Return to School 2020-21 Archive

To the SPA community,

With the end of the academic year in sight, we are working to organize the activities of May and June and we are planning for the new school year in the fall.

We plan to open the 2021-22 school year, which begins at the end of August, with students in all divisions attending in-person classes on campus five days per week. Some of our COVID mitigation measures will still be in place in the fall, and we will keep you apprised of our evolving plans over the summer. I know that we all look forward to a return to our five-day week and the sense of normalcy and consistency that will come with the resumption of our school schedule as we knew it before the pandemic.

There are good reasons to be hopeful as we look ahead, including the successful rollout of the vaccine in Minnesota and a general sense of optimism that the worst of the pandemic is behind us. In our optimism, however, we cannot let our guard down: COVID is still with us, and it is critical that we continue to observe the protocols and policies that have served us so well this year. Our Medical Director, Dr. Paul Anderson, has advised us that COVID numbers will continue to fluctuate throughout the spring. Your vigilance is essential. I ask that you continue to counsel your students, especially those in the Upper School, on the necessity of making wise choices when they are not at school. This means wearing masks and maintaining social distance. Prudent choices by all our community members after school hours and on the weekend will help to preserve the safety of the school community.

We hope that the spring will give us some opportunities to reconnect as a school community. Traditionally, spring is filled with the excitement of year-end rituals, and planning is now underway in every division for the spring activities that we cherish. We will do everything we can to make those events as personal and celebratory as possible. In the coming days, you will hear more from the division principals on these end-of-year activities.

In the meantime, continue to stay safe and healthy, and many thanks for your continued support.

Best wishes,

Bryn S. Roberts
Head of School

To Middle and Upper School families,

SPA is at its best when students attend classes with their teachers on campus. After extensive conversation among our academic leadership team, our medical advisor Dr. Paul Anderson, and our Middle and Upper School faculty, I am happy to report that we will move our Middle and Upper Schools to a four-day on-campus schedule beginning on Monday, February 22. The new schedule will bring Grades 6-12 to campus for in-person learning on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. On Wednesdays, students will be at home in Distance Learning and will follow a “flex day” schedule with asynchronous learning opportunities, community activities, and time for check-in and collaboration with teachers and peers. 

In the coming days, you will receive more detailed information about the new schedules from your division principals. In the meantime, I want to share a few important notes about this move.

Safety and risk: As with all our decision-making, the safety of your students and our staff is the priority. We rely on guidance from the CDC and MDH in analyzing our choices, and their advice has been clear: schools such as SPA, which have significant mitigation measures and little to no community spread on campus, are ideally positioned to increase the number of days devoted to in-person classes. As we have seen since the start of school in August, SPA’s layers of precautions have worked well. Now, however, is not the time to relax our vigilance. The same precautions will be in effect moving forward and it will require the unified effort of everyone associated with SPA--families, students, faculty, and staff--to keep our community safe.     

Wednesday flex days: The 4:1 schedule will include the Wednesday “flex day” in Distance Learning for all students in Grades 6-12, and will be a day of asynchronous assignments with time for conferences with teachers, group work among students, and community activities. Approximately 14% of our Middle School students and 10% of our Upper School students are currently in Distance Learning, and our teachers will continue to provide instruction in a blended modality for the remainder of the year, with some students in their classrooms and others at home. This is challenging for both teachers and students, and its success is predicated on the ability of teachers to use part of the Wednesday flex day for planning, connecting with colleagues, and checking in with students one-on-one. 

Opting in or out of Distance Learning: Because of the shift to 4:1, we will offer Middle and Upper School families two opportunities to opt in or out of Distance Learning in the coming weeks: the first for the period between February 22 and Spring Break; and the second for the time between Spring Break and the end of the school year (please note that the week directly after Spring Break, April 5-9, will be a week of Distance Learning in all divisions). 

If you would like to move your student in or out of Distance Learning for the period between February 22 and Spring Break, please submit this form no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, February 12.  If your student is currently attending in-person classes and will continue to do so in the 4:1 schedule, it is not necessary to submit this form. Likewise, if you have previously indicated that your student will be in Distance Learning until Spring Break or through the end of the year and will continue in that modality, it is not necessary to submit the form at this time. The form to opt in or out of DL between Spring Break and the end of the year will be made available to families in early March. Please contact your division principal with questions about opting in or out of DL.

Our plans depend principally on our ability to sustain a low-risk environment on campus as we move through the late winter and spring. It is encouraging that the case numbers in Minnesota and Ramsey/Hennepin counties have declined substantially in recent weeks, and the outlook for the state is positive and promising--especially as more Minnesotans are vaccinated. Nothing is certain in the time of COVID and, should the situation take a turn for the worse, we will reevaluate our approach as circumstances warrant.

You have my deep gratitude for your continued support of your students and our faculty during the many twists and turns of life during COVID. Max Delgado and Virginia Andres will have much more detailed information to share in the coming days, but in the meantime, please reach out to me directly if you have questions or concerns.

Best wishes,
Bryn S. Roberts
Head of School

To Lower School families,

I write to update you on the Lower School schedule in the days immediately following Winter Break. We are making a modest change in our plans for the Lower School during the first week of school in January 2021. 

Students on the Goodrich Campus will be in Distance Learning, rather than in a hybrid schedule as originally planned, for the week of January 4. The hybrid schedule, which will start on Monday, January 11, will include four days on campus with Wednesdays devoted to Distance Learning.

This plan was developed by SPA’s academic leaders in consultation with the school’s Medical Director, Dr. Paul Anderson. It is predicated on our best understanding of the direction of COVID case numbers in Ramsey and Hennepin counties over the next four weeks. As many of our families may travel over Winter Break, the week of Distance Learning will also allow for a period of quarantine. 

Interim Principal Beth Nelson will be in touch before Winter Break with more information about materials distribution for the January week of Distance Learning. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please reach out to me or Beth directly. As always, we both appreciate your continued support and diligence in keeping our Lower School community safe.

Best wishes,

Bryn S. Roberts
Head of School

To the SPA community,

In recent days, the Centers for Disease Control and the Minnesota Department of Health have updated their guidelines regarding the parameters for quarantine if individuals are exposed to COVID-19. These new guidelines shorten the recommended time period for quarantine from 14 days to either 10 or 7 days, depending on the circumstances of the exposure. 

In response to the new guidelines, we have updated our SPA protocols. These new guidelines, which are outlined below, will go into effect in January when we return to in-person school as part of our hybrid schedules. 

• If your student must quarantine because it is determined that they are a close contact of a positive case, the length of quarantine will be shortened from 14 days to 10 days as long as no symptoms emerge during the quarantine. The student may return to in-person school on Day 11 after the exposure. The quarantine period may be shortened to 7 days with a return to in-person school on Day 8 after the exposure if the student takes a test at least five days after the exposure date that yields a negative result. 

• Please note that these new guidelines do not apply if there is a positive case in the household. If a member of your household tests positive, the 14-day quarantine is still required for your student. 

• The quarantine requirement to return to in-person school after travel is also shortened from 14 days to 10 days, with return to school on Day 11 after the date of return. If the student takes a test at least five days after the date of return that yields a negative result, the quarantine may be shortened to 7 days, with a return to in-person school on Day 8 after the date of return.

• Due to the reduction of the quarantine period following travel, we are shortening the period of Distance Learning following Spring Break to one week from two weeks. All divisions will be in Distance Learning from April 5-9, and will return to an in-person (or hybrid) schedule beginning on Monday, April 12.

Please note that the CDC’s guidance regarding quarantine for people who have previously tested positive for COVID-19 has not changed and reads as follows: “People who have tested positive for COVID-19 do not need to quarantine or get tested again for up to 3 months as long as they do not develop symptoms again. People who develop symptoms again within 3 months of their first bout of COVID-19 may need to be tested again if there is no other cause identified for their symptoms.” This means that SPA students who have previously tested positive in the last three months who are identified as close contacts of a positive case or who have engaged in recent travel do not need to quarantine unless they exhibit symptoms. These students must have a documented positive test on file with the SPA Health Office.

Our Return to School website has been updated with the above changes for your reference. Please continue to notify our Health Offices if your student tests positive for COVID-19, including over the Winter Break. 

As always, many thanks for your continued support and diligence as we work to keep our community safe and healthy.

Best wishes,

Bryn S. Roberts
Head of School

To the SPA community,

After a careful assessment of the growing impact of COVID in our school, in Ramsey County and our wider community, we have decided to move our Lower School into Distance Learning following the Thanksgiving Break. Students in Grades K through 5 will begin Distance Learning on Monday, November 30. The Lower School will return to on-campus learning after the Winter Break on Monday, January 4, 2021, if conditions support in-person schooling at that time.  

