Westminster School Transitions to Distance Learning
Return-to-School Plan
Following the pandemic-related state mandate to close schools in March 2020, Westminster School quickly pivoted to a well-organized, engaging, distance-learning program for all students. Thanks to the remarkable dedication, flexibility, and creativity of its teachers, staff, students, and parents, Westminster was able to successfully deliver its academic program for the remainder of the school year. This included enrichment classes, such as art, music, P.E., and library, plus numerous virtual events to celebrate and bond our school community.
Updates and Information
Return-to-School Procedures 2020
Please click on this link to access Westminster School’s Return-to-School Plan: 2020-2021. This plan presents Westminster’s reasoning behind offering a full-time, in-person program and provides detailed descriptions of the measures the school has taken and the policies and procedures that will be implemented during the coming school days. Please review the plan carefully. It should answer many of the questions you have about health safety at school and about alternative learning in case of quarantine or discomfort with attending school in person.
Please keep in mind that plan is necessarily flexible; as the conditions surrounding the pandemic develop, or should there be a different order from the governor, Westminster may need to make alterations to the Return-to-School Plan. Of course, any such changes will be communicated to you in as timely a manner as possible.
We understand that, even after taking time to read and absorb this information, you may have further questions or concerns regarding the plan. To that end, Westminster will host an information session (Zoom webinar) on Monday, August 24, at 7:00 p.m. A panel of Westminster staff, parents, and a medical professional will be on hand to discuss the plan and address your questions. A separate invitation will be sent with the opportunity to submit questions / concerns in advance. We will do our best to address these as well as any questions posed via the chat platform during the meeting.
You will receive your new Blackbaud log-in tomorrow, which will include the required Return-to-School Agreement. Most additional questions about school opening, Opening Day, carpool registration, school forms, etc., will be addressed in the Back-to-School Packet which will also be available on Blackbaud.
After you’ve had a chance to read the Return-to-School plan, you will be asked to complete a poll regarding your intention to send your child to in-person school or keep him/her at home for the opening weeks of school, or longer. We need this information in order to make sure our teachers and classrooms are prepared for students in class and at home.
Thank you for your understanding and support. We are all in this together; mutual respect and cooperation will see us through.
With Warm Regard
Ellis Glover and the Administrative Team
Dear Westminster School Families,
As the school year rapidly approaches, we know that many parents and students have questions about returning to school. Westminster School administrators have been working to anticipate and answer those questions since before the end of the last school year.
In planning for the safest possible return to in-person schooling, Westminster administrators have actively researched (and continue to do so daily) information and guidelines from the Center for Disease Control, Virginia Department of Health, Virginia Phase Guidelines, Virginia Department of Labor and Industry, Fairfax County Health Department, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, among others. We have also attended dozens of webinars and online meetings with representatives from independent school associations, including the Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington, the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (our accrediting body), the Virginia Council for Private Education, and the National Association of Independent Schools, in order to ascertain what other independent schools are doing and to exchange ideas for optimizing school operations and safety under these extraordinary circumstances.
Following up on this extensive research as well as input and questions from our own community, Westminster has drawn up a COVID-19 Mitigation Health Plan for School Reopening, which will be shared with parents next week. We want to issue the plan as close to school opening as possible to ensure adherence to the latest guidelines and data, while still giving families time to prepare for the new experiences coming their way.
Westminster’s reopening plan is being reviewed by the Virginia Council for Private Education. A separate plan documenting health safety measures in place for staff members will be submitted to the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry. Review by both of these bodies will ensure that Westminster’s plan meets the highest standards for return-to-school operations.
In outline, the plan will thoroughly cover the following topics:
Advance Preparations for School Opening
— Research / Monitoring of Guidelines and Independent School Practices
— Space Planning, Building Preparation, Special Supplies
— Hygiene and Sanitation Preparations
General School Policies Governing Safe Return to School
— Required Parental Return-to-School Agreement
— Staff Protection Policies
— Provision of Distance Learning Alternative
— Wellness checks / policies / procedures, including those addressing:
- Suspicion / Possibility of COVID-19 Within the Community
- Positive Diagnosis of COVID-19 Within the Community
- Provision of General Health Services (Including Mental Health Services)
- Provisions in Case of School Closure
Communications with School Community
Meanwhile, we know that many families are trying to plan for the coming semester and would like information about school opening as soon as possible. Therefore, below, we share the main points of our plans for the fall, as they currently stand. Please keep in mind that, depending on the progress of the pandemic and determinations by the governing and health authorities, these plans are subject to change.
