Dear Parents,

We write again with an evening advisory on the College response to the coronavirus.

Temperature-taking update
We begin with an apology for the problems many parents experienced with the system this morning. We are aware that we are implementing systems faster than normal and this can lead to performance issues during roll-out. We have upgraded and stress-tested the system rigorously today and are optimistic that tomorrow morning should be straightforward. Please be aware that the peak period for logging in is likely to be 6.30–7.30am when access may be a little slower. We have also added a direct link on the front page of our main website so that you can access the form easily. It is mobile-friendly and an easier and faster solution than trying to build it out on the app.

We continue to rely on parents to be the first line of defence with temperature-taking. At the same time, we are significantly increasing the amount of planned and random temperature taking for students and staff (including Sodexo and housekeeping staff) on both campuses to support your work at home. Thank you for your support.

Responding to questions
We are being asked increasingly elaborate questions about quarantine and Leaves of Absence, among other things, as you all respond to your own individual situations. We are doing our best to help but hope you understand that we may not have all the answers. Our Health Advisory site has a resources page with links to Government sites that may be helpful. In the meantime, we ask for your patience as we try to respond to the queries coming in. As always questions pertaining to the health of your children should be directed towards medical professionals.

On a similar note, there is an inevitable increase in the spread of misinformation, through WhatsApp groups and other channels. We are all working to deal with the impact of coronavirus on our community, rather than with speculation and discussion, and we respectfully ask all parents to support us in this. Prime Minister Lee’s recent address to Singapore was particularly eloquent about these and other issues. 

Refunds
The Finance team are working through the significant number of refunds due from cancelled trips and events as quickly as they are able. They are processing daily batches of refunds on a schedule and parents can expect to receive refunds by 16 March at the latest. We appreciate this may seem like a long time but the volume is exceptional and the process for each requires liaising with several parties. The one exception is Project Week on Dover, which requires some further investigation and we will be in touch directly with families involved.

Thank you all once more for your support.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Bray, Head of UWCSEA Dover
Graham Silverthorne, Head of UWCSEA East