July 16, 2020
Dear BBHS Families,
Thank you for taking the time to review our reopening
plan
that we published on
July 2
. I want to provide an update on our progress and our ongoing planning process at this mid-point in the summer.
Classroom and Facility Preparation
Over the past few weeks, we have been hard at work preparing our classrooms to meet physical distancing guidelines. Every space has been analyzed and reorganized to meet the 6 ft. distancing requirement, resulting in classrooms now containing between 10-20 desks, depending on the size of the room. We are currently preparing various on-campus storage options so that the desks that are removed will be readily available for redistribution when physical distancing requirements are lifted, and we can fully return to in-person instruction.
Athletics and Health Screening
Following guidance from the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) and the Metro League, our Athletic Director and coaches have been developing and refining return to play plans. We have initiated a gradual reopening of athletic activities on campus beginning this week and are piloting health and safety protocols that are being considered for full deployment this school year. Athletes and families are using a daily health screening app to register temperature checks and assess symptoms before coming to campus. We will continue to evaluate the effectiveness of this program, as well as other options, and will confirm our school-wide health screening protocol in August.
The WIAA will continue to provide updates and guidance on sports participation for the fall and other seasons throughout the year. You can follow the most up to date information on their
website
. Our coaches and Athletic Director will communicate BBHS sport specific return to play plans directly with our athletes and families. Please see the athletic pages of our
website
or contact our Athletic Director, Sean Gaskill, with questions.
Hybrid Instruction - Alphabetical Split
Questions and feedback have been shared with us about the hybrid plan to split the student body alphabetically by last name (A-K and L-M) and whether alternative splits can be considered. We are currently evaluating the logistical viability of various scenarios. For example, we will be reviewing a “round robin” of different rotating alpha groups so students can, at some point, have the chance to be in-person with each of their classmates. While we will continue to review alternative hybrid splits, do plan on starting the year in the format outlined in the July 2 communication: Group 1 (A-K) and Group 2 (L-M). Should alternative splits be finalized, we would rotate into those scenarios after ensuring we are all safely implementing the reopening plan.
As we have shared in the past two messages, if you have questions or thoughts about this update or our reopening plan, please enter them in this Google
form
. We will work to respond to questions individually, and for broadly relevant themes, we will include answers in our ongoing updates leading up to the start of the school year. Thank you to those who have already provided feedback, we appreciate your constructive input. We anticipate publishing our next communication to you the first week of August, and we will continue to provide prompt communication throughout this uncertain time.
The situation with the pandemic is extremely fluid. Expect updates and refinements to our plan between now and August 31, and throughout the year. We will do our best to adjust to the needs of our community, taking government guidance and requirements into account. Know that we are committed to serving our families and educating the whole child, no matter what is thrown our way. Enjoy your summer.
