Status Update on School Reopening Plans

Dear Parents,

 

I hope everyone is enjoying the first weeks of summer. As we look forward to the coming school year, we are actively planning for a return to campus this fall. In my recent conversations with students and parents, many have remarked, and I agree, that we can’t wait to get back on campus. This sentiment from our students speaks volumes to the community we have created that looks forward to being together again.

 

Last week, the state of Virginia released formal guidelines for the reopening of schools. The reopening of our campus will be based on these guidelines and the safety and health of our students, faculty and staff. These guidelines require us to submit a comprehensive plan to the state which includes how the school will address a number of topics including: the number of students we are permitted to have on campus at a time, messaging to students on safe practices, social distancing on school grounds, changes to operations, support for high-risk groups and more. 

 

Trinity staff are now working diligently on finalizing this formal reopening plan. Teams of faculty and staff are evaluating all campus spaces with safety and compliance with state guidelines in mind. Additionally, we have already begun significant campus improvements to add to the safety and functionality of our indoor and outdoor spaces. We are building a large outdoor gathering and learning space near the Estes Athletic Center, and major modifications are underway to the restrooms in our main academic building, improving airflow and adding contactless facilities.

 

Although campus is still closed through the end of June, our intention is to reopen campus in a limited capacity in July.  Following the submission of our reopening plan, we will publish guidelines for the resumption of planned summer activities on campus and, at a later date, how athletics and extracurriculars will work in the fall. As plans are developed, all official information about our reopening will be posted to our website, and linked from the “Additional Information” button at the top of every page. You will also continue to receive regular updates by email as the summer progresses. 

 

If at any time during the school year we are required to go to blended or virtual learning, we are prepared to support students through our established distance learning program. While we always prefer that teaching and learning occur face-to-face, our parents and students have been highly complimentary of the distance-learning work we did as a school in the spring. To this end, every faculty member is participating in professional development over the summer that will make our instruction even stronger.

 

Once again, please know that safety is our number one objective in all we do. The submission of a plan to keep students safe is only one important step to open in August. In order for us to come together, this will be a team effort of parents, students, faculty and staff to ensure the safest and best experience for all. Fortunately, working together is something the Titan community does very well.