The extent of the resurgent viral wave sweeping across Minnesota is deeply concerning. COVID numbers have risen sharply over the past two weeks, reflecting the increasingly rapid spread of the virus throughout the state. The crucial data point for schools is the rate of new cases per 10,000 residents by county over the last 14 days. For Ramsey and Hennepin counties, reported case data over the past 14 days suggests that this number currently exceeds 70 as of November 11, and will likely continue to increase. The state recommends that schools consider moving younger children to Distance Learning when the number reaches 50.

In making decisions during the pandemic, we have balanced conditions within our school with the challenges in the local community. Our record at SPA, where we have had no transmission within the school, is commendable. However, we are citizens of a bigger and more complicated world outside the controlled and comfortable precincts of our campuses and the public health risk cannot be ignored. Growing numbers of new cases are taxing our hospitals with distressing rates of admissions and ICU occupancy, while the current positivity rate now approaches 30% (5% has been considered a worrisome level). We are seeing more members of the SPA community--adults and students--exposed to the virus and required to quarantine and miss school. At times, we have struggled to find substitute instructors to replace teachers and teaching assistants who are unable to perform their customary duties because of quarantine requirements. The threat of transmission will increase in the weeks ahead as the pandemic worsens. The temporary shift to DL will lessen the possibilities that our students, faculty, and staff will be exposed to the virus and that they in turn will infect others. We know that DL presents challenges for many younger students and their families, and the leadership and teachers in the Lower School will work with students and families to ease this transition.

As always, I appreciate your support and your understanding. Please know that the safety of our community is our top priority. These are difficult times fraught with uncertainty and peril for everyone in our community. I trust that you will make safe and prudent choices for yourself, your families, and your neighbors.

Take care,

Bryn S. Roberts
Head of School

To the SPA community,

Like you, we are tracking carefully the increasing COVID numbers in Ramsey and Hennepin Counties and across Minnesota. I write today to share our plans for school in the coming months in light of these worrisome trends.

SPA’s leadership uses the metrics in the state’s Safe Learning Plan as one guiding element in our decision making. Those metrics use the bi-weekly case rate per 10,000 people over 14 days by county of residence as one index for determining which of three modalities (in-person-learning, Distance Learning, or a hybrid of the two) is appropriate for a school. The Safe Learning Plan recommends that schools consider moving to Distance Learning for Middle and Upper Schools when the 14-day case rate hits 30. The state issues a report every Thursday and last week Ramsey County recorded a case rate of 31.03 and Hennepin County a rate of 28.88. The number for considering a shift in the Lower School to Distance Learning is a case rate of 50. 

Although these rising numbers are discouraging, they are not the only data we take into account. We also consider other public health data, such as the positivity rate, the rate of hospitalization and ICU occupancy, and the case numbers at SPA, which remain low for an institution of our size and complexity. This is encouraging and a testament to the effectiveness of the mitigation strategies we have in place.

Despite this success inside the confines of SPA’s campuses, we believe that the county numbers will continue to rise in the coming weeks. As such, we will transition our Middle and Upper Schools to full Distance Learning beginning on Monday, November 16. These divisions will remain in Distance Learning through at least the first two weeks after Winter Break, and our tentative plan is to move the Middle and Upper Schools back into hybrid on Tuesday, January 19, 2021. However, if the county numbers continue to rise through December and early January, we will continue in Distance Learning for the Middle and Upper Schools until local conditions improve. 

Our Lower School will remain in its current hybrid modality, which calls for four days on campus and one day in Distance Learning. As noted above, the state’s metrics suggest moving Lower Schools to Distance Learning when the 14-day county case rate reaches 50. Distance Learning is particularly onerous for our Lower School students, faculty, and families. We know that all students, but especially those in the Lower School, are better-served when they are in class with their teachers. We will continue to assess the situation in the Lower School in close consultation with Dr. Paul Anderson, our medical advisor. Conditions on the Goodrich Campus and in Ramsey County may well change and we will give you ample time to adapt to any alteration in how we teach our youngest students.

Please note the following important information regarding this transition for the Middle and Upper Schools:

• The Thanksgiving Break will be extended by two days and will now include Monday, November 23, and Tuesday, November 24. These will be work days for the teachers in all divisions who will use this time to work on lesson plans. The faculty has done a marvelous job adapting to the rigors of hybrid teaching and this additional time will help them plan ahead.      

• While in Distance Learning, we will continue to offer a full-day, on-campus learning support program for students in Grades 6-8 whose parents are in Tier 1 occupations. Registration for this program will be sent to parents in Tier 1 occupations from Middle School Principal Virginia Andres in the coming days.

• We are now considering the impact of the move to Distance Learning on Middle and Upper School athletics and other activities. We will communicate the status of these programs in the coming days.

• We are aware of the potential impact of travel and group gatherings over the holidays. Although the move to Distance Learning mitigates this somewhat for Middle and Upper School families, we urge you to follow the guidance of public health officials and consider carefully your travel and gathering plans over the holidays. 

• We have already received questions about travel over Spring Break. Families naturally want to know how travel will impact their children's schooling and need to quarantine. In an effort to respond to these concerns, we will move all three divisions into Distance Learning for the two weeks following Spring Break (April 5-16). More information about this phase will be shared when we return from Winter Break.

These are difficult decisions, and we want to give you the time and information to plan for this next phase of schooling at SPA. Division-specific details will be shared by the Middle and Upper School Principals in the coming weeks. In the meantime, please stay safe, and know that we will do all we can to support your student and your family as we work together to navigate the challenges of living with the coronavirus.

As always, I thank you for your continued support.

Best,

Bryn S. Roberts
Head of School

To all SPA families,

As we approach the MEA break, I want to thank each of you for contributing to the success of our fall opening. I speak for the entire faculty and staff in sharing our gratitude for helping us navigate this new landscape. I write today to call your attention to a few important updates that will impact life at school in the weeks to come.

Opting in/out of Distance Learning: As noted in August, SPA is offering all families three opportunities to move in or out of Distance Learning during the course of the school year. The next transition point occurs after the MEA break on Monday, October 19. Please submit this Intent to Enroll in Distance Learning form if your student:

• is currently enrolled in Distance Learning and will continue in Distance Learning

• Is currently enrolled in Distance Learning but will transition to on-campus/hybrid Learning beginning on October 19

• is currently enrolled in on-campus/hybrid learning but will transition to Distance Learning beginning on October 19

Please submit this form no later than 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 11.

School vacations and family travel: The MEA break is normally a time when many families travel. Please note that travel by any means of mass transportation should be approached with caution. Students who travel across state lines by air, train, or bus must quarantine for 14 days upon their return and attend school using the Distance Learning format. We ask that students traveling by car across state lines adhere to the COVID protocols of wearing masks, social distancing, and frequent hand washing.  

If students are unable to do so, or come into prolonged close contact with others outside of their household (such as at an athletic competition, tournament, or other event), they should utilize the Distance Learning option upon return.  We ask that parents monitor their students for any emergent symptoms over the 14-day period following their return.

COVID dashboard: Starting this Friday, October 9, we will publish a COVID dashboard in the Veracross Parent Portal that will share up-to-date information about community members who have tested positive for COVID. As of today,  no positive cases have been reported to SPA on either campus since the opening of in-person learning days (September 8 for the Goodrich campus and September 29 for the Randolph Campus). The dashboard will be updated weekly and a link included in the Friday Parent Newsletter.

Contact tracing: Many families have inquired whether they will be told if there is a positive case in their child’s classroom.  In instances when contact tracing suggests there could have been a possible exposure, we will contact families by phone as soon as possible. More information about the contact tracing process--including when and how you would be contacted in the case of a potential exposure--is available in the “Contract Tracing” section of our Return to School website. 

We ask that you do not make assumptions or share information about the health of others. If you have any questions or concerns about possible COVID exposure at school, please contact Jill Romans, Assistant Head of School for Student Development and Community Engagement.

As always,  thank you for your support. 

Best,

Bryn S. Roberts
Head of School

Friends,

Daily health screenings are an important part of our multi-layered strategy to create a healthy school community. This year, SPA will use a phone-based app from Magnus Health as our daily health-screening tool. We are requiring all families and the faculty and staff to follow the procedures in the Magnus app every morning on school days.  

Details on how to use the Magnus app will be provided to you by email tomorrow, Friday, August 28; please set up your account and complete the required Shared Commitment to Community Health before Monday, August 31. This will facilitate your use of the app on Monday morning and allow you to seek any technical assistance you may require prior to that time. Families without a device to use the Magnus app should contact their division principal for a paper-based system.

