Coronavirus (COVID-19)

July 23, 2020

Dear Sacred Heart School Community,

I pray that you are all staying safe and healthy this summer and hopefully finding some opportunities to relax and rejuvenate.

As you recall, I sent out our plan for re-opening school in the fall back on June 23^rd. That plan is based on the guidance that we have received from the governor’s office, the state superintendent’s office, the health department, and the Archdiocese of Seattle. Since that time, Mrs. Pickett and I have been carefully reading any new information coming out from these sources as well as the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics. We have also been reviewing the plans of other schools, districts, and states in order to gather information and ideas. There are no new directives that re-opening school is unsafe and at least a few reports by medical organizations and studies in medical journals indicating that the benefits of re-opening greatly outweigh the risks when proper precautions are taken.

Yesterday, the Bellevue School District (along with some others) announced their decision to provide online-only instruction for the first six weeks of the school year. I respect the decision of the public districts. They have a variety of issues related to re-opening that we do not have, and I am confident that they are making the best decision for their community. I look to our local public-school districts for information and ideas in a variety of areas, including their response to the current pandemic. However, we do not simply follow their lead on all matters – whether it is snow closures or curriculum or school vacations. Sacred Heart School and the Bellevue School district each have different resources, challenges, and opportunities to consider when making their decisions.

I also want to make clear that our plan for re-opening is not political. Our re-opening plan was released prior to the unfortunate politicization of this issue. While our government officials clearly have an important role in this process (and the final decision in whether or not we are allowed to re-open), partisan electoral politics have no place in decisions about education and safety. At Sacred Heart School we want only what is best for our community – students, staff, and parents.

I think that we all recognize that in-person instruction is the best option for all our students. Students, staff, and parents want to safely return to in-person instruction in the fall. I am still confident that we can do this by working together.

Since the governor announced in April that school would not reopen for the remainder of the last school year, we have been planning for the fall. Our planning has continued to be updated based on new information and suggestions and questions from staff and parents. We are thinking about all aspects of our life together at school and working to make the necessary changes to improve health and safety in those areas. We have accomplished much these past few months. But there is more to accomplish. In order to be ready to re-open in the fall, we need your help. Please do your part to make our teachers, students, and parents safe by doing the following.

1. Make sure that anyone coming to school this fall – children and adults – have at least a few cloth masks that are comfortable and suitable. Practice wearing your masks for extended periods of time in order to become accustomed to wearing them.
2. Follow the state’s rules about wearing masks in public and limiting unnecessary interactions with those outside of your household.
3. Ensure that everyone coming to school knows how to properly wash and sanitize their hands and practice doing it.
4. Especially as we approach the re-opening of school, please consider our whole school community (especially those at a higher individual risk) when you make decisions about travel and trips outside of your home. It would be very beneficial if we could all treat those last two weeks as a time of serious preparation for the return to school by staying at home as much as possible (even more than what may be required by the state at that point), getting plenty of exercise and sleep to promote health, and wearing masks whenever interacting with people outside your home (even close friends and family).
5. Staying at home when you are sick – whatever your illness.
6. Notifying the school right away if you, someone in your home, or someone to whom you have been exposed is diagnosed with COVID-19.

At this point, we will be re-opening school on August 31 for an extended Desk & Locker Day. Instead of a one-hour opportunity to set up desks and lockers, there will be timed opportunities over the course of the day for students to come to school and put their supplies into their desks and lockers. The next day, September 1^st, we will invite all students in grades 4-8 to return to school for a full day of instruction. The next day, September 2^nd, students in grades Pre-K through 3^rd will come to school for a full day (half day, as normal, for Pre-K and Kindergarten). Then the whole school will come to school on September 3^rd and 4^th followed by a three-day weekend for Labor Day. This phased opening will allow us to ensure that the procedures and policies that we will have in place are operating correctly and we can make adjustments as necessary.

In addition to in-person instruction, we will be offering remote instruction online for those who need this option. We understand that some students and/or their families will not be able to return to in-person instruction immediately due to a variety of health concerns. So, we have been working to develop robust online instruction for any students who need it either for a short time or long-term. Students will be able to see and interact with their classrooms during the in-person instruction each day. Mrs. Simons is our new remote-instruction specialist and will be overseeing and coordinating remote instruction for all of those involved with it. Remote instruction will be available to students no matter the reason. If a student is at home because of a compromised immune system, a broken leg, or the flu, or anything else that keeps them out of school, remote instruction will be available to them. Remote instruction in the fall will be different than it was in the spring in that students will be participating remotely in their classes according to the regular school schedule. Depending upon your child’s grade level there will be some classes that we will require students to participate in “live” (i.e., as the class is taking place). Other classes can be viewed at a later time in order to accommodate each student’s abilities and family’s schedule.

I encourage families who are inclined and able to take advantage of remote instruction to do so. If you are concerned about having your child return to school right away, please let us know that you want to join in our remote instruction. You are welcome to participate in remote instruction full-time (five days per week) or only a few days per week. This “hybrid-by-choice” option will allow families who want to return to in-person instruction more slowly to do so. At the same time, it will reduce the number of students in the building on any given day.

