About COVID-19

Dear PSI Community Members,

Please note that as per our Crisis Response Matrix we are now at Level 3.

As you may well know, the authorities have announced that all schools in Kyiv will be closed in response to COVID-19 from tomorrow, 12 March. This includes all After School Activities, ECAs, Panther Athletics and Saturday programmes. 27 March is currently mentioned as the non-official projected date for re-opening. We shall keep you posted as we learn more.

Tonight’s sports practices will run as usual. 

In the near future, and until we hear anything to the contrary from the authorities, all faculty and staff will be reporting to work on their usual schedule. 

Teaching staff will use the School’s online teaching platforms in order to support students and to maintain learning. We inform you that tomorrow, our teaching staff will meet together to work on the plans for this full closure, which will require significantly more work than the current hybrid model in which a limited number of faculty are currently teaching. As such, there will be no on-line instruction on Thursday, 12 March. On-line  instruction will commence for all students on Friday, 13 March.

Please expect to receive a communication from the school by the end of the working day on Thursday, 12 March regarding next steps for on-line learning.  We encourage you to check your home internet connection and make adjustments accordingly. An additional communication will be sent to our Grade 12 students currently undergoing mock examinations. 

On Friday, 13 March families will receive an sms reminder to check their emails. After which time, they are recommended to monitor their email accounts every day, and to check the PSI Today FB Group for updates. 

We understand that this change may impact your family dynamic, including having to provide for childcare, an issue we are also working through with our own staff. By moving our programmes online, we are hopeful that no learning will be lost, and perhaps more importantly, that new learning will be inspired. 

It is important to remember that at this time, there are still no reported cases in Kyiv. The government is not closing schools in response to an emergency, they are working to prevent one. It is important to remain calm and to help our students to do the same. We emphasise that in such extraordinary times, it is necessary to demonstrate care, compassion and support for each other. 

Sincerely,

Rachel 

Dear PSI Community Members,

We hope you all managed to enjoy the long weekend and we welcome you back to a busy week of school at PSI.

We are glad to see community members, who have completed their self-isolation periods, and who remain asymptomatic, start to return to campus. Please join me in sharing a warm welcome with them all.

We realize that we are all subjected to diverse and sometimes conflicting perspectives and advice with regards to the COVID-19 virus. Please know that PSI continues to confer with the health unit at the US Embassy, and is also following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendations as well as those from the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Last week, the Regional Educational Officer (REO) for the US Office for Overseas School visited campus and also met with me virtually. This week, on Friday,  we look forward to hosting the Country Director for the CDC, who will speak with groups of our students in relation to the virus. In addition, we have a strong network of schools within the CEESA region with whom we continue to share news and resources. In short, we continue to work together with recognized organizations in order to make well-informed decisions for our school and its community.

In addition, please make sure that you are a member of our internal Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/PSI.Today/) where you will find posts that help you to stay up-to-date with PSI’s latest news.

Dear PSI Community Members,

We have reached the end of an unusual but very productive week. In terms of announcements from the local authorities, we understand that the regional commission of Chernivtsi has recently decided to introduce additional restrictive measures and that schools, in that area, will be closed from March 6 until March 22. (Source)

At the same time, Kyiv State Council Administration has not announced any school closures. Rather they have announced some increased preventative measures: see the announcement here.

As such, after a very welcome long-weekend, PSI looks forward to re-opening on Tuesday, March 10.

Next week we are hoping to host the Director of the Center for Disease Control (CDC). He is planning to visit PSI to speak with groups of students regarding the COVID-19 situation. More information will follow. 

Thank you all for your ongoing support,

Rachel

Dear PSI Community Members,

Good evening, everyone. School went ahead at full steam today with lots of great examples of ‘hybrid learning’. Our Crisis Management Team met to analyse our Crisis Response Matrix to be sure it is serving an optimal purpose. We have learned that the deputy health minister of Ukraine announced at a public meeting this afternoon, that upcoming measures to control the spread of COVID-19 in the country, will include school closures. No dates or specific details were shared but PSI is ready for this eventuality and will be in touch with you all if this is confirmed. We shall have our first virtual Board meeting this evening, as we test further our platforms intended to enable ongoing communication, collaboration and operational functioning. 

Dear PSI Community Members,

We were pleased that the return to School this morning  was so positive. I was sad not to be there to welcome you all, and I know my other 5 colleagues in the same situation as me, feel the same. 

