St. Michael's Episcopal School

COVID-19/School Operations Updates

Since early summer, we have been planning our return to on-campus learning — provided Virginia remains in Phase 3 and we can do so safely. Our strategy accounts for the fact that we are at our best together in a face-to-face setting. Health and safety are our primary concern, and this is our focus in providing a sustained on-campus learning environment.

REMEMBER… your off-campus choices can affect the entire St M community. We urge you to continue to prioritize safe health practices (masks, physical distancing, hand-washing, limiting larger group sizes) so that we have the best chance of keeping our community healthy and our school doors open. We cannot overstate how important this is.

Return to In-Person Learning on Monday, Jan. 25, 2021

We look forward to having our Dragons back on campus for in-person learning as scheduled on Monday, January 25. Below please find an important letter sent to parents dated January 19.

COVID-19 Reporting Form

Please inform the School IMMEDIATELY via the COVID-19 Reporting Form link below if someone in your family has been exposed or is being tested for COVID-19. The confidentiality of the diagnosed student or teacher will be maintained.

2020-21 Guide to Remote Learning – shared January 6, 2021

St M families, below please our 2020-21 Remote Learning Plan, shared January 6.

January 5 Important COVID Update and Instruction Change

St M families, below please find an important message, dated January 5, regarding a change to our instructional plan.

2021 Return to Learning

At this time, our plan is to resume full in-person learning as scheduled on Monday, January 4.
Each family is a critical partner in our efforts to keep our community healthy and safe. Please know that, at this point, we have every intention to maintain our full-day on-campus learning program in the winter months, and your help and diligent practice of health protocols are absolutely necessary to preserve our on-campus learning. However, with factors beyond our control and despite our best efforts, it remains a real possibility that implementing our Remote Learning Program may be necessary, even on short notice. Please be prepared. Click below for the parent letter sent on December 15.

Thanksgiving Update on Return Full On-Campus Instruction (dated November 18)

Our Plan to Return to Full On-Campus Instruction on November 30 (dated October 23)

St. Michael’s is pleased to share our plan to return to full on-campus instruction commencing on November 30. The school schedule commencing November 30 is also below.

September 30 Virtual Parent Presentation by Bob Gregg re: Return to Full On-Campus Instruction

Head of School Update Regarding Plan to Return to Full-Day, On-Campus Learning -September 24

COVID-19 Reporting Form

Please inform the School IMMEDIATELY via the COVID-19 Reporting Form link below if someone in your family has been exposed or is being tested for COVID-19. The confidentiality of the diagnosed student or teacher will be maintained.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you submit your COVID reporting form AFTER HOURS or ON A WEEKEND, please keep your child HOME until you hear from Nurse Maben on the next school day.

COVID-19 Illness Reporting Flowcharts/Action Steps

Below please find two handy flowcharts that outline protocols regarding how to respond if someone in your family has a known COVID exposure or is experiencing COVID-like symptoms with no known exposure.

The first steps should always be to stay home, call your doctor, complete our COVID Reporting form above, and contact Nurse Maben at [email protected] or 804-272-3514, x110.

St. Michael’s is very pleased to share the details of our school reopening plan.

Please note MASKS are required on campus for ALL K-8 students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

For health and safety during to the pandemic, St. Michael’s will begin the 2020-21 school year on a hybrid schedule.

With our hybrid learning schedule, the half of the day when students are on campus will be devoted to core areas of the academic program. The half of the day when students are not physically attending school will entail a combination of MANDATORY asynchronous learning and live virtual enrichment classes (i.e. art, music, PE and design.) These asynchronous/virtual enrichment classes will begin on September 8 and technology devices will be provided for all students.

The hybrid schedule is as follows :

Hybrid Reopening Cohort Assignments

Morning and afternoon student cohort lists (below) were sent to every family via email, along with the passcode for these protected files.

2020-21 Major Dates Calendar -UPDATED July 29

COVID-19 Reporting Form

Please inform the School IMMEDIATELY via the COVID-19 Reporting Form link below if someone in your family has been exposed or is being tested for COVID-19. The confidentiality of the diagnosed student or teacher will be maintained.

All St M families must sign the “Parent Partnership and Agreement” form below before their child(ren) will be allowed to come to school for in-person learning.

Parent Partnership and Agreement Form - must be signed out by all families

Communications Updates (by date)

FAQs Regarding Academic Continuation, School Life, and School Operations:

FAQ Responses To Date

We are closely monitoring the spread of the virus. The safety of our St. Michael’s community is our top priority and we are grateful for our partnership with you as we work to keep our community healthy. We are completely confident in our wonderful community’s ability to adapt and thrive during these challenging times. As we work and learn remotely away from one another, let us be intentional about patience, kindness, grace, and love as these epitomize our DRAGONS’ values — the foundation of our St. Michael’s community.

It is also important that parents and caretakers understand the effect their own behavior can have on children. As calm begets calm, modeling calmness and optimism, as well as maintaining normal routines as best as families can in these unusual times, will help children feel more at ease. Thank you for supporting us and each other—the St. Michael’s community remains as resilient and caring as ever. For that, we couldn’t be more grateful!