One of the defining characteristics of our school is the community. It is important to recognize that we have a large community with a diversity of needs. Some families are not able to return to school right away due to health issues or concerns. Other families need to have their children return to school so that they can go to work. Some students thrived during remote instruction while others were greatly challenged by the lack of interaction with teachers and peers. All of us miss being together. I am confident that by working together we can successfully care for the needs of our whole community.

Since the last re-opening plan, we have made much progress. I want to briefly highlight a few things that we have accomplished. I intend to send out an updated plan for re-opening next week once we have received additional feedback from parents and staff through the attached survey (and a survey about remote instruction sent to our staff this week).

1. We have removed the furniture from classrooms aside from desks and chairs in order to maximize the spacing between students.
2. We are creating one-way travel patterns in the hallways in order to avoid congestion.
3. We have tested remote instruction through our new Boxlight Boards in order to ensure the ability of students to be able to effectively learn and participate remotely.
4. We are adding touchless soap dispensers to our bathrooms and ensuring that hot water is available in all of the sinks
5. All “student help times” and parent meetings will be conducted via Microsoft Teams to ensure equitable opportunity for all while also reducing the amount of close contact and the number of people coming into the building.
6. We are identifying an app that parents and staff will be required to use each day before entering the building that will include a temperature check and screening for COVID-19 symptoms.
7. We have kept our classes sizes small for the time being. Due to a continued increase of interest in our school, we now have waiting lists in all but two grades.

This past spring, with the support of our parents, the teachers and staff pivoted nearly overnight to produce high-quality remote instruction for all our students along with some amazing community events. I am certain that together we can meet the new challenges that face us this fall. We are all privileged to be a part of a community that cares deeply about everyone who is a part of it. Working together we can make each other feel and be safe, happy, and supported.

Please take a few minutes to complete a brief survey. Your feedback will help us update our plan for re-opening.

Sincerely,

David Burroughs

 

In his press conference remarks and the Reopening Washington School 2020 District Planning Guide, Superintendent Reykdal emphasized the goal of returning all students to face-to-face instruction in the fall. His remarks and the guide lay out a strategy of prudential safety measures. It is not a one-size-fits-all approach but leaves room for each school to create safe conditions for students, staff, and parents while also emphasizing the importance of socialization and academics.

This plan will remain in place until the guidelines from the State of Washington, the King County Health Department, or the Archdiocese of Seattle change. At such a time, this plan will be modified to reflect these changes.

If Sacred Heart School is required to close its campus again, we will enact the remote instruction plan previously used in the spring of 2020.

Classroom Arrangements

Desks and chairs will be reconfigured in each classroom in order to meet the needs of the current class size and maximize physical distancing. Desks will be placed in front-facing rows, not in clusters or work groups. Non-essential furniture and equipment small group meeting tables and free-standing bookshelves will be removed from classrooms and placed in storage to create the maximum space possible for students and teachers.

Grades K-5 will be treated as a single classroom for the purposes of instruction. For example, we will treat both third grade classes as one class in order that students may continue to be grouped together for reading, math, and additional support services. The pods will be used as additional instructional space in order to maximize the square footage of each room. Plastic barriers between desks will be used in some classrooms where students will work more closely together because of the subject, age of the students, or the size of the room.

Due to the small size of the locker room facility, middle school students will not be required to change clothes for P.E. class. Those wishing to do so will be allowed to use individual restrooms or stalls in which to change.

Some classes, depending upon size, may take place in other rooms in order to best utilize the space available. For example, a drama elective class of 12 students might normally be located in the Moore Theater, but instead would be moved into a 6th grade classroom so that the social studies class of 25 students can meet in the larger theater space. Some specialist teachers may come to the primary classrooms to teach instead of the students traveling to their classroom.

These changes will allow us to maximize physical distancing in every classroom.

Masks

All staff will be required to wear cloth masks except when working alone. The school will provide four masks per staff member. All students in grades K-8 will be required to wear cloth masks or plastic face shields at school. Parents will provide their child’s masks or face shields in order to promote regular cleaning of the masks, ensure that the masks are a good fit for the child, and aid in identifying the owner of masks. Students will be asked to always have two masks at school in case one becomes dirty or wet. Staff and students may receive an exemption from a medical, legal, or behavioral professional. Visitors will be required to wear a mask as well. Disposable masks will be provided to anyone who enters the school without one.
Pre-k students are encouraged to wear masks or face shields, but not required.

Clear masks will be provided to teachers whose students need to see their mouths clearly during teaching (for example, during phonics of foreign language instruction). These masks provide a transparent barrier that covers the mouth and nose.

Microphone and speaker systems will be installed during the summer. Each teacher will have a pendant microphone in order to be more clearly heard by all students in the classroom even with masks and physical distancing.

Screening

Students will be verbally screened each day at drop-off by staff. While dropping off their children in the parking lot, parents will be asked if their child or anyone in their household is exhibiting any of the symptoms of COVID-19. Parents who report symptoms will be required to take their children home.

