March 24, 2021

Dear IAA School Community,

Yesterday afternoon we received information about a case of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in at least one student at Innovative Arts Academy. Cleaning and disinfecting of the exposed location have been completed and the individual is self-isolating at home.

We have been working with the Department of Health and our local health department to identify and notify close contacts of the case.

If you are identified as a close contact (defined as an individual who was within 6 feet of an infectious person for at least 15 minutes or who was directly exposed to respiratory secretions [e.g., cough or sneeze]), you will be contacted by a representative of the Pennsylvania Department of Health or your local health department who will provide further information and instructions.

As the Coronavirus situation in our country and our community is developing quickly, we urge you to take necessary precautions to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our school community.

• Wear a mask and maintain a physical distance of at least 6 feet from any person while outside the home and avoid sharing food, drinks, or utensils.
• Stay home when you are sick. Watch for symptoms of COVID-19 including cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and/or diarrhea.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Sing the Happy Birthday song twice to help know when it has been 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizers that contain at least 60% alcohol.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue and then dispose of the tissue and clean your hands immediately. If you do not have a tissue, use your sleeve, not your hands, to cover coughs and sneezes.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.
• If you are contacted by the Pennsylvania Department of Health or your local health department please cooperate with monitoring and follow all instructions so that other people do not become sick.

If you or any members of your household develop symptoms of COVID-19 or have symptoms that worsen, notify your local health department or the Pennsylvania Department of Health immediately at 1-877-724-3258 and contact a healthcare provider.  Additionally, please contact the Main Office, at 610-402-2787.

Please visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health website (www.health.pa.gov) for the latest and most accurate information about COVID-19.

Sincerely,

Bradley Schifko, CEO

11/27/20

Dear Innovative Arts Academy Parents, Guardians, and Staff, 

On Friday, November 27, 2020, IAA was notified of one (1) confirmed case of coronavirus (COVID-19) at the school. The individual last attended school on Friday, November 20, 2020.

The entire school building, including the spaces used by the individual, have been cleaned and disinfected according to CDC guidelines.

Staff members and students who may have come into close contact (any person within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes) with the individual will be directly contacted by their local health department with instructions to self-quarantine.

Parents/Guardians and students are encouraged to do the following to help prevent the spread of illness at home and in school:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Wash your hands frequently.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose with the inside of your elbow when you cough and sneeze.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Practice social distancing and wear a mask.

Please keep your child home if they are experiencing any of the following signs or symptoms:

• Fever (100.4°F or greater)
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Difficulty breathing
• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
• Lack of smell or taste
• Sore throat
• Chills, muscle pain, headache
• Congestion or runny nose

IAA will continue to monitor the situation and will provide updates as needed. Please know the health and safety of our students and staff is our utmost priority. If you have any questions or concerns about this information, please contact the administration.

We thank you for your continued cooperation and support.

Sincerely,

Bradley S. Schifko, CEO

11/23/20

Good Morning IAA Families,

The Thanksgiving holiday provides us all with the opportunity to reflect upon what we are thankful and grateful for in our lives.  I would like to thank all of our families for entrusting IAA with the tremendous responsibility of educating your children.  This is a responsibility that we do not take lightly.  Your continued dedication to our school, during these extremely challenging times, is truly appreciated.  TOGETHER, we have all worked cooperatively for the betterment of our students, our families, and our community, and for that, I am extremely grateful.  THANK YOU. 

With Lehigh County still identified as “substantial” on the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) / Pennsylvania Department of Health (PA DOH) COVID-19 Community Transmission Table, and with the daily rate of COVID-19 transmissions growing at an alarming rate, IAA has decided to move to full virtual instruction after the Thanksgiving break.  While IAA has had no confirmed cases of COVID-19 transmission in our school to date, we are heeding the advice of PDE, PA DOH, as well as state and local health officials, to move to full virtual instruction, as the continued health, safety, and well-being of our students, families, and staff are at the forefront of our decision-making.

Beginning December 1, 2020, we will transition to a full virtual learning platform.  Our anticipated date to return to our hybrid instructional model (current level of instruction) is January 5, 2021.  

Changes to the information in this email and additional emails you may receive may occur based on new and/or additional directives and/or information from PDE, PA DOH, Governor Wolf, state and/or local medical professionals, etc.

More information with regards to food distribution, during this time, will be forthcoming.

Be well.  Be safe.  Stay healthy.

Sincerely,

Bradley S. Schifko, M.Ed.
Chief Executive Officer

Student Meal Distribution this week: Tuesday, November 24th: 12 pm-3 pm

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Buenas dias, estudiantes y familias de IAA,

Las vacaciones de Acción de Gracias nos brindan a todos la oportunidad de reflexionar sobre aquello por lo que estamos agradecidos y agradecidos en nuestras vidas. Me gustaría agradecer a todas nuestras familias por confiar a IAA la tremenda responsabilidad de educar a sus hijos. Ésta es una responsabilidad que no nos tomamos a la ligera. Su continua dedicación a nuestra escuela, durante estos tiempos extremadamente desafiantes, es realmente apreciada. JUNTOS, todos hemos trabajado cooperativamente para el mejoramiento de nuestros estudiantes, nuestras familias y nuestra comunidad, y por eso estoy extremadamente agradecido. GRACIAS.

Con el condado de Lehigh aún identificado como “sustancial” en la tabla de transmisión comunitaria COVID-19 del Departamento de Educación de Pensilvania (PDE) / Departamento de Salud de Pensilvania (PA DOH), y con la tasa diaria de transmisiones de COVID-19 creciendo a un ritmo alarmante, IAA ha decidido pasar a la instrucción virtual completa después de las vacaciones de Acción de Gracias. Si bien IAA no ha tenido casos confirmados de transmisión de COVID-19 en nuestra escuela hasta la fecha, estamos siguiendo el consejo de PDE, PA DOH, así como de los funcionarios de salud estatales y locales, para pasar a la instrucción virtual completa, ya que la salud continua, la seguridad y el bienestar de nuestros estudiantes, familias y personal están al frente de nuestra toma de decisiones.

A partir del 1 de diciembre de 2020, realizaremos la transición a una plataforma de aprendizaje virtual completa. Nuestra fecha prevista para regresar a nuestro modelo de instrucción híbrido (nivel actual de instrucción) es el 5 de enero de 2021.

Los cambios en la información de este correo electrónico y los correos electrónicos adicionales que pueda recibir, pueden ocurrir en base a directivas nuevas y / o adicionales y / o información de PDE, PA DOH, Gobernador Wolf, profesionales médicos estatales y / o locales, etc.

Próximamente se proporcionará más información con respecto a la distribución de alimentos durante este tiempo.

Cuidate. Cuidate. Mantenerse sano.

Sinceramente,

Sr. Brad Schifko, director ejecutivo

Distribución de comidas para estudiantes esta semana: martes 24 de noviembre: 12 p.m. a 3 p.m.