In setting up the Magnus app, you will be asked to read and sign our Shared Commitment to Community Health, which lays out a series of precautions for you and your family to follow throughout the pandemic. Adhering to these recommendations will reduce the chances of you or your children contracting COVID. Please review the Shared Commitment with your family. By agreeing to and signing the pledge, you are acknowledging that you and your family have read it and that all will make a sincere effort to follow the steps specified in the document.

We are counting on every member of the SPA community to make prudent and careful choices. If students or adults come to school after casting caution aside and engaging in reckless behavior, they will endanger themselves and, potentially, their friends, teachers, colleagues, and their families. It is clear that choices made by our community--students, staff, and faculty--away from SPA will have a direct bearing on life at school. 

Keeping SPA healthy and safe is my priority and I need your help. Communities thrive when members look after each other and think about how their personal choices affect their neighbors and friends. The Shared Commitment to Community Health is a simple guide to healthy living while we wrestle with the realities of COVID. I have every confidence that we can meet this challenge with your cooperation and assistance.

Best wishes,

Bryn S. Roberts
Head of School

Friends,

We are a couple of weeks from the formal start of school, and I am writing with an update on our many preparations.

Both campuses hummed with activity over the summer. There are always summer construction and maintenance projects and this year has been no different. The grounds are in superb shape, fresh and green and ready for outdoor activities, and crews are putting the finishing touches on their work on the physical plants on both campuses.  

This has also been a summer of conversations and intensive planning on institutional priorities in the wake of the killing of George Floyd. Dr. Naomi Taylor, SPA’s Director of Intercultural Life, convened discussion groups with faculty, staff, and families which were well-attended and featured compelling and honest discussions. In September, SPA will embark on a new initiative, Defining Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at SPA, and I look forward to sharing the details of our plans with you in the coming weeks. 

Making our campuses safe and healthy for everyone in the SPA community during the pandemic is another topic that has been the subject of concentrated study and planning. Below is a brief overview of our preparations as we get ready to greet our students.

• We continue to monitor the metrics in the state's Safe Learning Plan. As we move into September, we will keep you apprised of any changes in the COVID numbers that impact our opening plans. 

• When you visit SPA’s homepage, you will see a pop-up that directs you to our Return to School website, devoted exclusively to our COVID policies and protocols. We will update this site as necessary. Veracross will remain your portal for student academic work and activities.  

• Metropolitan Mechanical Contractors, our engineering partner, is in the final stages of work on an extensive series of changes to the HVAC system on both campuses.

• Two portable classrooms and toilets have been added to the Goodrich Campus. We have expanded the health offices and created more space for classrooms on both campuses. We have also expanded the dining facilities on the Randolph Campus and are adding plexiglass partitions throughout the school.

• Providing PPE for the faculty and staff is a priority. We have received some from the state and have ordered other items as needed.

• You should have received information from your division principals on homeroom assignments, class schedules, and orientation activities. If you haven't please contact your principal.

• This year, there will be new complexity to the structure of school and the organization of our curriculum and how we teach, all necessitated by life with COVID. We have hired teaching assistants in every division to provide support for teachers and students. 

• Practices for the fall sports season in the Upper School have begun and it is refreshing to see soccer players on the fields and tennis players on the courts as they prepare in earnest for their first games.

It will be exciting and invigorating to have students back at school, whether they are on campus or participating through our Distance Learning program. COVID looms over all of us today but we shouldn't let this define who we are or our culture at SPA. I am sure that creative collaboration among students and teachers, the hallmark of an SPA education, will flourish in our classrooms in the year ahead. 

Best wishes,

Bryn S. Roberts
Head of School

Friends,

I write today to share our plan for opening in the fall for our 2020-21 year. Our decisions on the opening of school have been shaped by the recommendations and data provided by Governor Walz and his team of commissioners in the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota Department of Health. Although independent schools like SPA are not bound by the state's recommendations, we are confident in the guidance of Governor Walz and his team, who are supported by the best and most informed health officials in the state. Their guidance has been thoughtful, reliable, and data-driven, and we will continue to frame our policies around the recommendations and advice contained in the Safe Learning Plan released by the Governor on July 30, 2020. 

The basis of the Governor’s Safe Learning Plan is a matrix predicated on a county’s case numbers as they trend up and down at any given time. Currently, given Ramsey and Hennepin County case numbers, the learning modality recommended is in-person learning for elementary-aged students and a hybrid of in-person and Distance Learning for older students. Given the continued acceleration of cases over the past several weeks, SPA has made a strategic choice for the first six weeks of school to open with a more cautious approach. This caution is warranted for both the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff, and is also designed to build the skills that will be necessary for all students to establish a foundation for the coming year.

Based on these considerations, SPA is planning for Lower School students to begin the year with a primarily in-person schedule. We will reintroduce students to on-campus learning gradually, with a week of a hybrid schedule, several weeks with four days at school and one day at home, and pivot to five-day weeks at school in early October. 

Middle and Upper School students will spend the first three weeks of the year in Distance Learning, which reflects the faculty's goals and priorities in launching the new year. We will pivot to a hybrid schedule in late September, which will include a blend of in-person classes on campus and classes through Distance Learning if such a move is supported by the metrics outlined in the Safe Learning Plan.

We have not been together at school since March 13, 2020. Therefore the first month of school will be an opportunity for us to reacclimate ourselves to the texture of school and to adapt to the new protocols and routines imposed by the challenges of living with a pandemic. We will use these early weeks to define ways of learning and teaching that will shape our school life for the foreseeable future.

We are also aware that there are families who will prefer to keep their children at home for all or part of the year instead of attending school in-person. Students who remain home will have the opportunity to participate in the program offered on campus through Distance Learning. (Please note that families who intend to keep their children home for all or part of the year should submit the “Intent to Enroll in Distance Learning” form linked at the end of this email).

Our goal is to have every student on campus attending class every day of the week. This may not be possible during the pandemic. Preserving the health and safety of our community is the most important consideration as we contemplate the form and structure of our schedules in the beginning of the year and beyond. We will continue to carefully monitor the case numbers in Hennepin and Ramsey Counties and adjust our divisional schedules accordingly. Details about our approach in each division for the first six weeks are below.

LOWER SCHOOL: GRADES K-5

The Safe Learning Plan recommends in-person school for elementary-aged students which corresponds with SPA’s pedagogical goals and understanding of our youngest students’ academic and social/emotional needs. We learned in the spring of 2020 that Distance Learning is particularly challenging for Lower School students, and our approach prioritizes in-person learning for our Lower School students. 

Lower School homeroom assignments will be shared with families by Principal Holly Fidler during the week of August 17. The first six weeks of the year in the Lower School will follow the timeline outlined below.

• August 31-September 4 will be an orientation week. Each family will come to campus for a Hopes and Dreams Conference with their student’s homeroom teacher in conjunction with an individual campus visit, student supply and materials pickup, and introductory activities. The orientation schedules will be shared with families during the week of August 17.

• September 7-11: Monday is Labor Day, and Tuesday, September 8 will be the first day of school. This will be a hybrid week, with students alternating between in-person school and Distance Learning as we acclimate students to being back on campus and re-introduce Distance Learning practices. Families will receive their schedule for this hybrid week along with their homeroom assignments during the week of August 17. 

• September 14-25: During these two weeks, Lower School students will be on campus on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. On Wednesdays during these two weeks, students will be at home in Distance Learning mode. They will use the Seesaw platform for their work and they will be introduced to the new “Owl cameras.” See below for more details on the Owls.

• September 28-October 2: This is another short week because of Yom Kippur on Monday, September 28. Lower School students will attend school in-person Tuesday-Friday, with no Distance Learning day.

• October 5-14: October 5 will begin the first week with five days of in-person class on campus. The Owls will be fully integrated into the classroom and the curriculum. 

• October 15-16 is the MEA break, and we will take this time to pause and reflect on what we have learned. If the case numbers and Governor’s guidance allows for in-person learning to continue, we will continue in that mode. This may be an extension of the system used for the preceding two weeks or with a different model shaped by the Governor’s instructions and COVID data.

Please note that SPA will offer an on-campus instructional support program for the Lower School children of essential workers on days when Distance Learning is in session. More information and registration materials for this program will be shared with parents during the week of August 17.

MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOLS: GRADES 6-12

The Safe Learning Plan recommends a hybrid of Distance Learning and in-person school for Middle and Upper School students. The pedagogical rationale for beginning the year in Distance Learning for Grades 6-12 is important. The faculty believes that it is vital to establish and refine the skills essential to learn and to excel in Distance Learning. They believe that this foundation will enable the students to make a speedier and smoother transition to hybrid learning and the use of the Owl video-conferencing cameras. After three weeks, we will move to a hybrid model in which students will attend school some days on campus and some days at home via Distance Learning, if such a change is supported by the Safe Learning Plan at the end of September.

