Dear GMS Community,
As you’re well aware, the coronavirus continues to keep all of us on high alert. I appreciate these weekly opportunities to share with you how we’re continuing to prepare for more in-person learning and how we are responding to a rapidly evolving situation.
Printing at Home
Alejandra in the front office mails printed materials (and a few fun things!) to GMS households weekly. In the new year, we will continue these mailings for books, materials for activities, and the like. But given the lead time needed for teachers to prepare paper handouts, we are striving to ensure that each family has the ability to print at home. Looking ahead to January, we ask that each family make sure that their child has reliable access to a printer at home and that you’re stocked up on paper and toner. GMS already has information about many students’ ability to print, and we will reach out to your family if we are not certain of your child’s ability to print.
There is a two-week lead time required for including printed materials in mailings, so making certain that every household has printing capacity will greatly reduce teachers' burden.
Facilitated Remote Learning
Yesterday GMS welcomed a small group of 8th grade Bennett Scholars to come to campus to begin daily remote instruction from the GMS campus. All health and safety precautions used during the Cohort Day Model will continue. We will closely monitor and evaluate the program's benefits while also staying up-to-date on the regional and local guidelines to determine whether we can sustain or expand this program to more students.
Regional Stay Home Order
Last week the Governor’s office announced a new Regional Stay Home Order, which goes into effect when a region’s ICU capacity falls below 15%. While Bay Area ICU capacity is still above 20%, several Bay Area counties, including Santa Clara County, have voluntarily and preemptively imposed the Regional Stay Home Order's restrictions. Both the state and county level orders allow schools to remain open.
Please note that the Regional Stay Home Order includes additional restrictions on travel and gatherings. This year’s holiday season is full of complexities; we strongly encourage everyone in our community to do everything in their power to stem the spread of this dangerous virus.
2020-21 School Reopening Plans
California Notify
Today California is launching its exposure notification system, called California Notify. The system has been tested on several of the state’s university campuses and is now available for both Apple and Google-based phones. An exposure notification system works best when a significant portion of the community uses it, so we encourage you, your family, and your contacts to enroll. I’m already enrolled.
Take care,
Jennifer
