Dear SDDS Families,
This morning I met with the St. David’s Day School Board of Directors and the decision was made unanimously to follow the intent of Governor Abbott's executive order issued yesterday and close school until April 3rd.  The board ultimately decided that it is most prudent to ensure the safety and well-being of our students, families and teachers to hold off until there is more data available on the spread of the virus in Austin and Travis county.  Additionally, based on the survey results, a very small number of families indicated that care was essential during this time. We are committed to working with these families to help them to find alternate care and will reach out personally to help connect them to other resources.  
During the meeting, the board also established a COVID-19 subcommittee who will be meeting as needed during this time.  We are committed to updating families weekly, so you can be certain you will know what to expect moving forward after April 3rd.
Over the past few days, I have worked with both our Board President, Audrey Ench and Assistant Director, Colette Dunlap to begin to develop a web page dedicated to providing age appropriate resources for use at home.  We will have this page ready to launch early next week. So far, we are looking to include content such as teacher-led story time, at-home craft or science projects (some led by your child’s teachers and other in PDF format), virtual field trips, and outdoor activities or games you and your child can play at home.  While the site will be launched early next week, you can expect new content to be added regularly. The goal of the portal will be to connect families with one another and also keep connected to friends and teachers here at school. We recognize that during these uncertain times, routines, familiar faces and sharing joy will keep all of us healthier and happier.  
I want to acknowledge I know it will be a shift in communication, but now that I am officially on board as the new Head of School, I want to make sure you have my direct contact information. You have previously contacted Colette, and you are welcome to copy her on communications, but please reach out to me from this point forward.  Next week when I host the virtual meet and greet, I am hoping to get to put faces with names and get to know each of you well over the coming months.  
We continue to turn to Him for guidance and support through this time of uncertainty.  Please receive these words and seek comfort in your family, friends, neighbors and community. 
Almighty God, Heavenly Father, you have blessed us with the joy and care of children: Give us calm strength and patient wisdom as we bring them up, that we may teach them to love whatever is just and true and good, following the example of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. 

​If you are in need of additional information, resources, or food assistance please review the links below: 
Austin ISD Coronavirus Updates
Texas Health and Human Services 
CDC Schools and Childcare Services 
Austin ISD Meals during closures 
Texas 211 - help finding food and other community resources
Central Texas Food Bank 
Sincerely,
Leigh Moss
Head of School 
St. David’s Day School 
leigh.m@stdave.org
512-486-0514

 Dear SDDS Parents,
We hope you are all staying healthy, safe and trying to enjoy spring break. As many of you probably know AISD and many other local school districts have decided to close schools until April 3rd. We generally follow AISD’s lead, but in this unprecedented situation we wanted to reach out to our families to get a better understanding of your needs before making a final
decision. Texas Health and Human Services has issued new guidelines to child care facilities and several facilities in our local community have decided to remain open to serve families in the community who don’t have the option to keep children home. We have developed this survey to gather information about the needs of our families over the next couple of weeks and help us decide if we should remain open or not. Please take a few
minutes (~ 5 min) to complete this survey. The deadline to complete the survey is 5pm CT Thursday, March 19th, so we have time to make a decision and send out communications by Friday, March 20th. Our decision whether to close SDDS or remain open will be dependent on these responses as well as guidance from The Episcopal diocese of Texas, Texas HSS, the CDC and local, state and Federal government. If we decide to keep SDDS open for the time being, please keep in mind the following:

● We would strictly follow all guidelines provided by NAEYC, the CDC and Texas HHS. Children and family members entering the school would have their temperatures checked and anyone with a temperature of 100.4 or above would not be allowed into the school. Staying open would only work if families keep children home if they are sick, if a member of the household is displaying symptoms or if there has been any exposure to
someone diagnosed with or suspected of having coronavirus.

● Care provided during this time would be targeted toward families in need of child care because they need to work outside of the home and/or are unable to keep and care for their children at home. Caregivers with occupations in the medical field, government or other essential services are examples of families who may find themselves in this situation.