All morning drop-off will be in drop-off lines. Parking for drop-off will not be allowed as each child must be verbally screened. Parents shall enter the school at drop-off with the exception of parents of students with physical disabilities who require extra assistance. Parents of pre-kindergarten (all year) and kindergarten (the first three weeks of school) students will be asked to walk their child to the library entrance and be verbally screened. Pre-kindergarten parents will also sign in their child with the staff member on duty.

We do not anticipate changes to afternoon pick-up except that parents and children will not be allowed to congregate after school in the parking lots or play areas. Masks should be worn during pick-up.

Students who exhibit symptoms of the virus at school will be sent to the health isolation room (the current Parent’s Club Room) and the student’s temperature will be checked. If the student’s temperature is 100.4 F or higher, their parent will be contacted to pick them up immediately. The child will be required to have COVID-19 testing in a medical facility. The same protocol applies to staff.

The symptoms for which we will screen are:
• A cough
• Shortness of breath
• A fever of 100.4F or higher
• A sore throat
• Chills
• New loss of taste or smell
• Muscle or body aches
• Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea
• Congestion/running nose- not related to seasonal allergies
• Unusual fatigue

Any student or staff member who exhibits symptoms of COVID-19 will be required to stay at home for three days after their symptoms have disappeared, even after a negative COVID-19 test result.

Testing Sites

The school will develop a list of local COVID-19 testing sites to provide to parents and staff in situations where testing is required.

Remote Instruction Specialist

The school will employ a remote instruction specialist, Mrs. Deanna Simons, to facilitate remote instruction for students who are not able to return to school immediately for face-to-face instruction and/or those who have to leave school due to illness.

Confirmed case of COVID-19

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 will be reported to the King County Health Department and the Office for Catholic Schools. Students and staff will be quarantined as directed. Parents should inform the school immediately if someone in their household has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or is being quarantined for a suspected case.

Phased Opening

Grades 4-8 and Pre-K through 3rd will each have a ”trial run” day of instruction prior to the full opening of school in which the students will experience a full first day of school under the new procedures in order to identify and correct any problems. This will be a regular school day but will include only approximately half the students each day.

School Entry

Entry to the school will be limited to the main entrance except during morning drop-off in the lower lot.
Entry to the school will be limited to essential students, staff, and essential volunteers or parent visitors. Activities such as birthday or star student celebrations will be conducted with parents remotely. Some service jobs will be eliminated or modified to limit the number of people entering the building. However, many service jobs are essential to the operations of the school and will be continued with the same restrictions as for staff.

Hygiene

Students and staff will be required to clean their hands before/upon entering the classroom and before eating. When possible, students will use soap and water to wash their hands. Alternatively, they will use hand sanitizer dispensers in their classrooms.

Teachers and instructional aides will wipe down desks with approved cleaning supplies between each new group of students entering the room, before eating, and at the end of the day. Maintenance staff
will clean high-use areas throughout the day (e.g., bathrooms, gym). Shared equipment and instructional materials will be cleaned regularly. NanoSeptic wraps will be placed on door handles and push bars in order to reduce the risk of exposure to viruses.

Ventilation

Air circulation throughout the building will be increased. This will include opening windows in some classrooms and offices and keeping classroom doors open when possible and appropriate.

Training

All staff and volunteers will be trained in COVID-19 procedures related to recognizing symptoms, cleaning, and reducing the spread of the virus through the Archdiocese. Any parent may also view the video training.

Students and parents will be trained in the new school procedures through a video created by school staff which will be distributed before the opening of school and will be reviewed with students on the “practice” day of school. A COVID-19 safety officer will be appointed for the school.

Parents and staff are strongly encouraged to try out masks and practice wearing them for extended periods of time during the summer. Identifying a style that works best will maximize student comfort and learning.

Recess

Recess and outdoor activities are encouraged by the guide. Students may play on the big toys and may play games like foursquare and catch. Students will not be allowed to play games that involve regular close contact.

Lunch

Students will eat lunch in the lunchroom on a rotating basis (e.g., grades 3 and 4 during the second lunch period for the first week of school) with the lunch tables spaced six feet apart, grades not mixing at tables, and students physically distanced so that there will be typically four students per table or eight students per double table. Those students not eating in the lunchroom will eat in their classrooms. Students will clean their hands before and after eating lunch.

The school’s hot lunch program will continue with individually plated food. Our hot lunch program, Delectable BBQ & Catering, has had experience providing lunches for the Boys’ and Girls’ Club during the pandemic. They are experienced with upholding the protocols for preparing meals in the current coronavirus environment.

School Masses

School Masses will take place on a rotation schedule with a few grades and teachers in the church each week according to the then-current limits on Mass attendance. There will be no singing at Mass until the restriction is lifted.

Lockers

Middle school students will access their lockers on a rotating basis to reduce congestion in the hallways and increase distancing at the lockers. 7th and 8th grade lockers will be staggered to promote spacing between lockers so that two students will not need to access their adjacent lockers at the same time.

