Message From The Director
Dear ISD Teachers and Staff
On this last day of classes in April, I send my best wishes and sincere hope that you and your family are well. As worrisome as the pandemic news has been recently, we marked an encouraging milestone in the past week.
The majority of our ISD staff now have at least one dose of the vaccine. However, we know that some of our under- 40 national staff still await their first dose of vaccine. We anticipate that a large group of our expatriate colleagues will receive their second dose as scheduled next week. We are in direct touch with the vaccine provider and national registry office nearly daily now as we track and seek confirmation that everything is proceeding according to plan. We also ask your help in reporting to us when you have received the vaccine. No need to alert us if you go with a school group to a vaccination site. For those who have registered on their own—whether in Bangladesh or elsewhere—we would appreciate a quick message to Fayel, Adnan, or me telling us the date you receive the vaccine and if it is dose one or two. We are keeping a record in the event that we later need to report this information to the Health Ministry.
I spoke with an ISD expatriate teacher yesterday who is booked for travel to the U.S. this weekend. I asked if she and her husband believed they would actually be able to fly as scheduled. She noted that some airlines were authorized to fly even during the national lockdown and that they are booked on one of those airlines. Those airlines are listed in the latest government travel circular which you may view here. Fayel has been informed that other airlines have been negotiating to also be added to the list. For the latest travel regulations and updates, Fayel is ready to assist you.
In our Health and Safety Task Force meeting yesterday, the team conducted their weekly risk assessment. While the risk in Dhaka and Bangladesh continues to be high, the data we reviewed shows some promising signs. This week, infection rates have been trending downward and the positivity rate has also gone down. While we are not living in a COVID-free world yet, those glimmers of hope are indeed encouraging.
Seeing you all and your marvelous students in their Tuesday assembly and house event was awesome. You are inspiring mentors to our ISD students. Their resilience is a direct reflection of your daily interaction and teaching. Thank you, everyone.
Make it a great weekend!
Kurt Nordness
Director
International School Dhaka
29 April 2021
