April 15, 2021
Dear LREI Community,
Hello, all. I hope you are well. As I said earlier in the week, it was a pleasure to welcome all back to school – online and in-person – over the past two weeks. There is a lot going on, many late in-the-school-year-traditions are on the horizon and we are excited about what the spring will bring.
I write to invite you to join a brief Community Conversation on Monday, April 19 from 7:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. The Zoom link to this gathering is on the Community Calendar. My goal for our time together on Monday is to give you a brief overview of where we are headed this Spring and next fall, when school begins again on Thursday, September 9.
For the next two months, the general outline of the school day will remain the same. The students’ schedules will remain roughly the same, though families with high school students, primarily ninth and tenth graders, have seen the changes to these students’ schedules. As you read in an email from Ava last week, there have been some changes in the health requirements/regulations. We are hopeful that we will have fewer exposures that lead to students having to spend time at home. We are hopeful that students will be able to be outside more and that nice weather might lead to some short trips out of the buildings. Families with middle school and high school students have heard the plans for the spring athletics season.
A number of you have asked about the fact that the CDC changed the recommended distance between students from six feet to three feet. NY State has followed this change. NYC has yet to do so, though on a webinar with the Department of Health yesterday they indicated that they are considering it and should decide in two weeks. Any change would come with many requirements. We are evaluating this possibility and will make a final determination when NYC does.
It is important to remember that basic health rules will remain in effect – physical distancing, mask-wearing, hand washing. We hope families are practicing these at home as well. In addition, I cannot stress strongly enough the importance for the community that all who are eligible and able get vaccinated, ages 16 and up, and soon, hopefully, 12 and older.
For the fall, it is our intention to have all students in school, in person, five days per week. We have learned over the past year, however, that our plans often have to be rethought and changed. What is the expression, Man plans and God laughs? That said, plan for a full return we will. We are sure that students will have to have some distance between them, though will be able to be closer than they can today. We will wear masks. As for activities that we have been unable to hold this year, we are planning to bring back as many as possible. These include trips, athletics, chorus, band, etc. We won’t know which ones we will be able to run, when, and how, until later in the summer. These decisions will be based on state/city regulations, advice from our medical advisors, input from the state and local athletics leagues, and, on the student level, vaccination status.
We are assuming that gatherings, large and small, such as parent association meetings, conferences, etc. will be held virtually, at least until Winter Break. That said, if there are times when we see a path towards opportunities to be together in person safely, we will take it.
Again, our intention to be together, to return to a more typical school year, will be aided by, will be made possible by, having all eligible community members receive the vaccine. Please.
In summary:
- For the spring, policies and procedures will be much the same and we expect that good habits and warm weather will help us to have some additional activities and to avoid moving to LREI@home.
- For the fall, our intention is to return to school in person, full-time, for all students.
- Eligible for the vaccine? Get it.
We will continue to share updates through the spring and summer. I am assuming we will have at least one more gathering such as Monday’s between now and the end of the year. If you have questions, before or after Monday’s gathering, do not hesitate to be in touch.
I hope that you and your families find ways to enjoy the coming spring weather while continuing to be safe and healthy – wear masks, limit the number of people with whom you visit, keep your distance, wash your hands.
Peace,
