August 7, 2020
Dear St. Rose Families,
On Wednesday, August 5th, Governor Inslee announced his most recent guidance for the safe reopening of schools in Washington State. These guidelines apply to all schools, public and private, and will be measured by county. While these are stated as recommendations, they are being taken as directives to the schools in the Archdiocese of Seattle. To date, Cowlitz County is reporting 69.8 cases per 100,000 people. Our test positivity rate is currently at 4.6%. Based on the new guidance by Washington State, counties fall into the “Moderate Risk” category when they have 25-75 confirmed COVID-19 cases per 100,000 and a test positivity rate below 5%.(https://coronavirus.wa.gov/what-you-need-know/covid-19-risk-assessment-dashboard)
The number of cases in our county is too high for our comfort level. Our reopening plans, our staff, and our classrooms are ready. Unfortunately, our county isn't quite there yet.
The metrics presented this week fail to support the immediate, safe return to in-person learning in our school. We are eager to have all students return to campus when it is safe to do so. County-wide metrics will be reevaluated every two weeks following our initial evaluation scheduled for Monday, September 7th. If the metrics of the county show decline and the positivity rate remains below 5%, we will give the students in Kindergarten and first grade the opportunity to come back to in-person instruction on September 14th. This allows for families to plan for a change in schedule and for teachers to prepare for students to be back in the classroom. We will continue the same evaluation process to include additional grades every two weeks as long as data supports it as a safe decision for our school community. The option for live stream instruction will continue for families who are not comfortable returning to the school building. In the event of rising numbers in the county or positive cases at the school, we will pause or alter plans.
We understand that remote learning may create hardships for some families. We also recognize that some economic situations may suddenly change, and St. Rose will continue to work with families as special circumstances arise. Tuition rates for the 2020-21 academic year will remain the same regardless of learning model. We have incorporated your feedback to enhance our remote learning practices and will continue to provide a robust curriculum and faith-filled learning experience whether in person or remotely. Our teachers have continued to go above and beyond expectations in their preparation for fall, and we are blessed to have them as the cornerstones of our community.
In the next week, you will receive information regarding what our new live streamed learning will look like for the fall along with our updated learning expectations. You will also receive scheduling information for parent meetings, Back to School meetups with teachers, and new family orientation. We will do all we can to ensure solid lines of communication and to ease any anxiety surrounding the start of the school year.
We recognize that this scenario is not ideal. However, the health and safety of everyone is our top priority and we are committed to ensuring that when we reopen fully, we will do so safely. We have been working to ensure that our building is ready for in-person learning and that it has met or exceeded the appropriate reopening modifications and accommodations originally presented to us. We appreciate your grace, support, and unwavering commitment to Catholic education. This is a cross we never hoped to carry and are grateful not to have to do so alone.
Please continue to reach out with any questions or feedback. We truly appreciate each and every one of you and what you bring to our school community.
With gratitude,
Kristin Silva
