Notes for Labor Day Weekend

September 6, 2020

Dear Middle School Families,

I hope you are enjoying the holiday weekend and its beautiful weather. The first two weeks of school are in the books, and I thank you for your cooperation as we cultivate a meaningful experience for our students. Your children have been resilient and patient with our protocols in and out of the classroom. As we progress along, building community is at the forefront of our minds and intentions. Our faculty knows that connection, camaraderie and belonging are fundamental to the middle school experience. I am confident that our routines will develop in a manner that honors those values. Please continue to communicate with our team about your children and their experiences at school. That communication is key!

Here are a few reminders:

Please review and keep the Community Expectations During a Pandemic in mind.

Please make sure your children have a few extra clean masks at school each day. Students should bring water bottles to school also. We have extras of both in the MS office for any students who forget.

Columbus Academy has transitioned our parent portal from My BackPack to Blackbaud's mySchoolApp. You now use mySchoolApp to access directory information, attendance, academic records, schedules and other information. If you have not set up your mySchoolApp accounts, please do so by going to https://columbusacademy.myschoolapp.com. If you would like a brief introduction to this program, visit https://sites.google.com/columbusacademy.org/myschoolapp. For those families who would like to add this app to their smartphones, follow the instructions at https://sites.google.com/columbusacademy.org/myschoolapp/how-do-i-add-myschoolapp-to-my-home-screen.

Until we are up and running with our new SchoolPass app system, we continue using the paper-and-pencil method for our Health Screening Form. All students entering the school must have this form completed before coming to school. Please use the white sheets each morning. If you forget, we will contact you in order to confirm your children’s symptoms before admitting them into school.

The Middle School will host an open house for all parents and guardians on September 15 from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. The purpose is for you to see first-hand the organization of the school and the protocols we are following.

The new date for the Middle School Back-to-School Night is October 7. It will be through Zoom. More details about the evening will be forthcoming.

School pictures will be taken over a span of two weeks, from September 21 through October 1. More details about the photo schedule will be sent out by Friday, September 11.

Enjoy the rest of your long weekend and be safe. Thank you for the support and patience you continue to show all of us -- it is greatly appreciated.

Be well,

Shaka Arnold

Head of Middle School