SPA’s Distance Learning program has evolved as we have absorbed and applied important lessons from last spring’s experience. Teachers in each division have devoted some of their professional development work to studying how best to teach remotely and our opening meetings for faculty will focus on this topic. 

Middle and Upper School schedules will be shared with families by Middle School Principal Virginia Andres and Upper School Principal Max Delgado during the week of August 17. The first six weeks of the year in the Middle and Upper Schools will follow the timeline outlined below.

• August 31-September 4 will be an orientation week. Students in Grades 6-12 will come to the Randolph Campus for a half-day orientation on one day during this week by grade. The grade-level orientation schedules will be shared with families during the week of August 17.

• September 7-25: Monday is Labor Day, and Tuesday, September 8 will be the first day of school. The Middle and Upper Schools will engage in three weeks of Distance Learning, using both the Google Classroom platform and the new “Owl cameras.” See below for more details on the Owls. There will be no school on Friday, September 18, for family/advisor conferences, which will be held virtually.

• September 28-October 2: This is a short week due to Yom Kippur on Monday, September 28. Provided that the county case numbers support a move to in-person learning, this is the week that we will pivot Grades 6-12 to a hybrid model. We will bring students back to campus Tuesday through Friday in small groups on a rotating basis as we begin our hybrid schedule, with half of each division on campus on alternating days. The academic program will continue during these four days as we acclimate our students to being back in the classroom and beginning to learn in a hybrid model. Specific schedules for the hybrid model will be shared in mid-September.

• October 5-14: We will continue in our hybrid model for this week and a half, with special attention paid to the blended learning classroom, with some students in school and others learning at home. The Owls will be fully integrated into the classroom and the curriculum. 

• October 15-16 is the MEA break, and we will take this time to pause and reflect on what we have learned. If the case numbers and Governor’s guidance allows for hybrid learning, we will continue in that mode. This may be an extension of the system used for the preceding two weeks or with a different model shaped by the Governor’s instructions and COVID data.

Technology will be a critical element of these early weeks and the entire year, whether a student is learning at school or at home. All students will be able to fully and actively participate in instruction remotely, using the Seesaw platform in the Lower School, the Google Classroom platform in the Middle and Upper Schools, and new in-classroom technology known as "Owl cameras," which will be installed in every SPA classroom in every division. The Owls are smart video-conference cameras designed by Owl Labs which capture 360° video and audio. The Owls are "smart" in that they automatically shift the camera to focus on whoever in the room is speaking, whether the teacher or a classmate, allowing users to engage with the classroom experience more fully. Visit the Owl Labs website and click on "See It In Action" to watch a demo video of the Owl in use in the classroom.

There are many details of our reopening plan that will be shared with you in the coming days. Specific information about individual students’ orientation schedules, homeroom assignments (in the Lower School) and academic schedules (in the Middle and Upper Schools) will be shared the week of August 17. In addition, we are preparing a “Return to School” section of our website that will provide a detailed overview of the health and safety protocols, practices, and routines that will be in place when students return to campus. This website will go live later this week. 

Finally, please note the following items for your family to consider.

• We know that there are some families who will prefer to keep their children at home for all or part of the year instead of attending school in-person. For these families, we are offering the option for Distance Learning in all three divisions. Families who choose this option agree to keep their children at home and support them in participating in their schoolwork remotely, using technology tools such as the Google Classroom platform, Seesaw, and the new “Owl cameras” which will be installed in every SPA classroom. Families who intend to choose Distance Learning for all or part of the year should submit this Intent to Enroll in Distance Learning form by noon on Wednesday, August 12 to help in our planning for fall. Please contact your division principal with questions about the Distance Learning option.

• For families who are interested in our busing program to and from school, we have partnered with Monarch, our bus company, to create a busing program that meets our standards for health and safety. Families will receive more information about the busing program later this week from Melissa Douden, our transportation coordinator. 

Living with COVID demands patience and resilience. We all crave predictability and certainty and COVID promises uncertainty and unpredictably. At SPA, the health and safety of your children is our priority and will remain so even as the challenges and demands of living with COVID continue to unfold.

Thank you for your support and I look forward to seeing your children back on campus.

Best wishes,

Bryn S. Roberts
Head of School

Please note: current information about SPA's plans for reopening are above in the August 10 update.

Friends,

I look forward to seeing you this week at our family forums with Dr. Paul Anderson. As a reminder, our forum for Goodrich Campus families is on Tuesday, July 28 at 4 p.m. (Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83389693632) and for Randolph Campus families is on Wednesday, July 29 at 4 p.m. (Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88550498790). Both sessions will be recorded and links to both recordings will be made available to all parents.

Dr. Anderson, who is a HealthPartners physician with expertise in occupational medicine, workplace safety, and epidemiology, has been a valuable member of our COVID decision-making team since June. View Dr. Anderson’s HealthPartners bio. During the forums, he will discuss the most recent data regarding the transmission of COVID-19, discuss how this data can help schools make informed decisions, and provide an overview of SPA’s plans for the opening of school in the fall.  

After Dr. Anderson’s presentation, we will have time for him to answer your questions. You may ask questions using the Zoom chat feature, or you may submit a question for Dr. Anderson ahead of time using this form. Before you submit a question, I encourage you to read carefully through the below information, which offers an overview of SPA’s approach to planning for school in the fall, with a number of frequently asked questions about what in-person school might look like.

As always, many thanks for your support. I hope you and your family are staying healthy and safe, and finding time to enjoy the summer.

Take care,

Bryn S. Roberts
Head of School

Planning for Fall 2020: Background and Overview 

SPA is preparing several scenarios for the reopening of school in the fall of 2020. On Thursday, July 30, Governor Walz is expected to offer updated advice on the configuration of schools and schooling for the fall. As we wait for the Governor’s recommendations, SPA’s leadership and the school’s COVID task force focused on Health and Safety have engaged in a detailed study of SPA’s capacity for bringing students and teachers back to our campuses in the fall.

The task force’s work was predicated on the state’s mandate that a school could use no more than  50% of the capacity of its classrooms (capacity as defined by the fire code). The school consulted closely with HGA, the design and architecture firm responsible for the renovated Randolph Campus; MMC, a company specializing in HVAC that has worked on both campuses; and with Dr. Paul Anderson. 

After detailed study, we concluded that our two campuses can accommodate our full K-12 student population using 50% of classroom capacity, with the addition of portable classrooms on the Goodrich Campus and the repurposing of some public spaces on the Randolph Campus. SPA is in an enviable position, and we are fortunate that our physical plant is both large enough and sufficiently flexible to offer an on-campus option in the challenging environment that COVID-19 poses. 

Our preference is for students to be back in class and on campus if possible, knowing that the student experience (including both their academic development and social/emotional health) is best served by in-person learning. In this we agree with the American Association of Pediatrics recommendation. However, our decisions about the reopening of school will be determined by a variety of factors, and if the Governor mandates that schools must open in the fall in distance-learning mode, we will follow that recommendation. 

The FAQ below is intended to provide a basic outline of our plans for the fall and will provide a good introduction to our family forums. 

Planning for Fall 2020: Frequently Asked Questions
 

When will SPA make the decision about in-person vs. distance learning for the fall? 
Governor Walz has indicated that he will announce official guidelines for school reopening on Thursday, July 30. We will study his guidelines and recommendations carefully, and will inform the SPA community about our reopening plans during the week of August 3. All dates are subject to change given the shifting nature of the COVID landscape in Saint Paul, Ramsey County, and around Minnesota.

How will SPA make decisions about in-person vs. distance learning, both for the fall and over the course of the school year?
Decisions regarding the mode of instruction (distance learning, in-person learning, or a hybrid of the two) are based on a matrix which identifies risk based on a variety of factors, including:

• City, state, and federal guidelines and directives; 

• The percentage of students attending school; 

• Professional advice on how the ebbs and flows in data on COVID will impact the SPA community.

Will I have the option to keep my student at home this fall, even if SPA returns to in-person schooling?

Yes. When SPA students are attending school on-campus, families in all three divisions will have the option for their student(s) to attend classes remotely using the school’s new video conferencing system that features “owl cameras,” which allow a remote user to participate in real-time in in their classes being held on-campus. Families who choose this option over in-person school will commit to that option for the semester. More information about the remote option will be shared with families in early August. 

