Dear WES Families,
In March, I shared with you some of our upcoming hopes for Fall ’21. Today I write to you with more information about our intentions, as many of you are in the midst of your own planning for the fall. As the situation remains highly fluid, we will continue to send updates throughout the summer. We are also hosting a community forum in the coming weeks to answer any questions you may have about the fall, and we will have other forums in July and August to continue these conversations.
We are very pleased with how the pandemic appears to be rapidly receding in the United States, and we are very excited about what this means for our program. However, as always, the information we are sharing today is based on what we know at this time.
We are planning for a more normal 21-22 school year, with the expectation that COVID restrictions will continue to loosen throughout the year.
Vaccination Status
- All WES employees will be fully vaccinated, and all faculty will be teaching on site.
- We are not making vaccinations mandatory for students during the 21-22 school year. However, we highly recommend that those who are eligible receive a vaccination.
Continued Safeguards
- Mask guidelines continue to be updated by the CDC and other organizations. We will continue to monitor the recommendations and make decisions about the extent of student and employee mask wearing toward the start of the school year.
- The continuation of our daily health screening will be informed by the recommendations of the CDC and other health organizations. If the daily health screening is still necessary next year, we will continue to use the Magnus App.
- We are planning for students to be part of a cohort, but are unsure at this time about the size and organization of these cohorts.
- We will be moving from 6 feet between desks to 3 feet between classroom desks, as that is the latest recommendation from the CDC.
- We will continue our weekly, on-site COVID testing program. We are uncertain at this time how vaccination status will alter one’s need to participate in the program.
Travel
For the 21-22 school year, as of right now, quarantining will only be required following international travel. Moving forward, we anticipate that this policy will continue to evolve.
Virtual Learning
With COVID-19 cases dropping rapidly in the DMV area, and vaccination becoming more and more available, at-home learning will only be accessible when students and staff are forced to quarantine due to COVID-19 exposure.
Schedule
We are excited to return to a more traditional school schedule.
Drop-off will be as follows:
Middle School: 7:45-8 a.m.
Elementary: 8:15-8:30 a.m.
Early Childhood: 8:15-8:30 a.m.
Dismissal will be at 3:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday and will be 2:30 p.m. on Friday for all divisions. The sports schedule for students in Grades 5-8 will extend the school day to 4:30 p.m., or even later, several days a week.
Although we are still working out the details, families with multiple children will have the opportunity to drop off and pick up all of their children at one time and in one location.
More information about drop-off and pick-up locations, as well as the sports program, will be communicated in August.
Field and Study Trips
We are excited to resume our robust experiential learning trips next year, as COVID permits.
Uniforms
We will return to our standard uniform policy. Daily wear will be required on a regular basis and dress uniform will be required for special events throughout the year. Students in Grades 4-8 will change for PE next year.
Extended Day
Extended Day is our aftercare program; children usually complete their homework, play indoors, or play outside during this time. Due to COVID restrictions, we were unable to offer it this year. However, Extended Day will be available next year, from the time of dismissal until 6 p.m.
In order to offer a high-quality program, we will need to know in advance who to expect in our Extended Day program. Therefore, we will not offer a drop-in option. However, in order to provide more flexibility and better meet families’ schedules, we will offer more options than we have in previous years, and you will be able to enroll on a trimester basis.
In the next few weeks, you will receive more information, as well as an invitation to sign up for Extended Day.
Open Gym
Open Gym was an opportunity for students in Grades 1-8 to play basketball and other games in the gym before the start of the school day.
Due to COVID regulations, we are uncertain at this time if we will be able to offer Open Gym for the 21-22 school year. However, as we mentioned above, there will be some sort of before-care option for families who have children across multiple divisions.
Hot Lunch
Hot Lunch is our catered lunch option that offers a hot buffet lunch. COVID restrictions led to the program’s pause for this school year. Hot Lunch will return in the fall, although it will most likely initially be a boxed lunch. Once it is safe to offer a traditional buffet lunch, it will return in its original format.
Depending on the grade level and the weather, lunches will be held outdoors, in the auxiliary gym, and in classrooms.
In the next few weeks, you will receive more information, as well as an invitation to sign up for Hot Lunch.
After-School Enrichment Program (ASEP)
Our After-School Enrichment Program offers a range of clubs and activities for children to enjoy after dismissal for one hour. Some of these activities are free, such as art and world language, while others have a fee. In the past, ASEP has included cooking, coding, karate, Legos, archery, fencing, tool time, and much more!
ASEP will also return next year, although we do not have the specifics at this time. You will receive more information about ASEP in August, which is when the information is traditionally sent. ASEP sessions usually run on a trimester basis.
21-22 At-A-Glance:
Vaccinations
Required for employees; recommended for students
Health & Safety Safeguards
Evolving according to CDC recommendations
Virtual Learning
Only after COVID exposure
Travel
Quarantine only after international travel
Drop-Off
7:45-8 a.m. for Middle School; 8:15-8:30 a.m. for Elementary & Early Childhood
Pick-Up
3:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 2:30 p.m. Friday
Extended Day
Returning
Open Gym
Uncertain
Hot Lunch
Returning
Study Trips
Returning
Uniforms
Dress and daily wear required for Grades 1-8; PE uniforms also required for Grades 4-8
Community Forums
We will host community forums for any parents wishing to discuss this information. I will be available to answer any questions you may have about logistics for next year. You have two sessions from which to choose:
Wednesday, June 23, 9 a.m. Join HERE.
Wednesday, June 23, 6:30 p.m. Join HERE.
There will be no formal presentation at either of these forums; they are simply opportunities for you to get answers to any remaining questions you may have after reading this letter. As always, the links to the recordings will be distributed after the sessions.
Thank you so much for the trust you have given us during this year. We are looking forward to a wonderful 21-22 school year!
Sincerely,