Highlights of Westminster’s Return-to-School Plan
— Westminster School will provide in-person education in grades Pre-school – 8 for the duration of the 2020-2021 school year unless ordered to close by the Governor of Virginia or authorized health department official.
— For those families who are uncomfortable sending their child to school for any reason (illness, vulnerable family member, general anxiety, etc.), Westminster will provide an alternative, distance-learning program. Please note that this will not comprise live, interactive classes, as were provided during the shelter-at-home phase last spring. However, students at home will be able to view a recording of each class and access assignments, assessments, assistance, and general communications using Blackbaud, email, and scheduled Zoom meetings. This approach will retain the student’s place in the class, ensure that he/she keeps pace with curriculum delivery, and that he/she is included in class bonding events. When the student is ready to return, parents can simply notify the school and the student will be allowed to rejoin the class without further ado. (Tuition costs remain the same for in-person or distance delivery of the educational program. This is because the school’s expenses are not lower for a distance-learning program.)
— As it is not possible for Westminster School alone to protect the health of its community, parents will be required to sign a back-to-school agreement which will require their support of the school’s health measures and their own participation in family wellness practices, including but not limited to:
- encouraging and practicing basic health precautions at home;
- taking their child’s temperature / reviewing a health checklist and submitting it to the school daily;
- keeping a child home who is showing any symptoms of illness.
— Westminster School has plans in place for daily wellness checks and hygiene practices, including but not limited to:
- morning and lunch-time temperature checks for all students;
- in most instances, retaining students in their homeroom classes (average size – 12 students); teachers (except for P.E.) will go to the students;
- physical distancing at all times;
- extra time for frequent handwashing;
- face masks for all interactive activities, including those in class, traversing the hallways, on the playground, etc.;
- Frequent/intense sanitization of all classrooms, offices, gym, and playground;
- In case of illness / suspicion of COVID-19, immediate application of an atomizing sprayer capable of disinfecting a classroom (kills 99.99% of all viruses/pathogens) in 10 minutes.
— Westminster has implemented clear policies regarding care of the individual, requirements for quarantine and/or return to school; and communication with parents:
- in case of possibility/suspicion of COVID-19;
- in case of positive diagnosis of COVID-19.
— Westminster has measures in place for training and encouraging students and staff regarding hygienic safeguards and other practices to reduce the likelihood of COVID-19 in the Westminster School community.
— In case of a mandated school closure, Westminster School is poised to return to a high-quality, distance-learning format. We have reviewed the program and taken into consideration input from staff and parents to plan improvements. Among these is providing separate Zoom classes for the different homeroom groups, thereby reducing the number of students in each online class. Additional details will follow regarding distance learning, should that become likely. Right now, however, we remain focused on our plans to open school on September 1.
The safety of our students and staff is Westminster School’s number one priority at all times. We hope that this overview of Westminster’s plans for reopening school (along with the detailed plan to follow) will reassure parents and students that it is as safe as possible to return to school in September. We can’t wait to welcome you!
With warm regard,
The Admin Team
Dear Westminster Parents,
Since our last communique on July 2, the administrative team has been hard at work preparing for our five-day-a-week, in-person classes. As indicated in our last email, a more comprehensive update will be sent in August. However, as we are aware that you likely have questions and concerns, we would like to share with you some measures that have already been taken and are currently underway. Please note that, while this list is not complete, it is a good representation of why Westminster is able to open with in-person classes when a large public school is not.
Parents may or may not realize that there are many things about Westminster’s normal classroom set-up and routine that are particularly helpful under these extraordinary circumstances, such as:
- All Westminster classrooms have windows allowing for fresh air;
- Many Westminster classrooms have doors leading to the exterior of the building, or to the courtyard;
- Students sit at desks (rather than tables), making the distancing of students from one another an easy process;
- Westminster classes are small;
- Kindergarten and 1st-grade classrooms have their own bathrooms;
- Students eat in their classrooms, rather than going to a large cafeteria;
- Regular hand-washing and wiping down of desks is part of our normal routine (though both will be increased).
Please see the list below to learn some of the measures Westminster has taken to help keep our students and staff healthy.