When school is able to reopen for in-person learning, what health and safety protocols will be in place?
There are numerous changes to both the physical plant and our everyday school routines that will be in place when in-person school resumes. These changes include:

• HVAC upgrades: Significant modifications will be made to the HVAC systems at both the Goodrich and Randolph Campuses. Our work with HGA, MMC, and Dr. Anderson has shown that the most important risk mitigation strategy is to ensure frequent exchanges of air indoors. As a result, we are installing equipment that works to clear the indoor air of particulates in all classrooms in both buildings. This work includes both replacing and upgrading filters in center air handling units (from MERV 8 to MERV 13) and adding bipolar ionization units and individual fan coil ventilators with HEPA filters. Where needed, individual filtration units will be placed in high-traffic areas and in older parts of both buildings to augment classroom filtration. The upgraded HVAC system will increase airflow to classrooms and public spaces; increase the outside air brought into the building to mix with existing air. All of our HVAC updates follow the guidelines for K-12 schools set forth by the CDC and the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the leading HVAC industry organization.  

• Masks: In accordance with Governor Walz’s mandate of July 22, every student and adult in the building will be required to wear a mask at all times, except while eating and drinking. We will work with you to find solutions for students who have specific health conditions that may impact their ability to wear a mask. We understand the need for controlled mask breaks and education with students on best practices for wearing and cleaning masks.

• Single desks: Every classroom in all divisions will be outfitted with single desks for every student, which will be arranged with 6-foot physical distancing protocols in place. 

• Student movement and activities will be designed with physical distancing in mind. This includes recess, lunch, bathroom breaks, assemblies, and other out-of-class activities. 

• Hallways and stairwells will be one-way on the Goodrich and Randolph campuses. This will help to  reduce density in those areas and minimize face-to-face interactions. Directional signs will be placed throughout both campuses.

• De-densifying: Only students and essential faculty and staff will be allowed on campus. With few exceptions, there will be no parents or visitors in the buildings during the school day. 

• Increased cleaning: We are following the MDH recommendations on the kinds of  cleaning products we should use and we will increase cleaning during the day while school is in session.  We will observe a “clean-in/clean-out” routine, in which students will  sanitize their desks and workspaces when they arrive in class and just before they depart their classrooms.

Will my student be required to take a COVID test before returning to school? 
No. The CDC and MDH are not recommending required testing for K-12 school communities at this time. Any member of the community who shows symptoms or is concerned about their health is encouraged to consult with their health-care provider. 

Will the school do daily health checks for students and teachers? What other health resources will be available?
All students and adults will complete a daily health screen before coming to school every day, using a phone app from Magnus Health that will be made available to families in mid-August. The Magnus app, which is part of our Veracross student information system, will help guide families in decision-making about whether their student is healthy enough to come to school. The daily screen includes a symptom checklist and a temperature check, which will be submitted via the app prior to arriving at school. Students and adults experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19 will be asked to stay at home and monitor their health. 

Both campuses will have two health office locations (one dedicated to students with potential COVID symptoms and the other for routine health needs), staffed by health assistants and supervised by our licensed school nurse. If students develop potential COVID symptoms at school, they will be evaluated in isolation and parents will be notified and asked to pick up their child up from school promptly. For students with known conditions that may cause COVID-like symptoms (such as allergies or asthma), a letter from your medical provider will help our school health staff diagnose symptoms that may occur at school.  

How will lunch be handled? 
We are currently developing plans for food service with Taher, our food service partner. Lunch offerings will be individually wrapped entree, side, and dessert options for students in a compostable package. As always, Taher will work with us to accommodate specific dietary needs. 

In the Lower School, students will eat small groups in their homerooms. In the Middle and Upper Schools, students will be assigned to one of multiple spaces with physical distancing in place for lunch.

What happens when a student or teacher tests positive for COVID?
Our medical advisor, Dr. Paul Anderson, is guiding us in developing a multi-step process for communications and contact tracing if a student or teacher tests positive for COVID. If SPA is notified by the Minnesota Department of Health that a student has tested positive, a contact tracer will provide details regarding the student’s interactions and locations. MDH contact tracers will ask the student questions about his contacts and activities during the time period in question. They will review the student’s schedule and track his or her eligibility to return to school. 

In addition, members of the SPA staff are completing a contact tracing course through Johns Hopkins University. These staff members will be on hand to help families and state officials complete contact tracing in a timely and confidential manner.

Please note: current information about SPA's plans for reopening are above in the August 10 update.

Dear friends,

As I look outside, the sun is beating down and we are in the midst of a typical July, and a particularly hot one at that.  Although we are still seven weeks away from the start of school, I want to provide an update on our plans for the opening in late August.

I am happy to report that it is our intention to begin the new school year with all students attending class five days per week on the Goodrich and Randolph campuses.  New guidance from the state could impact our decision, but we are proceeding on the assumption that students will begin the school year in class at SPA.

We developed our plans for the 2020-21 academic year over the past six weeks.  We have benefited immensely from our consultations with state officials, the architecture firm, HGA, and Dr. Paul Anderson, an epidemiologist, and former public health officer from HealthPartners, whom we have retained to advise us.  

Throughout all of our conversations, the safety and security of all the students and adults in our community have remained our top priority.  To combat COVID-19 will require compromises and life at SPA will be different in the fall.  As an example, students will have individual desks and will be asked to observe social distancing at all times, and there will be new procedures for cleaning.  There will also be changes to the physical plant.  To create sufficient space to accommodate our students, portable classrooms will be added to the Lower School and rooms will be repurposed on both campuses.  After extensive study, we have enhanced the HVAC systems throughout the school. Lastly, we are working with Taher and Dr. Anderson to determine how best to organize food service.

When school is in session in a typical year, we regularly have student absences.  As long as COVID-19 is with us, more students, and especially those with underlying health conditions and personal concerns, may also be absent.  To serve students who will be away from school, we have added technological capacity--a new video conferencing system in every classroom--which will enhance the ability of students working from home to participate in their classes at school.  Without the pandemic, it is unlikely that we would have adopted this system at this time, and it is equally clear that this will have a positive impact well beyond this year.

Many of you, I know, are curious about the fate of the fall season of interscholastic athletic competition, whether in the Upper School or the Middle School.  Some of the varsity teams in fall sports are currently practicing, but we will not know the MSHSL’s intentions for the fall season until August 1 or thereabouts.  Middle School teams play in the Catholic Athletic Association and we have not yet heard about their expectations for the upcoming season. We will be in touch with you as soon as we hear from the governing authorities on their plans and expectations for the fall.

There are very important meetings which I hope that you will be able to attend.

- Naomi Taylor, the Director of Intercultural Life, will host two intercultural virtual forums to discuss diversity and inclusivity at SPA (you will or have received invitations to these events). The first forum on Tuesday, July 21 is for Upper School students only, and the second forum on Thursday, July 23 is for parents. These are two of several events that Dr. Taylor has hosted in the past month and they have been well-attended and informative.

- Later in the month, I will host two virtual forums on health, safety and the opening of school and will be joined by Dr. Paul Anderson and Cindy Richter, the Assistant Head for School for Academic Programs and Jill Romans, the Assistant Head of School for Student Development and Community Engagement. There will be a forum for families on the Goodrich Campus and a second forum for families on the Randolph Campus.  I will let you know as soon as we have finalized the schedule for these conversations.

SPA may not be formally in session but the staff and academic leadership are working assiduously to get ready for the opening.  This continues to be one of the most challenging and interesting of school years.  If you have any questions, please let me know.  I hope to see you at the forums in early August, and I look forward to seeing you at SPA in late August.

Best wishes,

Bryn S. Roberts
Head of School

Please note: current information about SPA's plans for reopening are above in the August 10 update.

Dear Friends,

It has been a sprint through the past two months and the end of the academic year is imminent. I always feel a sense of excitement and relief as we head into the final weeks of May. This May is no different in that regard even as we conclude a year that will be unique in the annals of SPA’s storied history.

I want to give you a sense of what lies ahead for us over the next few months. As is typical in June, the faculty and staff will take time to look back and assess the past year in each division. This is a time for reflection and conversation. We have developed an impressive program in Distance Learning and learned much about the nuances of virtual schooling. Our task now is to understand the things we did well while identifying areas in which we can grow and change. You can help us in this important task. During the week of June 8, you will receive a survey from your student’s principal asking for your assessment of SPA’s DL program.

It is impossible to predict the configuration of school at the opening in August 2020. We will, of course, rely on guidance from the governor but we do not know when he will announce plans for the fall and we are working with state officials who have been most helpful in explaining the concerns that inform government policy.

If we start the next school year on campus, and this is everyone’s preferred option, SPA will have a hybrid program that will blend elements of Distance Learning with a modified on-campus experience. This will include physical distancing at all times, small classes, and enhanced health measures to ensure the safety of all members of our community. Many of you may have read about schools in Denmark and other countries organized along these lines. If we are not in a hybrid program, we may be back in Distance Learning, which is not our preferred option.

