Dear PRWS Parents,
As we move into these beautiful autumn days of 2021, in-person learning is our vision and goal. Teachers are inhabiting their colorful indoor spaces, and each classroom is coming together beautifully. Outdoor classrooms are at the faculty’s disposal, as an asset in pleasant weather rather than a necessity. An Opening Day assembly, held outdoors, is in the works. This beloved first day assembly, in which all the children’s names are spoken by their teachers and our class candles are lit for the first time, is just one of the many traditions we are looking forward to this year.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to navigate through these unprecedented times together. The pandemic, besides being a health emergency, has become a point of philosophical debate - perhaps even within ourselves. Together we understand that there is no way that we will be able to create an approach to the school year that will meet every community member’s ideal. However, through compromise and dialogue, we have worked to make the best possible decisions we can. Thank you for sharing your thoughts via the most recent parent survey. Those survey results were shared with the entire faculty, and taken into consideration during our in-service discussions.
We are centering our response to the pandemic for the 2021-22 school year on the layering of preventative and protective measures and will continue to follow these COVID-19 protocols:
- Upholding a strict illness policy and commitment to staying home when ill
- Optimal ventilation in the classrooms and within school buildings
- Utilizing outdoor spaces as appropriate
- Distancing of desks of at least 3 feet indoors
- Diligent and frequent handwashing
- Cleaning and disinfecting of common touch surfaces daily
- Pick-up and drop-off of students outside
Updates to our COVID-19 protocols include:
- Return to our normal schedule, including subject class rotation
- Our organic hot lunch program will return for Grades 1-8
- Students may resume entering the building via the common door appropriate to their grade, as communicated by their class teacher
- Face coverings will not be required for adults or students while outdoors
- Parents are welcome inside the school building. Please enter and exit via the main entrance only, wear a face covering, and limit time indoors to complete necessary tasks
-
Grades 1-8 students, as well as all faculty, staff, and visitors will be required to wear a face covering indoors to start the school year. We are currently evaluating criteria for determining when face coverings may be optional
- Kindergarten students will not be required to wear a face covering while indoors due to their age and strict cohorting. The kindergarten teachers will be required to wear a face covering while indoors to start the school year
Together we can proceed into this coming school year in the best way possible – one that supports and nurtures our children and one another. If last year’s theme was resilience, let this year’s theme be support. Everyone can use a bit of building up right now! We appreciate all of the many ways your involvement builds and supports the school. Thank you.
With commitment and joy,
The PRWS Faculty
