Jasmin Whitfield is the School’s director of Health Services and the healthcare coordinator for the Upper School and Middle School. She has been a nurse for 20 years and has been at Sidwell Friends for 13 years. In all that time, she has never had to confront a global pandemic— until now.

1. How do you keep students healthy during distance learning?
First, we say: “How long are you spending on streams? That’s too long; you can’t sit for four hours. You need to take more frequent breaks.” It’s about what students can do. They’re going to be adults; they have to figure this out. We ask: “Are there things that you can print out, so you don’t have to stare at the screen the whole time? Are you eating? What time are you getting up?” Students are spending time on a small screen, too, looking at Instagram, Snapchat, or whatever. That’s additional screen time. I tell them: “Try to start the day as if you were going to School. Take a shower, brush your teeth, put on some clothes. It doesn’t have to be the best clothes.” At the end, I ask: “Which of these things do you think you can reasonably do? It doesn’t work unless you buy in. What can you actually do on a consistent basis?” And I try to make sure teachers are supporting the child. So the student is aware, the teachers are aware, and Health Services checks in every two weeks.

2. How did you decide to create a newsletter?
We had so much focus on student health. Then we realized there was a key piece missing: employee health. Of course we see employees for first aid or emergency matters, but we felt like under these circumstances they could also benefit from our information. That’s where In Tune Tuesdays came from. It’s a weekly newsletter with health tips and advice on how to keep safe and stay healthy during this time. Some staff found their days didn’t end at 4:00 pm anymore; the eight-hour day ended up being almost 12 hours or longer. When you’re at home, you don’t realize how much time you’re spending in front of the screen. You’re just sitting there, and you don’t even have the ergonomic pieces you had in your office. We’re trying to connect with the wider community, not just the students.

3. What have you learned about the rest of your health staff during COVID-19?
I’m lucky to have two nurses and an athletic trainer. It’s the best of both worlds when it comes to physical and physiological health. They have been so resourceful in terms of how we develop health and safety protocols. Everyone in the community has different outcomes and different environments. We have young people, older kids, pets, older parents. We pull from all those experiences to develop our end product. My team is absolutely brilliant. They’re honest, resilient, and thoughtful.

4. Have you learned anything valuable that you will take back to campus with you?
Health has a symbiotic relationship with learning. Now, with everything being guided by health, I’m having conversations with the administrative team, I’m in operations meetings, I’m collaborating with communications.
I hope those through lines, those relationships, continue on a regular basis and not just when there’s an issue. You have impact on every area of the School when it comes to the health and well-being of community members. How can we continue collaborating from all those different parts of the School to create the best experience we possibly can for everyone?

5. Is there a favorite piece of advice you give to help people take care of themselves?
Figure out whatever it is that protects your emotional and physical well- being. Find it, embrace it. Then commit: This hour is mine to do this, because it brings me joy, brings me peace, clears my mind. Whatever it is. Like the old phrase: “You have to put the oxygen mask on first, otherwise you’re no good to everybody else.” You know, I never thought I could meditate. In Meeting for Worship, I always find my mind is wandering. I’m quiet, my eyes are closed, but my brain is—I just, can’t turn it off. Recently, I realized our meetings at School always start with a moment of self-reflection. And being at home, my brain was like, “You need that.” I’m noticing now I can close my eyes and take those few minutes. I actually feel my breath. And I don’t hear anything. I don’t see anything. Just for a sub-minute, two minutes, five minutes. Something switched on for me. So find whatever that is for you, and give yourself permission to take care of yourself.