Dear Families,
The decision has been made for Spring Break to begin on Monday, March 16. This change will occur for multiple reasons, but it is centered around the fluid nature of the COVID-19 developments locally, nationally, and internationally. Please note that this is not a result of any new information about COVID-19 exposure to our students or a positive case in our community. The family in self-quarantine due to perceived tertiary exposure mentioned in my last Head of School letter has resulted in a negative test.
Based on the spread of COVID-19 within Colorado and the belief that more cases will be discovered as additional testing is made available, we believe that prudent social distancing measures are in the best interest of CSS and the Pikes Peak region. We did not make this decision lightly, understanding that closing school may cause hardship to many families, those with students and for our employees.
New Dates of spring break for students are
March 16 - 30, 2020
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- Faculty/staff and administrators will use some of this time to train and prep for e-Learning. Faculty will use next week for professional development to ensure they are prepared to plan, structure, and deliver effective classes in a virtual environment, if necessary.
- An additional benefit of this early date is that our Upper School students returning from Spain, Bonaire, California, and Oregon will have additional time to self-quarantine if required by health authorities.
During the next two weeks, we will make an assessment to determine if we will begin e-Learning on Tuesday, March 31 or return to our in-person, at-school schedule.
Last Day Before Spring Break
On Friday, March 13, 2020, we will run a full school day as scheduled from 8:00 a.m. - 3:15 p.m., including Extended Care and Homework Heaven until 5:30 p.m. We will still welcome Dads for Dad's Day and all shoppers to the Book Fair, which closes at noon.
Upcoming Events
- Based on our early release to Spring Break, the following school programming and events are canceled and will not be rescheduled.
- Friday, March 13: Children's School Friday Night Out - canceled
- March 13 - April 6: As announced today by the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA), all practices/games canceled; further evaluation of spring season is to come. The 4th/5th/6th grade girls' basketball season is cancelled, and practices for Landsharks, which were set to begin March 30, are postponed.
- March 13 - March 30: Fiddler on the Roof play practice - canceled
- March 16 - 20: Artist-in-Residence - canceled
- Friday, March 20: Kindergarten and 1st grade Dessert Theatre stage performance - canceled
- Any curriculum and programming for the final week of Experience-Centered Seminars - canceled
- Any parent meetings for next week - canceled
As we move forward, we will continue to evaluate events and programming for cancellations and postponements and share out any additional decisions.
In making the decision to begin spring break early, we've tracked information and guidance from higher authorities and peers and responded with clear and timely communications. We are proud of our work as a school --- and we are ready to pivot. While a hallmark of this school is rooted in experiential education, mentoring, and social connectedness, we know that this disruption has the potential to make way for powerful innovations. Our role as teachers and leaders means we must be decisive enough to look beyond the inconvenience of our small community and consider our role in a global health pandemic.
e-Learning at The Colorado Springs School
We have been working on expanding our capacity to provide continuity in meaningful learning and minimize the impact on teaching and learning. When, and if we need it, our e-Learning program will include typical channels of communication and connections (ie. email and Google Classroom). Depending on the age of your child, this may involve the sharing of assignments or activities, digital lessons or classes, and other tools through Google Apps for Education. If you do not have an internet connection and a tablet, laptop, or desktop computer at home, please be in touch with your child's division director right away so we can devise a solution.
Just in case... bring your books and belongings home!
Schools that have closed in response to the coronavirus situation have generally done so on very short notice. For this reason, we ask that on Friday, March 13, 2020, everyone must please bring home laptops, books, workbooks, binders, calculators, band instruments, and personal belongings that might be needed for an extended period of time away from campus. Teachers will guide students in packing their backpacks with necessary materials. We encourage students and parents to check the lost and found items in each building. If necessary and/or feasible, we are considering a walk-through day/time next week to transfer additional readers, books, workbooks, or prepped learning packets.
Social distancing recommendations
We understand that having children at home and not in school will place a significant burden on families, but the ultimate decision to release early for spring break is in an effort to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of our community at large. Families should note that the CDC and other health agencies recommend "social distancing" as a way to slow and stop the spread of disease. This means that families should avoid "having the class over to your house to play" or "meeting in the park for a play date." As difficult as it may be to keep to ourselves, that is the recommended course of action at this time.
