Dear Burgundy Community,

The Coordinating Committee of the Reopening Task Force has affirmed that, based on the six reopening criteria and the Board-approved plan, we will continue to ramp up reopening with a transition into half-days of in-person learning for all classes beginning October 5. Additional details, including adjustments to arrival and dismissal, carpooling guidance, and afternoon care will be provided over the weekend. JK will continue with their present schedule. Parents who prefer to have their students continue in remote learning once we are back on campus more fully should confirm that intention with Elizabeth and Jared.

A half-day schedule for all grades is a complex, yet necessary step in our reopening. It will provide a brief period of practice, evaluation, and adjustment before we phase into full-time on campus instruction. We are planning to limit the half-day schedule to a two-week interval. The Coordinating Committee will affirm by October 12 whether or not conditions (as reflected in the six reopening criteria and with feedback from our faculty and staff) remain appropriate to move into a full-time schedule on October 19. (Please note: we will have dismissal at 12:15 p.m. on Wednesdays when we are in full day mode per the reopening plan). The Committee will continue to assess conditions thereafter and throughout the pandemic, and we must continue to prepare for the possibility of going back to hybrid, remote plus, or fully remote if conditions require it.

We are working out details for afternoon coverage for on-campus learners who are children of essential workers and a few other families who must have afternoon support during the planned two weeks of half days. Admin, staff, and homeroom/core subject teachers are trying to provide most of the coverage. We will confirm with families who have already indicated the need for afternoon care. If your care needs have changed, please inform Elizabeth or Jared as soon as possible.

If there are parents who would be willing to help with afternoon on-campus coverage for their child’s cohort during these two weeks, please feel free to fill out this form. If a family can commit to assisting with one of the two weeks, their children can, of course, be included in the afternoon coverage. Students will continue to take some of their classes remotely during these afternoons, beginning the afternoon sessions at 1:30 p.m. to allow for the commute home.

We continue to be impressed with the cooperative attentiveness of our students during Remote Plus. Many thanks to the entire community for ensuring masks fit properly, for reminding children about physical distancing, and for completing your daily Magnus health screenings (it’s best to do it every day, to observe any trends in temperatures and also to establish the habit in these busy times). Please note: we will be enforcing the no visitors policy from here out and ask that anyone staying on campus during this time must park and remain in their cars.

We are so grateful to our teachers who are providing a warm welcome and dynamic start to the school year. We will be continuously learning as we make our way through the next several weeks and months, and we appreciate each family’s commitment to the Burgundy Social Contract and to the safety and well being of all of our students and community members. Again, we look forward to providing more details in the coming days.

Jeff

Jeff Sindler
Head of School