July 7, 2020
Dear Justin-Siena Students and Parents:
I hope you had a wonderful Fourth of July and found time to celebrate our country. I also trust the summer is providing each of you with moments of rest and reflection as we continue to consider what and who truly matters to us.
Justin-Siena High School has spent several months considering the possible ways to resume school in the fall of 2020. We intend to begin the first day of classes as scheduled on August 13 in a Blended Learning model with details about orientation activities shared soon. We have selected this model because of the current health guidance we have received. We do not believe we can accommodate all 540+ students and staff on campus and provide enough social distancing for all, despite the creative use of space we are considering. While still taking extraordinary steps to provide a safe campus environment for our students and our staff, as you can read more below we are making this decision with an abundance of caution. Our intention is to resume school with all students and staff on campus as soon as possible, but until such time the Blended Learning model is the best worst option.
Justin-Siena has used numerous resources, both internal and external, to develop a
Safe School Approach
(our “how”). Please review the PDF document for much more information. Using the Blended Learning model (the “what”) is based on our previously communicated
options
and taking into consideration the Federal, State, and local guidelines. More importantly, we have never lost sight of “the why”, which remains to provide an excellent education in which our students are seen, known, and loved, and are prepared to serve and lead in an ever-changing world. The relationships we form with our students and families are a hallmark of our Lasallian Catholic education.
Request of families
In order to properly plan and execute our hybrid model all families are asked to
complete this Google Form
no later than July 13, 2020.
Specific highlights of Blended Learning
Below are a few of the specifics of Blended Learning.
We will also host a virtual Town Hall for the school community on Wednesday, July 16 at 6:30pm
. The Zoom link
is here
.
- Students will be split into two cohorts (a red cohort and a blue cohort). Approximately one-half of our students will attend classes on campus for two days (A and B days) while the other half will attend classes virtually at home (following the same time schedules). The student populations will then switch during the ensuing two days, etc. Therefore, most students will be on campus for two days and then off campus for two days on a regular rotation.
- All students and staff will wear masks and be physically distanced.
- Prior to arriving on campus parents and staff will complete a daily health questionnaire in addition to students and staff having their temperature taken. Anyone with a temperature above 100 will be isolated and asked to return home.
- Students will be physically distanced on the school bus.
- The following considerations are being taken into account in creating cohorts: siblings being on campus together; geographic distances and those using our bus transportation; specific class needs; and student life activities.
Commitment to understanding
We all assume risk when we walk outside our front doors. This is especially true during this global pandemic. Parents are encouraged to recognize the willingness of Justin-Siena faculty and staff to work during the upcoming school year in three possible learning environments: traditional, blended, or digital-only. They have agreed to do so because of their commitment to our Lasallian Catholic mission and their care for our students. Their generosity is deeply appreciated and so is your flexibility. Justin-Siena understands that the global pandemic impacts students, staff, and families differently. No family makes decisions regarding health and safety in a vacuum and each family must make a decision for their student taking many factors into account. Justin-Siena is committed to providing flexibility and understanding to individual families and staff members. This will require flexibility and understanding from and to students and parents, as well as from and to staff members. An open posture of care, concern, and compassion must guide our collective actions and decisions so that our ALL
HEART
community can continue to grow stronger each day.
Again, if we receive guidance from government officials which allow for us to open campus to all parties we will most certainly do so. As we have discussed as a staff, we recognize that this year may see us implementing all three of the plans.
I join our entire staff in thanking you for your support and encouragement especially as we look toward a very different fall than we had imagined. Preparing for the fall has been unlike anything any of us have considered and I am grateful to the entire Justin-Siena community for our spirit of unity. Please join us on July 15 at 6:30 for more information. The
Zoom link is here
and will be on our school website.
Warmly yours,
David J. Holquin
President
