Superintendent Update 3/3/2020

Dear North Smithfield Families and Staff,
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With the rapidly unfolding news and concerns about the spread of the Coronavirus, I wanted to follow up on my message from last week with some additional information and assurances that we are receiving regular updates from the RI Departments of Health and Education, as well as the CDC, and we continue to follow their guidance and recommendations. 

We pride ourselves on all the renovations and improvements you see throughout our schools. This pride includes cleanliness. Our custodians have expanded their already thorough cleaning procedures to include more extensive disinfecting practices such as: 
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• Disinfecting daily all high traffic areas and high touch surfaces (door knobs, table tops, handrails, etc). 
• Disinfecting high touch surfaces associated with evening and weekend public and athletic events such as last Sunday's cheerleading competition.  
• Additionally, our transportation provider will also be disinfecting high touch surfaces on buses (seats, handrails, etc) in addition to their regular cleaning schedules.

It is important that we all remain informed and that we work together to prevent the spread of diseases. We remind everyone to take the same measures that healthcare providers recommend to prevent the spread of flu and other similar viruses: 

• Get your flu shot and encourage the people around you to do the same. 
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available. 
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Germs spread this way. 
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. 
• Stay home when you are sick. 
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. If you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands.

Attached is a letter from the Rhode Island Departments of Health and Education with additional information. 

We will continue to share information and practices with the North Smithfield school community as we work together to ensure that our students, families, and staff remain healthy and safe.  


Michael St. Jean, 
Superintendent