Dear Families, 

It is our plan to return to on-campus learning at the beginning of the 2020-21 school year, with ECC students starting on Tuesday August 18th, and K-12 students on Tuesday August 25th. We have spent many hours continuing to build out our plans for everyone's safe return to campus. In all our work we are guided by certain principles, which we wanted to share with you, along with other important information.
 
Our campus re-opening is guided by four key principles interwoven with our Jewish values that inform our work now more than ever:

1. As conditions and guidelines allow, we intend to fully open the campus to all students, 5 days a week, in late August 2020.

2. B'Tzelem Elohim - respecting the uniqueness of each individual - means that all students who choose to not return to campus will be able to continue learning remotely until they return.

3. We will prioritize health, safety, and well-being over all other considerations. Pikuach Nefesh implores us to take all prudent measures to protect and uphold the health and safety of all those on our campus.

4. All SDJA health-related policies will be clearly and timely communicated, effectively implemented, and diligently enforced We will always be a Kehillah Kedosha, maintaining SDJA as a sacred community, whether virtually or physically.
 
SDJA will respect and follow all applicable federal, state and local guidelines, as well as CDC and other health and safety authorities.  Building on the key principles above, here are some examples of how we are planning to make on-campus learning safe and effective.
  • We will practice social distancing. Utilizing our large campus, with its many indoor and outdoor spaces, we will maximize physical separation and adhere to all social distancing guidelines to the best of our ability, while maintaining the warm SDJA community we all treasure.
  • We will limit movement and mixing on campus by students and faculty/staff. To help contain any potential spread, we are developing plans to decrease the need for movement around campus without sacrificing the SDJA experience.
  • We will intensify HVAC and natural air flow in classrooms and building spacesUtilizing our building controls, mechanical equipment, opening of windows, and installation of new fans, we will maximize the outside airflows within all building areas.
  • We will practice and teach healthy habits. All members of the SDJA community will commit to handwashing, practicing good hygiene and, with the exception of our younger students, wearing face coverings if appropriate when returning to school.
  • We will institute health screenings to access campus. All individuals who enter campus will be required to complete a health screening process. Students, faculty or staff exhibiting symptoms of illness must stay home. Those who have family members exhibiting symptoms should also stay home.
  • We will implement and follow best practices for cleaning and sanitation. SDJA will employ state-of-the art cleaning, disposal and sanitation techniques performed by our internal facilities staff and professional cleaning crew.
  • We will regulate visitors on campus. To keep all members of our community as healthy as possible, we will limit visitors to campus, including parents, volunteers and independent contractors. 
  • We will meet our students' needsWe are investing significantly in new technology and infrastructure to ensure our remote learning remains state-of-the-art for any student who needs it. We are also investing in more teachers, faculty fellows, and a full-time mental health professional so that we can meet every child's academic, emotional and social needs in our new normal. In line with Talmud Torah K'neged Kulam, we will provide excellence in education that reaches the highest standards under any and all circumstances.
With our eye on on-campus learning, we continue to plan for any scenario because we know realities on the ground can change at any time. SDJA will continue to be flexible as the situation and guidance evolves over time. Informed by the value of She'at ha-Dehak, we draw upon the unique challenges in this moment of crisis to inspire our utmost creativity and flexibility.
 
Thank you for your continued support. We will update you as the summer progresses. If you have any questions, please let us know. Email any questions to SDJA COVID-19 Response Team.
 
Best wishes for a safe and healthy summer.
 
Chaim Heller                 Heidi Gantwerk
Head of School            Board of Trustees President  

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