On the leadership team, we are investigating different models for the start of the 2020-21 academic year with a special focus on the development of a hybrid model of schooling. There are several task forces working on this:  

• Cindy Richter, the Assistant Head of School for Academic Programs, is chairing a group addressing scheduling and the academic program. 
• Mark Dickinson, the Director of Operations and Security, is leading a group focused on the physical plant and security. 
• Jill Romans, the Assistant Head of School for Student Development and Community Engagement, is chairing a task force on health and safety.  
• Chelsea Kimpton, the Director of Finance, is overseeing our financial planning and working closely with the Finance Committee on the Board of Trustees.

We all crave predictability and everybody would like to know exactly what SPA will look like next fall. I understand that the uncertainty creates anxiety and I will be in touch with you as soon we know how SPA will be organized to begin the 2020-21 school year. Please let me know if you have any questions and I very much appreciate your patience and your support.

Take care.

Bryn S. Roberts
Head of School

To the SPA community,

Spring is customarily a flurry of special events, performances, athletic contests, and gatherings. Our May calendar will look different this year, but we have preserved the heart of spring celebrations that are milestones in the lives of our students.

Below is a list of important dates and events for the balance of the school year. You will of course hear from your division principals about academic matters in their divisions.

• The final day of school in the Lower and Middle Schools is Friday, May 29. Division principals and individual teachers will provide details about end-of-year assessments and capstone projects.
• For seniors, the final day of school is Tuesday, May 5, and Senior Projects begin on Wednesday, May 6.
• For Grades 9-11, the final day of classes is Wednesday, May 27 and final capstone assessments are scheduled from Thursday, May 28 through Tuesday, June 2
• The Grade 5 Final Assembly will be held virtually on its original date of Friday, May 29 from 9-10:30 a.m. Grade 5 parents will receive additional information from LS Principal Holly Fidler.
• The Grade 8 Moving On ceremony will be held virtually on its original date of Friday, May 29, in the afternoon. Grade 8 parents will receive additional information from MS Principal Virginia Andres.
• Our spring concert and performance schedule, including the Upper and Middle School instrumental and choral concerts and the spring musical, is canceled. Division principals and music teachers will share additional details with students about end-of-year projects.
• The Middle School Performance Showcase, which features student artwork, monologues, and musical performances, has been recreated as a virtual event in two parts. The first Showcase debuted on Thursday, April 30 and is available to stream online here. The second Showcase will be streamed online on Thursday, May 21.
• The Minnesota State High School League officially canceled its spring season last week. All SPA athletics for the spring are also canceled. 

Events honoring the Class of 2020

• The Cum Laude Celebration will be held virtually, and will include a live-streamed ceremony on Wednesday, May 27 from 6-7:30 p.m. Seniors who are being inducted into the Cum Laude Society will receive more information from Dr. Kate Lockwood about the event.
• The Valedictory Dinner will be held virtually on Monday, June 1, from 6-7:30 p.m. Seniors and their families will receive more information about the event from Max Delgado, Principal of the Upper School.
• Commencement is a signal moment for our school and the Class of 2020. Over the past month, there have been conversations with the seniors and their parents and the Upper School leadership team on the structure and location for Commencement. We are looking at a number of options and plan to announce final decisions on Commencement by next Friday, May 8.

Spring is the season for endings and celebrations at SPA. Our end-of-year schedule in 2020 will not follow the predictable rhythm of earlier years, but I trust that you will join me in finding new ways to celebrate the achievements of our students, whether it is the fifth-grader proudly moving up to the Middle School or a senior preparing to depart for college or university. 

I remain extraordinarily grateful for your support in these unprecedented times. Thank you.
 
Bryn S. Roberts
Head of School

To all SPA families,

Today marks the end of our second full week of Distance Learning. We are now in the midst of an experience unlike anything most of us have ever encountered. SPA has excelled through its complex evolution as a virtual school. Even so, we are looking for ways to improve and grow and I write today with news regarding our schedules, calendar, and program.
 
I first want to update you on our current thinking regarding the calendar. We are operating under the assumption that students will not return to school for the balance of the 2019-20 academic year, and that they will complete their studies through our Distance Learning programs in each division. If Governor Walz issues new guidelines or regulations that bear directly on our scheduling choices and we elect to make any alterations to our plans, we will promptly apprise you of the changes.

Spring at SPA is a joyous time, full of celebrations, spring athletics, and performances, all culminating in Commencement. We are now looking at ways to provide virtual renditions of many of these events while rescheduling others, and we will report to you once we have clarified the new schedule.
 
SPA is committed to continuous improvement. To that end, you will receive a survey later today from your children’s principals inviting you to comment on your student’s experience with Distance Learning. Our move to Distance Learning, as I noted in earlier communications, is an iterative process; our program will evolve and change as we learn how best to teach in this new format. Your advice and observations will be valuable as we refine our schedules and programs. I hope that you will be able to return these surveys by noon on Monday, April 20.
 
These last two weeks have been filled with moments of joy for our students and teachers, who are glad to be reunited and have entered this new world of virtual schooling with enthusiasm, creativity, and resilience. It is difficult to underestimate the impact of such a fundamental change to the very nature of school—normally the steady, unchanging foundation of all of our day-to-day lives. I am enormously grateful to each of you for supporting your students, our teachers, and our larger SPA community as we all absorb and adjust to our new reality as a virtual school.
 
As always, I thank you for the part you and your family play in sustaining the strength and well-being of this extraordinary school community.
 
Best wishes,

Bryn S. Roberts
Head of School

To all SPA families,

As we move into our first full week of distance learning, I write this morning with a brief update on life as a virtual school.

First of all, thank you for your support and understanding during the launch of our distance learning program. Our teachers and students are pleased to be back in the “classroom” and, by all accounts, these early days have been positive and encouraging. For all of us at SPA, distance learning is a new experience. We will adjust and modify the program as April progresses and we learn how best to deliver the curriculum to your homes.

Schools that launched their distance learning programs three to four weeks ago suggest that it takes about two weeks for a school community to settle comfortably into the world of virtual schooling. With that framework in mind, all SPA parents will receive a survey towards the end of the week of April 13 inviting them to comment on their students’ engagement with distance learning thus far. Your assessment of your daughter or son’s experience will be helpful as we evaluate our programs in each division. I thank you in advance for your assistance with this project.

Financial questions inevitably come up during a crisis such as we are experiencing. We are studying our budget and considering various contingencies as we look ahead and plan for the upcoming school year. We will offer reimbursements for those of you who have invested in SPA’s fee-for-service programs, such as Adventure Kids in the Lower School, the Middle School after-school program, or our busing program. The process for distributing these funds will be finalized over the next month, and in May we will contact families who participated in these programs.

I understand that your family may be facing financial questions or difficulties that were not a factor when you submitted your re-enrollment materials for next year. SPA has increased its funds for financial aid, and please know that we are here to support you and your family as you look ahead to 2020-21. If you have questions about your family’s situation, or would like to inquire about tuition assistance, please contact Heather Ploen, Director of Admission, or any member of the Admission staff. We will do everything we can to address your concerns. I hope that we can be a source of reassurance and stability for you in this tumultuous time.

As always, I am profoundly grateful for your support and your trust in St. Paul Academy and Summit School. I hope that you and your family are healthy and safe.

Best wishes,

Bryn S. Roberts
Head of School

To SPA families, 

As you know, the unprecedented challenges of the moment require that SPA embrace the world of distance learning.  On Wednesday, April 1, your children will meet with their teachers and advisors and classes will start on Thursday, April 2.   

While developing a curriculum for distance learning, several questions informed our deliberations.  What are the essential skills and knowledge that should be central parts of courses and classes? What are the quintessential features of SPA’s pedagogical approach that should inform our classes?  How do we finish the year and ensure that our students are ready for promotion to the next grade?  How do we embed our community’s mission, rituals, and routines in this new phase of school?

Answering these questions has pushed our faculty and leadership to dissect our curriculum and ask searching and fresh questions about who we are, what we do, and how we do it.  Their work has yielded impressive results.  We have retained the sturdy heart of the SPA experience.  
Studying and learning in the virtual classroom will be a collaborative and challenging experience, where students will continue to develop their skills as critical thinkers in a collaborative setting inspired by a challenging curriculum.  The program is framed by a somewhat familiar schedule and a very familiar culture, both of which will enable us to sustain and nurture supportive relationships between teachers and students which are a defining ingredient of our school. 

