International School of Riga and COVID 19
The latest Latvian Ministry of Education guidelines and recommendations for educational institutions with respect to COVID-19 came out mid-August with updates published mid-September. In these guidelines and recommendations, the Ministry laid out the necessary measures for schools to implement in order to safely operate face-to-face. This information was widely anticipated and has allowed ISR to plan effectively with safety and student well-being foremost in mind. The International School of Riga is monitoring the COVID-19 situation at the national and international levels.
ISR has prepared a three-tiered approach to schooling and has in place a Plan A (face-to-face), a Plan B (blended/hybrid), or a Plan C (virtual or online) teaching and learning model.
Since the beginning of the school year 2021/2022, Plan A has been implemented and ISR has operated with a face-to-face teaching and learning model.
ISR has followed all guidelines for COVID-19 testing, physical distancing, and maintaining safe and secure campuses to the best of its abilities. How the school plans proceed relies heavily on how we come together as a school community in facing the realities and hardships of COVID-19. It also relies on the decisions made by the Latvian Authorities.
Please inform the school as early as possible when your child will be absent and the reason for the absence. Furthermore, if your child shows any signs of illness or has a temperature of 37.5c or above please keep your child at home and contact your family doctor as soon as possible.
If students are absent for 3 days or more it is necessary to provide a doctor’s note in order for them to come back to school.
If students in Primary and Secondary education return to school after an absence or do not fit into the educational institution’s testing schedule, they perform the COVID-19 test independently cooperating with E.Gulbja laboratory no later than 48 hours before arrival at school. If students test at E.Gulbja Laboratory, and state they are enrolled at the International School of Riga, there is to be no cost for the testing.
The International School of Riga Administration will remain vigilant with respect to future government regulation changes and will relate them to the community at the earliest.
ISR Operating Plans (A, B and C)
| CONDITIONS IN GREATER COMMUNITY | INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF RIGA | AFTER SCHOOL SPORTS, EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES | |
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| PLAN A FACE-TO-FACE |
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| PLAN B BLENDED / HYBRID |
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| PLAN C VIRTUAL / ONLINE |
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Message from the director
Hello and good afternoon from the International School of Riga.
The official governmental regulations with regard to new procedures for schools to follow with respect to COVID-19 are now out.
With the new regulations comes some flexibility, thanks in large part to schools that have proved to have sound, effective policies and procedures in place to maintain student and staff safety and well-being, with the International School of Riga being one such school. We have worked hard to establish routines and procedures that afford us a certain level of safety. As a result of our dedicated efforts as a learning community, ISR is able to continue to deliver high-quality education in an EYP – Grade 12 face-to-face learning and teaching environment that is safe, secure, and well-monitored.
We anticipate this to continuing into the fall and winter.
For all International School of Riga COVID-19 protocols and procedures, please peruse this section of our website for details, as it is updated regularly.
If you have any questions or concerns or wish further clarification on any of the above, or other matters ISR-related, do let me know.
We all wish you all a very peaceful and safe weekend ahead.
Have a good evening.
Shane
ISR COVID-19 Response Procedures
Official Latvian Government instructions
Covid-19 control measures:
In our common effort trying to keep the ISR community safe, please consider using the COVID-19 tracing app “Apturi COVID”. To install it on your devices please follow this link: https://www.apturicovid.lv/#en
Helpful links
World Health Organization https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus
WHO advice for the public https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
How to talk to your child about coronavirus https://www.unicef.org/coronavirus/how-talk-your-child-about-coronavirus-covid-19
WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND OTHERS FROM GETTING THE NEW CORONAVIRUS?
How to properly wear a medical face mask?
How to properly wear a cloth face mask?
PROPER HANDWASHING TECHNIQUE
FAQ’s
What is Coronavirus and what are the symptoms?
Please see the WHO website for specific information https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
Where can I find reliable information about the spread of the virus?
It is always a good idea to carefully evaluate the sources of information that you follow. Please find below helpful and reliable links for the most recent information on the COVID-19
- The World Health Organization page on the Coronavirus https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
- Live update on declared cases https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
- Latest updates from the Latvian government https://spkc.gov.lv/lv/aktualitates/get/nid/757
What does ISR do if a student shows signs of illness at school?
Temperatures are taken for all students (and staff members) daily. If a student shows a temperature of 37.5C or above, he/she will be isolated and parents will be called immediately to collect their child. Parents will contact their family doctor who will decide about the next steps to be taken. The parents will inform the school about further developments. The student will be allowed to come back to school with a doctor’s note confirming that he/she is healthy.
What are the best ways to protect our children and family?
Follow the WHO and the Latvian Authorities guidelines on hygiene and best practices. Wash your hands regularly with soap for at least 20 seconds. Carry hand sanitizers when going outside and avoid touching your face. Take your child’s temperature every morning before coming to school and register it in the ISR Student Temperature Check Journal. Please keep your child home if his/her temperature is 37.5c or above and/or if your child shows any sign of respiratory infection like fever, cough, sore throat, difficulty to breathe. In this case contact your family doctor immediately. Your child will be allowed to come back to school with a doctor’s note confirming that he/she is healthy.
What countries are now considered restricted by the Latvian government?
Please follow this link in order to reach the most up to date list of restricted countries:
https://www.spkc.gov.lv/lv/valstu-saslimstibas-raditaji-ar-covid-19-0
How will I be contacted in case of a change in the ISR Operating Plan?
ISR is following the recommendations of the Latvian Authorities and at this point is implementing Plan A (Face-to-face learning). However, the school administration cannot exclude the possibility of the school having to move to Plan B (blended learning) or Plan C (distance learning).
In the event of ISR having to move to another operating plan, the ISR community will be notified in the following ways:
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by text messages using the Engage Management System
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by email using the Engage Management System
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Information will be posted on the school website (http://www.isriga.lv)
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Information will be posted on the ISR Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/
isriga), and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ loveisriga/) pages.
Is there a contingency distance learning plan in place?
Our commitment is to provide an alternative means of education in the form of Distance Learning if ISR had to move to learning plans B or C. The contingency plan is currently being developed by the school’s administration and faculty.
International School of Riga is a Candidate School* for the IB MYP. This school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy—a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that ISR believes is important for our students. *Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme (DP), or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit http://www.ibo.org.
