Distance Learning Plan – Beginning April 1

Aloha Saint Mark Parents,

Saint Mark Lutheran School continues to closely monitor the rapidly evolving COVID -19 situation and is keeping those affected by this world-wide pandemic in thought and prayer.

With the rapid proliferation of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) across the world, along with the first case of community spread COVID-19 discovered on Oahu’s Windward side (a Kualoa Ranch employee) and the need for social distancing to help protect our island community, Saint Mark Lutheran School has made the difficult decision to close the campus to students beginning March 30, 2020 (following our regular spring break) and begin transitioning all students to its distance learning program.

Saint Mark plans the following in the coming days and weeks:

• Our spring break will be extended for two days (March 30 and 31, 2020) to allow our teachers time to prepare for the implementation of our PK3 to Grade 8 distance learning program which will begin on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. 
• The campus will be closed for at least the first two weeks of April, at which time we will re-evaluate the situation going forward. While we all hope and pray for a rapid remedy to this pandemic and that we can resume in person classes in the near term, our families should be prepared for the possibility that our distance learning program will need to be in effect throughout the remainder of the 2019-20 school year.
• We have been working on a comprehensive Distance Learning Plan for grades PK3 to Grade 8 that will soon be shared.
• There will be no on-campus instruction or school activities until further notice.
• The office will remain open as we adhere to strict protocols that follow CDC hygiene guidelines and DOH social-distancing guidelines.

We apologize for the inconvenience that this will most assuredly cause our families, but we are confident that this is the correct course of action and that quality learning can and will continue during these unprecedentedly challenging times.

Saint Mark remains vigilant in its monitoring of the latest developments and will continue to update you as needed through email and text message alerts.

For the latest information on COVID-19, please refer to the following resources:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• U.S. State Department – Travel Advisories
• State of Hawai`i Department of Health

As always, please do not hesitate to contact the school office should you have any questions and please remain patient as we collectively and confidently navigate these uncharted waters.

Mahalo and Blessings,

Dr. David Gaudi
Head of School