03.12.20: Evening update

From: Julie Smith, Head of School
Subject: Updates on Friday and Monday; resources during upcoming closure

As we prepare to embark on an extended school closure, I would like all Stanbridge parents and guardians to know that we will be using this Alerts page on our website to keep you up-to-date with school news and important information. The COVID-19 situation is changing rapidly, and we want to make it as easy as possible for you to stay updated on the latest news as it pertains to our school, students, and program. Over the next two weeks, we will provide daily updates on this page in the morning and/or evening with relevant, need-to-know information. Any content that is sensitive or confidential will be linked to our password-protected Parent Portal.

To the right is a sidebar that includes useful links and resources, as well as a link to send our Administrative Team any questions you may have about our campus closure, distance learning, or school-related matters related to the COVID-19 outbreak. We will strive to respond to all questions in a timely manner, and will post replies to any frequently asked questions in this forum so that the information can be seen and shared by all. This page is in its early stages of development and will be refined in the days ahead, but please get in the habit of checking it regularly for updates. As for tonight’s latest, read on…

• Tomorrow (Friday, March 13) is still a regular school day for all students and faculty. Teachers will be working with students to review and practice what distance learning will look like, and confirm that students have all the materials they need to complete coursework during our closure. Nonetheless, we are sensitive to the heightened anxiety that some of our families and students may be experiencing given the rapidly-evolving coronavirus situation. We urge you to exercise sound judgment—if your student is feeling ill, or is simply too anxious to attend school tomorrow, please notify the main office; Linda will note the missed day as an excused absence.
  
  
• The basketball scrimmage scheduled on campus for Friday afternoon has been cancelled. This game was originally set to be a Senior Night event against a rival school off-site, but changes over the past few weeks forced us to reimagine the competition as an on-campus end-of-season scrimmage. Under current conditions, we would like to be able to celebrate the accomplishments of our Bulldogs in a more robust setting, and will reschedule this final game for a later date when circumstances allow.
  
  
• Monday, March 16 is an in-service day for faculty and a day off for students. Teachers will be refining their distance learning lesson plans and gathering necessary materials to take home during our extended campus closure. Parents/guardians of Middle School and High School students, please ensure that you complete the Home Learning survey sent to you via email from Genevieve or Colleen (links to these surveys are also posted on our Parent Portal). Your responses will help us to ensure your child has the necessary materials they need to access classroom content over the next few weeks.
  
  
• Given the sometimes confusing/conflicting reports that are out there about COVID-19, not to mention the rumors and myths, we have posted links to this page (see sidebar at right) that provide ways to discuss the coronavirus with your child in a clear, concise way. These links are from trusted resources and provide accurate information, as well as ways to cope with and reduce anxiety over this outbreak. See the "Resources" sidebar on the right side of this page for the links; we will add/update this section with additional resources throughout the days ahead.

Finally, continue to be vigilant: Wash hands frequently and thoroughly; cover coughs and sneezes; do not go out in large groups, and stay home if you feel ill. Also, if your student or an immediate family member has a confirmed case of COVID-19 or has been exposed to someone who has a confirmed case, please notify the main office immediately. Your confidentiality will be respected, and having that information will help us to better prepare for next steps.