- Measured all classroom spaces and determined how many desks can fit in each space with appropriate distancing. (Rooms will be emptied of unnecessary furniture to allow for spacing if needed);
- Purchased a medical-grade air purifier for every classroom, which will purify the air in a room twice every hour;
- Purchased a fan for every classroom, which will be placed in an open window to facilitate ventilation;
- Scheduled installation of newly purchased water fountains that have a water-bottle filling mechanism. (Students will be asked to bring a refillable water bottle to school and will refill it during the day rather than drinking from the fountain);
- Invested in substantial PPE supplies (masks, gloves, gowns, hand sanitizer, etc.). (Parents will still be expected to provide some for their child as well);
- Planned to turn the main office conference room into a sick area, which will have dividers to separate sick children from one another until they are picked up (which we will ask be done quickly);
- Purchased thermometers to screen the children upon entering the building and again at lunch time;
- Worked with our cleaning supply company to facilitate our cleaning and disinfecting supplies and procedures for indoor spaces and the playground;
- Worked with Fairfax Food Services to ensure that safely-prepared box lunches (as opposed to a hot buffet-style lunch) will be available for ordering when school opens.
Many other plans and new procedures are being considered and adopted, which we will share with you as they are finalized in August. We hope that this update will give you an idea of at least some of what has already happened since school ended in mid-June. Of course, this is a very fluid situation and as more information becomes available from the CDC, Fairfax County Health Department, and Virginia Council for Private Education (VCPE), we will continue to ensure that we meet or exceed the recommendations and requirements being made for independent schools.
Should another school closure be ordered, Westminster stands ready to transition back into high-quality distance learning, with improvements gleaned from our experience during the spring closure. If an individual student needs to stay at home due to a diagnosis of COVID-19 (or one in the family), classes will be recorded for viewing and arrangements made for online exchange of assignments, assessments, etc.
We believe that having students attend school for in-person learning is the optimal situation for the students and we are committed to doing all that is reasonable to see that they do so as safely as possible.
With warm regard,
The Admin Team
Dear Westminster Parents,
Since our last communique, we have been working hard to plan for the fall. This is to assure you that Westminster School will open September 1, with on-site schooling five days a week, unless mandated to close by the Governor (see below). Policies and procedures, based on recommendations from the Virginia Council for Private Education (VCPE), the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP), and other advisories, will be in place to protect the health of students and staff to the best of our ability. Details regarding these policies and requirements for a safe return to school will be sent in August.
Should another school closure be ordered, Westminster stands ready to transition back into high-quality distance learning, with improvements gleaned from our experience during the spring closure. If an individual student needs to stay at home due to a diagnosis of COVID-19 (or one in the family), classes will be recorded for viewing and arrangements made for online exchange of assignments, assessments, etc.
On another matter, some parents have delayed in completing enrollment due to financial and/or health concerns. Westminster has been very understanding and tolerant of such delays. However, given the fall plans announced by Fairfax County Public Schools, Westminster’s admissions office is currently being inundated with inquiries about fall enrollment. Please be advised that further delays in enrollment may result in the lack of a place for your child. Furthermore, as social distancing requirements have a critical effect on the number of students allowed in each classroom, Westminster may need to cap certain grades in order to accommodate space restrictions.
Of course, it is our hope that your family will be joining us for the 2020-2021 school year. If you have special circumstances that you wish to discuss prior to enrolling, please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Caltrider in the Business Office.
With warm regard,
The Admin Team
Rolling into Summer
After a year literally like no other, our staff, students and parents celebrated their perseverance, creativity, and mutual love for one another with a joyous Farewell Carpool Parade! It was so great to see all of our wonderful students and parents (from a distance) and wave goodbye, sending our students into summer with love and appreciation for their hard work all year, but especially during the last three months. While yesterday was the last day of school, we still will have more news and spotlights to share for another couple of weeks, so we hope that you will continue to enjoy the Weekly until we take a little break.
Farewell Carpool Video
Virtual Activities
During our time apart, we have been pleased to hold some fun live community events. Over the last couple of weeks, several events took place. The upper-school teachers hosted a Game Night that included charades, scattergories, and logic games, the K-5th graders played several rounds of virtual bingo, Mr. Glover shared a story time with the 3rd and 4th graders and the 6th-8th graders competed in a fun trivia game through the Kahoot! app. All of these events were well-attended and lots of fun. Thank you to everyone.
