March 24, 2020
Dear Saints,
Yesterday morning we had planned to send notice to all Saints that our period of distance learning would be extended into mid April and that after another 10 days of evaluation we would make another determination regarding a possible extension into the end of April. By Sunday evening we knew that Governor Northam had scheduled a major announcement for 2 pm Monday that would affect all schools, public and private, in the Commonwealth. While we did not have advance notice of the content of the Governor’s message, we decided to suspend our own announcement until after his press conference. We now know that the St. Christopher’s campus, and all K-12 campuses across Virginia, must be closed through the end of this academic year. We are deeply saddened by the decision, yet we support the Governor’s desire to safeguard our Commonwealth and our nation to the greatest extent possible.
As we all gain familiarity with our “new normal” and both the opportunities and challenges of distance learning, it is clear to me that when we finally emerge from this chapter and view COVID-19 as a past event and not a present one, we will have discovered several aspects of distance learning that are additive and worth weaving into our future forms of teaching and learning.
Importantly, however, we will also have discerned, in unmistakable form, the irreplaceable value of our shared humanity and our need for social proximity. There is, simply, no substitute for face-to-face community-building and relational teaching and learning. This, of course, is the heart of the St. Christopher’s experience.
Still, we press on, committed to becoming the best distance learning school for boys in all of central Virginia and among the finest distance learning programs for boys in all the world. As bold as that may sound, it is our driving objective. We will continue Distance Learning for all students throughout the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. Our campus may be closed, but our mission and our desire to serve our boys is alive and as strong as ever.
Our faculty, staff and administrative team deserve high praise for leaping into this uncharted territory in swift fashion. I feel compelled to share that, through countless meetings and hundreds of hours of conversations, brainstorming, and debate since mid-March, when distance learning became our clear destination, I have not heard a single negative or pessimistic comment uttered by a St. Christopher’s employee. All recognize that we have a job to do—to continue to serve our boys, albeit in an altered environment—and we must get on with our work and do it. I have never been more proud to be a Saint than over these past many days.
Our parents, too, have been graceful, patient, and equally resolved to “learn” distance learning alongside all of us. It is no easy task to have children at home, particularly younger ones, who are navigating their own new learning journey while parents continue full-time jobs that also have been transformed. We see that, and we feel it, too. We promise to continue to be flexible and adaptive throughout this journey. What is true and our best and common practice today may not be so in just one week. This is an iterative process, filled with success, failure, and adaptation. Please know that our teachers have been lifted up by your kind emails, comments, and encouraging notes.
Similarly, many alumni have reached out to offer their assistance and to check in on their beloved St. Christopher’s. This pandemic and disruption of daily life has offered many reminders of the strength of the Saints community—students, faculty and staff, families, alumni, and friends. We are grateful for that strength of community in new and profound ways.
At this time, I would like to provide an update on the state of School operations and many important events that were scheduled for the remainder of this academic term.
Enforcing Campus Closure
To be fully compliant with the Governor’s directive and CDC guidance regarding social distancing, the St. Christopher’s campus is fully closed. We will enforce the campus closure through signage and by physically closing our track, tennis courts, and other athletic facilities. We have a small crew of essential employees on the campus daily to ensure the effective continuance of distance learning and the maintenance of our facilities and grounds.
Please do not allow your children to gather in groups on campus. It brings us great sadness to limit access on our campus in this way, but we believe that we must be part of the solution to this pandemic by preventing social gathering at St. Christopher’s at this critical moment.
Alumni & Friends Debut Concert Postponed
The debut concert in the new Arts Center scheduled for April 24 featuring Mason Bates
'
95 and a host of other talented artists is postponed. We are working with the performers to schedule a new date, likely for the fall, and will share that information as soon as it is finalized.
For questions about the Alumni & Friends concert, please contact Director of Development
Jane Garnet Brown
.
Reunion Weekend Postponed until October 23-24, 2020
Reunion Weekend
, originally scheduled for May 1-2, will now be held October 23-24, 2020. Once we finalize details for the rescheduled Reunion Weekend, we will share that information with you.
For questions about Reunion Weekend, please contact
Davis Wrinkle
'81, Director of Alumni Affairs and Annual Giving.
Day of Giving Postponed
We are postponing our March 31
Day of Giving
, in honor of St. Christopher’s faculty and staff. Look for a new date to be announced later this spring. We are excited to honor our outstanding and resilient faculty and staff at a later date.
Please reach out to Director of Development
Jane Garnet Brown
or any member of the
Development Office
if you have questions about how to support St. Christopher’s at this time.
Commencement
We are saddened that Commencement cannot be held as planned on May 22. We are committed to holding Commencement, as well as Final Programs for Lower and Middle School students, as soon as possible and perhaps over the summer months. In the meantime, we are working hard to discern ways that we can celebrate and honor our seniors, in particular, during this tumultuous time. We will provide additional information on traditional end-of-year programs as soon as there is concrete information to share.
School-sponsored Travel Canceled
School-sponsored travel, including Upper School X-Term and the Middle School trip to South Africa, have been canceled. Families impacted by these trip cancellations will receive detailed information later this week.
Finally, to help bolster all of our spirits and to help us continue the rhythm and grace of our Chapel services, I encourage you to take a few moments to enjoy a Chapel service
from Rev. Whitney Edwards
and one from
from Rev. Durk Steed.
Stay well,