● This situation is rapidly evolving and we are constantly monitoring multiple sources for the most up to date guidance. If we made the decision to keep SDDS open in the coming weeks, we may have to reverse that decision at any point based on guidance provided by the state of Texas, Episcopal Diocese, CDC, Texas HHS and other governing bodies. SDDS is dedicated to doing what is best for our families and staff through this unprecedented time. We are trying to handle the situation with speed, grace and compassion. Your patience and support are greatly appreciated. If we are forced to close we are asking families for ideas of learning and development resources you would like to see from us. Things like online story times, worksheets, suggested developmental activities, and other ways to keep children occupied while at home etc. We must also ask families to continue paying tuition even if the school closes. In order to continue paying our teachers and staff we need the support of the

SDDS community. In the coming weeks we expect to get more information on the government’s ability to help families and employees, but until then we must rely on tuition and support from the church to pay our teachers and staff. As with all things, we turn to Him for guidance and support. Please receive these words and seek comfort in your family, friends, neighbors and community.

Everlasting Father, thank you that you are strong and true, abounding in love for me. As I face obstacles that seem insurmountable, please show your power and give me victory and success. For all the days of my life, I ask that you will give me the strength I need to run the race set before me. I pray that my life would be a testimony of your grace and love. Give me strength to endure, power to overcome and peace to be content in every circumstance. To you be all the praise and honor. All this we ask in your most Holy Name.

If you are in need of additional information, resources, or food assistance please review the
links below:
Austin ISD Coronavirus Updates
Texas Health and Human Services
CDC Coronavirus
CDC Schools and Childcare Services
Austin ISD Meals during closures
Texas 211 - help finding food and other community resources
Central Texas Food Bank
*We’ve also attached a packet filled with activities to support families with young children at
home.
Sincerely,
The Rev. Dr. Chuck Tredwell, Rector, St. David’s Episcopal Church ​
and
Audrey Ench
President, SDDS Board of Directors 

Dear Parents, 
The health, well-being and safety of our students and staff is our top priority. St. David’s Day School is closely monitoring media reports, AISD announcements, direction from the Episcopal Diocese of Texas and information shared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about the coronavirus (COVID-19). At this time, there are no known cases of this virus associated with our school. 
St. David’s Day School already has strict cleanliness and sanitation guidelines in place based on the accreditation standards set forth by NAEYC and outlined in our Illness Policy: 

• Please keep your child at home if he or she has any of the following: 
• Evidence of a cold (consistent cough, drainage that is not clear) 
• A temperature of 100.4 degrees F or more
• An upset stomach, including vomiting or diarrhea within the last 24 hours 
• Evidence of any contagious disease (for example: hand-foot-and-mouth, chicken pox, flu, etc.) 
• Shows signs of fatigue 
• Children who develop symptoms of illness will be sent home. In case of an emergency, if the parent is not available, the child’s physician will be called. 
• If your child is too ill to play outside, please keep him or her at home. Small children do not understand why they cannot play when everyone else is outside. 

**If your child has an illness that is diagnosed by a physician as being contagious, notify the school immediately so that other parents can be alerted to the fact that their children may have been exposed.**
In addition to these precautions the CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help in the spread of respiratory viruses, as you would for the common cold or flu. St. David’s Day School will continue to do the following:

• Monitor all student and staff symptoms of a fever (100.4-degree Fahrenheit or higher), cough, sore throat, runny/stuffy nose, body aches, headache and generalized fatigue. Students and staff who have a fever will be sent home from school and be asked to remain at home until they have been fever free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication.
  
• Encourage parents/guardians to not send students to school if they are sick. 
  
• Teach students and staff effective handwashing with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
  
• Teach students not to share personal items and to cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or their upper sleeve if a tissue is unavailable.
  
• Proper disposal of tissues/paper towels in receptacles.
  
• Routine cleaning and sanitation in the facility as indicated in the “Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting Frequency Table.” Staff clean and sanitize toilet seats, toilet handles, toilet bowls, doorknobs, and floors, toys and other shared items every day—or immediately, if they are visibly soiled. 
  
• Our Sexton, Kim, is a dedicated resource assigned to the Day School to specifically maintain the highest possible sanitation and cleanliness standards. 
  

While a new type of illness can be scary, we can protect our students, teachers, and the broader community by using simple everyday actions that protect people from other types of respiratory viruses. This is important not just to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, but to help prevent the spread of other infections that can lead to student illness and absences. Any decisions that may need to be made regarding a change to school operations will be done so with guidance from the CDC, Diocese and local health officials. 
Thank you for your support of our school, students, teachers and staff. Updated information from the CDC on coronavirus can be found at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html. The most recent information about coronavirus in Texas may be found at: https://dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/.
We’ve also attached the CDC’s Coronavirus Fact Sheet for your review. 
Best Regards, 
Father Chuck Treadwell Rector
​St. David’s Episcopal Church