Preserving as much continuity between our program in distance learning and school as we traditionally know it will be crucial to our success.  Students will continue to receive grades, and teachers and the academic leadership team are evaluating different approaches for assessing and understanding students’ progress. We will evaluate students in ways that will offer them the best and fairest opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned while working from home. 

In the attached teaching guide, you will see references to synchronous and asynchronous learning.  Synchronous refers to teachers and students working together in real time in one-on-one tutorials, class meetings, or in small groups.  In the Lower School, synchronous learning will be introduced over the first two weeks, during which time teachers will work with students through videoed lessons and activities on Seesaw.  Synchronous meetings and classes will be virtual versions of experiences that are hallmarks of SPA’s program.  The same will be true of asynchronous sessions, which refer to students working independently at the direction of the teacher and with resources provided by the teacher. Distance learning will include important components of off-line asynchronous learning opportunities, much like the homework we customarily assign to students.

Based on our experience as educators, advice from colleagues around the country, and research in neuroscience, we elected not to replicate our traditional class schedule.  For any of our students, consecutive days of hours in front of a computer screen would be counterproductive and unhealthy.  Students’ schedules will be a blend of class meetings, small group gatherings, and individual tutorials with teachers, all of which will be supplemented with homework assignments.

Social networks and friends are vital components of a student’s life at school.  Helping students remain connected to their fellow students and SPA in customary and familiar ways will also be important. We have included different opportunities for students to gather as a community.  The definition and configuration of these meetings will vary by division: there will be assemblies in the Lower School; advisories and divisional meetings in the Middle School; and advisories, assemblies, and clubs in the Upper School. 

SPA is frequently the hub of our students’ social world and we want this to continue.  Students who feel a sense of purposeful connection will be healthier and much more inclined to enthusiastically embrace the academic opportunities and challenges that await them.

SPA is ready to embark on its first foray into distance learning. I hope that the virtual rendition of SPA will provide comfort and certainty for you and your children in a time of social tumult. This will be an iterative process.  We will adapt and change our model as we learn the best way to bring SPA into your home. I encourage you to consult our new Distance Learning website, created to provide you with a comprehensive overview of the program, or to contact your division principal or me directly if you have questions.  

I appreciate your support and know that our strength as a community will be a decided asset in the months ahead. Take care and I trust that you and your families are safe and well.

Best wishes,

Bryn S. Roberts
Head of School

To SPA families,

As we prepare for distance learning next week, we are mindful of the emerging challenges for our families in the wake of extended school closures.

Governor Walz’s executive order on the closure of schools through at least March 30 also requested that public schools provide care for the school-aged children of emergency workers, including health care professionals. Following the Governor’s lead, SPA is now investigating the possibility of offering emergency child care for parents in "Essential Tier 1 and Tier 2 Emergency Worker" occupations, as defined by the Governor’s executive order. View the list of Tier 1 and Tier 2 occupations.

As part of our preliminary investigations into this possibility, we are collecting information from parents in these targeted occupations. If you are a SPA parent in one of the identified Tier 1 or 2 Emergency Worker occupations who would need emergency child care during an extended school closure, please fill out and submit this Google form. Please note:

• This form is only for parents who are in essential Tier 1 or 2 Emergency Worker occupations as defined above;
• If SPA were to offer care, it would be limited to children aged 5-12 who are already enrolled at SPA;
• We cannot commit to providing care at this time. The data we collect using this form will help us understand the needs of parents in Tier 1 and 2 Emergency occupations and if we have the resources and capabilities to offer care.

We will reach out with more information as soon as decisions are made about our plans moving forward in this regard. As always, I thank you for your ongoing patience and support in these uncertain times.

Bryn S. Roberts
Head of School

To the SPA community,

As we are now in the second week of this most unusual and challenging Spring Break, I write this morning to update you on our plans for our school schedule in the coming weeks and months.

SPA will move to a distance learning model during the week of March 30 and will continue in this mode at least through Friday, May 1. Please note the following regarding next week’s schedule:

• The first two days of the week, Monday, March 30 and Tuesday, March 31, will be planning days for the faculty.  
• On Wednesday, April 1, there will be class meetings for Lower Schoolers and advisory meetings for Middle and Upper Schoolers.
• On Thursday, April 2 and Friday, April 3, we will begin our formal distance learning classes in all three divisions.  

Many more details about the specific structure and timing of distance learning plans in each class, grade, and division will be shared by the principals later this week. The principals will also provide updates on the many activities, performances, and events that would normally take place in April. Our plans after May 1 will depend on how the COVID-19 situation evolves over the next month, but we are prepared to continue our distance learning framework through the end of the school year should that be warranted.

Our teachers and academic leadership have been working diligently to develop and refine our distance learning programs. The process of converting SPA’s rich curriculum and community life into a distance learning model has been both challenging and interesting. We are mindful of the need to include those signature pieces of our culture and pedagogical approach that make our days at school so compelling.

As we know from our independent school colleagues who have been engaged in distance learning for several weeks now, this will be an iterative and flexible process. Our practices will most certainly evolve in the weeks ahead, as we learn more about the most effective ways to communicate with your students and you in the online space.

The care and thought that our faculty and academic leadership have invested in this work in the last few weeks is a testament to what makes SPA an exceptional place to learn and teach. I have no doubt that our community will meet this challenge with all the talent, curiosity, intellect, and good cheer that has always defined us as a school.

There is much that we do not yet know about how the virus will impact our community and our world, but we remain committed to doing all we can to support you, your students, and our staff as this unprecedented situation unfolds.

Once again, I thank you for your support and I trust you are staying well and safe.

Bryn S. Roberts
Head of School

To all SPA families,

Like many of you, we watched Governor Walz's briefing this morning carefully and are mindful of the recommendation that all Minnesota K-12 schools close until March 30 to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. We are fortunate that the timing of this closure overlaps with our own Spring Break and thus has no immediate impact on our schedule and planning. We are also aware that the situation is fluid, and that it is possible that this closure will extend beyond what the Governor mandated this morning.  

SPA's academic and administrative leadership have been in conversation today following the Governor's briefing and will remain so throughout Spring Break. As of today, we plan for school to resume on March 30. We will continue to monitor the situation and will of course keep you apprised of any changes in our plans. In the meantime, I encourage you to:

• Continue to follow all recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health regarding social distancing and health measures to mitigate possible community spread;
• Continue to monitor your family’s health, and contact SPA as soon as possible through your divisional attendance line if you or anyone in your household receives a positive diagnosis of COVID-19;
• Continue to monitor your email and other communication channels for updates about SPA's plans moving forward.

It is difficult to predict how the Coronavirus will evolve in Minnesota. Much may change over the next two weeks and the inherently unstable nature of these times will require patience and flexibility. Even as travel restrictions and advisories have led many of you to cancel your Spring Break travels, I do hope that you and your family will enjoy the break over the next two weeks.

As always, I appreciate your support. 

Bryn S. Roberts
Head of School

To all SPA families,

As we conclude our final day at school before Spring Break, we continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely. As of today, we have no information regarding confirmed cases of the virus in our community, and our student absence numbers remain low. We are in regular contact with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), and are following their recommendations as well as the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control with regard to our school operations.

The looming question on everyone’s mind is whether we will resume school after Spring Break. We have not made a decision on the possible move to distance learning, but we are prepared to follow all guidance issued by the MDH regarding school closure to mitigate the spread of the virus. In the event of an extended campus closure and move to distance learning, we will inform the SPA community immediately via our normal notification channels, which include email, text message, and postings on the SPA website and social media.

In addition, please keep the following information in mind over the break:

• All campus activities scheduled over Spring Break have been canceled. This includes athletic practices and games, rehearsals, facility rentals, and all other on-campus activities. Please contact your coach or the event organizer if you have questions about specific activities.
• We urge you to monitor the health of your family very carefully in the coming days and weeks. Should there be a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 in our community, the MDH will contact us and we will share that information with you as soon as we are able. 
• In the interest of time and community health, we encourage you to inform us if anyone in your immediate family or household receives a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 over break. Please let us know as soon as possible by emailing your divisional attendance line: lsattendance@spa.edu, msattendance@spa.edu, and usattendance@spa.edu. These email accounts will be checked regularly over Spring Break. 

The uncertainty that we are all experiencing is the natural consequence of an unprecedented situation that has many unknowns. Here at school, we are focusing on what we do know: that we have no confirmed cases in the SPA community so far; that the virus is not highly dangerous for most healthy people and, thankfully, seems to affect children the least; and that our faculty have the tools to continue with the important work of school during a potential extended closure. We are also grateful that the timing of our Spring Break allows us the time to prepare for what may transpire in the coming weeks and months.

As always, we want to thank you for your continued support and understanding as we navigate this extraordinary situation. We wish you all the best for a safe and healthy Spring Break.