Students will access their lockers before and after school and according to this schedule: 6th after 1st period, 7th after 2nd period, 8th after 3rd period, 6th after homeroom, 7th after lunch, 8th after 4th period, and 6th after 5th period. Students will be allowed and encouraged to carry backpacks during the day to facilitate carrying books and materials for more than one class at a time to limit their need to access their locker. Individual exceptions may be made by teachers to allow students to access their lockers during class time.

School Programs and Activities

Back to School Night in September will take place virtually. All school events and programs will continue to be scheduled and take place as much as possible, but large gatherings will likely need to take place online. School assemblies will be broadcast and viewed in each classroom.

Student Meet-ups

Opportunities for students to meet one another and possibly their teachers will be arranged during the summer. These small-group activities (10 or fewer students) will take place according to the King County Health Department rules for summer camps. These “mini camps” will include age-appropriate games and activities designed to provide the opportunity for students to socialize and meet new students.

Pictures

Classrooms will incorporate pictures of the students and teachers without their masks to promote socialization and bonding.

Dear Sacred Heart School Community,

I want to let you know that we are busily planning for the reopening of school in the fall. Mrs. Pickett and I have been measuring classrooms, counting desks, reading through the state superintendent's report, and more. We are working together with our staff, school commission, Fr. John, and other stakeholders to flesh out the details of a plan for in-person learning. I am confident that we will have at least a solid framework of that plan ready for distribution by next Monday. It will include plans for classroom arrangements, drop-off and pick-up, lunch, recess, health screening, illness procedures, physical distancing, school Masses, and more. 

We greatly appreciate your patience and support as we work to put together a coherent plan for a successful year that prioritizes health and safety, academics, socialization, and faith formation. We prefer to get it right rather than to get it done quickly. 

Sincerely,

David Burroughs

Dear Sacred Heart School Community,

You have probably heard by now that the governor has extended the closure of school campuses through the end of the current academic year. This is certainly a disappointment on many levels. I want to thank everyone who sent a message to the governor today. I trust that he has heard our concerns and made the best decision based on the information that he has at his disposal. I pray that this sacrifice will help to save lives and reduce suffering in our state.

Fortunately, we all belong to an amazing school community. I feel privileged every day to be able to work with such great teachers, staff, parents and students. We are going to succeed together.

I am meeting with the staff this evening to discuss the way forward and to hear their concerns and ideas for how to sustain and improve our remote instruction. Tomorrow I will be sending out a survey to all parents and students to solicit your feedback.

This will not be easy. But with patience, teamwork, and faith in God, we can do this!

Sincerely,

David Burroughs

Dear Parents, & Families,

Here are a couple of great resources/information about how to talk with your children about COVID-19. Their health and well-being during this time is critical, especially their mental health.

Let’s help them better understand what is going on and also shield them from some of the media negativity.

• HealthyChildren.org - Covid-19
• How to talk to Kids about COVID-19 Pamphlet (PDF)

Mrs. Boyd

Dear Sacred Heart School Community,

In order to allow students to retrieve items from their lockers or classrooms that they may have left behind and/or to check out books from the school library, we will open our doors briefly tomorrow and under the following strict guidelines.

• All students must be accompanied by a parent at all times. 
• If you are sick, do not come to school.
• Please maintain social distancing. 
• Please use the hand sanitizer stands in the library and school lobby as you enter and leave the building to clean your hands.
• This is not a time for students or parents to gather in groups. Please come pick up your things as quickly as possible. 
• If we have a large number of people wanting to get in, we will have to limit the size of groups entering at once.

Please visit tomorrow during the following times. We chose these times as they do not conflict with any scheduled online learning. If there is a need and we are still allowed to do so, we will provide additional library hours in the future. 

Students with last names starting with A-F 8:00-8:20 am

Students with last names starting with G-L 8:20-8:40 am

Students with last names starting with M-Sa 8:40-9:00 am

Students with last names starting with Sc-Z 4:00-4:20 pm

Sincerely,
David Burroughs

Dear Sacred Heart School Community,

This is a lengthy and important communication. Please take the time to read all the way through it. It contains important information about many aspects of our school operations during the campus closure.

We recognize that we may have to make revisions to our plans over the course of the campus closure as circumstances change. Please be patient with us as we do our best to serve our students. We welcome your feedback in order to make this the best possible program for all.

Lent

Thank you for your patience, support, and generosity during this difficult time.

This is going to be a different kind of Lent. We are all being asked to give up much more than we had ever expected – social gatherings, concerts, restaurants, movie theaters, parties, and even Mass. Rather than experiencing these next six weeks as a drudgery or punishment, I pray that we can all take this opportunity to dive more deeply into Lent. Make these sacrifices meaningful by

• Making these sacrifices “intentional” – If we embrace these sacrifices and include them in our observation of Lent, then they become something that we have chosen and not something forced upon us.
• Making these sacrifices “joyful” – Rather than grumbling about the things that we cannot do we can be grateful for all the good things that we do have.
• Making these sacrifices “useful” – Find ways to fill all of the newly-freed time that we have in our lives with things other than screens, ideally things that bring us together. Instead of movies, restaurants, concerts, sporting events, and more, we can use that time to do things like play games, take walks, or pray together.  
• Making these sacrifices “meaningful” – There are some in our community that these sacrifices will impact more than others: the elderly, the sick, those who lose their jobs. We can make our sacrifices meaningful by taking some of our time to call someone who is sick, to go shopping for an elderly neighbor, to cook a meal for someone who is out of work, to write letters to the residents of a retirement community.
• Make these sacrifices “spiritual” – Whatever we do during this time, we can do it all for the Lord. Our sacrifices large and small in this way will help us to grow in our friendship with Christ.