I have received some very encouraging feedback regarding online learning. Students and teachers are working together across a range of platforms, including Google Classroom, MyPSI websites, Google docs, and even Google calendars, which allows students to join classes through a conferencing tool. We even had one student joining her friends for lunch through the use of technology! The Primary assembly was a huge success and also provided an opportunity to share information about the School’s actions with regards to the virus. Our school doctor instructed students on how to wash their hands thoroughly and other important tips regarding looking after our own health. It is good to see our students  taking this seriously but not showing any undue anxiety. Please enjoy the video linked here.  In Secondary, homeroom teachers shared a message from the principal welcoming them back and reminding them of the importance of health protocols and respectful and caring behaviour. 

We heard today, via an official announcement by the Ukrainian Ministry of Health, that there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 in Chernivtsi. While we expect that there will be further announcements, we continue to adhere to our Crisis Response Matrix. As such, School is open tomorrow and ready for learning.

Please join me for my scheduled Coffee Morning at 8:30am tomorrow morning in the Cafe Meeting Room. I will join you all virtually.

Dear Students and Parents,

We would like to thank you all for your cooperation at this challenging time, and we appreciate the many messages of support that we have received. Families have been very proactive in terms of responding to our request regarding the self-exclusion declaration. If you need to declare a self-exclusion and have not yet completed this document, please do so at your earliest opportunity. 

This morning, we had a whole school staff meeting with live and virtual participation. It went very well and it was encouraging to see and hear the positive and determined approach our faculty and staff members are demonstrating. It is also an example of our good preparation for virtual platforms, about which you will hear more later on this evening.

We have added some additional actions to the ones shared previously. 

1. Tomorrow morning, all adults accompanying bus riders will be reminded about the attendance exclusion criteria as will all families arriving at the school gate. Thank you for your ongoing cooperation

2. All visitors to campus will be interviewed with respect to the criteria and entrance will only be granted as appropriate

3. Additional disinfection of all rooms and on all buses is implemented, and hand sanitizers will be available on all buses as well as in all classrooms

4. A deep cleaning / disinfection of the whole school took place over the vacation

5. Faculty will speak with all students tomorrow morning. Secondary students will have time in their homeroom and Primary school’s assembly will continue. These times will be used as a way to share reassurance as well as important hygiene information with everyone in attendance. We will also discuss the need for kindness and compassion and appropriate treatment of any peers and adults affected by the exclusion agreements. 

Dear PSI Students and Parents,

Please make time to read this important communication in full. Thank you.

During this vacation week for PSI, reports of the spread of COVID-19 have dominated the news and the situation has begun to impact us directly. News about the virus is causing understandable concerns and raising many questions. As such, I want to address some specifics about the current situation. 

Restrictions on Attendance / Self-Monitoring

Based on information from credible sources (the World Health Organization (WHO), the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and Public Health England, we have decided to introduce some restrictions in terms of student and staff attendance at School. In particular, the escalation of the viral spread in Italy has led us to decide to ask all community members who have travelled anywhere north of Pisa to self-isolate for 14 days following their arrival back in Kyiv. The restrictions also apply to anyone who has visited Hubei Province China, Daegu or Cheongdo in South Korea, and Iran. This is a cautious measure, but we believe it is important to prepare and provide for the safety of all of our students, faculty, and staff. This decision means that I will be subjected to self-isolation for the next 14 days along with a few other faculty members. We will be working from home and in frequent and regular contact with everyone at school. 

For those families affected, firstly we request that you complete this self-exclusion declaration and that you self-monitor your well-being for 14 days following your return date to Kyiv, before returning to campus. During this period, you should be mindful of any fever, cough, or shortness of breath. The American Medical Center (AMC) advises that anyone with symptoms should not travel to the clinic but rather, should call them; a member of their medical team will visit your home. Please do not hesitate to contact our own medical team at PSI if you are concerned. 

Faculty will work with students who need to complete academic work remotely. 

We shall extend the vacation for all students for one day, meaning that everyone (except those affected by the attendance restrictions) should return on Tuesday, 3 March. This will allow time for all families to access the information about restrictions, to complete the self-exclusion declaration as necessary and will also provide necessary time for faculty to further prepare for the possibility of online learning. 

