60. Coronavirus Update: DaNang concerns and New Faculty arrivals

Dear Faculty and Staff,

The start of the 2020 school year is proving to be quite unique in many different ways. After the extended period of more relaxed health and safety measures in Vietnam, the current situation with Da Nang is, of course, concerning to all of us. SSIS has a number of faculty and staff (and their families) who are on self-quarantine. We expect that all of those on quarantine will be tested for COVID-19 by the local Health Authority, as a precaution. These faculty and staff members are not allowed on campus until their quarantine is completed and Lisa Chute, Nurses’ Office Manager, has approved. As we have further information, Lisa will keep you informed. But, please do not hesitate to contact her if you have any questions or concerns. Plans for conducting the orientations virtually to accommodate everyone are underway.

For those of you who are still traveling, I advise you to return to HCMC as soon as possible due to the potential of strict measures taken by the Vietnamese government to contain this outbreak and the need to report to school on August 4. New health measures may be implemented with little prior notice.

New Faculty Arrivals Update

On a different note, this summer while most of us were enjoying some leisure time, the Human Resources and Business Office staff were working tirelessly on arrangements to bring the New Hires to SSIS. I  am extremely grateful for their efforts.

Here is the status of our new faculty members at this time:

1. 14 faculty members arrived in HCMC on Monday, July 27, and have started their 14-day quarantine in school-funded quarantine hotels. We expect that this group will be out of quarantine on August 10. The attached photos provide a glimpse into their extraordinary experience as they braved their way to Vietnam.
2. We are working to bring an additional 2 teachers to Vietnam from Europe on August 1, at which time they will begin their quarantine. They will likely be out of quarantine on August 16.
3. An additional two groups of new hires will come to HCMC after dependent visas are approved and flights arranged. This likely will not happen until after August 3, thus, at the very earliest, they would be out of quarantine by August 18.

Bringing in our new teachers and their families is a complex and unpredictable undertaking this year as flights, visas, testing requirements, and other details change regularly in this unusual world climate. We have been very impressed with the resilience and can-do attitude of these new faculty members. Where it is necessary, Principals will communicate with divisions about the status of specific faculty members and arrangements necessary for short term coverage, so thank you all for your understanding and flexibility with that additional effort.

Please continue to rest and prepare for the new school year ahead and the challenges and rewards it is sure to bring. Take good care out there.

All good wishes,

Catriona