Dear CDS Families,
To keep you regularly updated on Covid-related issues at our school, I again wish to inform you about the pandemic’s impact on CDS, and to reiterate the importance of our school community’s responsibility--students, families, teachers and staff--to continue our vigilance against behaviors that risk potential infection and transmission, especially since the omicron variant is now present. Our string of zero positive cases was interrupted this past week, with a confirmed positive student case. With only one case in the past six weeks, it indicates our on-campus risk mitigation safety measures of masking, distancing, and sanitation are working to guard against infections. And it shows too that CDS families' social behaviors outside of school are proving likewise effective. Now in the first four months of this school year, since August 11, we’ve had 48 positives (by PCR test or Nexus--44 students and four staff), with just one in the past six weeks. We mustn’t get complacent, however, and revel in this successful run. Instead, we must continue maintaining the proven protocols to keep Covid infection risk low, notably because of the omicron variant. Please, for the sake of your family and our CDS community, practice consistently high levels of risk mitigation as your travel over the extended Christmas holiday break. We have lived with this pandemic now for almost two years, so we must play the long-game and keep doing what scientists have proven works for our health and safety.
First Semester’s End and New Year’s Beginning
This will be the last newsletter of this first semester, which ends on December 17, bringing these four-plus months to a conclusion before the Christmas holiday break. Having all students and staff back in full-time face-to-face learning has restored our community and imbued our school with the relationship-based warmth and caring that makes CDS unique. Besides all the great learning that has happened over this time, we’ve made sure to do it in an atmosphere of fun and enjoyment. As happens at all international schools with a transient student population, we will have students and families leaving between semesters, as well as new students and families joining CDS. The balance of joiners to leavers is in our favor, with 27 new students joining and 11 current students leaving, enriching our community with new and diverse families. I wish all of the departing families the best of luck in their new endeavors, and always remember you will be CDS Panthers, no matter how short or long your stay was at our school, with an open invitation to visit any time.
Happy holidays to all and safe travels to those families who will be on the go during this break. Enjoy family and friends, eat and drink well, laugh and have fun, and rest and rejuvenate -- because 2021 has been a weird and wild year. And have a wonderful start to what will hope will be a wonderful new year 2022!
Wishing you all a lovely and joyful holiday season!
With Panther Pride,
Dr. Scott Adams, Director
