March 12, 2020 Update

March 12, 2020, 8:45 p.m.

Dear Maranatha Community,

I would like to extend my thanks for your prayers, support, and understanding through these difficult circumstances surrounding COVID-19. This is an opportunity for us to demonstrate to the greater community how our faith in Christ gives us peace and confidence that He is with us as we deal with this ever-changing situation.

As of this morning, we know that there is one confirmed case of COVID-19 in Pasadena and that the Cal-tech graduate student’s test was negative for COVID-19. This was announced this morning by the Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD), who is also monitoring approximately 50 voluntary quarantined persons in Pasadena. We want to advise you that we are working closely with our Board of Trustees to take the needed actions to help protect our school community if a COVID-19 case is diagnosed within our school community. Our first priority is the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, and community members. We will take all precautions recommended by PPHD, L.A. County Department of Public Health, and the Center for Disease Control to prevent or contain the disease from spreading within our school community.

According to the Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD), because the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has recently broadened the criteria for testing for COVID-19, more and more individuals will be recommended by their physicians to be tested. When people are being tested, this does not mean they have contracted COVID-19, therefore, there is no need for alarm. If there are people who test positive for COVID-19, this will be communicated quickly.

PPHD advised us that we are now in Scenario II of the California Department of Public Health’s guidance for schools. This involves taking more immediate and proactive steps to ensure the safety of our students.

Maranatha has been proactively planning for the different scenarios that can develop to protect our students, staff, families, and community members, and we are taking the following immediate steps:

Mission 2024, Friday 3/13 (Admissions event for all accepted incoming freshmen next year), is canceled as is Fresh Start Day on Saturday 3/21 (this event may be rescheduled).
All other planned school activities and events on Friday will continue as scheduled. Guests attending our performances of Seussical and/or the Arts Festival will have the opportunity to utilize social distancing.
Both performances of Seussical and the Arts Festival on Saturday have been canceled.
The SAT testing scheduled for this weekend has been canceled.
Effective Tuesday, March 17 parents are advised not to attend athletic events. Our teams will continue with competitions as scheduled unless we are instructed otherwise by CIF-SS by a local or state public health agency. Look for communication from your coach or the Athletic Department for any changes.
On Wednesday, March 18 we will have an “E-Learning Day”. All students and faculty will participate in school from home. We will conduct our regular Wednesday classes and then debrief the experience in the days that follow. It is important that all students have their iPads in their possession at home. All athletic practices will occur on this day and student-athletes will need to attend (unless notified otherwise). This is in preparation for the future possibility of having to close our school for a period of time.
We will continue to limit visitors to our school. Anyone visiting will have to complete a guest check-in form and meet the required conditions to be permitted on campus.
All scheduled field trips scheduled are postponed or canceled. (Disney Theater on Friday 3/13 and the College Visitation Day on Monday 3/23).
We continue to disinfect our campus on a daily basis.

At this time, Public Health does not recommend proactively closing the school. We will continue to monitor this situation and as it changes, we will keep you informed.

Please continue to take all possible precautions to help reduce the risk of spreading germs to others. These include the following recommendations from public health officials:

Keep children who are sick at home and away from others if they have a fever of 100°F or above.
The #1 prevention method is frequent handwashing with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not available, hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can be used. The use of soap and water is best.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands. If you do not have a tissue, use your sleeve (not your hands).
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Limit close contact, like kissing and sharing cups or utensils, with people who are sick.
Face masks are most effective when used appropriately by health care workers and people who are sick.
Clean frequently used surfaces.
Get the flu vaccine if you have not done so this season. It’s not too late to get the flu vaccine. Being protected against the flu will decrease the number of people using healthcare resources, allowing them to be available for people who may have COVID-19.
Practicing simple steps that limit your exposure to others who may be ill, such as verbal salutations instead of handshakes and hugs, and not sharing utensils, cups, and linens.

More information on the COVID-19 situation can be accessed through the links below.

These are very fluid circumstances which we are monitoring closely. Please know that we are prepared to take appropriate action as needed. Thank you for your prayers, support, and understanding as we all work through this evolving situation. We will continue to provide you with regular updates. The first update will be sent out next Monday. Over the next week, we have three non-student days scheduled: Friday 3/13, Monday 3/16, and Wednesday 3/18. Please continue to pray for this situation and be prepared for additional changes in our school schedule. While this is a very anxious and changing situation that the world is facing, I want to end this communication by sharing with you words of comfort and encouragement from our Lord Jesus Christ.

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33

Know that we serve a God that not only loves us, and is with us, but One who has overcome all that we will face. He is walking with us, and calling us to walk together, praying for His wisdom and guidance in the face of our challenges!

Sincerely,

John Rouse

Head of School

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