Dear Mark Day School families, We have made the decision to close the Mark Day campus and transition to distance learning beginning tomorrow, Friday, March 13. While we have been closely monitoring updates and recommendations from local and national health officials, we have made the decision to close tomorrow in response to new information we received from Mark Day families today. Though no one in our Mark Day community has tested positive for COVID-19, a family reported today that a Mark Day student has had contact with a person suspected by a physician of having COVID-19. We are awaiting more information. This individual has not recently traveled to areas where there has been an outbreak, and has had no known contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19. In addition to that information, today two other Mark Day families reported parent contact with potentially exposed individuals through their work relationships. Even though recommendations from the Marin County Health Officer have not changed to date, with an identified risk we feel it is safer to close so that we may receive the results of testing, evaluate the ongoing landscape and recommendations from health officials, and provide a deep cleaning for the entire campus. We will be closed from tomorrow through at least Friday, March 20, and will be in communication next week regarding plans beyond then. For the coming week, all field trips, school events, and all other activities held on campus are canceled. The situation is changing quickly enough that projecting beyond that period does not feel prudent at this time. Adding to our desire to take a conservative approach, you may have heard today that California state public health experts announced that non-essential gatherings with 250 or more people should be rescheduled or canceled statewide and that San Francisco public schools will close campuses for the next three weeks, including their spring break, to try to curb the spread of COVID-19. The faculty and administration have developed a detailed plan for learning continuity during prolonged closure. Distance learning will proceed in several main phases: - From Friday, March 13, through Tuesday, March 17, teachers and administrators will finish preparations for moving to an online learning model.
- Beginning Wednesday, March 18, teachers and students will begin learning and practicing together the new routines and skills involved in learning online. Instructions will precede this phase, and we will begin taking student attendance on Wednesday the 18th.
- If the campus remains closed, beginning Monday, March 23, a new, modified, weekly schedule will be adopted. Students will continue their learning of math, English, science, history, world language and the arts while adjusting to the new modes and routines that come with online learning.
There are a few additional details to share at this time, with the expectation that we will be in communication regularly in the days ahead. - While we will be communicating frequently as a school, direct teacher-family communication will be put on pause beginning this evening, to resume on Wednesday, March 18 to enable teachers to finish preparations to transition to distance learning. Please be in touch with the appropriate division head, other administrator, or school counselor if there is urgent information to share or urgent questions to be addressed during these next few days.
- For Kindergarteners through Second Graders, synchronous communication (for example, a morning meeting) and recorded materials from teachers will require a parent or guardian's digital device with internet access (such as a smartphone, tablet, or computer). Please let us know if you do not have access to a device in one of those categories. Teachers for K-2nd may create additional materials to supplement distance learning, and we will be in touch about distribution.
- For Third and Fourth Graders, we will be in contact with families to distribute the class sets of iPads to facilitate daily synchronous learning, asynchronous interaction, and some online work via specific apps installed on the machines (for example, reflex math).Teachers for 3rd-4th may create additional materials to supplement distance learning, and we will be in touch about distribution.
- For Fifth Graders, we will be in contact with families to distribute the class sets of laptops to facilitate daily synchronous learning, asynchronous interaction, and some online work via specific software installed on the machines.
- Sixth through Eighth Graders will have the use of their one-to-one laptops to access the digital tools they routinely use in addition to daily synchronous learning sessions and more.
- Please note that we will reach out explicitly to seek feedback on how our distance learning is working once we are up and running. As part of our commitment to being a diverse, equitable, and inclusive school community, we recognize that closing the campus may have widely varying impacts on each of our families, and we will continue to strive to serve each of our students and each of our families to the best of our ability.
Looking further ahead, we wanted to provide an update regarding several whole-school events: - The Spring Musical, Seussical, Jr.: The Marin Center announced that all events through April 5 have been canceled. We want to honor the hard work our 4th through 8th grade students have done to produce Seussical, Jr. and are working on a conceptual plan to offer several showings outdoors here on campus. Planning is in the early stages, and we are proceeding highly aware of the public health landscape that may restrict gathering crowds. If you already purchased tickets, you will be refunded through Marin Center, per their recent email.
- Full of Heart Community Benefit: As you know, the Parents Association's Full of Heart March 14 community benefit and the online auction have been postponed, and we will share more information about when they will be rescheduled when we have it.
- Updates about other upcoming events will be posted on our dedicated webpage here.
During this period of temporary closure, there will be a thorough cleaning of our campus. Also, please continue to take the following steps to keep from catching an infection, including COVID-19: - Wash your hands frequently and for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth, and face.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with the crook of your elbow.
We recognize and apologize for the inconvenience school closure may pose to parents and guardians. We did not arrive at this decision lightly, and we do so out of care for all members of our community, especially those who are at greater risk. Please care for yourselves and one another, and I look forward to seeing you in the Breezeway soon. Sincerely, Joe Harvey Head of School |