Our school reopening marked the culmination of months of work and preparation. We have been eagerly anticipating the return of our students, and the joy on their faces as they joined us on campus last week made all those hours of planning worthwhile. It is heartening to see classmates interacting with each other and with their teachers, and to see learning happening in spaces all over campus, inside and out.

As we move forward, our work related to the reopening does not end. We will be in a continuous state of evaluation and enhancement as we continue to refine our practices. On Monday, August 31, we gave our students a day at home in order to reflect on the first few days of the new school year and make adjustments, as necessary. Our day was filled with continued training as well as modeling and practicing related to dual instruction. Our health and safety training focused on the particulars of physical distancing and correct campus flow, while also reviewing the safest ways to provide needed mask breaks to students. The opportunity to take breaks and relax throughout the school day are important components of our planning, and will encourage students to follow our protocols during other periods of the instructional day.

We will continue to evaluate and enhance each day through administrative debriefings and faculty feedback. We are committed to providing a safe, healthy environment for our students and employees, one that fosters relationships, learning, and growth.