Dear Parents,
CTA is blessed to have a school community that represents many different perspectives on numerous critical issues in life. While in challenging times divergent opinions can lead to controversy and decisions that might disappoint, we nonetheless celebrate our diversity as a demonstration of Jewish community at its finest: respect, appreciation, and understanding.
Please be aware that the priority when making decisions to start the school year has been and will continue to be focused on the students and their academic, social, and emotional well-being. There is nothing more important for the growth of our students than to be able to consistently come to school in person, learn from their teachers, and interact with their peers.
I have been working with educational leadership, board leadership, and the medical advisory committee to gather and understand information about the current environment in regards to Covid-19. We are fully aware of the challenges that wearing masks may present for children. At this time CTA will require all faculty, staff, students, and visitors to the building to wear masks while indoors. Masks will not be required outdoors. This decision is in line with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Columbus Public Health and Franklin County Public Health guidelines. Additionally, the recent school survey confirmed that a mandatory mask policy is the strong preference with approximately ⅔ of our parents supporting mask wearing. At the beginning of October, we will reconvene and reevaluate the mask policy.
Our protocols are aligned with guidelines from the Ohio Department of Health specifically for K-12 schools and include masking, social distancing, enhanced hygiene, and cleaning recommendations. These recommendations are designed to keep students in school. By masking and distancing students 3 feet apart, we minimize any potential risks of spreading the virus. Following these guidelines will ensure that the majority of students and teachers who have an exposure will be able to continue to come to school in person and will significantly reduce the number of students and teachers that are required to quarantine due to a Covid exposure in the school setting.
As always, our teachers will look for opportunities to take advantage of our beautiful campus to provide students with outdoor breaks from wearing a mask. We will make every effort to have outdoor gym classes and recess, weather permitting. We are also exploring options to rent a tent to create more additional outdoor learning spaces.
It brings me great pleasure to announce that FALL SPORTS ARE ON! Athletics is a key component of a CTA education and brings a lot of happiness to our students and Lion fans. Please stay tuned for more information.
I know there are those who are concerned about the impact mask wearing might have on children with specific learning differences. We will be reaching out to discuss making appropriate individual accommodations and ensure that all students are equally set up for academic success.
Lastly, I want to thank you for your support and understanding during these unprecedented times. We are clearly starting the school year in a way that we did not expect. I reiterate that I am committed to every family in our school and your child/ren’s education. We are blessed to have such a special and nurturing community. Trying times like these can truly test the character of a community and disrupt the goals we are trying to attain. It is my hope that we can rally together to provide our children with security, consistency and love focused on their education.
If you have any questions, concerns, or would like to meet, please contact Kaley Mizrachi at kmizrachi@torahacademy.org and she will schedule a 15 minute meeting or phone call next week.
Respectfully,
Rabbi Avrohom Drandoff
Head of School
