Coronavirus Update | April 1, 2020

At this time, we are still unsure if we will be able to go back to Taiwan this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. However, until we have a definitive verdict regarding travel restrictions in July, we will continue our program as planned while adapting to local, state, and federal public health guidelines.

Members: Our next training has been postponed until April 26th. Please view our latest email for more information.

We will host a Q&A session for members on April 4th before the Parent's Information Session. Details have been emailed to you.

Parents: Please join us for an informational session on the evening of April 4th. Details have been sent to your inbox.

We understand that you may be shifting your priorities due to the current situation and uncertainty surrounding this summer’s trip. If you do not plan to continue with Connexpedition, please let us know as soon as you can. You may also choose to attend the Q&A sessions first to make a more informed decision. As always, we appreciate your patience and understanding as we adjust to these unexpected circumstances. We hope you are continuing to stay safe and healthy. Please do not hesitate to email us if you have any questions.

Online Training During Social Distancing

We've had to transform our program's traditional training sessions into an online format during these unprecedented times. Thanks to all our members for your time and adaptability! Hope everyone is staying safe and healthy.

Coronavirus Update | March 11, 2020

The health and well-being of our members and families will always guide our decision making. We have been closely monitoring the COVID-19 coronavirus situation. Although there is no guidance from government public health agencies that limits gatherings of less than 1,000 people, recent actions by various local organizations, universities, and workplaces have amplified concerns in our community. We have decided to make the following changes to Connexpedition training:

• Sunday, March 22, 2020: Training and parent's information session canceled The training session that was originally planned for Sunday the 22nd will be moved to an online format. The parent's information session will also be moved to a later date (see below). Members will still need to complete Homework Assignment 1. Members must attend one of eight two-hour time slots on Saturday, March 21st and Sunday, March 22nd to demonstrate their lesson plan. Updated instructions will be sent to members in an email with the subject "Update to Homework Assignment 1."

• March 29, 2020: Training canceled We will no longer meet in person on Sunday the 29th. To make up for the lost time, we will extend the hours of the training planned for Sunday, May 17th.

• March 30, 2020: Second round of decision emails Our staff will finalize our volunteer roster on the 30th based on each member's performance during their lesson demonstration on March 21 and 22. Members that possess the necessary skills to teach English in Taiwan will receive an email with next steps.

• April 4, 2020: Parent's information session will be held via web conference We are planning to host the information session for parents during the evening of Saturday, April 4th. This information session will also be recorded if you are unable to attend. More details will be provided at the end of March.

• April 5, 2020: Decision to continue in-person training sessions A decision will be made on April 5th whether to continue our in-person training sessions based on the latest COVID-19 information at that time.

Please do not hesitate to email us at connexpedition@wceo.org if you have any questions or concerns. As a reminder, please continue to practice healthy habits at home and follow guidance from government public health agencies: https://www.sccgov.org/sites/phd/DiseaseInformation/novel-coronavirus/Documents/COVID19Update-Individuals.pdf

Thank you for your continued flexibility and patience as we work to mitigate the impact to our program.

Suspension of Program in Seattle

Concerns have been growing in the past few days surrounding the spread of the coronavirus disease in the state of Washington. Unfortunately, we have had to make the difficult decision to suspend the Connexpedition 2020 program in Seattle.

This was not an easy decision for us to make, as our staff was extremely excited to have the opportunity to work with students from the Seattle area who are equipped with different knowledge, experiences, and perspectives.

We will always prioritize the health and safety of our volunteers and families. The unpredictable nature of the outbreak makes it challenging for us to assess the current and future risk to everyone’s health. Additionally, the need for our staff to travel back and forth between California and Washington may further increase unnecessary risk to all as the outbreak is also spreading in our San Francisco Bay Area communities.

We sincerely thank you for your interest in volunteering with us. While our time together was short, we will always consider you a part of our family and welcome you to join us again next summer.

Connexpedition 2020 Day 1 – Orientation

And that’s a wrap for our first Bay Area training! Thank you for attending and we hope you had a good time. Get ready for some more fun at Training 2.

Coronavirus Update | February 29, 2020

To our Connexpedition Parents and Families:

We understand that recent developments surrounding the coronavirus disease have caused a deepening level of concern in the San Francisco Bay Area. We are writing to inform you that your child’s health and safety will always be our top priority and we are closely monitoring the coronavirus (now named COVID-19) situation.

Impact to trainings and meetings

At this time, we are following the guidelines of the county’s public health department, the state’s health department, and the CDC. We will continue to host our bi-weekly meetings until government officials and public health experts advise against such events.

As a reminder, if your child is sick, please keep them home. To help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including the coronavirus and flu, follow these important tips:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

• Stay home when you are sick.

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

• Individuals with chronic health issues and/or individuals experiencing severe symptoms should be evaluated by a medical professional.

• Get vaccinated every year.

Impact to this summer’s trip to Taiwan

The Ministry of Education in Taiwan is closely monitoring the situation and has already taken preventative measures against the spread of the virus including the postponement of the semester by fifteen days, consistent disinfection of school campuses, and strict policies to prevent community spread of the virus. We are working closely with New Taipei City and Yilan County’s department of education to provide updates to our volunteers and families as necessary.

We thank you for your cooperation and support.