Extended School Closure
Dear EBI Community,

Our priority and focus continue to be the safety and health of our community. As we have actively monitored the rapid growth of the COVID-19, we have been making decisions daily based on the best information available to us and the guidance from health and crisis experts. We announced on Thursday evening that we would be proactively suspending classes on Monday, March 16 to facilitate an extra professional development day for teachers and hoped to resume classes on Tuesday, March 17. Today, we are announcing that we will close our school on Tuesday, March 17 to add an extra professional development day for teachers, and will move to a distance learning model for students beginning on Wednesday, March 18. Our school will be closed from March 17 through April 5. Please note that we will continue assessing the situation and depending upon the circumstances, we may need to be closed for a longer period of time. Should this be the case, we will communicate with you as far in advance as possible so that you can best prepare. 

We have already given a great deal of thought to how student learning will continue during the school closure and our teachers are well-prepared to support our students with meaningful learning experiences during this period. We are making this transition to create physical distance in our community to do our part in helping to stop the spread of COVID-19. Public health experts emphasize the need to avoid groups larger than three people (besides family) and to maintain 6 feet of distance between individuals. We ask that we all follow these guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO). Distance learning guidelines and a more detailed communication about the logistics of our distance learning plan by grade will be sent on or before Tuesday, March 17. We have also created a page on our website to continue to provide you with timely updates and information. 

In summary, here is what you need to know:
  • Friday, March 13: Final School-Day on Campus before School Closure
Today was the last day of classes for students.
  • Monday - Tuesday, March 16-17: Professional Development Days
This coming Monday and Tuesday will serve as a faculty and staff workdays, enabling important time for the final coordination of distance learning plans. There will be no in-class learning for students. Students should use this time to establish a workspace at home if they have not yet done so.
  • Wednesday, March 18: Distance Learning Begins
We will begin our distance learning program on Wednesday morning. Division Heads will send specific instructions to you via email with the details. Our teachers are preparing high-quality educational lessons, which will allow students to continue reinforcing skills and learning in alignment with their scope, sequences, and programs. Please note that teachers might not be able to fully replicate some classroom experiences like science labs, group discussions, or circle times, among others. We are very grateful to our wonderful and committed faculty and staff for their hard work to ensure that our students continue receiving a great learning experience during our school’s closure. Thank you in advance for your support of this new learning environment and for your patience as we address needs that may arise and make changes to this new process.
  • Event Cancelations
All school-related events and activities will be canceled until further notice. We hope to resume all activities on Monday, April 6. There will be no permitted access nor activity permitted on campus. 
  • Support Services for Families
We understand that the transition to distance learning may be challenging. If your family has particular needs we can assist with, please do not hesitate to contact your Division Head, Jennifer Galloso (grades PK-5) or Daniel Nube (grades 6-8), and they will connect you to the right person.
  • Social Distancing Expectation
We are transitioning to distance learning to create physical distance in our community, in order to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. During this time, we request all students to practice social distancing. Public health experts emphasize the need to avoid groups larger than three people (besides family) and to maintain 6 feet of distance between individuals.
  • Ongoing School Updates
Our plan is to be in communication with our community every few days or as needed via email and our website . We will provide updates on the public health situation and its impact on the EBI community. 

As always, if there are any other questions or if there is something additional that we can do to support your family, we ask that you please let us know. We want to thank each of you once again for your continued support, patience, care, and understanding through this very difficult situation. 

We love your children and we will do everything we can to support them, and you, throughout this process. 

Con gran sinceridad y aprecio,

Paola V. Clark, Ed.D.