Mock examinations scheduled for Monday will be rescheduled. 

Core Values

We are aware there have been instances in which people from some of the affected countries, or those who have recently visited them have been stigmatized. Coronavirus is unaware of the nationality, ethnicity or travel details of the people it affects! PSI must remain ‘The Place Where we Belong’. Please continue to treat each other, and indeed everyone, with kindness and compassion. It is much easier to live our core values when everything is going smoothly. In this moment of increased anxiety, we must make a stronger effort to show respect and empathy and to be trustful and inclusive and to show strong support for each other. Please ensure that your behaviour is reflective of these values, and indeed all of our PSI values.  If you see anyone doing something that is intentionally or unintentionally inappropriate, remind them who we are at PSI and that such behaviour is not tolerated.

Student Travel

I am very sorry about the disappointing news that all events involving student travel, including regional tournaments and events scheduled here in Kyiv, have been cancelled until 1 May. Whether we are hosting a tournament or sending teams to other schools, CEESA, ISTA and Panther Academic events are some of the best experiences for our entire community, and especially for you as students. The cancelling of these events must be especially difficult for our 12th graders and students who will be leaving PSI at the end of this year. It is a great shame that this action has become necessary. 

It is important that you are aware that the driving reason for the cancellation is the unpredictability of how different countries will respond in the coming months. We are already experiencing a range of actions and reactions. CEESA schools will not take the risk of sending a group of students to another country and then have a government close its borders to the group or to an individual in the group (based on which passport a student might carry). Additionally, I want to reassure you that we are monitoring the situation with the help of the Health Unit at the US Embassy,  the Ukrainian Health Ministry, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Public Health England. The situation is very fluid. Please be assured that we are doing our best to make sure that our PSI students and community remain healthy. There are many unknowns at this point, which is unsettling, but we are all doing the best we can. 

Support for Students and Parents

As a result of this uncertainty you may find yourself feeling anxious. Please know that your teachers, your counsellors, your principal, and I are all here to help to provide support with this.

If you would like to speak with me, please let me know and I will make myself available to conference call with you.

It is at times like this that we fully appreciate our daily routine, freedom of movement and our community’s support. I look forward to returning to school soon.

Dear Parents and PSI Community,

School Attendance Restrictions

Unfortunately, there have been significant developments with regards to COVID-19, during our week-long vacation. For now, the Ukrainian authorities have not enforced any self-isolation measures. Only individuals from the Hubei province of China are currently subject to quarantine.  However, bearing in mind that many community members have been travelling over the break, we are taking a proactive response to the viral spread. While there are a variety of resources available, we are basing our list on information provided by Public Health England, which states that individuals recently in Wuhan, Iran, Daegu or Cheongdo or any of the Italian towns under containment measures, should self-isolate. 

 As such, PSI asks any families who have travelled to Wuhan in China, Daegu or Cheongdo in South Korea, Iran or any of the Italian towns under containment measures during the break, not to come to campus and to self-isolate for 14 days following their arrival back in Kyiv. 

If this affects you, please notify the school as you would for other excused absences, noting the reason for the absence. Learning for affected students will continue as per our distance learning protocols. 

Student Travel 

The CEESA Executive Board met virtually on Wednesday morning and has sent out a communication, linked here, suspending student travel for CEESA events until 1 May. The Athletics Department and Panthers' Academics organisers will be in touch with more information. As a result, we will not be traveling to any CEESA events or to the Middle School ISTA festival. We realize that this will cause a lot of disappointment for our students and staff, and ask for everyone’s understanding and cooperation at this difficult time.

Actions Taken in Response to the Virus to Date by PSI

We have:

1. Created a Crisis Management Response Matrix  (in collaboration with other CEESA schools). This Matrix, which we regularly review and update, lays out what levelled actions we will take in a variety of scenarios

2. Purchased for and fitted UVGI apparatus in all Primary classrooms. We have ordered more units for Secondary classrooms and for shared spaces

3. Ordered sufficient handheld sensor thermometers to be used on all buses and at the gate - should we reach level 2

4. Analysed our on-line learning programmes and prepared for sessions to remind and seek feedback from faculty and students next week

5. Updated our documentation with regards to online platforms (to be shared with the community)

6. Prepared a survey to send out to staff to find out if they have traveled to the affected regions over the break

7. Prepared posters regarding good hygiene practices for display on pur buses and around school

Please find here links to additional information:

Preparedness for Ongoing Learning

Advice from The International School Counselors’ Association

It is important to remember, as per information published by Public Health England, that you can only catch COVID-19 if you have been close to a person who has the virus. The infection is not serious for most people, including children, and most people get better with enough rest, water to drink, and medicine for pain.

