By now you’ve read or seen our announcement – we are planning to return for in-person learning on August 17. That was the easy part. Saying we are coming back took little effort. The hard part is developing a careful and deliberate plan that allows for in-person learning that prioritizes the health and safety of our WCS family.
In an effort to remain as transparent as possible, we want to let our WCS family in on the process as we develop our in-person learning plan. Please know that our focus is to provide a safe environment for our students and teachers.
We have also heard from some of our parents that would still like an option for remote learning. We are working on developing a plan that will allow families who are uncomfortable returning to campus to continue with remote learning. As with our in-person learning plan, we are in the “figuring out what that looks like” stage. We will keep you updated on our progress.
Over the next several weeks you will receive important information and reminders about the start of school. We’re even going to put together a fancy packet of information that you can keep readily available as we return to in-person learning.
Our in-person learning plan assumes that Wayne County has a minimal to moderate community transmission of the COVID-19. We are in the process of working out the details of this plan.
Back to School Bash was originally planned for Thursday, August 13, from 4:00-7:00 pm. With current social distancing guidelines, we hesitate to have the number of people that typically attend Back to School Bash on campus at one time, as the set-up of that event does not lend itself to being able to social distance. We will send out an updated schedule for back-to-school orientation meetings in the next few weeks.
Here are a few of the things we are considering:
- School cleaning and sanitizing
- Cafeteria and food service policy
- Chapels and special events
- Drop off and dismissal
- Temperature checks for everyone
- Guests and visitors
- Masks
- PE/Recess
- Designated handwashing times
In addition to these considerations, we are also asking questions – “What happens if someone tests positive for COVID-19?” “Can students use locker rooms?” “Do students need to wear masks?” “Do teachers need to wear masks?” “If so, how often, when and where?” “What will lunch look like?”
Every time we ask a question and come up with a solution, someone else comes up with a different question or scenario. As you can imagine, it is not an easy process. What we have realized through this process is that there will be some inconveniences that we all have to be willing to be disrupted by in order to be able to return to school on August 17. While we understand that some of these measures may be inconvenient, we hope you understand that they are necessary to ensure us being able to open and remain open.
Our leadership team is meeting twice a week and devoting multiple hours each day to discuss our in-person learning plan. We are reviewing CDC guidelines, recommendations by the Association of Christian Schools International, other schools’ plans, Wayne County Health Department information, meeting with members of the community – in fact, Mr. Brenner meets with local doctors to discuss our school re-opening.
We know you are anxious to learn exactly what school is going to look like. We know that in the absence of a clear plan, our worst fears take hold. But rest assured – we are working on a plan and we will let you know all the details as soon as they are ready. At the same time, we ask that you be patient with us. Whatever plan we put out will undoubtedly change plenty by August 17. The situation changes daily – just think how much has changed in the last 30 days and how much will change between today and August 17.
So how can you help us? More than anything, we covet your prayers. Please spend time each day praying for our school and our leadership team. You can also help us by beginning to prepare your child for temperature checks and asking them 5 questions (or observing them):
- Have you had a fever?
- Have you had a cough?
- Have you had a sore throat?
- Have you had shortness of breath?
- Have you been around anyone that has or has shown symptoms of COVID-19?
While we don’t have all the details of our in-person plan yet, we know that daily temperature checks and a pre-screening health check will be part of our morning routine.
Be on the lookout for more details in the coming days. Thank you for your help and support and for entering into this partnership with Wayne Christian School. We look forward to a successful school year together with your family.
Talon Times 