While the number of people infected with the coronavirus continues to increase on American soil, Washington DC is not spared with 18 cases reported. Since Monday, March 9, prevention measures have multiplied, but French schools in the American capital have not sounded the alarm. “For the moment, we have not closed the school. Our priority is to communicate with parents ”, says Hella Akrout, education for school life assistant at Rochambeau French International School. The French establishment, which hosts more than 55 different nationalities on its three campuses (nursery, elementary and secondary), has not closed any class.
However, the school is ready for a possible closure decision: “The Maryland Department of Health has decided to keep the programs and the schools open. If these directives change, we will adapt our operations and communicate the changes to you as soon as possible. Our priority, as always, is the health and safety of our students and our staff ”, can we read in the last message sent to families on Saturday March 7.
Priority to prevention
Information messages, videos on COVID-19 symptoms, posters on the coronavirus in classrooms … For the moment, the priority is prevention: “We send many messages to remind students and their parents to wash their hands frequently. We also hung prevention posters and posted videos on the coronavirus on our website. ”explains Hella Akrout, who adds that the school has no suspicious cases.
The establishment has nevertheless implemented drastic prevention measures: 14 days of quarantine for families returning from countries affected by the coronavirus, word from the doctor in case of fever, e-mails sent to parents… The establishment relies on communication with families. “At the moment, we have not canceled our scheduled events during the month”, continues the school life assistant. Same story at the Alliance française in Washington DC: for the moment, all the courses and events planned for March are maintained, but the establishment admits to operating "day by day" and as directed by the Maryland Department of Health.
Some schools still canceled certain events as a precaution : "All of our classes are open and we are following Montgomery County directives, but we have canceled a school trip, as well as another event scheduled for March", adds the director of Saturday Classes, Nadine Robert.
Professors ready to send their lessons online
Most schools have nevertheless planned a possible closure of the schools. At Rochambeau, teachers are trained to teach online: “We also trained teachers to give their lessons online, if that should happen”, says Hella Akrout. “We are preparing to send our courses online, just in case”, adds Nadine Robert.