Thank you for your support and assistance in complying with our School expectations. Given the progression of the virus, it is fair for all of us to assume that further steps may be necessary. To that end, please know that we continue to assess proactively all potential eventualities that might occur over the coming days and weeks. I shall inform you with regular updates as we navigate these changing and challenging times. 

Restrictions on Attendance / Self-Monitoring

PSI has introduced additional restrictions in terms of student and staff attendance at School. In particular, the escalation of the viral spread in Italy has led us to decide to ask all community members who have travelled anywhere north of Pisa to self-isolate for 14 days following their arrival back in Kyiv. The restrictions also apply to anyone who has visited Hubei Province China, Daegu or Cheongdo in South Korea, and Iran. For those families affected, firstly we request that you complete this self-exclusion declaration and that you self-monitor your well-being for 14 days following your return date to Kyiv, before returning to campus. During this period, you should be mindful of any fever, cough, or shortness of breath. The American Medical Center (AMC) advises that anyone with symptoms should not travel to the clinic but rather, should call them; a member of their medical team will visit your home. Please do not hesitate to contact our own medical team at PSI if you are concerned. 

Faculty will work with students who need to complete academic work remotely. 

We shall extend the vacation for all students for one day, meaning that everyone (except those affected by the attendance restrictions) should return on Tuesday, 3 March. 

There is heightened awareness around the globe regarding the spread of COVID-19.

The number one priority for our School remains the safety and well-being of our staff and students. The PSI Crisis Management Team will continue to monitor the situation closely to determine further steps for the benefit of students, staff and all community members including but not limited to counseling services.

Currently PSI is intending to reopen next week, following the vacation. We do have restrictions on attendance in place - refer to the email communication sent to all families on February 27.

Should anything else change we will contact our community members by SMS, emails, Facebook, PSI App notifications and the school’s website in the event of a campus closure.

Dear PSI Community Members, 

This morning’s Coffee Morning with parents and leadership team members was a great example of the strength of the PSI community. Our ability to share openly and honestly, to listen and to respect each other’s thoughts, experiences and feelings was very clear. A huge thank you to my colleagues who shared the staff’s and faculty’s ongoing actions and reactions, and to our parents who attended live and virtually and who verbalized their support for the school’s approach. 

Please note that as per our Crisis Response Matrix we remain at Level 1. Although, in response to our recent vacation and travel, we have, as you all know, enforced self-isolation to community members who travelled to the affected areas. Because of this, we are also requiring any non-PSI community members who wish to have entrance to the School to complete a questionnaire with the same criteria utilized for the self declaration. 

Dear PSI Community Members,

We hope you are all well and are looking after each other. We miss our students and indeed all of you already!

As we stated yesterday, by 17:00 this afternoon you will receive a message from your relevant Principal with regards to the organization and expectations to do with on-line learning.

In addition to the announcements pertinent to COVID-19 and Kyiv yesterday, the WHO declared the situation to be a pandemic. Please find here the WHO Director General’s opening remarks. 

Once again, I am providing the links to reliable sources of information for your easy access:

• WHO Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Situation

• US Dept of State Travel Advisories

• Public Health England Travel Advisories

• COVID-19 situation in the WHO European Region

• Information from the International Baccalaureate Organization regarding COVID-19

• The Official Portal of Kyiv City Council 

With very best wishes to you and your children,

Rachel

Dear PSI Community Members,

Today was our first full day in PSI online teaching and learning mode. Our faculty has worked very hard to establish protocols and expectations and to explore a range of technological platforms relevant to the different age groups. We are very proud of their efforts. We aim to do our very best for every child at every grade level and will be seeking feedback from you once we are a little more settled into the routine. 

Please note that we have extended the advice regarding self-isolation to include the 29 European countries in the Schengen Zone (in line with the US Embassy announcement yesterday). As such, please do not come to campus if you have travelled to Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City.  Home quarantine should be continued until 14 days have passed since departing the Schengen zone.

