Greetings Vikings,

With the spread of COVID-19 to Michigan, we need to maintain vigilance and promote regular and effective hygiene habits with our students and throughout the community. Every precaution will be taken at the school level to ensure daily disinfection of all learning spaces is maintained at the highest possible standard.  As with every situation we will look to the experts for guidance and next steps. 

Additional steps we are taking at O.L. Smith Middle School to support a healthy environment for our students and staff:

• Our custodians will be putting extra focus on cleaning and disinfecting all surfaces, including desk tops, tables, door handles, and other items that students and staff share and come into contact with.
• We have changed procedures for distributing food during lunch, including pre-packing food. Salads and fruit in cups will be wrapped – nothing is left open.
• We have shared and posted preventative strategies with students such as regular and thorough hand washing steps – these are posted throughout the school and in all bathrooms.
• Custodians and administration are doing walkthroughs in all bathrooms during the school day and after hours to make sure that the soap dispensers are full and operating, all water is running and any repairs are handled immediately.

As always, good hygiene practices will help prevent the spread of COVID -19 and other respiratory diseases. Please follow these recommendations and encourage all family members to do the same.

• Stay home if you are sick, and advise others to do the same.
• Always cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue or sleeve.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and warm water are not available.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

The health and safety of our students and staff is always our first priority. We will continue to share information on the school blog as it becomes available. There is also additional information available on the district’s website. Also, Please access the Wayne County Health Department at the following URL for the most up to date information:
https://www.waynecounty.com/departments/hhvs/wellness/novel-coronavirus-information.aspx

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us.

Principal Jebril