Returning to School Post Christmas Break

Dear Star Families,
As we head into the Christmas break, we have had many inquiries regarding our plans for returning to school after break. 

Looking back at the week of remote learning after Thanksgiving, families did not report any COVID related concerns or illness during that week, and we did not have any COVID related absences the week after we returned to in-person learning.   What this tells us is our families were thoughtful of their travels and interactions during the Thanksgiving break. 

Keeping this in mind as we analyze the upcoming two and a half weeks of Christmas break, the difficult decision of whether to return to school on January 4, 2021 for in-person learning or spend time that week in remote learning depends primarily on the decisions and activities of our parents and families. 

As we found the week after Thanksgiving, remote learning is very taxing on our teachers, parents and students.  While our teachers, parents and students did a great job adjusting their schedules, learning resources and classroom environment that week, remote learning is not the most effective means of teaching our students.  We are all working very hard to avoid having to turn to remote learning any further this year.

To this end, we have decided to return to school for in-person learning on January 4, 2021.  For us to do this it is imperative that our families put a great deal of thought into how they spend their time safely.  Christmas is a time of great joy that we all want to share with our families, and New Year is a time of celebrating the start of a new and exciting year.  While we want all of our Star families to enjoy these wonderful holidays, it is so important that we all think of who we are affecting by decisions we are making.  Your decisions affect every student and teacher in the school.  If you are traveling during the school break, please be mindful of the activities you are doing and any possible health exposure.  If you are gathering for the New Year, please do so in a safe and thoughtful manner.  

It is so important that our students return to school healthy and ready for learning.  To accomplish this, we are asking that parents watch for any COVID related symptoms after traveling and gathering.  The CDC has recently published that the vast majority of COVID symptoms show 4-5 days after contact with a COVID positive individual.  If you are traveling, please take additional precautions and closely monitor for any COVID related symptoms during this 4-5 day window after returning.  If you are gathering for New Years, please be very diligent in monitoring for any COVID related symptoms in all family members.  If you are at all concerned your student or a family member has been exposed to COVID within 7 days of us returning to school on January 4^th or if your student or a family member is showing any possible symptoms of COVID leading up to or upon our return to school, please keep you student home and consult with your doctor before returning your student to school.  

Although we are planning to return to in-person learning on January 4, 2021, there is a possibility that the State of Michigan Health Department or Wayne County Health Department could delay our return to school, forcing us to reach remotely.  Therefore, we are asking for our student to take home all school materials so they will be prepared for remote learning when we return if necessary. 

Our success in keeping our students in in-person learning relies very heavily on our parents and families.  We have been so blessed so far -  I pray that we can all continue with our thoughtful decisions and safe practices so our students can remain in school. 

Mrs. Meghan Carter, Principal