Dear Students and Families,
I am writing to update you on plans for the opening of school following the conclusion of spring break in light of the evolving reality of COVID-19. As you know from prior communications, we have been monitoring the situation closely with the goal of prioritizing health and safety for all in our community and school.
Following the lead of area schools, given the uncertain trajectory of the virus, and our desire to support public health efforts to contain its spread, we will delay the opening of school following spring break until Wednesday, March 18th. Meanwhile, all healthy, asymptomatic faculty and staff members will report to work as planned on March 16th and will utilize this time for staff development and to make preparations should the situation worsen.
We provisionally plan to commence our normal program on Wednesday, March 18th. However, the COVID-19 situation remains very fluid, so we will continue to pay close attention and act proportionately in response to future changes and/or in response to the advice of local, state, and federal health and governmental agencies, adjusting our plans or extending the period of remote learning as needed. We will certainly continue to keep you updated between now and then with any modifications or other helpful information.
Keeping our students, faculty, and staff safe is our top priority. We will continue to use the CDC guide on pandemic flu for schools as a guiding principle for our policies and practices. In addition to suspending all on-campus activities until March 18th, we have suspended all school-sponsored travel and events including athletics on campus until at least that date. The MAIS has postponed the District Science Fair until a later date as well.
We recognize that these steps represent a disruption to the normal program and student experience, and places a burden on our parents with regard to child care, but we believe this course of action is important to mitigate risk and prioritize health and safety, both within the school community and in the many communities that we are all a part of. We trust that, by working together and being flexible in the midst of difficult and unexpected circumstances, we are demonstrating our commitment to our school mission and values that bind us together. We look forward to returning to the normal routines of school life as soon as it is prudent to do so, and we remain grateful for your flexibility, support, and understanding as we navigate complex circumstances in the best interest of health and wellness for all.
Sincerely,
Marvin W. Lishman, Ph.D.
Head of School