Virtual Activities Video
Return-to-School Information
Dear Westminster Families,
As the school year draws to a close, we know that you probably have many questions about the fall. Will “real” school be open? Will distance learning continue? If the students go to school, what health care measures will be in place? Etc. And you may have been wondering why you haven’t heard from Westminster sooner about the future. The answer to the last question is easy: We couldn’t share anything definite because we simply did not know if school opening would be allowed.
Now that Governor Northam has given the go-ahead for schools to open in the fall, that is cause for celebration! However, the picture of exactly what that will look like remains unclear. Based on the guidelines released by the Governor so far, Westminster School can expect to open either completely on campus or, possibly, begin with a hybrid of on-campus and distance learning, switching to on-campus at some time thereafter. Of course, plans could change later in the summer, depending on the course of the pandemic and consequent decisions made by the Governor.
In coping with the initial challenge of pivoting to distance learning and in planning for a re-opening of traditional school, Westminster School administrators have been busy for months, attending meetings with other private school administrators across the region and nation; partaking in webinars provided by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS), our accrediting body; the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), putting us in touch with school leaders across the country; the Virginia Council for Private Education (VCPE), independent-school representation in the state legislature; the Association of Independent Schools of the Greater Washington Area (AISGW); and other school-guidance organizations; as well as brainstorming in-house about how best to meet these challenges. We have monitored COVID-19 facts and recommendations issued by local and state agencies, as well as the Center for Disease Control. The provisional plans we are sharing today are based on the cumulative results of this extensive research.
We want to emphasize again that plans below are incomplete and provisional. The closer we get to September 1, the more definite we will be able to be. However, below are plans under consideration at this time on how Westminster School may carry out school in the fall.
Regarding Health Screening / Sickness:
- Parents will be required to sign a “return-to-school” agreement, including the following guarantees:
- That they are observing all recommended health practices at home, e.g., avoiding anyone diagnosed with COVID-19, avoiding large groups, frequent and thorough hand washing, use of masks in indoor (non-home) spaces, etc.
- That they will take their child’s temperature and screen for other COVID-19 symptoms and risks each day before sending their child to school. Check lists will be provided prior to school opening to guide parents in this task.
- That they will keep their child home if he/she shows symptoms of COVID-19 or has been exposed to a person with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis;
- That they will inform the school administration of any positive diagnosis of covid-19 in their family or immediate contact group. In such a case, the student will not be allowed to return to school for the next two weeks.
- That they will ensure arrangements to pick up a child within 30 minutes of a call from school indicating that the child is ill.
- That they have read and accept the policies Westminster School establishes in its effort to minimize the spread of COVID 19 and protect students and staff.
- Carpool and bus drop-off may need to be staggered.
- Should a student or staff member fall ill or show COVID-19 symptoms at school, he/she will immediately be isolated in a designated area until pick-up.
- In the event that a student or teacher is diagnosed with COVID-19, Westminster School will inform the parents of the affected class. (The school will not identify the person by name.) Those students will then have the option of returning to school or remaining at home and participating in distance learning. A diagnosed staff member will remain at home for two weeks and a substitute teacher will be brought in.
Regarding Cleanliness and Sanitation:
- Westminster School is purchasing supplies of personal protection equipment (PPE) in preparation for the school reopening.
- Students and staff will be reminded and guided to implement basic health-protection practices daily, e.g., thorough hand washing; use of tissues for coughs/sneezes; refraining from touching face, touching others, or touching another’s supplies/materials.
- Students will be required to provide their own reusable, washable face mask(s). The school will keep a supply of single-use masks on hand for back-up.
- Each student will be required to supply his/her own box / packet of tissues, replacing it as needed.
- Each student will be required to supply his/her own hand-sanitizer, replacing it has needed.
- Sanitation supplies, such as hand-sanitizers and antibacterial wipes, will be available in all classes and workspaces.
- Each classroom / workspace will be cleaned and sanitized at least daily.
- A member of the custodial crew will be on duty to sanitize spaces, equipment, etc., as needed throughout the school day.
Regarding Minimizing Interaction:
- Students will remain in a single classroom for the entire day. Teachers will travel among the classrooms. (The 7th/8th grade students may be a possible exception to this.)
- Masks will be required for children and staff needing to go into the hallway to access the bathroom or another classroom, workroom, etc.
- Bathrooms will be designated for specific grades.
- Blackbaud (the school’s new software system) will eliminate the need for attendance to be carried to the office by students.
