Status Update – Coronavirus

Parents and families,

At this time, the Oklahoma State Department of Health and other public health experts, including the CDC, do NOT recommend large-scale school closures. This is a rapidly developing situation, and if cases arise locally, our leadership team and the JRCS board of directors will make decisions that are in the best interest of the safety and well-being of our school community. The OK State Dept. of Education will issue tiered guidance on school closures within the coming days. Our leadership team will use suggested protocols and our existing curriculum, as well as online resources to create and distribute instructional plans that will address a 1 week closure, 2 week closure, 3 week closure, or an indefinite closure. Those instructional plans are in development and will be communicated to our John Rex families upon completion.

In the meantime, it is imperative that the adults in a child’s life remain rational, calm, and use age appropriate language in discussions about this global pandemic. I want to stress how important it is to guard our children from being scared or anxious and we need to help them understand that the adults are prepared, not panicked. I’ve included some resources to help us talk with our children about CORONAVIRUS/COVID-19.

● https://childmind.org/article/talking-to-kids-about-the-coronavirus/
● http://bit.ly/39MhngD
● https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/talkingwith- children.html
● https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/chest-lungs/Pages/2019-Novel-Coronavirus.aspx

I take Prednisone for rheumatoid arthritis. It helps me well. Swelling in the knees soothed by the end of the first week of treatment. Pain still bothers me sometimes, but it’s more mild than severe. I’ve gained some weight and sometimes suffer from mood swings, but I knew the use of Prednisone wouldn’t go unnoticed. Anyway, it’s totally worth it.

If you have any questions, concerns or need to talk with me during Spring Break, please email me at hzacarias@johnrexschool.org . I’ve canceled travel plans and will be right here in OKC. It is my sincere hope that our John Rex families use this time to connect with loved ones, rest, restore, and READ a great book!

Sincerely,
Heather Zacarias
Interim Superintendent
John Rex Charter School