Tomorrow’s Schedule

Tomorrow, 3/17/20, will be a unique remote learning schedule with an opportunity for each grade level to do a run through of Remote Learning with the goals of:

• Practicing finding and using the essential remote learning tools you’ll need to be successful
• Working through bugs (log ins, audio, video, connectivity, etc.) before content learning begins

The schedule for this is as follows:

• K through 2nd 12:45 -1:15
• 3rd through 5th 1:45-2:15
• 6th through 8th 2:45-3:15

 Please view the attached document with information on what you need to do before and during this run through. You should plan a chunk of about 30 minutes some time before your scheduled grade level Live Meeting to watch all tutorial videos and review all instructions.

 Student Schedule

We have created a remote learning schedule in order to continue to provide structure and focus for all our students. We are doing this in order to help our students continue to learn, to help them (and you) avoid the boredom and agitation of six weeks without direction or purpose, and to help us all be better at the end of this time than we were when we began. We suggest that you supplement this schedule with an additional schedule of your own that would include things such as a time to go to bed and a time to get up, a time for meals, a time for homework, and free time for outdoor play, movies, reading, games, and more. A schedule is not meant to be a burden but an aid in this very unusual time.

We encourage all students to participate in their classes at the scheduled time each day. The interaction with the teacher and their fellow students is an important part of the learning process. Students who are not able to join a class “live” may view the class later as all class sessions will be recorded.

Teachers will be online during each class even if there is no video streaming. Students might be asked to read a pdf and respond to a series of questions or watch a pre-recorded video, for example. However, the teacher will be on Teams at that time to answer questions in the “chat”.

The school day is “staggered” in order to 1) allow multiple children in a family to share devices, 2) spread out the impact on each family’s internet connection, and 3) to allow parents and older siblings to assist younger students.

ESS Fees

During the time that our school campus is closed, ESS will not operate. However, we would like to ask all of those who use ESS to consider continuing to pay their ESS fees during the campus closure. Our dedicated and caring ESS staff rely on their paychecks in order to pay their bills as much as we rely on them to provide excellent care for our children before and after school.

We are providing three options for all of our ESS users during the closure. Please email Amy Davis to let her know your choice. If we do not hear from you, we will presume that you are selecting option #1.

1. Continue to pay your ESS fees during the closure as normal in order to help pay our amazing ESS staff.
2. Convert your ESS fees during the closure into a donation to the Annual Fund. Your donation will be used to help pay our amazing ESS staff during the closure and you will receive a tax donation letter for your gift.
3. Ask that your ESS fees not be charged during the campus closure.

Thank you all for your support!

Attendance

Sacred Heart School will continue to operate as normally as possible. Students are expected to participate in remote learning according to the new schedule. If your child is sick or otherwise unable to attend to remote learning on a particular day, we ask that you email Mrs. Wyman by 9 am to let us know. We will continue to keep attendance records during this time.

Calendar

Sacred Heart School will continue to operate according to the published school calendar. We will observe our Easter Break from April 13 to 17. Good Friday will be a modified schedule (TBD).

Report Cards

Normally we expect all our teachers to provide comments for each student and subject on the report cards. Since the campus closure is coinciding with the end of the trimester, we are making a change. In order to allow our teachers to focus on the transition to remote learning, we are not requiring report card comments this trimester. Some students may receive comments and others may not. I directed the teachers last week to stop working on comments so that they could instead finalize all grades and then turn to preparing their lessons for remote learning. At this time, our plan is to return to comments for the third trimester.

Weekly Messaging

In order to facilitate communication, the From the Heart newsletter will continue to be published weekly. It will change to a Friday morning publication (as opposed to Thursday morning) during the campus closure. This change will allow us to include links to the “week ahead” for all grades and subjects into the FTH. Our hope is to have one place for you all to look to find the information that you need. There will continue to be special bulletins as needed to keep everyone up to date on the latest happenings.

I encourage all of our parents and teachers to continue to use Bloomz to foster community among our students even while they are apart. Let’s post about the things that you are doing to pass the time together, serve others, and pray. We can keep our community strong even while we are apart.

Sincerely,

David Burroughs

Attachments

• Remote Learning Schedule
• March 17th Instructions for Parents and Students

Dear Sacred Heart School Community,

As you have probably heard, the governor has ordered the closure of all schools in King County through April 24. Our staff is meeting tomorrow to continue our plans for remote instruction. We will be sending out to you a schedule for each grade and information to help you and your children get on to Microsoft Teams for classes. Each week we will send an update by Thursday evening to let you know about the week ahead.

