancing, and practicing good health hygiene habits. Be sure to wash your hands frequently with soap and water, cover your coughs and sneezes, and avoid contact with people who have signs of illness. Get plenty of rest, exercise, and eat a healthy diet. Protect the community by following the Governor’s safety requirements. Wearing cloth face coverings reduces the spread of virus.

We will keep you updated with any new information as it comes out, while meeting the requirements to honor everyone's right to privacy.

More information can be found on the Oregon Department of Education’s Ready Schools, Safe Learners page and the Oregon Health Authority’s COVID-19 page. If you have any questions, please contact the Jewell School Office @ 503-755-2451.

Sincerely,

Stephen W. Phillips, PhD

Jewell School

Superintendent