Staying safe this winter at Oddfellows
Things have been going really well for the past year or so since we fully re-opened, and we thank you for your patience and understanding as we try to keep our classes, plays and events safe for everyone. We have all seen the recent upticks in flu, COVID and other respiratory illnesses, so we are moving forward in a spirit of "cautious normalness".
What we have done:
*We were able to bring the Dean of the Yale School of Public Health in lastsummer, along with members of the Middletown Health Department, Shoreline Arts Alliance and City Buildings staff, for an hour-long walk through of our facility. They gave us some great advice and resources, and they felt very strongly that this was a very safe facility from a ventilation and space perspective, and that nothing should keep us from opening safely.
*We installed high-volume air purifiers in all of our classrooms and theater.
*We followed the State and City mandates for masks indoors as long as required, and encouraged masks a little longer.
*Cleaning protocols have been upgraded.
*We limited lobby access to parents for quite a while
What we are doing and planning:
*Masks are optional at this point for kids, staff and parents.
*Parents are welcome to wait for students in our lobby, but we also provide an outdoor heater during peak pickup times for parents who prefer to wait outside and not squeeze into our small lobby.
*We encourage our staff and teaching artists to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
*We ask young people not to attend programs if they are experiencing fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath or other possible COVID symptoms.
*High-volume air purification systems are still running in all classroom and rehearsal spaces. While this does not eliminate the risk of COVID spread, we are hopeful that the increased air flow will improve safety for all. And we will be replacing all the filters in December, 2022.
*Hand washing and use of hand sanitizer is encouraged by all teachers and staff.
Please feel free to share your thoughts or concerns with staff or reach out directly to Dic Wheeler, the Executive Artistic Director, at (860) 347-6143 or dic@oddfellows.org.
Things have been going really well for the past year or so since we fully re-opened, and we thank you for your patience and understanding as we try to keep our classes, plays and events safe for everyone. We have all seen the recent upticks in flu, COVID and other respiratory illnesses, so we are moving forward in a spirit of "cautious normalness".
What we have done:
*We were able to bring the Dean of the Yale School of Public Health in lastsummer, along with members of the Middletown Health Department, Shoreline Arts Alliance and City Buildings staff, for an hour-long walk through of our facility. They gave us some great advice and resources, and they felt very strongly that this was a very safe facility from a ventilation and space perspective, and that nothing should keep us from opening safely.
*We installed high-volume air purifiers in all of our classrooms and theater.
*We followed the State and City mandates for masks indoors as long as required, and encouraged masks a little longer.
*Cleaning protocols have been upgraded.
*We limited lobby access to parents for quite a while
What we are doing and planning:
*Masks are optional at this point for kids, staff and parents.
*Parents are welcome to wait for students in our lobby, but we also provide an outdoor heater during peak pickup times for parents who prefer to wait outside and not squeeze into our small lobby.
*We encourage our staff and teaching artists to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
*We ask young people not to attend programs if they are experiencing fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath or other possible COVID symptoms.
*High-volume air purification systems are still running in all classroom and rehearsal spaces. While this does not eliminate the risk of COVID spread, we are hopeful that the increased air flow will improve safety for all. And we will be replacing all the filters in December, 2022.
*Hand washing and use of hand sanitizer is encouraged by all teachers and staff.
Please feel free to share your thoughts or concerns with staff or reach out directly to Dic Wheeler, the Executive Artistic Director, at (860) 347-6143 or dic@oddfellows.org.
