March 23, 2020
11:35 a.m.
Dear Families:
I am writing to you on this Monday morning with a few updates:
1.
Governor’s Executive Order
As you know, Governor Ned Lamont issued an executive order this weekend that all non-essential businesses remain closed as of 8:00 p.m. tonight and until further notice. As a result of this announcement, TCHS will be adhering to this mandate and our building will remain closed. We will continue to keep you updated. Please continue to use email should you need assistance.
2.
Report from Week One for Distance Learning
As I stated on Friday, we are off to a great start with distance learning. Thank you so much for your support! We will continue as planned. PLEASE note that last week, our staff received training for using conferencing platforms such as Zoom to enhance the learning experience for students. As a result, you can expect some teachers to utilize this tool. Your students will be given instructions via their portal. If a teacher decides to use this technology, students would follow the instructions to log into the meeting and join the rest of their classmates for an online class. Be on the lookout for this.
3.
Quarter 3 ends/Report Cards/Attendance
· As stated in my communication dated March 20th , April 1st is the closing date of Quarter 3.
· You can expect report cards to be mailed out after April vacation
(We will update you with a specific date once we have a better idea when the building will re-open).
· To remain in good academic standing during closure, students must be keeping up with their daily assignments (see March 20th communication for additional details).
· “Attendance” during these days of closure is based on whether a student has participated in the distance learning program with fidelity.
4.
Spring Break and Beyond
TCHS will be on Spring Break from Monday, April 6th through Easter Monday, April 13th. During this time, no school work will be provided by our teachers.
As you know, we follow the decisions of the Stamford Public Schools related to this period of closure. Right now the published date by SPS for students in public school is a return to school on Monday, April 13th which is Easter Monday. I am still not confident that this date will stand due to the Governor’s Executive Order issued on Friday. Even if it does stand for SPS, we will not be in school on Easter Monday, April 13th.
As soon as I hear any news about an updated date of return, I will communicate this information to you. For now, we wait, hope and pray for a reunion of our students with their teachers.
5.
Thank you, parents!
Thank you to so many parents who have reached out to us via email last week to express your gratitude to teachers, support staff and administration. We greatly appreciate your support as we continue to navigate these days together.
Finally, I am sharing a reflection below that Miss Brady shared with me. I think during these times these words are resonating with many of us!
Happy Monday! God Bless, be well, & be safe!
Scott
“When this is over, may we never again take for granted:
A handshake with a stranger
Full shelves at the stores
Conversations with neighbors
A crowded theater
Friday night out
Church on Sunday and the taste of Communion
A routine check up
The school rush each morning
Coffee with a friend
The stadium roaring
Each deep breath
A boring Tuesday
Life itself
When this ends, may we find that we have become more like the people we wanted to be,
were called to be, we hoped to be and may we stay that way – better for each other because of the worst.”
(Laura Kelly Fanucci)
