written by David Núñez, Interim Head of School
Dear GRS Community,
Thank you all for playing your part in such a great start to the school year.
As a new member to this community I have been deeply impressed with the dedication of the entire community to making this school a safe and welcoming place.
Because I know that COVID is still on the forefront of everyone's mind, this month I'm going to share a little information about one of the most effective and simplest COVID mitigation strategies we can do in our building: mask wearing.
To begin with, you should all know that here at GRS we have really high mask compliance.
However, we know that the virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to be mostly spread by respiratory droplets released when people talk, cough, or sneeze. It is vitally important that everyone in the building wear a well-fitting mask to stop these droplets from spreading to others.
Please have your children wear masks with two or more layers of tightly woven fabric. The blue surgical masks we have at the school for student use are better than cloth masks, and KN95 masks are even better than that. But the key with a mask is not just how well it filters, but also that it fits well and is comfortable enough to wear all day.
Face coverings made of thinner, loosely woven, or single-layer fabric such as certain types of masks, scarves, neck gaiters, or bandannas are not as effective, and should only be used if nothing else is available. If you wear a scarf or neck gaiter for warmth, also wear a mask underneath it.
Any masks that incorporate a valve that is designed to facilitate easy exhaling, mesh masks, or masks with openings, holes, visible gaps in the design or material, or vents are NOT sufficient face coverings because they allow droplets to be released from the mask.
A few great tips for mask usage are:
Wash your hands before putting on your mask and after taking it off.
A mask must cover the nose and mouth completely and fit snugly against your face without gaps. The mask should not be overly tight or restrictive and should feel comfortable to wear.
Do NOT touch the mask when wearing it. If you often have to touch or adjust your mask, it does not fit you properly and you may need to find a different mask or make adjustments.
Wash your mask after each time you wear it, or if its disposable, get a new one!
Here's a review from the New York Times on recommended masks!
And remember if you are unable to afford masks for your kids, we will give them a mask so they can enter the building.
Thanks for reading!
Peace,
David