You may have read that some school districts will not be providing any instruction during the coming six weeks. These schools do not have the resources to provide meaningful remote instruction for all their students. A six-week break from school is going to be very hard on those students and their families. We are fortunate to have the capacity to continue instruction and learning. As a result of the generous technology Fund-a-Need three years ago, our staff has the hardware, software, and training to successfully support our students during this campus closure.

Due to this closing, our middle school NET retreats have been canceled. We are looking into rescheduling them. We are also working on rescheduling the 7th and 8th grade Washington, D.C. trip to a later date.

We are all about to embark on an unprecedented journey together. There will be challenges, setbacks, successes, and triumphs. I ask that we all do our best to remain patient, flexible, and positive as we work together to make the most of this opportunity that we have been given. We want your feedback and constructive criticism to help us improve. Please reach out to us and share your thoughts and suggestions.

God is good, all the time! And all the time, God is good!

Sincerely, David Burroughs

Dear Sacred Heart School Community, 

As you may have heard by now, Archbishop Etienne has directed that all parishes suspend public Masses beginning today and that all Catholic schools follow the lead of the local public school district for closures. The Bellevue School District has decided to close beginning this Friday through March 27^th. We already have an in-service day planned for Friday and a day off planned for Monday. So, Sacred Heart School will be closed beginning on Tuesday, March 17 through March 27^th. I had hoped that we could keep the school open longer, but we are following the directions that we have received. 

There will still be school tomorrow.  

We are also encouraging all families who have had children at home during the last few days to come to school between 3:30 and 4:00 pm tomorrow to pick up books or materials that may be necessary for remote learning. Please do not come to school during the regular school day for the purposes of picking up materials so that our teachers can work effectively with their students.  

How Can You Prepare for Remote Learning? 

• Remind your children to bring home textbooks, reading books, materials for long-term projects, and their laptops.  
• We have a limited number of laptop devices that we can loan to families. If you need one, please reply to this email and we will do our best to meet everyone’s needs. Much, but not all, of the work that our students will be doing during the next two weeks can be done on any device including laptops, desktops, tablets, and even phones. But you should not try to share one device among several people. 
• Encourage your child to check out an additional book or two from the school library and/or stop by your local public library to check out some free reading books or audiobooks. 
• Ensure that you have downloaded Microsoft Teams to any devices that you plan to use during our remote learning time.  

What Can You Expect During Remote Learning? 

• We will be publishing a weekly schedule for each grade outlining the times that each subject will be taught (including arts, physical education, Spanish, library, and more). 
• We encourage students to follow the daily schedule as closely as possible in order to keep up a routine that will help them to stay engaged and focused. If a student is not able to be online at a given time, the sessions will be recorded and can be viewed later. 
• Teachers will be online during instruction times in order to lead instruction, answer questions, and guide discussions and student work. 
• Assessments (tests, quizzes, essays, projects, etc.) will take place during this remote learning time. We recognize that there will be significantly increased opportunities for cheating. We ask that parents: 1) remind their children that they only cheat themselves when they present work as their own that is not and 2) do their best to oversee assessments to encourage honesty and integrity. 
• Our plan is to continue to provide excellent instruction and support for all our students. This process will stretch our staff and students alike. Please be patient with the process. If you have questions or concerns with academic matters, please contact your child’s teacher. If you have issues related to technology please contact Nancy Schoeggl (nschoeggl@sacredheart.org) or Deanna Simons (dsimons@sacredheart.org). 
• We will continue to provide updates as new information is received. We will make changes to our program, schedule, and methodology as needed based on the feedback we receive.  

Thank you all for your patience and support. Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us! 

Sincerely, 

David Burroughs 

Dear Sacred Heart School Community,

Thank you for your ongoing support as we work our way through the COVID-19 outbreak.

General Information

I know that a few other schools have made the decision to close for an extended period. I want to share with you my thinking so that you will better understand why Sacred Heart School is not following their example at this time. Each school needs to evaluate what is best for its community given the information, resources, and challenges facing the school at that time.

First, the Public Health Department has pointed out in a few of their communications that they are not recommending closing schools. The most important reason seems to be that they do not believe that it will significantly affect the spread of the virus. During the H1N1 pandemic in 2009, there was no meaningful difference in transmission rates between schools that closed and those that stayed open, according to the Public Health Department. Students continued to gather together while out of school and pass along the virus.

Second, a school closure is disruptive. Many of our school parents are able to telecommute, but not all are able to do so. When school is closed it puts a burden on parents stay home from work and care for their children during work hours. It also disrupts the educational process. We are putting in place sound plans to deliver instruction remotely if we have to close, but nothing will replace face to face instruction, especially over an extended time. Our hope is to do this for as short a time as possible (if at all) in order to ensure that our students learn all that they need to and our well-prepared for next year. We also want to avoid having to extend the school year beyond the currently scheduled end date of June 17.

Third, if we close “preventatively” instead of closing for a specific purpose, there is no clear way to determine when we would reopen to school. If we closed tomorrow, for example, for the next two weeks, how would we know that it is okay to re-open two weeks from tomorrow? If we close without a specific goal in mind we won’t know when or if we have achieved our goal (e.g., deep cleaning the school or waiting out a quarantine period).

