November 13, 2020

During this time of pandemic, it is vital that the Shaker Heights Schools community does its part in stopping the spread of COVID-19. To this end, the School Nurses of Shaker Heights Schools are putting forward a Stop the Spread initiative.

The School Nurses of Shaker Heights Schools ask you to add your voice to the Stop the Spread initiative. Stop the Spread asks us to acknowledge that we, as individuals: 

• Have a responsibility for reducing the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

• Will be thoughtful and serious in considering all decisions that will impact others from how we gather and socialize to our commitment to accurately completing the District daily health assessment/COVID-19 screening.

• Will use our power of choice to do all we can to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the Shaker Heights community.

• Understand that our actions directly influence the health of everyone so that our schools, our businesses and other community organizations can function as safely and optimally as possible.

The School Nurses have reached out to other District, civic and community leaders to ask them to join the Stop the Spread initiative in an effort to ensure that, as a community, we are united in this effort.

As you know, the District has worked for months to prepare for students and staff to return to learning in our school buildings. In addition to all of the changes made to the educational components, health and safety strategies have been in sharp focus to minimize the spread of COVID-19 in the schools. Every nuance imaginable has been addressed and modified with the intention of maintaining the health and safety of all within our buildings—from PPE, modification of health offices, addition of spacing stickers on the floors, distancing in classrooms, cleaning protocols, revision of how teachers teach and students learn as well as the District’s daily health assessment/COVID-19 screening. Together, we are doing all that we can to keep illness out.

The Nurses recognize that a part of their mission during this pandemic is to educate not only the Shaker Heights Schools students but the families and community of Shaker Heights as a whole regarding health and safety strategies that are vital to mitigate COVID-19 spread.  

Thank you for your support and for doing your part to Stop the Spread. We will share additional Stop the Spread messages by email and social media posts on the District’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds (#StopTheSpreadShaker) in the weeks ahead. 

Best in safety and health,

Paula Damm, RN, Shaker Heights High School Nurse
Vanessa Exum, RN, Lomond School Nurse
Louise Haffke, RN, Fernway School Nurse 
Paula Klausner, RN, Onaway School Nurse
Janet Meinhard, RN, Boulevard School Nurse
Iris Micochero, RN, Shaker Heights Middle School Nurse
Stephanie Smith, RN, Woodbury School Nurse
Karen Tritt, RN, Mercer School Nurse