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August 2020: Launching the 2020-2021 School Year
Launching the 2020-2021 School Year: This time last year, as we prepared to open the 2019-2020 school year, our convocation theme was “C-ing Clearly”. We anticipated the year 2020 with excitement and re-affirmed our mission to produce students who are Opportunity Ready by, among other things, ensuring our students are experiencing deeper learning: learning that is engaging and purposeful. It is safe to conclude that none of us in August 2019 imagined the extreme challenges that 2020 would bring and continue to bring. We did not see it coming! What did we learn from Spring 2020?
How do we find our way forward? In a normal school year, there are always unknowns and situations that pop up unexpectedly. Afterall, from the classroom perspective, we have a brand new group of students every year. On the other hand, we have many routines, plans, and best practices in place to give a general sense of stability and knowing what to expect. This year does not seem nearly so clear because there are still unknowns and there are many things we know we will be doing very differently. The way we clean will be different. The way we work with students on our buses will be different. The way we prepare and deliver food will be different. The way we plan and deliver lessons will be different. The way we greet our students in the mornings will be different. At Cave Spring High School, the whole interior of the building is different! We have good plans, but things may change. All of this is enough to create lots of anxiety and frustration. On top of all of that, we are still in the midst of a global pandemic with no clear end in sight. Are we anxious and concerned? You bet! So, what are we to do? How do we find our way forward? A July 30 editorial in the Roanoke Times stated it well. In many ways, we find ourselves in a “no-win” situation. There are real risks involved in re-opening schools, but, for many reasons, we should not keep them closed either because there are real risks to having extended closures even if we were all online. As suggested in the editorial, we have to “reprogram the simulation”. We have to follow the science, we have to listen to the pediatricians and mental health experts, and we have to follow the CDC guidelines. We have to take precautions. We have to put strong mitigations measures into place. We have to learn from what has worked in other countries and other places. We have to protect and respect each other, even if we do not agree or understand the need. As of this week in Roanoke County, the health department, Roanoke County emergency management, and our School Health Advisory Board report that cases finally leveled off and our cases per 100,000 rate is in the moderate range. Other reported metrics such as hospitalizations, cases involving health care workers, and availability of PPE put Roanoke County in the low range. That is good news, but it does not mean that we can relax or become complacent. In fact, the health department has strongly recommended that we use active daily screenings rather than passive ones because cases could rise again. We are heeding that advice, and, as difficult as it will be to do so, we will do temperature checks of students and staff every morning. This is an extra layer of mitigation beyond the key measures of practicing 6 feet physical distancing and requiring face coverings in most situations (only exception is when we are in a stable 6 ft zone away from others). Our cleaning staffs will also have clear directions and expectations about daily disinfecting and cleaning. Positive airflow (influx of outdoor air) has been increased with the HVAC systems. As of today, an average of 22-23% of our students have registered for 100% online learning, which greatly reduces the number of students in our buildings. (For a lighter look at mitigation measures, check out this video of one principal’s approach.) This is what has worked in places (including countries like Denmark and Norway) that have re-opened schools and stayed open. Conversely, in places where these measures have not been followed, cases have spiked again. There is no such thing as zero risk, and we cannot pretend otherwise. Taken together, though, these are the measures and circumstances that provide a pathway to re-open with the blended plan and give us the best chance of staying open. To make this work, we need everyone’s help and cooperation, and we desperately need the support and cooperation of the community in wearing face coverings and staying home when sick. Otherwise, we will definitely see more frequent closures. Let’s all do our part and encourage the community to do the same. If we were at a traffic light and awaiting the signal to move forward, the signal before us would be a flashing yellow light. We move forward cautiously, not full speed ahead. We take precautions and look around us to see what is going on. If conditions change and signals point in a different direction, we will adjust accordingly. Meanwhile, we need to build our own resiliency, even as we prepare to nurture resiliency in our students. We will problem solve, even as we prepare to teach our students how to problem solve. We will learn new skills, even as we prepare to teach our students new skills. We will still have fears, but let’s also decide to encourage each other and find our way forward together. We will stumble and may have to take two steps forward and one step back, but we will find our way. I am reminded of my daughter’s response several years ago when I asked her once why she liked one of her sixth grade teachers so much. My daughter not only liked the teacher very much but was also clearly motivated to work hard in that particular class and go the extra mile. When asked what that particular teacher did differently, my sixth grader replied, “She tells us [the work] is hard, but she believes in us and tells us we can do it”. With that in mind, let me acknowledge to you all that the work before you is hard. Really hard. But I believe in you, and we can do it together. We look forward to having you back next week!
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