We have been taking and will continue to take all of the prescribed steps to keep our students and staff healthy here at school.

At this point, Sacred Heart School will remain open unless and until we are directed to close for a specific reason. We both want to prioritize the health and safety of our school community and continue to provide an excellent education for all of our students.

Remote Learning

If we close the school, it may very well be for an extended period of time. This will not be like a snow day closure where a little work is sent home and typically turned in when we return to school. Remote learning will be a combination of “live” instruction via video meetings, pre-recorded instruction created by our staff or from a third-party provider (e.g., BrainPop, MatthWhizz, Khan Academy), and independent student work (e.g., reading a novel, completing spelling homework).

There will be a daily schedule that will be similar to the current school schedule. It will include all subject areas and have time for “recess” and “lunch” breaks. The schedule will generally be shorter than a typical school day, especially for the primary grades, but it will not be just a set of assignments for students to complete at their own pace. Work will need to be submitted during the closure and assessments of various sorts will need to be administered.

This daily schedule is intended to help students stay focused and engaged during an extended closure and to facilitate “instruction” of new material by teachers as opposed to “practice” of previously learned material by students working independently. Facilitating this may require at least some parent assistance.

Preparing for Remote Learning

There are some important things that we would like to ask everyone to do now in order to be prepared in case we need to switch to remote learning.

Any children who are students at Sacred Heart School will need access to a “digital device”. A laptop or desktop computer is ideal, but a table or smartphone can be used for many things. Some sharing of devices may be possible, but we would not recommend trying to share a computer with your child that you need to use for work all day (for example). We have some devices that could be checked out to families in the event of a closure. If you anticipate the need for checking out a device, please email me so that we can plan.

For students and parents in grades Pre-k to 5th, 1) locate your “Clever” card (email your homeroom teacher if you can’t find it) and put it somewhere it will be easy to find again. 2) Practice logging in to Clever and Office365. 3) Open Office365. 4) Find “Teams”. 5) Send this message in the HR Team to your teacher: “My name is {Your Name} and I am ready for remote learning”.

Sincerely,

David Burroughs

Dear Sacred Heart School Community,

First, I want to thank everyone for their feedback and questions related to COVID-19. I greatly appreciate how engaged and concerned our community is about these important issues. There were several emails that I received over the last day that have not been answered. I want to assure everyone who wrote to me that I am not ignoring your messages. Instead, they all raise important issues the answers to which I think everyone should hear. I also wanted to make sure that I had the most up-to-date information possible before sending my message. As you all know, things keep changing and we are carefully considering all the information in making our decisions. I wanted to wait until after the governor’s press conference late yesterday and then finalize discussions with The Kirkland Performance Center.

We will continue to follow the advice of the Public Health Department and the school will remain open at this time. We have plans in place to conduct learning remotely if necessary. We understand that some families may decide to have their children remain at home. Each family’s circumstances are different and we trust you to make the best decision for your children and your family. Our teachers will do their best to provide materials and support for students who are remaining home. Please contact the school to let us know if your child is remaining at home and if they are sick or not. We need to track all students who are sick.

At this time the Playmakers production will continue this weekend. The staff at the Kirkland Performance Center and the Playmakers leadership are taking all reasonable steps to promote the health and safety of our students, parents, staff, and visitors.

• The Kirkland Performance Center is thoroughly cleaning all parts of the theater each day using products recommended to kill viruses.
• The Playmakers leadership is cleaning all costumes, sets, backstage area, and props using approved cleaning products.
• Bathrooms with hot water and soap are available to the students as is hand sanitizer and students are reminded regularly to clean their hands, especially after going to the bathroom.
• The Playmakers leadership has changed the way that make-up is handled and applied on performers to ensure that students are not cross-contaminating.
• Performers who are sick have been instructed to remain at home.

Even with all these precautions in place, it is still my recommendation that anyone who is pregnant, has underlying health conditions or a compromised immune system, or is over 60 not attend the performance, following the advice of the Public Health Department. In order to keep our many supporters and audience members safe, we have put into place several procedures.

• Anyone who has already purchased a ticket and does not attend due to health concerns or issues may receive a refund. Playmakers leadership is currently arranging this process. Please do not contact the Kirkland Performing Arts Center with questions about this. Playmakers will arrange refunds and communicate with everyone about how this process will take place.
• Both Saturday performances will be video recorded and made available for free. Those who choose not to attend in person can watch the performances at home. It may take about two weeks to ready the videos for streaming.
• Currently, all performances are less than 1/3 full, as little as 1/5 in one case. Those who attend will likely have plenty of room to spread out.
• The Kirkland Performance Center will not be selling concessions during the performances.
• The school performances are not open to “the public” but only to members of our community.

You may have seen that the Kirkland Performance Center announced on their Facebook page that they are cancelling upcoming public events. This is true but does not apply to Sacred Heart School. The performances they canceled were open to the public and involved a number of issues that we do not have. The management is confident that they are taking the right steps to ensure the safety of our students and staff, their visitors during our performances, and their staff. Please see the message below from the Kirkland Performance Center for more information.

If there is a need to close the school or cancel events, we will notify everyone via the emergency notification system.

