Dear CJDS Parents,
We are writing with important health and safety information about the upcoming Thanksgiving break and hope you can take a few moments to read this letter.
Last week marked the end of the first trimester of the school year. Thanks to the tireless work of our faculty and staff, and the strong spirit of communal responsibility among school families, CJDS has been able to successfully conduct in-person instruction since August. While our daily routines are different from normal times, our academic programs and co-curriculars are rigorous and robust, and filled with the creative energies that are the mark of a CJDS education. We hope you will join us on tomorrow night’s zoom call to celebrate this milestone!
These successes are no small achievement given that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to worsen and intensify -- locally, across Ohio, and nationally. As a result, we can’t take our situation for granted or become complacent about health and safety measures. We need to remain constantly vigilant, especially as we enter the colder months and with Thanksgiving approaching.
We are writing today because the CDC has warned that small indoor gatherings of family and friends are driving this surge. Franklin County Public Health, Columbus Public Health and other scientific experts have expressed great concern about the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. We are also concerned and urge everyone to abide by the recommended precautions -- namely:
- Limit travel over the Thanksgiving holiday
- Avoid indoor gatherings with others outside your immediate household
- Continue to abide by other important safety precautions, such as avoiding indoor restaurants and bars, and large indoor or outdoor gatherings.
Should a family still travel or otherwise participate in a Thanksgiving meal with people who are not part of your immediate household, we will require that your children quarantine for 14 days after the holiday. We believe this measure is necessary in light of the current COVID-19 environment and to preserve our ability as a school to safely resume in-person instruction right after Thanksgiving.
Obviously, we do not know what the coming weeks or months will bring. As the situation remains fluid we are evaluating any potential measures that may be appropriate for after the winter break and will communicate about this closer to the December break.
If you will need to quarantine after Thanksgiving, please be in touch by Friday, November 20. This will allow teachers to send home the appropriate materials with your child in advance.
As always, the school appreciates your cooperation with our protocols. If you have questions, please email taskforce@cjds.org.
Rachel Arcus-Goldberg, Head of School and CJDS parent
Dr. Brent Bloomster, NCH Psychologist, behavioral and mental health consultant to CJDS
Jane Bodner, CJDS Board member and parent
Amanda Chernyak, CJDS Front Office Assistant
Sheri Gittins, CJDS General Studies Department Chair
Eran Rosenberg, CJDS Director of Jewish Life and Learning
Dr. Jen Rosichan, CJDS parent
Ruth Rubin, CJDS Board President
Alexandra Schimmer, CJDS parent
Steve Shkolnik
Dr. Andy Wapner, CJDS parent
Leah Weintraub
