Hello ICSAtlanta Community,

This is a very difficult and trying time, and we acknowledge and understand your fears and concerns for the safety of your children and families, especially given the unprecedented (in most of our lifetimes) events taking place around the world and in our communities.  In an effort to alleviate some of your concerns, I wanted to reach out with another update on ICSAtlanta’s efforts to promote safety and prepare for the weeks ahead.

Healthy Practices
As we have done since the beginning, we are sanitizing our school several times per day, washing hands/ providing hand sanitizer, and continuing to restrict sick students and staff from attending school. This being said, as general classroom sanitation supplies are becoming more difficult to find, if you are willing and able to donate Clorox wipes and/or hand sanitizer (preferably, large bottles), please feel free to drop them off at the front desk of either campus.  Thank you to those who have already sent in supplies.

Long-term School Closure Days (LTSC Days)
We have developed a long-term school closure (LTSC) plan for when it becomes necessary to close school.  This LTSC plan has been explained to our teachers and practice sessions on the technology required for online learning have been provided to them as well.

In the event of a school closure, on the first full-day of the closure, all parents will receive an email by 9 AM with specific information regarding your student’s online-learning, “classwork”, and homework expectations.  Please plan ahead, to the greatest extent possible for your family, to have the resources and supplies needed to ensure these LTSC days are efficient and effective: computer/laptop/tablet with audio capability (microphone or video cam not needed), ability to connect to the Internet (wifi or device data), your child’s login information (most importantly for Google Classroom and/or Clever), paper, pencils, and if at all possible, a printer (please make sure to ensure you have enough ink/toner).  If you do not have Internet connectivity, please reach out to your child’s teachers to make them aware; we will do our best to find alternative arrangements for work completion.
Please note that we cannot roll out this LTSC plan unless school is canceled.

Additional Large-Group Cancellations
In an effort to eliminate large-group activities, the following events will be cancelled or modified:
Milestones Parent Education Night will be  pre-recorded and sent out to all parents.
Donuts with the Directors (spring session) is cancelled.
PYP Student-led Conferences for 3rd through 5th graders are cancelled.
Chick-fil-a biscuit sale on the 27th is cancelled.
The UC drama performance is  postponed (new dates to be determined). Drama practices, for now, will continue.
Please note that all student-only, in-school activities will continue as scheduled  as long as school is still in session (After School Program (ASP), tutoring, clubs, etc.).

Though we completely understand, share, and empathize with your feelings of helplessness and frustration, we ask for everyone to make a concerted effort to be patient with each other over the weeks and months ahead.  Our staff is committed to supporting our entire ICSAtlanta community through these stressful days.  It is times like these when family and community are most essential.

Sincerely,
Tanya Parker
Executive Director

Hello ICSAtlanta Parents & Staff,

As the local Coronavirus threat has increased, anxiety levels have understandably risen.  I want to take a moment to explain the steps that ICSAtlanta is taking to maintain a safe, healthy school environment for our students, staff, and families.

Registering New Students
Many districts have limited or restricted enrollment of new students from high-risk areas.  Please note that ICSAtlanta does not offer enrollment to any new students after our enrollment cut-off in September.

Student Travel

After today, March 10th, no ICSAtlanta field trips will be approved or taken for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.
Furthermore, ICSAtlanta’s international trip to Austria, Switzerland, and Germany, scheduled for this June, has been cancelled and will be rescheduled with EF tours for the summer of 2020-2021.  Over the next few days, we will be in contact with parents of students affected by this change.

Community Events
The ICSAtlanta Run the World 5K and Fun Run has been cancelled.  At this point, we feel that holding this event is too much of a risk for our ICSAtlanta community.  If you have already paid your race registration fees, bought tickets to the pasta dinner, or contributed money as a race sponsor, please consider donating these funds to ICSAtlanta as, with this cancellation, our school will lose a large amount of projected revenue; furthermore, we have already committed to several non-refundable expenses.  If you are unable to do so, we understand and will gladly refund your money.  Please, however, give the race committee time to regroup and determine how to best handle the refund process.  They will be in contact soon.
The silent auction will go-on!  ICSAtlanta will undertake our first, completely-virtual silent auction.  More details will be released soon.

For now, our upper campus drama performance and the French track’s La Kermesse will go on.

Staff members who choose to travel to high-risk areas
Staff members must inform administration via email, prior to returning to work, if they have traveled to areas with a level 3 or 4 Travel Health Notice Advisory for Coronavirus, as identified by the Centers for Disease Control or the US State Department.

Parents who have traveled to high-risk areas or who have students in Georgia schools already impacted by a Coronavirus case
Parents, please inform ICSAtlanta administration via email (info@icsatlanta.org) if you have traveled to areas (within the past 14 days) with a level 3 or 4 Travel Health Notice Advisory for Coronavirus, as identified by the Centers for Disease Control or the US State Department.
Additionally, if you have students in a Georgia school where a Coronavirus case has been identified, please inform ICSAtlanta administration via email (info@icsatlanta.org).

Healthy School Practices
As mentioned in previous emails, ICSAtlanta is monitoring staff and student attendance rates, sanitizing our campuses, encouraging students and staff who are sick to stay home, and encouraging students and staff to wash their hands thoroughly and often.

Health Habits Reminder
Please continue to remind your children of the importance of practicing good hygiene and to keep them home if they have been running a fever or are exhibiting signs of illness.
The CDC and DPH have been very consistent in urging the following measures for all Georgians to help prevent the spread of any respiratory virus: 
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow or use a tissue to cover it, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
The Department of Public Health will continue updating the community through their   website, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is continuing to update their   website with the most current information as well.

On a final note, please keep in mind that, at this point, it is not  if our school will need to close (for a day, a week, or weeks), but  when we will need to close.  Please do your best to prepare your families for the event of this major disruption to your normal schedules.  We will be here to support our ICSAtlanta community in any way we can. 

We will send out further updates as needed throughout the coming days and weeks.

Sincerely,
Tanya Parker
Executive Director

As you may have heard, Australia was recently affected by the worst wildfires seen in decades. ICSAtlanta is having a coin drive fundraiser February 3rd-7th to donate to Australia’s largest animal rescue organization, “Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service”  Empty your piggy banks to help those affected by the devastating wildfires.

NEXT week, January 27th-31st is Kindness Rocks Week at ICSAtlanta!

Throughout the week we will embark on the Great Kindness Challenge and have daily themes encouraging students to spread kindness throughout our school. On Friday January 31st, students are invited to celebrate our theme Kindness Rocks, by dressing as a Kindness Rockstar! Please review our out of uniform policy (found on page 13), and ensure that your child follows the guidelines.  For more information about Kindness Rocks Week, check out the ICSAtlanta Counseling blog  here.

ICSAtlanta’s Stuffed Animal Drive is Next Week
Stuffed Animal Drive – During Kindness Week next week, we are hosting a drive to benefit the Atlanta Children’s Shelter. Please donate  NEW stuffed animals (no used stuffed animals, please) to help bring love to a child in our community.

It’s that time of year again — YEARBOOK TIME!
Deadline for purchase March 27th
To order your yearbook, click here:
http://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A07636630

(Or visit schoolannual.com:
Click on “Buy your student’s yearbook.”
Enter school name, city and state.
Place your order!)

To buy a graduation ad for K, 5th ad 8th, visit the School Store:
https://www.icsatlanta.org/store