December 18, 2020
Dear BBHS Families:
As we head into the most well-deserved Christmas break of all time, I write to provide an update on our Reopening plan.
Last month, I shared our decision to remain in remote learning through the first semester. This was a tough decision but one based on increasing COVID-19 transmission rates and in alignment with guidance from the Department of Health and King County Health. Since that time, I know these have been increasingly difficult weeks to live and learn and teach through. I will be forever grateful to our teachers and staff, students and families, coaches and moderators - for digging deep to care for one another through so much isolation. As proud as I am of the resilience and adaptability of our community, I also see the distance and monotony wearing on us all - our students especially.
I believe we are at a key inflection point in this pandemic and at a defining moment as a Brave Community. As we approach our plans for the second semester, know that we will not stray from our commitment to health and safety while, at the same time, doing everything in our power to engage our students with the in-person learning, community and relationship building that defines BBHS.
On Wednesday afternoon, Governor Inslee held a press conference to share revised guidance for reopening schools. The decision making framework was adjusted based on emerging data and research on experiences of school reopenings. In addition to reducing the public health data thresholds for transitioning to in-person learning, the guidance calls on schools to consider a variety of factors and data points in deciding when to offer in-person learning.
With this new framework as a guide, we will continue with our previously stated plan, to assess trends in community health data through early January. At that point, our intention is to determine and announce a transition plan to phase in hybrid, in-person learning as we begin the second semester on January 27.
While you can never fully predict COVID-19 transmission trends, it is my hope and belief that our second semester will be defined by a safe return to the in-person community we all have been attracted to and energized by here at BBHS.
In anticipation of a return, I encourage you to revisit our Reopening Plan that includes in-person, hybrid learning details, as well as critically important health and safety requirements. Any in-person return must be founded on, and sustained by, everyone’s full commitment to our health and safety protocols. These next weeks are critically important, so please do your part to stop the spread and prepare for all that is hopeful in the new year ahead.
Even with our hope in what’s to come, there will be more hard work and sacrifices ahead of us. That reality will be an inevitable part of transitioning through this pandemic and finishing off this school year. I am confident that our community has the bravery to face these challenges, and the kindness to care for and love one another through it all.
I will update you all again in January, until then, have a safe and blessed Christmas and holiday season.
Sincerely,
Tony DeSapio
President
