Dear Parents:
It is time for the bluff to again resonate with the joy and laughter of students. Our facilities are ready, our teachers are eager, and we are all anxious to reunite the Bayside community.
At the root of a Bayside education are our core values including responsibility, integrity, leadership, community, and respect. This year, we are all going to be tested to live these values as we navigate the school year. As administrators, faculty, parents, and students, every one of us is going to need to support one another. During these challenging times, the trust and partnership that we have developed will be the foundation of our success. We must work together more than ever to keep our community healthy and safe.
As we prepare for a return to campus on August 19, please re-read the
four operating modes
under which we will function this year. For the health and safety of our community, we will utilize a variety of strategies: morning arrival measures will include infrared temperature readings prior to entry, hand sanitizer stations, and face coverings. Additionally, we will employ measures to reduce density and incorporate social distancing conducive to teaching and learning. Large gatherings (including lunch, assemblies, and athletic competitions, if the state permits) will take into account social distancing restrictions. We have and will continue to use guidance from the CDC, American Academy of Pediatrics, and ADPH, as well as Bayside’s Medical Advisory Task Force, to determine under which mode we will reopen. The operating mode we employ will be based upon the prevalence of COVID in our community.
I want to assure you we will do all that we can to sustain on-campus teaching and learning within a framework that makes every effort to protect the physical health and safety of students, teachers, and staff members. Our goal is to preserve the essence of the Bayside experience while taking prudent measures to protect the community wellbeing. However, please know that there is an inherent risk you assume in choosing to send your child to school. We remain committed to doing all we can to provide a safe environment, but there is a chance your child will come into contact with the coronavirus. Because we want all of our students to benefit from the Bayside Academy educational experience, a fully virtual option will be provided in grades 2–
12 for families who have a unique health circumstance. Please contact your child’s division head prior to July 31 should you choose to explore this option.
Our division heads and our faculty are working tirelessly to develop comprehensive strategies for all levels of operation. In the weeks ahead, you will receive detailed information as it pertains to each division specifically on the opening of school. I hope you will find comfort in these initial plans as we prepare to welcome our students and faculty back to campus. Please review carefully the links below as they will provide more clarity to you and your family.
Thank you for the trust you put in Bayside Academy. We are doing everything we can to provide a safe haven of learning for your children, but ultimately, it will take all of us to make that happen. I look forward to welcoming everyone back to campus in August. I hope you will not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions as we prepare to reopen our campus.
Respectfully,
