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Out of an Abundance of Caution

By Lisa Aquino posted 03-25-2020 10:22 AM

  

In the midst of sending out admission decision letters, we find ourselves managing the angst and worry of our students, current parents, faculty and staff, trustees, other colleagues and newly admitted families. We have been joining hurriedly scheduled conference calls and webinars with medical and safety experts, peer schools, accrediting associations and legal counsel. We are gathering as much accurate and current data on Covid-19 and how to best keep our communities healthy and safe. We are meeting as an administrative team crafting informative while reassuring communications to our families and sharing detailed plans for possible school closure.

Some schools have already had to close and did not have the “luxury” of time with their faculty and staff to prepare for alternative instructional delivery methods in the event of an extended school closure. All of our schools have had to assess the viability of upcoming and future school events where there are large gatherings of people. Some of our schools have not yet been told by city or government officials that we must cancel events, yet appropriately so, “out of an abundance of caution” for the safety and well-being of our communities, countless Grandparents and Special Friends Days, Spring Fundraisers, Parent Education and other educational meetings, presentations, and celebrations have already been cancelled or postponed.

Sadly as we cancel these important gatherings that bring joy to our communities, as we fist pump instead of shaking hands or hugging and as we practice standing 6 feet away from each other, our sense of human connection is lost. We are in the “business” of building amazing school communities and pride ourselves on what makes our schools school great-- our people.

As we strategize ways to keep “our people” safe and our students educated, please also find ways to keep our communities connected and “whole.”


Lisa Aquino
Lisa Aquino
Director of Admission
The Hamlin School
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