Dear Burgundy Parents and Community,

We are continuing precautions and planning in accordance with an evolving situation with COVID-19. This message concerns a remote learning planning day this Friday.

In keeping with being best prepared for contingencies, we have decided that Burgundy will be closed this Friday so that teachers can work more extensively on preparation for online or remote learning, should we need to close regular school operations for any duration during the remainder of this school year. 

Some of our peer schools and the Fairfax County Public Schools today announced similar decisions to close either this Thursday and/or Friday, or next Monday. While we are regretful to make a late-breaking decision to close Friday, we realized that the need to close school could come at virtually any time. Fortunately we have missed almost no school for weather this winter. Taking a full day as a faculty on Friday will provide invaluable and needed time for teachers to learn more about and to try out various modalities, tools, apps and ideas, while considering best, realistic, and developmental ways to deliver as much of their programs as possible remotely. (We should note also that these conversations and skills practiced will be useful immediately and going forward, regardless of if and when school might be closed for a time.)

We therefore are working hard to prepare for an extended school closure, with an online learning program to fit with our academic philosophy. We will offer a program that will be engaging, fun, and flexible to the demands of diverse family situations, which we can only imagine at this point. Elizabeth and Jared and teachers soon will have more to share, and we’ll publish a Burgundy remote learning overview shortly.

Thank you for your understanding regarding Friday. It is our best opportunity to be prepared for an extended school closure. Extended Day will not be available. We apologize for any inconvenience but hope that some families can collaborate regarding child care Friday.

Finally, a couple of reminders and requests: 

  1. We are insisting that all visitors to campus sign in at the Main Office. Part of that sign-in will be certifying that we nor household members are ill or under quarantine. For athletic contests or other large gatherings (as long as we have them), we will require a similar sign-in at the door of the event. We are issuing a brief reminder of health protocols to expected visitors beginning immediately.

  2. The 7th grade recital is on for Wednesday evening.

  3. As of now, we are planning to hold parent-conferences next week as scheduled.

As always, we appreciate your support and cooperation, 

Best, 

Jeff