Update for Fall Planning
Dear Atrium Families,
I hope you are well as we all settle into a homey summer. I truly miss the warmth and connection that typically closes our school year, but I‘ll simply say this: the teamwork, spirit and resilience we all found at Atrium during these extraordinary times was remarkable. I am profoundly grateful for what we accomplished together this spring.
To be sure, we will need to continue with teamwork, spirit and resilience, as we all seek to forecast what Fall will bring. This message contains important information related to the opening of the 2020-21 school year. Later this week, look for a second message about Atrium’s ongoing commitment to justice and equity.
Planning for the Fall
At Atrium, we are rigorously preparing for the coming school year. I wrote to you at the end of May about three possible scenarios. Late last week through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Commissioner Jeffrey Riley issued initial guidance for all Massachusetts schools affirming these scenarios. Riley writes that “school reopening this fall...prioritizes getting our students back to school in person—safely, following a comprehensive set of health and safety requirements. At the same time, DESE is requiring each district and school to also plan for remote learning and a hybrid school model, a combination of in-person and remote learning, should local conditions change this fall or winter.”
With state guidance fresh in hand, we plan with greater precision. Our preparation is led by the September Scenarios Task Force, comprised of Atrium administrators and faculty, as well as Board members and parents with particular expertise in medicine & public health, logistics and operations, and education. In addition to Massachusetts guidelines, we consult with reliable and well-vetted resources from organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics as we determine classroom layouts and schedules, the careful flow of people in the building, and how we upgrade our cleaning routines. We leave no stone unturned; our planning touches every single aspect of school and community life. We continue to be inventive, too: with assemblies and larger school gatherings not allowed, we creatively develop safe new ways of joyfully coming together, just as we did this past spring. In prioritizing safety and health, I recognize that learning will look and feel different, and may feel more restrictive. But on behalf of the faculty and staff at Atrium, you have our pledge that we will do everything in our power to sustain our characteristic Excellence with Joy.
Through the summer, and as concretely as possible, we will communicate further with you about emerging plans for the fall. At this juncture, there are some key points to absorb, including:
Most of all, please recognize that the “hybrid school model” readiness required by Massachusetts actually consists of multiple hybrid possibilities. Hybrid models arise when changing health conditions prompt a quick transition from in-person learning to distance learning. They can also occur when quarantine requires some individual students to stay at home. A shorter day or social distancing requirements can also present the need for a blend of in-person and distance learning. As a parent myself, it is frustrating to acknowledge that there is no sure way to know which hybrid model, if any, might be enacted next year-- conditions beyond our control will determine that.
By early next week, you will receive a parent survey asking about your areas of greatest interest and concern, the technology resources in your home, the degree of flexibility in your work schedule, and your After School needs. Please respond fully to the survey: the more input we have, the better we can serve our community’s needs.
General health and immunizations are vital this year. Since March, many routine annual pediatric check-ups have been postponed. By the time school begins, be sure that your child’s routine vaccinations are fully updated and flu shots are scheduled. Up-to-date immunizations will be required for children to begin school.
Physical distancing and face mask usage for adults and children will surely be among the conditions for starting school this fall. Over the summer, please accustom your children to this important truth. Masks for the youngest children may be optional, in line with the best available medical guidance at the time.
To support a healthy learning environment, parent presence in the building may be somewhat limited as we begin the school year. We are a tight-knit community, and we thrive on personal contact, but until we move into a time of greater public health, we must prioritize the core function of safe teaching and learning.
On behalf of Atrium, I strongly encourage you to take appropriate precautions this summer, in order to preserve everyone’s health and reduce the likelihood of COVID-19 affecting the Atrium community.
Right now, we all face much-narrowed summer activity choices for our children and our families. This Padlet assembled by Lara Buchanan contains a wealth of resources and opportunities to engage with.
Admittedly, it is dispiriting to write all this and deflating to read, I imagine. I’ve always believed in anticipating the hardest and most compromised circumstances we might encounter, and preparing to suit. Come this fall, we will be able to collectively say, “Yep--we saw that coming, and we are ready for it!” Learning to be optimistic and pragmatic is an important life skill; thank you for helping to frame things for your children positively and constructively. Let us know if we can help as you do this.
Again, thank you. There is a lot here to absorb, and more information will come in July and August. We will offer some video conversation sessions as well in mid-July and beyond. I am grateful for your willingness to be ready, and for your support of Atrium. We will do our best to strive to serve and support your family and your children.
Warmly,
Marshall