- The new intercom system will eliminate the need for hand-carried messages and other back-and-forth travel around the building.
- Music and art classes will continue, but they will happen in the homeroom.
- PE will take place outside whenever possible. In-door P.E. activities will be designed with social distancing in mind. P.E. equipment will be designated for specific grades and sanitized after each use.
- There will be no locker room usage. Students will remain in their school uniforms for P.E. (They will change shoes. Girls will be allowed to wear shorts under their skirts, if desired).
- Students will bring lunch, drink, and a bottle of water. (We are conferring with Fairfax Food Services to see whether lunch delivery can be tailored to Westminster’s health protection policies.)
Regarding Social Distancing in Classrooms / Hallways:
- Students’ desks will be turned to face the teacher.
- Students’ desks will be spaced six feet apart.
- Repurposing of spaces will be considered (e.g., art room, music room, library).
- Smaller class groups may be assigned to smaller classrooms, regardless of location.
- Traveling through the school (e.g., upon arrival, before departure) will be carried out with social distancing.
- Students will not stand “under their numbers” when awaiting carpool. Alternative methods are under discussion.
Regarding Hybrid Learning:
- Westminster School will provide Zoom classes for students who cannot be at school due to staggered daily attendance (if necessary); to sickness in the family or themselves; and for the children of parents who are not ready to have them return.
- Such classes would comprise video communication of the class as delivered in the live classroom.
- Blackbaud will allow for “google classroom” type lessons.
Regarding Schedule Adjustments:
- The length of the school day may need to be adjusted to allow for extended drop-off and pick up times (if staggering arrival/departure is deemed necessary).
- Time may be added to allow for handwashing, sanitizing desks, etc.
Regarding Bus Service:
- Regular bus service will be provided.
- Social distancing for seating will be required, except in the case of siblings.
- Buses will be sanitized daily.
Regarding Assemblies:
- Assemblies may be planned for 50 or fewer attendees. Social distancing among audience members will be implemented.
- Grade plays will take place in the theater, but, possibly, only parents may be allowed to attend. The plays/performances may be live-streamed so that the other students could watch from their classrooms.
- Theater usage (for rehearsals or other activities) would be limited to one grade at a time for a scheduled period of time, followed by deep sanitizing.
Regarding Field Trips:
- Some live field trips may be possible, observing health policies, including maintaining social distancing and wearing masks on the bus and in indoor spaces.
- Outdoor field trips may be possible.
- Some field trips may need to be virtual.
While many procedures and additional details remain to be worked out, we hope that our sharing the plans that are under consideration will provide comfort and assurance to your family that Westminster School will continue to act in the best interests of its students, staff members, and the greater community. We also hope that you are assured that the school administration will continue to monitor and implement “best practices” as they are developed and recommended by medical and governmental authorities, and through ongoing communication with other schools and school advisory groups across the region and nation.
Our community is strong, and nobody at Westminster School is afraid of hard work or difficult challenges. We cannot let COVID-19 undermine our sacred mission to prepare the next generation for personal fulfillment, for innovative and compassionate leadership, and for joy in the possibilities of life. Stand with us as we welcome the extraordinary 2020-2021 school year!
With warm regard,
The Administrative Team
Westminster School Orchestra
In lieu of a live Westminster Orchestra performance, Ms. Crespo, the orchestra director, has created an original “children’s story” which has been “illustrated” by members of the Westminster Orchestra. This unique project gives orchestra members the chance to shine individually, in small groups, and as an ensemble. You won’t want to miss this musical fantasy, “The Baton that Chose a New Conductor!”
Westminster Orchestra
Preschool End of the Year Show
It has been ten years since The Griffin Academy opened its doors for the first time, and from that very first day, it has been a joyful, wondrous place for our littlest griffins to have their first school experience. Under Mrs. Kristine Lee’s leadership, and with the loving guidance of our excellent preschool teachers, these three and four-year-olds have been loved, nurtured, and challenged in ways that make us very proud. At the end of each year, the preschool presents a show where they sing songs, display their art work, and enjoy a celebration of the year. Mrs. Lee also provides a lovely slideshow of the year. This year is different, of course; however, the slideshow is presented for your enjoyment. Congratulations on ten wonderful years!
End of the Year Video
Story Time!
