Reopening Plan Update

August 7, 2020

Dear Families, Friends, and Donors,

I hope that this correspondence finds you and your family safe, healthy and adjusting to our new way of living.    Our summer Extended School Year program has been successful and we have received positive feedback from families particularly regarding comfort with in-person procedures.  We are now finalizing plans for the fall that are designed to be sustainable for the school year and to foster easy transition to a less or more restrictive option as the year progresses and community health dictates.

We have learned several lessons since returning to the building.  The precautions that we have in place have fostered a safe, organized environment in which students are learning and thriving.  Each class resides in its own suite that consists of a classroom, a class bathroom and an adjacent therapy room. All of the rooms and hallways are marked for social distancing and each student has a set of his/her classroom materials.  Personnel are wearing PPE and we have built a culture of frequent handwashing and age appropriate student responsibility for self-care and social distancing.

In order to continue to accommodate our student population and to maintain health and safety for all students who attend on-site services, we will be opening with an A/B schedule in the fall. Students in classes assigned to the A group will attend school on-site on Monday and Tuesday and receive virtual instruction Wednesday through Friday.  B group will attend on-site on Thursday and Friday and receive virtual instruction Monday through Wednesday.

Of course, every family continues to have the option of remaining virtual and not participating in on-site services.

Please know that we have given careful consideration to options and the Plan linked here is a sustainable approach to providing the best possible services while maintaining health and safety.  We will continue to evaluate this approach and government guidance, and adjust accordingly.

As always, reach out with questions, concerns and ideas for the future.

Best regards,

Heather Gilliland, Principal