Important Information Regarding COVID-19

As we continue to pay close attention to the latest developments in the outbreak of COVID-19 (commonly referred to as the novel coronavirus), Berkeley is focused on possible impacts on our students, faculty, and staff. To ensure our sound and careful decision-making, we are monitoring global and local health organizations, the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), as well as regional, state, and national advisors. This includes staying alert to travel notices from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Additionally, we have employed Berkeley’s Emergency Management Team to ensure we are informed and ready.

The health and well-being of Berkeley’s community of students, faculty, staff, and families remain our highest and mission-driven priority.

The CDC has established resources and websites to guide us:

Berkeley continues to practice outstanding hygiene and cleaning protocols. In response to the aforementioned resources, we will continue to evaluate needs, and make necessary adjustments to our protocols. We ask for your help with the following:
  • Please join us in reinforcing that students wash their hands many times each day at school and when they return home; sneeze or cough into their elbows; do not shake hands or use fist bumps; and do not share cups or water bottles.
  • Please do not allow your child to attend school or come to campus if they are ill.
  • Please report any illness your child experiences, including those over spring break, to our nurses’ office with a phone call.
In addition, we are monitoring the following:
  • We are carefully reviewing the status of any planned trips to areas experiencing virus-induced illness believed to be caused by COVID-19, and are continually referring to local and national health authorities regarding each trip.
  • We are preparing for and stand ready to employ options for remote or virtual learning should this become necessary.

Update: Spring Break Travel Information 

Berkeley Preparatory School continues to closely monitor the CDC website for updates to its recommendations regarding the global challenge presented by COVID-19, and we are adapting our practices as warranted. You may also click on the “School Health Information” tile in myBerkeley for more resources.
 
We call attention to the following two statements in the aforementioned link:
  • We are carefully reviewing the status of any planned trips to areas experiencing virus-induced illness believed to be caused by COVID-19, and are continually referring to local and national health authorities regarding each trip.
  • We are preparing for and stand ready to employ options for remote or virtual learning should this become necessary.
During spring break, we trust that our families will make careful decisions about possible travel destinations. The CDC provides recommendations on postponing or canceling travel. These travel notices are based on an assessment of the potential health risks involved with traveling to a certain area. A list of destinations with travel notices is available at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html.
 
As it is possible that the list of level 3 destinations will grow, we ask that should you travel to a destination, for any reason, that is currently designated level 3, or becomes level 3, that you hold your child/children out of school for 14 calendar days upon return, as recommended by the CDC. Level 4 destinations are prohibited. Thank you for your consideration in this matter. 
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Founded in 1960, Berkeley is an independent, Episcopal, college-preparatory day school located in Tampa, FL, for boys and girls in grades Pre-Kindergarten through 12. Approximately 1,400 students gather here from the greater Tampa Bay area to form ONE Berkeley.