Welcome to the Reopening Plan: Installment Two. You’ll want to invest some time to read the links below both carefully and thoughtfully, as our aim is to provide you clarity in regards to the educational plan that’s been set for school families (whether you have one student or several) at NorthCreek Academy this 2020-2021 school year. Keep in mind, all students are starting the year virtually, as announced in the Reopening Plan: Installment One. The information attached speaks to the design distinctives of how school will operate for all students, grades TK-8 both virtually, AND whenever we are able to return to the campus.
Before you dive in – a quick note from my heart about CHANGE. There’s no denying we’re all living in a season in which it feels like nothing’s changing, or everything is changing, changes are far too slow, or oh-so-VERY rapidly coming that one can’t keep up, right?! These sometimes-daily dynamics are challenging to navigate. When feeling a bit numb from it all – a couple of weeks back I was encouraged reading the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Though I’ve been Christ follower since age 7, I still need to be reminded that He urged men and women to cast their cares on Him, to admit they are not in control, but to take heart knowing He IS! And those words are as true today as they were 2000 years ago. If your soul needs rest and your mind some invigorating, I encourage you to prioritize reading the Psalms, or the book of John, and let these words inspire you to allow Him to walk with you through the challenges of this day.
Today we are addressing the Schedule Design Overview (and implications) of the program ahead, along with some of the initial Health and Safety Protocols for a safer return to campus.
The Schedule Design Overview prioritizes:
- Commitment to our mission statement: To cultivate academic excellence, impart biblical truth, and proclaim Christ, all for the glory of God alone!
- Health and safety of staff, students, and families
- De-densification of our campus
- Staggered start/end times
- Smaller cohorts of students
- Investments in additional staff and technology
- A safer campus – see attached Health and Safety Protocols
- Daily live instruction for ALL students – regardless of location, whether on campus or online
- Qualified teaching staff dedicated to delivering a top-notch program
- Relationships with your child, their classmates, and you as our treasured partners.
- Hallmarks of our traditional on campus program
- Equipping students to be lifelong learners
- Weekly Chapel on Virtual Wednesday for TK-8th graders
- Enrichment classes for TK-5
- Electives and seminars for JH (Logic, Literature, Socratic, Civics)
- Being family friendly with our schedule, communication, access to tech support, and flexibility for those who desire to join us virtually even when the campus is open
- Pivotability to navigate changing landscapes
You’ll discover there are significant changes to how we’re structuring school this year, and these changes are occurring solely to prioritize the health and safety of our staff, students and their families while preserving the best of what we’ve provided at NorthCreek! Despite using additional classrooms across the campus in nearly every imaginable way, our hope of getting ALL students to campus at once (“like normal”) is simply not practicable at this time. We just don’t have enough room.
You’ll find we’ve incorporated several aspects to enable us to do school, with reasons articulated on the linked document:
- Staggered start and stop times for families,
- Grades 5-8 having alternating days on campus (once we are able to do so),
- Wednesdays, instruction will occur virtually for all grades for the duration of the school year,
- Family Care (before and afterschool care) changes.
I encourage you to PRINT and REVIEW the linked documents – you may not get it on the first pass!
ReOpening Installment: Three will explain how your child(ren) can STAY in the Virtual Academy for the school year, should that be your choice, and we’ll request hearing any anticipated Family Care needs for K-8 students. In future installments we’ll address Technology Guidance, and additional Health and Safety Protocols. For you planners, your student’s schedule and supply lists will be in the digital Back to School packets, along with class lists, closer to the end of the month.
I continue to thank God for you, and so value the efforts of our leadership team and staff to provide you this solid program.
Greg Steele
Administrator and Principal