Dear Lower School Families,
We are committed to continuing to offer the highest quality, classical Liberal Arts education we can to
all our students, whether they return in person or remain in Distance Learning. We are nevertheless excited to be awaiting the return of students to our building at long last! Thank you to those who were able to attend our recent
Safe Return Town Hall. You can access a recording of the broadcast, along with numerous resources related to our plans for a Safe Return to in-person learning including links to
Great Hearts' Mask Policy,
answers to Frequently Asked Questions, and much more, at
greatheartsirving.org/safereturn.
On
Monday, September 21 we will host a
Meet and Greet event to provide our scholars an opportunity to meet their teachers in person, bring materials, supplies, and medications to school, and pick up carline placards. Please visit
greatheartsirving.org/meetandgreet to sign up for a time in which to visit your child(ren)’s classroom(s). Remember to wear a mask and socially distance at all times while on campus.
At
7:15am on Tuesday, September 22, morning carline officially opens to greet our students for our first day of in-person schooling. Students should be screened at home each morning using
Great Hearts' Student Home Screening and should only come to campus if not showing any symptoms. As an added precaution at the beginning of the year, teachers will also take students' temperatures each morning upon their arrival to school.
The students' day will be immersed in wonder and the joy of learning while maintaining social distancing to the best of our abilities. Fourth and Fifth Grade students will wear face coverings throughout their school day. All students will wear face coverings when entering and exiting the building and whenever they are moving around the building. Kindergarten through Third Grade students will be able to remove face coverings while seated at their desks, which will soon be equipped with
transparent shields. Face coverings may be removed during certain limited activities, such as eating snack or lunch, engaging in physical exercise at recess and during outdoor P.E., and while singing in one of our new outdoor Music spaces. We want both our students and teachers to remain healthy, and we appreciate your ongoing support as we embark upon in-person learning.
Afternoon carline this year will begin at 3:20pm on full days and 1:25pm on early-release Fridays. We will be utilizing a new application for dismissal which will allow our students to remain in their classrooms until their car arrives. Students will then proceed to the White, Blue, or Green Door. We have taken measures, such as painting lines on our parking lot and labeling our entrance and exit doors, that we hope will make things easier for everyone. Thank you in advance for the patience we know you will show during the period of adjustment for both students and parents.
Returning to school in person will feel like Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings when he says, "I feel like spring after winter, and sun on the leaves; and like trumpets and harps and all the songs I have ever heard!"
We are eagerly looking forward to seeing our scholars in person in just a few more days!
In friendship,
