To All Marvelwood Parents,
May 1, 2009
The World Health Organization (WHO) has elevated the alert level for the spread of the H1N1
Virus (“Swine Influenza”) to a Phase 5. According to the WHO website, “The declaration of
Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the
organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.”
Marvelwood’s Pandemic Crisis Team (PCT) and Emergency Response Team (ERT) have met
and created a Pandemic Crisis Plan in the event that a boarding student or residential faculty or
staff member tests positive for the H1N1 Virus.
The guiding principle of this plan is that we need to respond to any crisis in a manner that errs on
the side of protecting, as much as possible, our students and members of our school community.
The members of our PCT and the ERT unanimously agree that we are not equipped to provide
the comprehensive health care necessary to effectively manage a widespread outbreak of the
H1N1 Virus on our residential campus. Therefore, if the Department of Health in the state of
Connecticut determines that a student, faculty member or staff member has tested positive
for the H1N1 Virus, we are going to immediately initiate a plan to close school for the
remainder of the semester.
In order to effectively execute the closing of school in a timely fashion, we need parents to
organize with their children a plan to leave school. For parents living close enough to school, the
easiest option is driving to campus to pick up their children. Students who live a significant
distance from campus have a more complicated situation. Parents should investigate air travel
options that would have to be initiated on short notice, or they should take the initiative to make
arrangements in advance for their children to stay with friends or relatives who live within
driving distance of the school. Local families who would be willing to help by hosting a student
or students are asked to contact the school at their earliest convenience. Elaine Plante, Assistant
to the Headmaster (860-927-0047, x1003 or Elaine.plante@marvelwood.org) is available to
facilitate air, train and bus travel arrangements.
There are only a few weeks remaining in the academic year. Depending upon when a positive
diagnosis of the H1N1 Virus would occur, all students would either be required to complete a
major take-home assignment, or we would be far enough along in the term to determine their
grades given the assessments that had already been completed. Term-end examinations would
not take place for any students. We are investigating with the College Board the best possible
way of dealing with Advanced Placement examinations and will communicate our findings to
you as soon as we obtain them.
In the event that school is closed because of a positive diagnosis of the H1N1 Virus, we will
make every effort to hold graduation for the Class of 2009 on May 30th as scheduled, or as soon
afterwards as it is safe to do so. If school does close, an update on graduation will be
communicated as soon as possible.
If school does close early, students who live nearby or who can go stay with friends or relatives
will be asked to take all of their belongings with them at that time. International students,
domestic students who live far away, or those who are otherwise unable to take all of their
belongings with them will be required to EITHER pick up their things by ten days following the
closing of school or June 1, 2009, whichever comes later, OR pack up their things so that they
can be stored in a locked storage container on campus over the summer. We would
communicate with students not returning to Marvelwood in the fall about when they would be
able to come to campus during the summer to retrieve their belongings.
We are hopeful that the remainder of the school year will progress without a positive diagnosis
of the H1N1 Virus on campus, and that none of our emergency plans will need to be initiated.
However, it is prudent to be prepared and to take the necessary steps to ensure that all members
of our community are protected. This is a fluid situation and our plan may have to be altered to
address a change in the spread of the Virus. Be assured that we will communicate with you
quickly should this occur.
We are pleased to address any questions that you might have concerning our plan. Please feel
free to contact our Health Office (860-927-5321) if you have questions concerning the H1N1
Virus, or contact the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov/flu/swine or 800-CDC-INFO) or
the World Health Organization (www.who.int).
Thank you for your anticipated cooperation in the event that we need to implement our Pandemic
Crisis Plan if we do see a positive diagnosis of the H1N1 Virus, and for understanding our
reasons for a strong response to such a situation.
Sincerely,
Scott E. Pottbecker
Headmaster
Elizabeth A. Sproule
Director of Health Services