The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University

Dear Members of the Preparatory Community,

We hope your summer has been refreshing and that you are excited about beginning the 2009-2010 school year. As you make plans for the coming year, please keep in mind and be prepared for the small possibility of a disruption of the Peabody calendar because of the H1N1 epidemic.

All indicators from the University are that the coming academic year will be conducted uninterrupted even as H1N1 infections continue to occur on and around our campuses. Fortunately, the virus had low virulence last spring and this has not changed during the summer in the southern hemisphere. It has not caused illness beyond that of the common seasonal flu except in very rare cases. Should this pattern continue, we may have significant flu absenteeism, but our schedule will not be interrupted. (As of September 14, there are no reported cases at Peabody and only a few students on the JHU Homewood campus have reported to health services with flu-like symptoms.)

To be prudent, however, we must also all be cognizant of the small probability that the H1N1 virulence may increase to a point where students, parents and faculty congregating in classes, rehearsals or performances are placed at unacceptable risks of serious illness or death. In that event, we might suspend or cancel classes, rehearsals or performances, or take other steps that might interrupt instruction or events.

We have been meeting with school and university leaders to plan how to manage in this unlikely situation. Depending on the circumstances and subsequent decisions, faculty may be required to amend their schedules or modify the manner in which they deliver instruction so that students can complete their lessons and classes in a timely and reasonable way. Should classes be suspended for an extended period, we may have to reschedule them through the make-up weeks, during the spring break or into the summer, and/or take other steps as may be necessary and practical under the circumstances.

We encourage you and your family members to observe the following guidelines to reduce the risk of spreading infection:

• Always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze or cough, and dispose of the tissue in the trash immediately. Alternatively, some are recommending that you cough or sneeze into your elbow.

• Wash your hands, thoroughly and often, with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective and can be carried with you for use when soap and water are not available. These are available throughout the Peabody campus.

• Wash your hands before and after your lesson/class, and allow for your teachers to do the same.

• To help prevent spreading germs, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

• Individuals who are ill with flu-like symptoms should stay home. Leave home only to seek medical attention. Do not go to class or to work. Do not put yourself into public situations where you might expose other students or teachers. The Golden Rule applies – do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Preparatory faculty reserve the right to refrain from teaching a student who appears to be ill with the flu. Infected students may be told that they cannot remain in a class, rehearsal or performance with other students. The Preparatory policy continues to be in effect – if a student misses a lesson for any reason, the teacher is not obligated to make up the lesson; if the teacher misses a lesson for any reason, it must be made up.

We will keep you informed and do our best to minimize disruption. Notices about changes to our regular schedule will be sent by e-mail and posted on the Peabody website: http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/prep. We appreciate your understanding.

Sincerely,
Carolee Stewart
Dean of the Preparatory
410-234-4631