COVID Update & Upper School Schedule

Dear SGS Community,

 

I am sure you are all excited to see 2021, vaccines, and a progression to a return of normalcy for ourselves and children.  The events of yesterday in Washington D.C. were a gut punch that left me saddened as a citizen.  I can only hope our nation and our elected officials are able to get back on track to unite and come together to resurrect hope and confidence going forward.  

 

Over the break there were several developments that took place regarding guidance for schools from the Governor, DOH and SRHD.  The Governor introduced the new regional plans for re-opening and the SRHD has updated their guidance, process, and metrics for schools.  The good news is the focus is now on re-opening secondary schools.  As a smaller independent school, we are already further ahead, both in terms of in-school instruction K-12 and limited COVID activity in school. Our planning, execution and parental diligence have all been successful.  We are still on track for adding grades 9-12 to four days a week in our hybrid model (students in-school and DL by choice).  Our plan has changed slightly, but we feel more confident with this model as it provides a graduated approach allowing us to make quick adjustments and maintaining our proven risk mitigation efforts.   

 

The week of January 11, our K-8 schedule will remain in place at this time. 

• Grades 11 and 12 will be able to attend Tuesday thru Friday.

• Grades 9 – 10 will be able to attend Thursday and Friday.  (This will be the first two days of all four grades attending classes in-school.)

 

The week of January 18, (No School on Monday, January 18 in observance of MLK Jr. Holiday)

• Grades K-8 schedule will remain unchanged.

• Grades 9-12 will attend Tuesday- Friday if they choose.  The Hybrid model for students learning from home will remain in place.

 

- There is an ongoing concern related to mental health and engagement while students are out of school.

- Data continues to show low transmission in schools when safety precautions (masks, physical distancing, cleaning, etc.) are in use.

- This will provide a 12-day period from New Year’s Day to when grades 9-12 would be together. 

- Based on our enrollment and facilities, we are able to maintain the physical distancing requirements, cleaning regiments and face coverings.  Many of the larger schools will find it difficult to meet the physical distancing requirements in the classrooms. 

 

Ryan Peplinski continues the contact tracing protocols and maintaining our COVID Dashboard.  Our parents have done an outstanding job of erring on the side of caution with their students and in turn, this benefits the entire community.  Thank you!!  

 

Thank you and continue to take care of yourselves.

 

Jamie Tender

Head of School

 

 

 

Governor’s Office:  The Governor released the Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery and shared the goal for a return for secondary school students.

 

The Spokane Regional Health District: The SRHD has updated their guidelines and processes related to schools.  This is in accordance with new guidance from the Governor and the Washington DOH.  Additionally, the SRHD is also reviewing protocols for other activities, including choir and orchestra.

 

 

Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA): Announced new timeline and planning for High School Athletics and Activities starting February 1.  This was just announced yesterday, and further details are forthcoming.

 

 

Proposed Calendar for January 11 – January 22: (Parenthetical days are for MS/US schedules)

 

Busses: There remains reluctance with the bus model at this time since we have K-12 students typically using the same bus.  If there are two occurrences of COVID within a class during a two-week period, that would lead to a class-wide quarantine.  We continue to work with the SRHD for guidance in this area and have developed several models that may limit this risk when confidence in transportation is higher, this would reduce the overall bus availability for families closer to school.

 

Since the school year began, Ryan Peplinski, COVID-19 Coordinator, has been communicating with families that have been impacted by COVID-19 in their family and then working with the SRHD team to assist with contact tracing.  

 

Items that could impact plans: 

1. COVID Activity metrics in the region.

2. Outbreak of 2 more students in a grade level during a 14-day period.

3. Inability to meet the state’s COVID updated requirements.

 

Contact Tracing - The SGS families have been very cooperative and proactive in notifying the school if they have come in close contact or if a family member has tested positive.  This community effort strengthens our risk mitigation protocols in reducing the spread of COVID-19 if we have a case on campus.