Archbishop Spalding High School Moves To Distance Learning For 2 Days After Positive COVID-19 Cases
SEVERN, Md. (WJZ) -- A private Catholic high school in Severn is moving to distance learning for the rest of the week after learning two students tested positive for the coronavirus.
Archbishop Spalding High School said students "will be transitioning to Distance Learning on Thursday, September 17th and Friday September 18th."
According to the school, a number of students attended off-campus social gatherings on Friday and Saturday.
In a statement, the school said:
"The health and safety of all members of our school communities is our top priority. The decision to move to virtual instruction for the remainder of the week was made out of an abundance of caution. Our extensive planning and preparation for both in-person and remote learning gives us the flexibility to shift between the two modes of instruction as needed."
The school also sent a letter home to parents about the cases and notified them of the school's safety protocols.
"Dear Spalding Families,
We have been informed that two Spalding students have tested positive for COVID-19. Our understanding is that a number of students attended off campus social gatherings on Friday and Saturday. With guidance from the Archdiocese of Baltimore we are transitioning to distance learning tomorrow, Thursday, September 17 and Friday, September 18th to conduct contact tracing. We are in contact with the Anne Arundel County Health Department to ensure all necessary follow-up procedures are conducted in an efficient and thorough manner. Please know that safety protocols, such as mask wearing, physical distancing, hand washing, and sanitizing common high-touch areas have been strictly enforced.
We strongly encourage parents to talk to their children to determine if they attended these gatherings and to then monitor their health and symptoms closely. Families, please know that self-reporting ensures the health and safety of your children as well as the safety of our community.
We ask all of our families to continue to monitor the health of their child(ren) daily and be alert to any of the symptoms of the virus, including, but not limited to, fever, cough, sore throat, and shortness of breath. Should any concerning symptoms appear, please contact your health care provider and alert the school office at 410-969-9105 extension 1133 or covid@spaldinghs.org."
They will conduct contact tracing while students distance learn on Thursday and Friday.
For the latest information on coronavirus go to the Maryland Health Department's website or call 211. You can find all of WJZ's coverage on coronavirus in Maryland here.