Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update & Packet Pickup – August 27, 2020

Aloha K-5 Saint Mark Parents!

I hope and pray you are doing well.  I am writing to follow-up on yesterday’s announcement that we have moved our K to 5 students into a distance learning environment (joining our 6 to 8 students who began distance learning this past Monday).  We were hoping to give our families more lead time before making such a big move but with the signed emergency order getting disseminated only hours before it was to take effect, schools (and many businesses) had to act quickly.

Education Institutions as “Essential”
As some of you have heard, the latest emergency order categorizes educational institutions as “essential” and as such there are provisions that allow them to operate during the Stay at Home order.  Specifically, the order allows “private educational institutions to operate as essential functions, as long as they (1) comply with Social Distancing Requirements to the extent applicable and reasonably possible; (2) comply with the face covering requirements; and (3) implement distance learning to the greatest extent possible.”  Our local government clearly encourages all educational institutions to utilize distance learning as much as possible and to determine what is necessary, appropriate and safe with respect to any in-person instruction.

Deteriorating Community Conditions 
With this “essential” categorization there may be some who are hoping that the K to 5 students will immediately resume in person instruction; however, with this new Stay at Home order along with deteriorating community conditions that include triple digit reported cases for the past 25 days; a 7-day average of 247 new cases per day (up from last week); and a 11 to 12% positivity rate the past couple of days, Saint Mark is certain that the appropriate and responsible decision at this time is to move the K to 5 students on-line.  The students will remain on-line until at least September 9 at which time we will look at the possibility of resuming on-campus instruction. Please rest assured that we will not keep our students off-campus any longer than is absolutely necessary.

Packet Pickup & Guideline/Requirements
–  K to 5 Parents are invited to stop by the school tomorrow, Friday, August 28 between 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to pick up their child(ren)’s learning materials to be used for the next two weeks.
–  After arriving on campus, parents are asked to go directly to their child(ren)’s classroom and wait at the door where their child’s teacher will meet them and give them their materials.  Each door will have a table/desk in front of it to help maintain a safe social distance.
–  There is to be no congregating on campus.  Once parents have received the materials, we ask that they immediately return to their vehicle and exit the campus.
–  All visitors must wear a mask and maintain a safe social distance of at least six feet from all non-household members while on campus.
If you are not comfortable picking up your packet, are exhibiting any COVID-19 symptoms, or are currently quarantined for COVID-19 (mandatory or voluntary), please inform your teacher and other arrangements will be made.

Distance Learning 
While we want to get our students back on campus (learning in person) as soon as possible, it is important that our parents know that we will be delivering the comprehensive academic, social-emotional, and community building online framework that we used in the fourth quarter of this past school year (See the Distance Learning Plan).

Please do not hesitate to contact the school office should you have any questions.

Thank you for your time and support!

Mahalo, Blessings and Stay Safe,

David Gaudi
Head of School