A Unique School Year: Navigating Unprecedented Challenges

As the end of the first semester draws near, it is safe to say that 2020 has been like no other school year. I don’t know if anyone could have predicted that when our students went online in March, we would not return to campus before the end of 2020. Yet that is the reality we faced together as a community. Our students, teachers, and parents are to be commended for their perseverance and determination in overcoming the challenges faced during this time of online learning.

I am so very proud of our teachers for how they have risen to the challenge, finding new and creative ways to make curriculum accessible for all of our students. Our students have shown resilience as they adapt to a new normal in which their experience of school has completely changed. They have remained diligent in their studies, and have continued to be engaged in their learning, showing responsibility for their work.

Our parents have been a tremendous support as well. The countless hours you have spent supporting your child’s learning has not gone unnoticed. Thank you for making the very best of a challenging situation.

See also: Transition: Navigating Elementary to Middle School with Confidence

Adapting to the Unknown: The Ongoing Response to the Ever-Changing COVID Landscape

The ever-changing landscape of the COVID pandemic makes it challenging to predict what will happen the coming weeks and months. However, please know that we continue to monitor the situation closely and are taking the steps necessary to apply for reopening, when it is safe for us to do so. Campus protocols have been reviewed and revised to meet the latest requirements.

Those will be shared with the parent community before the end of semester break. There are too many variables at play to be able to give a definitive date by which we will return to campus, however, we will have a two week window before any projected return date is announced that will allow parents and students to be ready to make the transition back to on-campus learning.

In the coming weeks it is important that parents pay close attention to the various platforms through which information is shared: email, Class Dojo, and the SIS website. It is through these platforms that information will be shared.

As we look ahead to 2021 we can expect time online, time in which we utilize a blended learning model, and we can hope that at some point, we will be able to welcome our community back on campus. In the meantime, will continue to provide the best learning opportunities for your children.

Semester Close Remarks and Important Dates to Remember

The SIS administration wishes you a restful and relaxing holiday. May 2021 bring an abundance of blessings and a little more normalcy to all of our lives. Semester 1 ends on Friday, 18 December @ 12:00 noon. Semester 2 begins on Tuesday, January 12th.