SAAS Message from Head of School, September 29
Dear SAAS Community,
When I communicated to you in late July our decision to start the Fall Trimester in a fully remote learning mode, I promised that I would communicate to you in as timely a manner as possible our decision regarding the next steps in our remote learning and our return-to-campus plans. That time to communicate is now.
I want to start by clearly addressing the two main components of this letter.
- We will continue with academic instruction in a remote learning mode for the rest of the Fall Trimester.
- We are making plans to begin bringing students back to campus this Fall for in-person community building and small-group social and group-building interactions.
I want to reiterate that our ongoing commitment is to bring SAAS students back to campus, and the SAAS Mission, Values, and Guiding Principles are the starting and ending point for all of the scenarios we’re considering, plans we’re making, and decisions we’re communicating.
Our plans have, and likely will continue to change based on public health realities, on input from the community, and as we learn how to think flexibly about school and community as we try to look for the best path forward in what continues to be an uncertain and challenging time.
In the paragraphs below, I’ll explain the What and the How of our approach to the rest of the Fall Trimester.
DECISION ABOUT OCTOBER 13
Continuing with Remote Learning
Remote learning will continue for SAAS students until the end of Fall Tri. While we’ve seen some positive momentum in key health indicators for King County, we’ve also seen those numbers drop only to rise again. We’re also conscious of entering the flu season and are weighing those uncertainties with a potential surge of COVID-19 cases in our community.
We anticipate that this decision will be a relief to some and disappointing to others. Ultimately, we believe it’s the best path forward in balancing the safety of students, faculty, and staff, while building on the academic continuity established thus far in the Fall Tri.
Adding In-Person Opportunities
While we will be continuing with remote teaching and learning, we will also be adding in-person student engagement options during the remainder of the Fall Tri. We are creating ways to incrementally and safely add in-person student engagement during the remainder of the Fall Tri, in controlled numbers and in small student pods. We understand that much of what our students are missing are the interactions with each other and with their teachers, and we are preparing to provide those experiences in safe and targeted ways soon.
We are currently working on a plan that safely and incrementally increases in-person learning and social experiences for students on campus during the remainder of the Fall Tri and throughout the remainder of the 2020-21 school year. In all phases, students may attend full-time remote due to family health or other circumstances.
OUR RE-ENTRY PLAN BEGINS WITH:
“Retreats on Campus”
Starting on Monday, October 19, and continuing through the end of Fall Tri, SAAS will be hosting grade level “Retreats on Campus.” This builds upon the long-standing Fall tradition for SAAS students to convene with others in their grade and engage with subjects and activities outside the regular classroom curriculum.
These “Retreats on Campus” plans will allow students to come back on campus with their own grade level on specific scheduled days. Students will be organized in pods of 10 and will gather in assigned larger spaces on the campus. Much like retreats, students will engage and connect in smaller groups to bond with other students in their grade. We will also be using part of this time to orient students to the campus and safety protocols.
Dates for “Retreats on Campus”:
- 6th grade - October 19 for ½ day; November 9 for full day
- 7th grade - October 20 for ½ day; November 10 for full day
- 8th grade - October 22 for ½ day; November 12 for full day
- 12th grade - October 26 for ½ day; November 16 for full day
- 11th grade - October 27 for ½ day; November 17 for full day
- 10th grade - October 29 for ½ day; November 19 for full day
- 9th grade - October 30 for ½ day; November 20 for full day.
You will receive detailed information later this week and on an ongoing basis until October 19 on how to register your students for these days on campus. Pre-registering is central to planning of pods, the programming, transportation, supervision, and many of the safety logistics for each of the days.
Students in grades not attending a “Retreat on Campus” day will follow their class block schedule as it appears for that day.
After-School Activities
Before and after-school activities are being planned by Arts, Athletics, Rhetoric, and Robotics for gathering Upper School teams and the Upper School Musical cast together in small group pods for the remainder of Fall Tri and as early as the week of October 5. Information will be provided this week on those schedules and opportunities.
YOUR ROLE IN A SAFE RE-ENTRY
The health of our SAAS community relies on each of us committing to safe practices both while we are on campus and away from SAAS.
All of us, as the SAAS community, have the opportunity to use the time between now and October 19 to prepare our students for a safe re-entry. If you haven’t been doing so already, please practice all the pandemic safety precautions recommended by public health officials. Prior to your student returning to campus, every family will be asked to sign a letter of commitment acknowledging these necessary community public health measures, and you will be asked daily to attest in a safety pre-certification about your student.
Further schedule and program information, safety requirements, and training information will be provided after your student registers for the “Retreats on Campus” days.
YOUR QUESTIONS
We will be hosting three Town Halls in the coming weeks to provide additional information and to answer your questions about the Fall Trimester (including how things have gone so far), about the plans communicated in this letter, and about how we’re thinking about the rest of the school year. These Town Halls will be hosted by our Campus Return Task Force, which includes Upper and Middle School leadership, representation from the academic leadership team, and leadership related to the often unseen but mission-critical work related to facilities, transportation, and safety.
Mark your calendars - more information will follow.
- Retreats on Campus Town Hall - All School
Thursday, October 8, at 6:00 PM (Zoom information will be provided.) - Retreats on Campus Town Hall - Middle School Division
Thursday, October 15, at 6:00 PM (Zoom information will be provided.) - Retreats on Campus Town Hall - Upper School Division
Monday, October 19, at 6:00 PM (Zoom information will be provided.)
We will continue to communicate updates via email, social media, and on our website throughout this re-entry time.
I’ve heard from so many of you who have reached out to share your personal and family experiences, your hopes and concerns, your expertise, and your requests. You have been thoughtful and direct in sharing your views and in advocating for what you hope SAAS will consider in its plans. That advocacy is heard and appreciated, and we also have heard and appreciated your recognition of the range of views and circumstances and perspectives in our community, and of the layers of complexities we’re navigating together.
And in almost every communication, there’s been an expression of hope and concern for other students and families, and for both faculty and staff.
Time and again, you’ve offered some version of “please let the faculty and staff know that we see and appreciate how hard they’re working, and how much their care and concern means to all of us.”
I’m so fortunate to be a part of this community, and encouraged by our ability to stand together in challenging times. I’m grateful to you all.
As always, please reach out to me directly with your questions, suggestions, and input.
Head of School
