August 6, 2021
Dear Columbus Academy Families,
We can’t wait to begin the year with all our students on campus the very first day, full assemblies, robust athletics and performing arts, and complete in-person classes just the way Columbus Academy is designed to be. Parents will be able to visit and volunteer on campus as they have in the past, and our community will feel recognizable as the warm, generous, enthusiastic place it is.
To accomplish this start, we are having all students and adults on our campus, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks while indoors. Assuming mask-wearing will be a temporary circumstance as Franklin County gets control of the rising numbers of the virus and as we begin to learn the percentage of our daily population that is vaccinated, the school will notify you of the changing status of COVID protocols throughout the fall.
The COVID Response Team with the Administrative Team of the school has consulted many authorities (CDC, Ohio Department of Health, American Pediatric Association, Franklin County Public Health, WHO, and several of our consulting physicians – most prominently, Dr. Joseph Gastaldo) before making the decision to start school with masks for all indoors. Dr. Gastaldo captured our plan most succinctly, stating that “masks, ventilation and vaccinations are the three best defenses for the spread of the virus.” Last year we upgraded all our ventilation systems to MRV 13, we are strongly recommending vaccinations, and we are starting with masks to be sure that we create a safe beginning for all our children.
Gone are the endless wiping of doorhandles, walking one direction in hallways, standing in the rain to enter school, fumbling for healthcheck forms in carline, anxiously waiting for a limited capacity bathroom, and managing hybrid classes – and we are so grateful. We will still practice three-feet social distancing, as is recommended, where we can.
So much of what makes our school strong is our sense of responsibility to and for each other – each of us belonging to our community even though it can be messy, hard work. Beginning this year together, after being apart virtually and physically, is going to require that we make certain to treat the whole of the school with tenderness and care while we think about what we each need to begin the way we want to.
In addition, we look forward to welcoming new faculty and staff members to our community next week. Expect to hear more about them soon, and keep an eye out for much more back-to-school information in the days ahead.
Warmly,
Melissa Soderberg
Head of School
