November 17, 2020
Dear Visitation School Families,
As a school community we are committed to keeping our students, faculty and staff safe during the pandemic and have successfully provided in-person instruction for 12 weeks. We are immensely proud of our students who are doing their part in respecting and upholding our reopening plan, and that of our faculty and staff who are working tirelessly to provide an excellent education. This would not be possible without our partnership with parents and families.
This week, we are seeing an increasing number of faculty, staff and students, who have been identified as close contacts, thereby needing to quarantine due to outside exposure. As Covid-19 numbers skyrocket in Minnesota and community spread grows, we anticipate this number to also increase. We know the situation is serious and anticipate an increase in close contact exposures throughout the holidays. As such, Visitation School will move to remote learning for one week following the Thanksgiving break and one week following the Christmas break. We want to be in the best position to continue to provide in-person instruction for the long term, and we believe that adding this remote learning will provide a natural quarantine period for families to monitor for symptoms. These times call for flexibility and as the situation evolves, we will communicate any further changes as necessary.
Beginning December 7, Visitation will shift to Learning Level Three which includes five days a week, in-person instruction for Lower and Middle School while Upper School will shift to a hybrid/cohort model that will rotate students in and out of the building. This is a short-term shift to keep families safe and mitigate Covid-19 spread in our school community prior to the Christmas holiday. Please know that we have not made these decisions lightly, and we understand that remote learning, even for a short period of time, creates challenges for families. See the schedules and Division details below.
Learning Level Shifts Schedule
- November 30 - December 4: Visitation School will shift to remote learning for all students in grades K-12. Extended Day will be available for students in K-5. Please contact Julia Dale for options. At this time, a limited number of after school activities will continue. We will share further details with participants of each activity.
- December 7 - 18: Visitation will shift to Learning Level Three: Required Physical Distancing and Lower Density model. Level Three represents a return to on-campus instruction, while following social distancing and density guidelines, to ensure the safety of our students and community. Lower and Middle School students will return to campus for in-person instruction with density guidelines in place. Upper School students will return to in-person instruction rotating within their cohorts prior to final exam week. After school activities will continue as will transportation.
- January 4-9: Visitation will shift to remote learning for all students in grades K-12. Extended Day will be available for students in grades K-5. Please contact Julia Dale for options.
- January 11: Students in K-12 return to campus for in-person instruction in Learning Level Two.
Lower School
While in remote learning, Visitation Lower School students will participate in five days a week of synchronous, remote instruction in a modified schedule to ensure that learning continues, but balancing screen time and other factors. At this time, there is no change to our Montessori program. Teachers will communicate lessons and assignments on Google Classroom and students will attend daily direct instruction lessons via Zoom. A full description, including the daily schedule, will be sent tomorrow, Wednesday, in the Lower School E-News. LS students will bring their bins home on Friday. During remote learning, Extended Day will be available for students in grades K-5. Please contact Julia Dale for options.
Visitation's Learning Level Three is on-campus learning for all students, while following social distancing and density guidelines. In Lower School, we will utilize multiple spaces for each grade to accommodate lower density. A teacher's aide will be assigned to each grade level, full time, to provide additional supervision and instructional support.
Middle School
While in remote learning, Middle School will participate in five days a week of synchronous, remote instruction. Teachers and students will meet via Zoom, following the same ABC day rotation schedule that has been used up to this point in the year, and learning materials will be communicated via PowerSchool Learning.
Visitation's Learning Level Three is on-campus learning for all students, while following social distancing and density guidelines. Learning for Middle School students will look very similar as it did during Learning Level Two as students will remain in their pods and assigned classrooms.
Upper School
While in remote learning, Upper School students will participate in five days a week of synchronous, remote instruction. Please see the schedule here.
In Learning Level Three, Upper School students will rotate in their cohorts, Blazer Red or Blazer Orange for six consecutive school days before facilitating an on-campus final exam schedule. At this time, final exams will proceed as previously scheduled. See the full schedule here. Currently, all after school activities will continue as normal as well as transportation. Students who are learning at home will participate synchronously with their peers on campus, wearing their uniform and following all School@Home requirements. Upper School students will receive communication as well regarding this transition.
We know "Covid-19 fatigue" is setting in with our students and with all of us. Yet, in order to maintain the safety of all, we urge you to follow the Covid-19 protocols that are in place. As the holiday season approaches, we ask for the cooperation of the Visitation community:
- Complete Visitation's Covid-19 screening each morning before school.
Stay home if sick. Even mild symptoms can result in positive Covid-19. Please email the attendance desk or call 651-683-1732 to report an absence. - Wear a mask
- Maintain six feet of social distancing from others
- Limit social gatherings-- we know these are high-risk events. As community spread increases, we ask that if your child has been involved in a high-risk activity (sleepovers, travel, large indoor social gatherings, etc.) to consider Visitation's School@Home program and self-quarantine for 14 days.
- See Visitation's previous communication regarding travel
- See the MDH decision tree for help making decisions. Any questions about Covid-19, please contact school nurse JoAnne Geiser.
I have heard the Covid-19 pandemic described as a series of marathons that we must endure, and we are in a particularly tough stretch of the race right now. Yet, I know the strength of our community and I am confident that we will weather these challenges together. In this season of Thanksgiving, I am grateful for each of you and for this remarkable community.
Thank you for your partnership,
Rene