Dear Trinity Family,
As promised in last Wednesday’s Hello from Trinity, I want to update you on some significant changes announced by Governor Brown at her press conference this morning.
ECC – Grade 3
For students in grades ECE half-day, ECE full-day, Kindergarten, and grades 1-3, we will continue to offer in-person all day/every day on campus as we have been since September 8.
Grade 4-6
Due to the information released today, I have some exciting news to share. We are glad to announce that beginning Tuesday, November 3, grades 4, 5, and 6 will also be in-person all day/every day on campus.
On Monday, grades 4-6 teachers will conduct a one-hour WebEx call with their students for the first hour of the day to share what they can expect in coming back to campus on Tuesday. The rest of their day will be in preparing their environments to welcome the students back on Tuesday. More information will be coming out from your student’s teacher soon.
New Metrics Update
The Ready Schools, Safe Learner document has been updated and new metrics have been put in place. This document “General Metrics for Returning to In-Person Instruction Through the On-Site or Hybrid Model Version 10/28/2020” shows the new categories. Deschutes County is currently in the Yellow Band, “On-Site and Distance Learning.” And the window for returning students to campus for in-person all day/everyday learning is now 14 days, regardless of the metrics.
In-Person Cohort Sizes Increase
Another significant change is that cohort sizes have increased from 10 to 20 students. This change will allow more of our students in grades 7-12 to be a part of the cohorts. The 250 student limit per week has been removed, although students can still only be in two cohorts a week, and teachers can lead no more than three cohorts a day and five per week. We are planning how to leverage this to maximize participation for our older students until they can return in-person all day/every day on campus.
Face Mask Updates
Mask wearing requirements have changed as well. Starting Monday, November 2, our teachers and students will be wearing masks instead of shields unless instruction dictates the temporary use. Please be sure to send your student to school wearing a mask. We also ask parents to wear masks when you drop-off your student in the morning or you are outside of your car at pickup time.
Help Us Get There
Our goal has not changed from day one of this COVID season. We want our students and workers safe, and we want our students in-person all day/every day on campus. To get all of our students on campus, we must all continue to do our part. Please join us as we continue our vigilance in handwashing, staying home when sick, mask-wearing, avoiding large gatherings and getting a flu shot where applicable.
Impact to Drop-Off and Pick Up
With these changes at drop-off and pick up, we will have more students (and cars) on campus. Please be safe and allow yourself enough time so you are not in a rush. Remember at pickup, we load eight vehicles at a time.
Hopefully, we will have an update soon as to when we might expect grades 7-12 to be in-person all day/every day on campus. Until next time. thank you for the prayers and support.
be God’s,
Gregg Pinick
Executive Director / Head of Schools