Mr. Glover recently treated the K-2nd students to a bedtime story. The children gathered on zoom in their p.j.’s along with their favorite stuffed bears and friends. Two of Mr. Glover’s favorite things are bears and books, so he chose to share a book that combines those two things. Dennis Hasseley’s A Story for Bear, is the story of a friendship between a big brown bear and a lady who loves to read. While the bear doesn’t understand the words the lady reads, he falls in love with the books nonetheless. This sweet story, accompanied by its charming illustrations by Jim LaMarche, kept the children quite mesmerized. At the end, the children had the chance to introduce their own bear friends. Thank you to Mr. Glover for bringing everyone together for such a special gathering of sweetness.
Story Time Video
Happy Birthday Shakespeare!
Westminster celebrates the bard’s birthday remotely. Not as effervescent as our traditional live celebration, but launched with love and admiration for the great poet/playwright, William Shakespeare, 456 years young today.
Shakespeare’s Birthday Video
Today marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Since the first celebration in 1970, our nation has made environmentally helpful progress on many fronts. Regulations passed by Congress have helped reduce the amount of toxic chemicals in our air, water, and soil. But the challenges are a long way from disappearing and the stakes are getting higher by the day. Aside from its own energy-saving measures, the best way for Westminster School to honor and help the Earth is to raise the awareness of its students to the environmental issues facing our world and teach them how they can help. Daily science lessons instill respect for the Earth, its interrelated systems, and the awesome web of life that depends on Earth’s health.
Today, we share a few activities undertaken by our students in honor of Earth Day. We hope your response will include greater participation in the four environmental fundamentals: Reduce – Reuse – Recycle – Restore.
Dear Parents and Students,
We hope that you have been able to enjoy a bit of a break this past week. As we look toward next week, we provide some reminders and updates.
Reminder–School uniforms will be required for all students in grades 1-8 for required zoom classes. (Kindergarten students are strongly encouraged to wear their uniforms as well.) Even though we are not in our brick and mortar school, school is IN SESSION. The school uniform puts the children in a proper state of mind, which supports learning and unifies the class. Students must wear their school uniform to all of their green block classes. Spring uniforms are in effect; therefore, Westminster polo shirts are permitted for boys in grades K-8 and boys and girls in grades 5-8.
Attendance is required for all green blocks on the schedule. If a child is unable to attend class, the parent must send an email to Ms. McGann in the main office to report the reason for the absence. We understand that internet issues and computer problems may be added to the reasons for an excused absence.
Revisions have been made to the schedules and the teachers’ Personal ID codes and passwords have been added. Please click on the button(s) below to download your updated schedule(s); previous schedules should be discarded.
Grade-level google zoom calendars are being created and will be shared separately soon. These google calendars will also include the teachers’ Personal IDs and passwords so that students or parents may copy and paste the information to join the meetings. You will no longer receive email invitations to the classes. Simply log into Zoom, click on “Join a Meeting” and copy and paste the information. Students are strongly cautioned NOT TO SHARE this information with anyone outside of their class. Doing so may result in disciplinary action.
As many books and materials needed for fourth quarter have yet to be distributed, an effort is underway to gather these needed items for parent pick-up. Please plan to swing through the carpool line on Thursday, April 9 and Friday, April 10 any time between 4:00-6:00 PM. There is at least one book or material that is needed for every student in the school, so all parents will need to complete this pick-up. Social distancing will be practiced and no one will need to enter the building.
Finally, if your 3rd-8th grade student has not yet reviewed and signed the Griffin Honor Code, please make sure that he/she does so today. Parents in all grades are requested to review the honor code with your child.
Hello everyone!
I’m sending greetings and love from my shelter in place to yours! I hope that you are finding creative ways to spend your time and strengthen your bond with loved ones. I know it can be challenging, but this too shall pass. Just imagine what a joyous reunion we’ll have when we can return to school! The last person I quoted in this regard was Joni Mitchell: You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone, they paved paradise and put up a parking lot! This time I quote the legendary actress, Bette Davis: While it’s true that we don’t know what we’ve got until it’s gone, it’s also true that we don’t know what we’ve been missing until it arrives. So, perhaps our solitude may result in a discovery that could, in some small or large way, change our lives. I hope so.
Meanwhile, we send to you what I hope will be a pleasant diversion. Seven members of our staff videoed a special talent that they would like to share with you. While there are not as many performances as we usually have for a talent show, I think you’ll find that this is made up for by the variety. Enjoy, and we will be communicating with you very soon.
STAFF TALENT SHOW
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