Finally, please join me in praying for all of those affected by this virus in your prayers: those who have died and those who are sick; the loved ones of those who have died and are sick; the doctors, nurses, and other health care workers who are treating them; and the scientists and public health officials who are working to find a vaccine for this virus.

Sincerely,

David Burroughs

Dear Sacred Heart School Community Members,

I want to share my thinking with you about why I have not cancelled the school play this weekend. I have not made this decision lightly, but after careful consideration and discussion. First, Sacred Heart School has no confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19. Second, the King County Health Department is not recommending closing schools at this point or cancellation of activities. Please see the information below from their website.

Public Health is not recommending closing schools at this time unless there has been a confirmed case in your school. The reason we are not recommending school closures at this time is because children have not been shown to be a high risk group for serious illness from this virus. In addition, when some schools briefly closed during the H1N1 influenza pandemic, we learned that many children still gathered in group settings and still had exposure to one another. As much as possible, children should be allowed to carry on with their education and normal activities.

Public Health –Seattle & King County also respects an individual school’s decisions about closures or postponement of activities as each school knows the needs of their community best.

Some children have underlying health conditions, such as weakened immune systems, that put them at higher risk. Caregivers of children with underlying health conditions should consult with healthcare providers about whether their children should stay home.

The students in the play have been working hard for weeks to learn their parts and be prepared for their performances. The Kirkland Performing Arts Center does not have any other time wo which we could postpone the play. So, rescheduling it is not an option. Moving it to the school is not an option either due to the need for sound and lighting equipment which is not scheduled since we were not planning to hold the play at the school. If there is a specific concern that comes to light in the next few days, we will certainly prioritize the health and safety of the community. Without such a specific concern, though, I want to give the students the opportunity to perform.

I do recommend, however, that those who are in “higher risk” groups as noted below not attend the play. The plays will be video recorded so that those who are unable to attend in person will have the opportunity to see their children, grandchildren, siblings, or friends in the play.

Public Health recommends that people at higher risk of severe illness should stay home and away from large groups of people as much as possible, including public places with lots of people and large gatherings where there will be close contact with others. This includes concert venues, conventions, sporting events, and crowded social gatherings.

People at higher risk include people:

• Over 60 years of age
• With underlying health conditions including include heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes
• With weakened immune systems
• Who are pregnant

Caregivers of children with underlying health conditions should consult with healthcare providers about whether their children should stay home. Anyone who has questions about whether their condition puts them at risk for novel coronavirus should consult with their healthcare providers.

Sincerely,

David Burroughs

Dear Sacred Heart School Community,

As you may know, the King County and State Health Departments held a press conference at 11 am today. During the press conference they stated that there is currently no reason to close schools or any school activities. They reiterated, however, that if you or your child are sick you should stay home until you are no longer sick.

Based on the latest information from this press conference, the CDC website, and discussions with staff, we are taking the following actions at Sacred Heart School in addition to those already described in my message yesterday.

• At our school Masses, just like at weekend Masses, we are suspending hand shaking, hand holding, and distribution of communion via the chalice (cup).
• 4^th Grade visits to The Gardens Senior Living Facility are being suspended for the time being in order to protect the health of their residents and our students.
• The Playmakers production at the Kirkland Performing Arts Center this weekend will proceed as scheduled. If you or a family member has a compromised immune system you may not want to attend this large gathering. If you or your child is sick, please remain at home – whether a performer, tech crew team, or audience member.
• Recent travelers from Italy and Iran are now being asked to exclude themselves from the school building until they have been outside of those countries for 14 or more days and have been symptom-free during that time, in addition to China and South Korea.

We will continue to monitor developments, encourage frequent hand-cleaning, and will be regularly cleaning surfaces throughout the school. Please help us by keeping sick children and adults at home rather than sending them to school.

There is a fair amount of incorrect information circulating that has been causing some people to panic. Please make sure to check the CDC and King County Health Department websites for the most accurate and up-to-date information. 

Sincerely,

David Burroughs

Dear Sacred Heart School Community,

I want to assure everyone that we are closely monitoring the situation with COVID-19 in our area. At this point, there is no information indicating that the school will be closing. If we receive directions to do so, we will let everyone know right away. To the best of my knowledge, there are no plans for closing any schools on the Eastside.

We continue to encourage

• frequent hand cleaning by students, staff, and visitors
• frequent cleaning of high-touch surfaces like door handles
• anyone who is sick to stay at home
• persons who have travelled to areas affected by COVID-19 to not enter the school until they have been symptom-free for 14 days after returning to the area
• people who have not received the flu vaccine to do so

As we have seen with recent developments in our area, this is an illness that is not specific to any group defined by age, ethnicity, race, gender, or any other category. We all should avoid "profiling" any individuals as more likely to be carriers of the virus than any others Only together can we take the necessary steps to address the spread of the virus.

If you or someone you know becomes exposed to or infected by COVID-19, please contact the school immediately.

We are currently evaluating all programs and activities of the school in order to reduce possible exposure to the virus. Another update will be sent tomorrow detailing any changes to programs at the school.

Sincerely,
David Burroughs