Dear Moravian Academy,

The first week of school is finally here! It brings with it a sense of anticipation and excitement because returning to school, to friends, and to learning are reasons to celebrate. This week also brings a nervous or apprehensive energy for many, as we prepare to collectively return to a school that will look and function in new ways. The school year ahead will be full of these moments, when we experience multiple, perhaps conflicting states of mind and when we need to adapt to new situations. These moments will test our collective patience and goodwill, but I know we are up to the challenge. We will approach these moments by building on the strengths of our school: our personal relationships, centered in the classroom, and a common purpose, which is the learning, growth, and safety for all in our community.

Moravian Academy’s approach continues to be “go slow to go far” because we know how important the rest of the journey is. There are children who will read their first books this year.  There are countless new skills that students will acquire, from writing persuasive essays to balancing chemical equations. There are new ideas to discover and friends to meet. These will all happen in the months ahead. The first few days of school, however, will focus on learning the expectations of a healthy and safe school, setting goals and roadmaps, and getting to know new faculty and classmates. This is the foundation that will carry us throughout the school year.

As part of building this foundation, I’m announcing a day to regroup and refresh on Monday, August 31. There will be no school for students on this day. Instead, the faculty, staff, and I will meet to review the first three days of school, to make refinements as needed, and to prepare the next steps forward into dual instruction, including any adaptations to improve teaching and learning for students who are remote and in the classroom. 

Right now, we are all learners - students, teachers, and families alike - who are creating new solutions for this current reality. This added day will give faculty and staff important time to review and adjust, which are key learning habits for reaching beyond “good enough” in pursuit of excellence. I understand this announcement brings interruptions and scheduling challenges to many of your households. I thank you for your patience and cooperation as Moravian Academy reopens with an eye on “going slow to go far” this year.

There is a lot to look forward to this week. I’m looking forward to opening chapel on Wednesday afternoon, to seeing students reconnect with each other, and to finally beginning this new journey with all of you.

Sincerely,

Jeff Zemsky

Head of School