School Year 2020-21
Covid-19 Response

11/15/20 Phase III: Thanksgiving through Winter Break

November 15, 2020

Dear Falmouth Academy Families,

I write to you with important updates regarding the school calendar as it relates to the period between Thanksgiving and winter break. As you know, we began the year in a hybrid model before transitioning in early October to a fully on-campus model, which will be in place through the end of the month. We have been so fortunate to be able to have so many students in school for so many school days while still maintaining a clean bill of health.

The coming weeks and months, however, present some new challenges that suggest caution. First, we have seen a modest but steady and uptick in case counts in Barnstable County, with even steeper increases reported in southeastern Massachusetts and the Islands. Second, while on most days we continue to access our outdoor spaces, we know the number of days the weather will require us to remain indoors is on the upswing. And third, and perhaps most pertinent to this note, public health officials have expressed concerns about the potential impact of holiday travel and gatherings. At the same time, health conditions here at school remain quite positive, schools, in general, have seen low case counts and especially low transmission rates, and the State Departments of Education and Public Health continue to advocate strongly for the importance of having students in school.

Given these realities, we will be adopting a staggered opening after Thanksgiving break. The following schedule will be in place:

WEEK 1
November 30-December 2: All students remote
December 3-4: Grades 7-8 on school, Grades 9-12 remote
(Thursday and Friday of Week 1 will be early buses and no after school activities.)

WEEK 2-3
December 7-18: All students on campus

While we recognize that three to five days of remote learning is no guarantee that students or teachers will not have contracted the virus in the previous 14 days, this period of time does provide some space between the holiday break and the time students come back into contact with one another, time during which symptoms may surface or test results may be resolved. Obviously, this calendar model is contingent on the usual factors, particularly health conditions here at school. As always, we are fully prepared to transition to a hybrid or remote model. Just as we have with each of our phases, we will evaluate the efficacy of our approach and determine if a similar format is warranted after winter break.

Early Release Days
On a related note, you may be following reports about the cumulative impact of this unusual school year on teachers across the country. It won't surprise you to know that under challenging circumstances, FA teachers have been predictably dedicated, enthusiastic, and conscientious. They care deeply about our students. This said, the pace of the day, the demands of managing concurrently both students who are in the classroom and those in the living room, the need to supervise all students closely and at all times, and the lack of dedicated time for teachers to meet on any number of important topics that directly affect students is impacting our collective ability to meet our own high standards. To this end, I wanted to let you know in advance that we are strongly considering the scheduling of additional early release days during the winter months. I will announce those dates as soon as they are determined. 

Holiday Travel
We continue to advise families to remain at home and with immediate family over the holidays. If you do plan to travel to high-risk locations, you are required to quarantine for 14 days once back in MA or receive a COVID test within 72 hours prior to returning to Massachusetts. Given that one of the purposes of the staggered start is to provide a modest cushion for a) any symptoms to reveal themselves, and b) any outstanding test results to come in, we request that you NOT extend any travel or gatherings into the days slated for remote learning. The current list of COVID-19 lower-risk states not requiring the above protocols are only: Hawaii, Maine, NH, And Vermont. However, it is also important to check a state's website that you are traveling to (including lower-risk states) as most states have their own restrictions or requirements for travelers entering that state.  

Athletics 
As previously mentioned, basketball is being offered this winter. The MIAA will be releasing modifications to the rules of practice and competitive play shortly and we will, of course, comply with all guidelines. While the middle school program is slated to be intramural only, we are still considering the possibility of participating in league play at the high school level. No games will be scheduled before winter break and we will use this time to observe how this sport plays out at the intramural level and whether any new information about its relative risks emerges. 

Once again let me express my gratitude for your patience, support, and understanding as we continue to navigate a constantly changing landscape. I am very proud to be part of this community.
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