January 29, 2021
Dear RIS Community,
It has been more than six weeks since we were last on campus with our students. There is definitely some excitement in the air and in the Zoom rooms about getting back to school.
The government has ordered public and private schools to reopen on Monday, February 1st. It has stated that the recent outbreak has gradually subsided and so it is appropriate to return to campus.
We will be required to follow the previous strict guidelines set by the Ministry of Education regarding safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. As we prepare to open campus on Monday, please note the following important information:
Preventative Measures Taken by RIS
- A completed RIS Health Declaration Form will be required before access to campus is granted.
- Temperature screening will remain at the gates.
- Each classroom and learning space has been deep cleaned.
- Dividers will be reinstalled in classrooms where needed.
- There will be an alternative schedule for recess, breaks, and lunches to reduce overlapping groups.
- We will not have large gatherings on campus, including assemblies, parent meetings, etc.
- All after-school activities and sports remain canceled until further notice.
- The Big 3 hygiene practices will be required: wearing masks, washing hands, and social distancing.
Collaboration from Parents
- Please do not send your child to school if he/she shows COVID-19 symptoms. Students must not have had a fever for 48 hours without fever-reducing medication to return to campus.
- You will receive an email from the Head of School with a link and directions to the Declaration of Health Form. Please complete the form before Monday, February 1st.
- Access to RIS will be through gates 6, 8, and 9 only.
- Parents will not be allowed on campus (except for PreK – Grade 2 drop off and pick up only).
- Students must be picked up by 3:15 pm at the latest. Students will be brought to the gates to wait for their transportation at 3:15 pm.
- Students in PreK - Grade 2 will be dismissed directly from their classrooms, not from the ES canteen.
- All playgrounds will be closed, including after school.
- All community meetings, including parent meetings, will be held online to limit exposure and the potential risk to our community.
Provisions for those with health issues, or parents not wanting their child to return to campus yet
- The expectation is for all teachers to return to campus. Please contact the Head of School if you have health issues that would prevent you from returning on Monday.
- The expectation is that students will return to campus on Monday, February 1st. Any student who can not attend due to quarantine or not being physically in Bangkok will be asked to work through Google Classroom, Seesaw, and email Monday-Wednesday. Please communicate with your section office if this is the case. We will be spending the first part of the week adjusting to the return to the classroom. We will communicate the plan to support these students on Thursday.
*Note: Teachers will not be able to offer the same kind of learning experience online when we return to campus.
Once again, I am very excited that we have the opportunity to welcome our students back to campus on Monday.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jim O'Malley
Interim Head of School/High School Principal
Ruamrudee International School
