H1N1 Update from Mona Nashman-Smith , Superintendent

I met with officials at the Ministry of Education this morning to ensure that ABA operates from ‘factual’ information and not rumors regarding school closures that appear to be circulating in the city. For your information, the Ministry of Education Department responsible for International Schools agreed to the following:

1.      ABA will be fully operational for all classes on August 29^th from 7:30 – 2:15 (regular school hours).

2.      If an ABA student and/or staff member is diagnosed with H1N1, ABA will notify the Ministry of Education immediately.

3.       All decisions regarding the closure of ABA by the Ministry of Education will be made in collaboration with the Superintendent of ABA. 

Therefore, for all intents and purposes, students are required to attend the first day of school on August 29^th at 7:30 AM.  Provisions have been made to install dispensers with sanitizing liquid throughout the campus and faculty will take time on the first day of classes to go over good hygiene habits with the students.  We ask all parents to also take the necessary time to explain to their children the importance of washing hands frequently, keeping the hands away from the face, and using a tissue to cover the mouth when a child sneezes or coughs and then disposing of the tissue immediately in the bin.

Over the past two weeks I have had meetings with officials from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and I am confident that the Omani government officials are responsible, knowledgeable, and proactive in the measures they are taking to manage the spread of H1N1 in the Sultanate.  It is incumbent upon the rest of us to work with these officials in a calm and rational manner in order for us all to remain healthy and continue with our daily commitments.

I will continue to update the website with any future announcements.  For now, my colleagues and I are looking forward to welcoming our new and returning ABA families back to school on Saturday, August 29^th.

Updated on August 18^th, 2009