Update from the Head: 2021-22 School Year

Dear Friends,

If we have learned anything from the last fourteen months of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is that plans, protocols and policies will change on a regular and frequent basis.  With this reality as context, I want to give you a sense of what the start of the 2021 - 2022 academic year will “look like” - as of June 25, 2021. The following points are based on the most recent guidelines for schools as articulated by the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and the Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). Other items below, obviously, reflect Villa Academy’s decisions as to health & safety protocols on campus.

In many ways, the beginning of the 21-22 academic year will likely proceed similarly as to how we finished the 20-21 school year, i.e.:

• All students, school personnel, volunteers and visitors must wear cloth face coverings or an acceptable alternative (e.g., surgical mask) at school when indoors, as well as when outdoors where a minimum of six feet distance cannot be maintained. (ref.: May 13, 2021 - DOH 820-105). 
  • Regarding the above, in accordance with DOH directives, even fully vaccinated students and school personnel must continue to wear face coverings when in the school buildings, when children are present, as well as when outdoors, when children are present, where a minimum of six feet distance cannot be maintained. The recent DOH guidelines related to face coverings for vaccinated individuals does not apply to school settings given that, currently, children under 12 are not yet eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.
    
    
• As good ventilation and indoor air quality are important in reducing airborne exposure to respiratory pathogens, chemicals, and odors, Villa will continue to offer more outside time for students and keep windows open as much as possible; this will allow the maximum amount of outside air to enter the instructional space and increase air filtration. (ref.: May 13, 2021 - DOH 820-105)

• Villa Academy will continue to employ current cleaning & disinfecting plans, focusing particularly on high-touch surfaces like doorknobs, faucet handles, counters and restrooms. Disinfecting wipes will be available in each classroom to allow regular cleaning of desktops, keyboards and electronics. Drinking fountains will remain disabled (though, bottle fillers will remain operational) and buttons/levers on the drinking fountains/bottle fillers will be cleaned and disinfected regularly. 

• Villa Academy will continue to follow current hand-washing practices; students will be regularly reminded to wash - and provided with opportunities to wash - their hands throughout the school day.

• Consistent with DOH guidelines, Villa Academy will continue to plan for 3 feet of physical distancing in classrooms and 6 feet elsewhere to the greatest extent possible.

Changes for the 21-22 school year:

• All faculty and staff will be required to be fully (COVID-19) vaccinated prior to the beginning of classes; similarly, substitute instructors and adult volunteers at Villa will be required to be fully vaccinated before assisting with school activities. I understand that there may be a variety of reasons why some will seek an exception to this requirement; such requests for an exception should be directed, in writing, to the Head of School. 
  • Related to the above, no student - including those who are currently eligible - will be required to have had a COVID-19 vaccination at the start of the school year. Only the Washington State Board of Health (RCW 28A.210.140) has the authority to set immunization requirements for students; a change related to COVID-19 has not yet been considered for children in a school setting.
    
    
• Villa Academy will no longer expect each faculty or staff member, student or parent volunteer entering campus, to complete the Daily Health Screening Form as we did this past school year (although external signs for this form - with QR code - will remain for visitors, substitutes, contractors, etc. who enter and remain in a building on campus for more than 15 minutes).  Instead, a signed one-time Student Health Attestation Agreement - requesting that all families acknowledge their duty in our collective goal to maintain the health & safety of all members of the Villa community - will be required from each family prior to August 23, 2021. The Student Health Attestation Agreement will be forwarded to each family later this summer along with other pertinent “start of school” information.

• A remote/on-line learning option will not be available for students who miss school for common illnesses, appointments, vacations, travel or similar absences, during regularly scheduled instructional times/days. Exceptions to this policy (e.g., extended COVID-19 illness, COVID-19 medical quarantine or related event) may be granted at the discretion of the Head of School or his designate.

• Beginning this fall, our intent is to offer our full Extended Day/Enrichment Program (EDP) through the 21 - 22 academic year.  Of course, we don't know if there will be additional directives/guidelines, etc. from the Governor's Office or the Dept. of Health, et al., but we're planning to resume the program, fully, as we did prior to the pandemic.  Registration for the fall EDP will begin in late August.

• Villa Academy will resume the hot-lunch program for the 21-22 school year in September. However, instead of having students congregate in the servery and lunch room for meals, a delivery system is being developed that will bring lunches to your child’s classroom. Necessarily, the program will be modified a bit from past practice, but nonetheless, I think that the program will be enthusiastically welcomed back at the resumption of school in the fall.  Details regarding the lunch program for the 21-22 school year will be communicated later this summer.

As noted earlier - certainly things may change between now and September 1st; any changes will, of course, be communicated to the community as quickly and clearly as possible.

I hope that you’re all enjoying the slower (maybe?) pace of summer. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me at your convenience.