Please find here all of the communications regarding COVID-19 sent out to date.

In addition please see here advice from the American Medical Center (AMC) in Kyiv.

Best wishes to you all,

Rachel

Dear PSI Community Members,

Update from the Authorities on Restrictions

Today, as many of you will already know the Kyiv mayor's office announced further restrictions that will be in place starting from tomorrow, Tuesday 17 March 2020. For more information please see this link. (KSCA website). One outcome of importance is that we are obliged to close PSI’s swimming pool and gymnasium. No activities will occur in these venues until further notice.

Facebook Updates from The Ministry of Health

In addition, yesterday the Ministry of Health of Ukraine announced on their Facebook page that they are launching an instant information service regarding COVID-19 in Ukraine. As such, anyone with a FB account will be able to see the messages which FB will push out regarding important official announcements from the Ukrainian government. These messages will be in the language selected by a user for their usual FB activity.

Online Learning continued at all grade levels, with many successes. One limitation is limited bandwidth in some family homes. If you are encountering this, we suggest that you consider the following steps.

If you need extra bandwidth we recommend that you purchase a Mobile WiFi Hotspot. These devices access the internet using a SIM and can supplement your internet. One example is HERE.

If your dwelling has “dead zones” or areas where your already existing WiFi is not just reaching, we can recommend a WiFi Extender that can boost the range of your WiFi throughout your home. Here are two examples from Rozetka and Hotline. 

Finally, ensure that all household members are being respectful of others' online needs and priorities. For example, participating in a live class for one student might be difficult if their sibling is simultaneously and heavily using the internet on a task that can be accomplished at a later time. 

Wellbeing 

Our PSI Counsellors have created a fabulous Wellbeing Website. We invite you to access this website for ideas on how to support your children, other family members and yourselves, during this challenging period of time.

Until soon,

Rachel

Update from the Authorities Regarding Restrictions

Further restrictions and responses to the COVID-19 situation were implemented by the Ukrainian authorities today. Please see the link for details here.

Level 4

PSI has moved to Level 4 on its Crisis Response Matrix and, as such, we shall be closing our campus to staff, not including security, from Thursday, 19 March. Any request to enter campus from this date until the end of the quarantine period, will need the director’s authorization.

Social Distancing

Every contact we make risks a chain of transmission that could ultimately contaminate someone else. The term “flattening the curve” is worth reading about (if you haven’t done so already). Medical experts are saying that the more we can slow down the spread of the virus through social distancing, the fewer cases will require treatment at one time. As such, we believe it is our responsibility to strongly encourage everyone to work from home. 

Online Teaching Provision

Please note that teachers continue to do an extraordinary job in providing online learning for our students and that this will continue regardless of their location.

Best wishes to you all. We hope that you are bearing up well and taking good care of yourselves.

Rachel

Dear PSI Community Members:

We send you all our best wishes as we all try to adapt to our current reality. Over the last couple of days we have received many positive communications from parents; thank you. Hearing from you is an energizer; one that we all appreciate. 

I know that our teachers are sharing some wonderful resources for students and that we are all being bombarded with information but, we have decided to share, every now and again, something we have found and particularly love - something for all the family:  Stuck at Home? These 12 Famous Museums Offer Virtual Tours You Can Take on Your Couch.

PSI will use the opportunity created by this period of campus closure to check and update many of our online records. This may include verifying phone numbers, primary and secondary email addresses, home addresses, citizenship of family members and so forth. You may receive a call from one of our team members who will ask you to verify this information. We just wanted to let you know beforehand to expect a possible call in the near future.

Update from the Authorities

There are 7 new cases of coronavirus infection in Ukraine, as reported by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine yesterday evening.

Official sources of information on COVID-19

We also recommend you to join the official Telegram channel from the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. This is the only Telegram channel verified by the Ministry of Health. All news, current data, recommendations and ratings from experts are shared there 24/7. You can join the channel by clicking on this link.

We also remind you of some useful links for your easy access:

• WHO Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Situation

• US Dept of State Travel Advisories

• Public Health England Travel Advisories

• COVID-19 situation in the WHO European Region

• Information from the International Baccalaureate Organization regarding COVID-19

• The Official Portal of Kyiv City Council / available only in Ukrainian

• The Official Governmental Portal (Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine) / available in English 

Best wishes,

Rachel Caldwell