As hard as it might be to believe, this school year is already coming to an end and planning has begun for next year. Friends Select School is currently preparing for a 100% in-person opening for the 2021-22 school year. Given the success of our health and safety protocols and the increasing availability of COVID-19 vaccines, and keeping in mind the emotional and psychological benefits that come with learning, playing, and socializing with others, in-person instruction will be maximized this fall and we are not planning to offer hybrid or remote instruction. If there is a student with an extreme circumstance, please contact us right away and we will try our best to accommodate their needs.
While this is our hope and intention for the start of the year, we will continue to be flexible with our planning. We will remain guided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local public health experts, along with our own medical advisory and faculty planning committees. As our planning evolves in response to COVID-19 levels and vaccination rates in the weeks and months ahead, we will send additional updates regarding health and safety protocols, academic schedules, dining options at school, athletics, the After School Program, and more.
In the meantime, we have updated our Community Commitment to reflect the ongoing need for our community to continue to adhere to our health and safety protocols, choose low-risk activities over medium/high- to high-risk activities, and refrain from traveling as much as possible. As our Community Commitment states:
While many adults in the community have received vaccinations, most of our students have not. With local community COVID-19 cases remaining at a concerning level and knowing that COVID-19 variants might be more contagious, the pandemic is still a serious threat to our community. For these reasons, it is of utmost importance that all of us (even those who are vaccinated) continue our commitment to the safety of the collective whole by committing to the safety protocols and behaviors that will keep our community healthy.
Thank you for your continued partnership during this time. The support of our entire community and the herculean efforts of our faculty and staff have enabled us to provide in-person instruction for the vast majority of this school year while prioritizing health and safety, which is an extraordinary accomplishment. Let us continue to support one another as we bring this school year to a close and plan for the next one.
