School Year 2020-21
What to Expect (2020-21)
12/13/20 Phase IV: After Winter Break
December 13, 2020
Dear Falmouth Academy Families,
I write to you with information regarding the school calendar as it relates to the period after winter break. As you know, in response to concerns about travel and gatherings, as well as the increasing case count in our local area, we implemented a “soft opening” after Thanksgiving. That strategy proved useful as it did provide some time to surface and resolve a small number of issues before bringing members of the community back into contact with one another.
Looking ahead to January, we will once again employ a soft opening strategy, though given the time students will have already been away from school, we will not postpone the return to campus as much as we did in November when the turnaround after the Thanksgiving holiday was much tighter. The following calendar for January will be in place:
Week One
- January 4-5: All students remote; no after school activities or athletics
- January 6-8: All students on campus, after school activities and athletics as scheduled
The remainder of the Month Reminders (as previously published)
- January 11: All students on campus; 12:45 early dismissal (faculty in-service)
- January 12-14: All students on campus, after school activities and athletics as scheduled
- January 15: No classes (as per original 2020-21 calendar;) progress report day
- January 18: No classes: MLK Holiday
- January 19-23: All students on campus, after school activities and athletics as scheduled
- January 25-28: All students on campus, after school activities and athletics as scheduled
- January 28: All students on campus; 12:45 early dismissal (faculty in-service)
Thanks to a combination of good planning, good fortune, and most importantly ongoing cooperation of our community, we have enjoyed an extraordinary run of good health. Given current trends in regional case counts and community spread, we recognize that the time for trying to outthink the virus with modest adjustments to the calendar may be drawing to a close. This said, our experience last month suggests that even two days of remote learning prior to bringing us all back into close contact with one another can provide valuable time and space 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, but our sincere hope is that this will be the class calendar adjustment between now and spring break.
Holiday Travel and Gatherings
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 a soft opening 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 is down to one: Hawaii. 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.
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.
Matt Green
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