Bryn S. Roberts
Head of School

To all SPA families,

Before our community disperses for Spring Break, I want to update you on the actions we are taking in light of the COVID-19 situation, and what we might expect when we return from Spring Break. We have created this dedicated page on the SPA website as a location for all updates and communication regarding our COVID-19 plans and preparations. 

Travel over Spring Break: We know that many SPA families plan to travel during Spring Break. We encourage our families to follow the safe travel precautions outlined by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) as well as the guidelines to avoid nonessential travel to countries listed on the CDC website as Level 2 or 3. The CDC recommends that travelers returning from these countries spend 14 days in home quarantine, the length of time for COVID-19 symptoms to develop. This CDC recommendation is designed to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the United States, as there is no vaccine or medication to treat or cure COVID-19. Should your family make the decision to travel to one of the countries on the CDC Level 2 or 3 list, we urge you to heed the recommendation to keep your child(ren) at home from school and extracurricular activities for 14 days following your return. 

Campus cleaning protocols: As I mentioned in my earlier email to you, SPA has comprehensive hygiene and cleaning protocols that are implemented by our cleaning company, ABM. Cleaning staff is increasing attention to frequently utilized surfaces such as doors, door handles, stair handrails, and tables, and will be using specialized equipment in the coming days for additional disinfecting. We are assessing additional cleaning protocols to be implemented by ABM on both campuses over Spring Break. 

Preparation for distance learning: The academic leadership and faculty are preparing to shift in-class teaching to distance learning, relying on the technology tools at our disposal, in the event that SPA is required to close in response to the spread of COVID-19. The pedagogical approach will vary by division and discipline, and our goal is to provide smooth integration into distance learning should the need arise. We will know more in the days and weeks ahead. Our team will continue to monitor the situation closely over Spring Break, and we will notify the community as soon as possible should a move to distance learning be warranted. 

Our preparations also include discussions with faculty, coaches, and other employees regarding support for students who may be absent from school for prolonged periods; alternative plans for large community events in the spring; and evaluating our communication tools for keeping families updated about developments. As with all health-related absences, we will help any student keep up with their studies during time away from school. Please contact your division principal or Dr. Cindy Richter, Assistant Head of School for Academic Programs, with academic questions or concerns.

As always, I thank you for your support as we continue to work through these unpredictable circumstances.

Bryn S. Roberts
Head of School

Dear Middle and Upper School families,

As Mr. Roberts’ recent email indicated, we’ve continued to monitor the progress of the COVID-19 outbreak and its possible impacts on our community. Like many schools across the country, we’ve given special attention to the question of how we might continue delivering curricular content to students in the event of a multiple-day school closing.

After many conversations -- and much careful observation about how comparable schools are planning for the potential of school closings -- we’ve decided to develop a distance learning plan that could be implemented if needed.

The good news is, Middle and Upper School teachers are already quite adept at supporting students remotely via email and the various collaborative tools offered by the Google Apps for Education Suite. Our teaching practices involve technology that could be easily adapted to deliver educational content and mimic in-person instruction. While we very much hold that the classroom experience is the optimal experience, we feel confident that in the event of a multi-day school closing, we could continue to keep students engaged and supported in meeting our curricular objectives in innovative and thoughtful ways.

Preparing a distance learning plan takes time, however.

As such, we are reaching out to share that next week the Randolph campus (both MS and US) will be adding two additional late start days in order to ensure that faculty have the necessary time to develop a plan that would keep students on track in the event of a school closing.

We ask that families plan for the following:

• Wednesday, March 11th will remain a late start day, with a start time of 8:45 am. (Day 2)
• Thursday, March 12th will now be a late start day, with a start time of 8:45 am. (Day 3)
• Friday, March 13th will now be a late start day, with a start time of 8:45 am. (Day 4)

Middle School families can expect that there will be morning supervision on Thursday and Friday starting at 7:30 am.

Upper School students can still expect to follow the same rituals and practices of late start days next Thursday and Friday, meaning that campus will be open at regular hours, even if classes do not begin until 8:45 am. Students who do not have a class first block will still be expected to sign-in. Teachers will not be available before 8:45, as they will be in faculty meetings.

These late start schedules allow us to preserve class time in a familiar structure and with a negligible impact which still allows valuable collaboration time for teachers. 

For those with students at the Lower School, there is no change to your daily schedule next week as the needs and structure of that division are very different than those of the MS and US. Please know that the Lower School is also working on a distance learning plan using the robust content delivery infrastructure already in place. 

The COVID-19 outbreak is proving to be a spectacularly fluid situation requiring patience and flexibility from all community members. I hope you will join me in thanking our teachers for all the extra work and thought they are putting into planning for this distance learning plan that we hope we will not have to implement. I know they are grateful for the time to plan and grateful to the parent and student community who support these efforts.

We will, of course, continue to be in contact as our plans evolve. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your division principal if you have any questions,

Virginia Andres, MS Principal
Max Delgado, US Principal

Dear Lower School Families,

Please see the email (copied above, "Middle and Upper School Planning") that was just sent to the parents/guardians of Middle and Upper School students regarding the plans that those divisions have enacted to help prepare for the possibility of distance learning- a proactive response to the COVID-19 outbreak. While this is the right plan for those divisions, the Lower School will maintain a regular schedule next week. Given that our existing tools and infrastructure for remote learning are robust and the needs of Lower School students differ from those of Middle and Upper School students, along with all the special events that will be happening throughout the week, we found it best to maintain the regular schedule.

Please know that in the event of a multi-day school closure, the Lower School will have an age-appropriate distance learning plan at the ready, utilizing Seesaw, Google Apps for Education, and other familiar apps that have already been downloaded to student devices. Like other schools currently preparing distance learning plans, we are hopeful that we will never have to use it, but our priority is to promote continued student learning while being responsive to fluid and ever-evolving situations, such as what we may face with COVID-19.

Please contact me directly if you should have any questions with regard to this information.

Sincerely,

Holly Moten Fidler, M.Ed.
Principal of the Lower School (K-5)
St. Paul Academy and Summit School

 

To SPA families,

As the world watches the latest developments in the outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), our administrative and academic leadership teams are focusing on possible impacts on our community.   As always, the health and safety of our students, families, and staff is our primary concern.

The leadership team has been in conversation about the outbreak since late January, when the decision was made to cancel our Upper School trip to China over Spring Break. We are monitoring updates from global, world, and local health organizations with regard to our remaining Spring Break trips (to Germany and Spain), and to our own policies and procedures on campus. Advice from the following organizations has been particularly helpful:

• The Center for Disease Control (CDC) 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Situation Summary and Travelers' Health updates;
• The World Health Organization (WHO) daily update on the outbreak;
• The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Coronavirus information page, including their recommendations for schools, colleges, and universities;
• International SOS, a leading travel and security company.

SPA has comprehensive hygiene and cleaning protocols, and we have instructed our cleaning staff to pay increased attention to frequently utilized surfaces such as doors, door handles, desks, and chairs. We will continue to adjust these protocols as the situation warrants.

Lastly, we are aware of the number of upcoming community events where large groups will gather. At this point, no changes are planned for any of these events, but we will continue to evaluate the situation and will keep the community informed of any changes.

What you and your child can do:

• Please do not allow your child to attend school or come to campus if they are ill.  Any student who is not feeling well or who has symptoms of any illness should stay home. In cases where more than a day or two is missed, we will work with you and your student to develop a plan for covering missed work.
• The CDC’s recommendations on hand-washing are clear and helpful. Please urge your child to wash their hands frequently and vigorously.
• Please ask your children to sneeze or cough into their elbows rather than into their hands. Nor should students share cups or water bottles.
• Please report any illness your child experiences, including those over Spring Break, to your divisional nurse or health assistant.
• If your family travels abroad over Spring Break, please be mindful of your family’s health and possible symptoms upon your return. This is particularly important if your travels take you to areas where COVID-19 is more prevalent.

This can be a frightening time for our students, especially younger children. News reports can be intimidating and confusing, as can casual conversations among the adults in their lives, or even seemingly trivial chatter among friends on the playground. Please speak with your children about COVID-19 and help them to understand their fears. You may find the following articles helpful:

• How to Talk to Your Kids About the Coronavirus (healthline.com)
• How to Talk to Your Anxious Child About the Coronavirus (psychologytoday.com)

SPA is marshaling all of its resources to support and protect the school community as we respond to the challenges posed by the spread of COVID-19. Should you have specific questions or concerns, please contact me or your division principal. Thank you for your support and attention.

Bryn S. Roberts
Head of School
St. Paul Academy and Summit School
1712 Randolph Avenue
St Paul, MN 55105
651-696-1342