Message from President McCarville Regarding COVID-19 Outbreak

Dear Xavier families,

As you are aware, the COVID-19 outbreak continues to evolve at a rapid pace. It is important that families remain alert for communication from Xavier as we head into Spring Break and over the course of the break. Any information affecting our school operations and/or events will be communicated through our typical school communication channels.

Spring Break
We are aware that many of our families will be (or are currently) traveling for Spring Break. In the event that during your travels, it has been determined that you or any members of your family have been exposed to COVID-19 and need to self-isolate, please know that XHS faculty and administration are committed to working with your family to accommodate academic learning needs during that time.

In the Event of a Confirmed Case of COVID-19 In Our School...
Notification of confirmed pandemic or infectious disease threats to Xavier will come from Linn County Public health (LCPH). Xavier will collaborate with LCPH to monitor disease outbreaks in our school and to determine if and when school should be canceled. The information provided by LCPH will also guide decisions on the length of time for a school closure. Keep in mind that Xavier High School also remains in close communication with our Xavier Catholic Schools elementary/middle school partners and the Archdiocese of Dubuque.

General Reminders...
As a reminder, we continue to encourage faculty, staff, students and families to

Keep children home when they are sick.
Students (and parents/guardians) who are ill, especially with acute respiratory symptoms (not allergies or chronic conditions), should stay home
If a student has a fever of 100 degrees or higher, he/she may not return to school until he/she has been fever-free for at least 24 hours without medication
Teach your children to always cover their cough and sneezes with a tissue or elbow.
Remind them to wash their hands with soap and water (or use hand sanitizer) after they touch their face, use the restroom and before they eat.
Tell children to avoid touching their mouth and nose since that is how germs get into the body.
Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects (everyday household disinfectants are fine).
Enhance cleaning of high touch surfaces like door knobs, toilet handles and sink handles.
Plan for when community spread occurs.
Ensure you have a plan to designate a caregiver, such as a family member or neighbor, for a sick child(ren) if you can’t stay home.
Know your child’s school plan to communicate with you when needed, such as robocalls, email or checking their website.

We have also begun to gather school-impacting information as it relates to the outbreak at XavierSaints.org/COVID19 for a centralized resource for families.

We ask for continued prayers for all those who have already been affected by this outbreak. We also ask for God's blessing over our school, our community and our entire world as we continue to endure this together as a family of faith.

Sincerely,
Chris McCarville (R97)
President, Xavier High School

ACTION ITEM FOR PARENTS:

As we plan for possible disruption to our school calendar, we want to be prepared for alternative methods of teaching and learning. At this time, we wish to assess internet availability to Xavier families at home. For our planning purposes, please click here to complete a short family survey. Thank you in advance for your response!