Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update – September 18, 2020

Happy Aloha Friday Saint Mark Parents!

I hope and pray you are doing well.  I am writing with the latest Saint Mark updates.

Improving Community Conditions 
​​​​​The numbers of new daily COVID-19 cases continue to trend in the positive direction.  The 7-day state average of reported new cases is 110 per day (down from over 160 per day last week) and the 7-day state average for the positivity rate below 5%.

PK to Grade 3 Students Doing Well On-Campus
The K to 3 students were welcomed back to campus last week, and I’m happy to report that they did a fantastic job of very quickly re-acclimating to all of the safety protocols. They joined our preschool students who have successfully and safely been on-campus for seven straight weeks. If you recall, the reason we were able to bring the K to 3 students back during the Stay-at-Home order is because the order permits in-person instruction at private educational facilities when the feasibility/effectiveness of remote learning is questionable as is the case with younger students.

Stay-At-Home Order Due to Expire on September 23
The current Stay-at-Home Order (Emergency Order No. 2020-26) for the island of O‘ahu is due to expire at the end of the day on September 23, 2020.  The plans below are written with the presumption that the Mayor will NOT renew the emergency order a second time.

Grades 4 & 5 and Middle School Students Returning to Campus
The 4 to 8 students are doing well with their distance learning but with the improving community conditions, we are eager to get them back on campus. As such, we will be bringing grades 4 and 5 back to campus on Friday, September 25 and grades 6 to 8 back to campus on Monday, September 28.  With the case count numbers continuing to move in a favorable direction and the lower positivity rate, Saint Mark is confident that this is the right time to bring the rest of our students back to campus. Before and after care will also resume for these students on the days they return.

Case Specific Distance Learners
The assumption is that those students who were distance learning before the school officially moved the classes to remote learning are going to continue distance learning for the reminder of the quarter.  If, however, this is not the case and you would like your child(ren) to return with their classmates before the end of the quarter, please let their teacher(s) know as soon as possible.

Ready to Pivot Back to Distance Learning 
Saint Mark Lutheran School remains very attentive to the fluidity of this pandemic and will continue to carefully monitor the daily data. While we will not be overly reactive to expected variances in community conditions, we (cohorts or larger groups) need to be ready to quickly pivot back to distance learning should a student or staff member test positive or community conditions dramatically worsen again.

Safety Protocols In Effect
As students move back on campus, the faculty, staff and administration remain steadfast in their adherence to all of the safety protocols and preventative strategies as detailed in the Reopening Campus Plan – Policy and Procedures and respectfully requests its students and parents to do the same.  Everyone must do their part to remain safe.

Mahalo for your continued patience and commitment to seeing us through these extremely challenging times and please do not hesitate to contact the school office should you have any questions.

Thank you for your time and support!

Mahalo, Blessings, Stay Safe and Have a Wonderful Weekend,

David Gaudi