Dear St. John’s Parish Day School Families,

We hope everyone is enjoying the holiday break and this email finds you all well and safe.
 
Unfortunately, we are all very concerned by the rapidly rising COVID positivity numbers in our area and across the country. As you know, this new variant is highly contagious and has caused great concerns for all schools. Over the break, our COVID Taskforces (School and Board levels) have been monitoring the situation and regularly communicating to decide what is best for the safety of everyone in our community. Balancing the risks of potential spread with the need to provide for the continuing educational needs of our students is difficult, and there is currently no consensus either locally or nationally on the best course of action.

What we know is, SJPDS has done an amazing job of keeping our community safe while continuing our valuable in-person learning platform. We have been extremely diligent in managing this ever-challenging pandemic and will continue to do so. Additionally, we know that uncertainty is disruptive to all, so we strive to be consistent while also being responsive to changing understanding of the COVID variants and the risks of spread. With these concerns in mind, SJPDS is moving to the following controls:
 
  • Once again, we will move back into the limited access to cohorts plan. We will not gather for Chapel or have indoor recess in mixed cohorts.

  • In order to have cohorts continue to mix while outdoors, we will require masks for outdoor recess for the next two weeks and reevaluate mid-January if that will still be recommended.

  • Cleaning all high-touch surfaces throughout the day and hand washing/sanitizing often.

  • Windows will be open whenever possible (weather permitting) and especially during indoor lunch and snack.

  • Please continue the MyMedBot program and monitor your child(ren) for symptoms daily!

Our COVID protocols are in the SJPDS Response Plan and will continue with caution until further notice. On Monday we noted the Center for Decease Control (CDC) updates on quarantine timeframes but the State of Maryland has not yet adopted these changes. Our COVID Taskforces continue to monitor the situation, and unfortunately, there may be additional changes based on circumstances, including where required by changes in regulations. As is our policy, we will evaluate cautiously and be in touch with any updates.
 
With safety always at the forefront of our decisions, SJPDS will be offering the following options for our families next week:
 
  1. Return to in-person learning beginning Monday, January 3rd as planned. (Your child(ren) are symptom-free and have met any quarantining protocols/restrictions if they gathered in a large group and/or traveled by public transportation/visited theme parks/ large resorts, etc.) School will resume as normal.
  2. In an abundance of caution and/or COVID restrictions, your family may wish to join Virtual Learning for next week only as an offered option. (Virtual options will take place Tuesday – Friday and can be arranged through your child’s teacher.) Please alert them to this request by Sunday evening in order to allow time to prepare. On Monday the Faculty will gather materials and devices for any virtual student(s) with packet pick-ups being given out during morning carline on Tuesday, January 4th. Lower School 8:10 – 8:30 AM, Early Childhood 8:50 – 9:10 AM carlines. Virtual Learning will begin on Tuesday morning at approximately 9:30 AM.
 
Please do not send your child(ren) to school if he/she/they exhibit COVID symptoms or are known to have been exposed. Any child exhibiting symptoms will be immediately removed from class and we will request an immediate pick-up from our quarantine room.

Once again, we are all very concerned by this new variant and the rapidly rising COVID positivity rates. Please make the best decision for your family and we will continue to pray for everyone’s good health and safety!
 
May we all have a happy, healthy, and safe New Year!
 
Blessings to all,
 
Lori Dembo
Head of School
&
The Board and School COVID Taskforces