Our first day of school traditionally includes initial introduction to the classroom in the morning followed by all-school activities and games in the afternoon. Our plans for this year are still being finalized and will be sent in the August 28 newsletter. Though the first day falls on a Tuesday, kindergarteners will attend that entire day.
Please also watch for details about the parent orientation on September 9.
You are perhaps tired of hearing it and thinking about it, but we head into a school year like no other. At such a time, we are more aware than ever of our need for the instruction, wisdom, and encouragement found in Scripture and in praying together and for one another. As we plan, our staff is in prayer for all of you and for the best ways to teach the precious children you entrust us with. We would also like to extend an invitation to parents and staff to join our prayer team.
A group was formed in the early days of the pandemic to uphold our community in prayer as we moved to remote instruction. We would like to continue in prayer during the 2020-21 school year. For the time being, the team will be connected via email updates with concerns and joys to bring to our Lord. Please contact Mrs. Poortenga if you would like to be added to the prayer team. Prayer concerns may also be emailed to Mrs. Poortenga, and she will share them with the team.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6)
While we are planning to open for in-person instruction, we are also preparing to offer remote instruction for students that may require extended absences. Along with this, we are exploring the possibility of offering a fully remote option for families as an alternative to on-campus instruction. In all of our planning, we are seeking ways to provide the best of a Trinitas education for students, teachers, and families in the midst of an ever-changing environment.
Our COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan for the coming year has been submitted to the state. As mentioned in earlier communications, this plan is based on guidance available from federal, state, and local agencies at the time of the filing. As guidance changes and best practices emerge, we will update our plan and keep you informed.
In the last communication, I addressed the use of face masks, the PE change, outdoor lunch, and the absence of microwaves. This week, I want to clarify a point and call attention to our more enhanced illness policy and how we will handle screening for students and staff.
Families may see the classrooms and drop off school supplies before gathering near the playground for food and fellowship. Pack a picnic dinner or stop by a drive-thru on the way to school. We hope to see you there!
We may need to adjust plans based on current guidelines for gatherings. Please watch for details as the date approaches.
Mrs. Bodine recently held a four-day summer day camp teaching IEW writing skills to a small group of 3rd-6th grade students. The camp included swimming, nature hikes, grammar games, and lots of writing. The event will likely be held again next summer since it was such a success. One parent commented, “It was a highlight of the summer. [My child] had so much fun!”
Rented blazers and ties should be returned to the open house on August 25. Those who don’t attend that evening may bring the items back to the office during the first week of school.
Decisions are still being made about blazer and tie usage and rentals for the fall. We do not envision holding fittings at the beginning of the year as items rented last year will need to be cleaned first.
Congratulations to the 8th grade graduates who received special awards at our graduation ceremony on August 3.
Math and Science Award: Frankie V.
Language Award: Gabriel B.
Athletic Award: Natalie P.
Fine Arts Award: Natalie P.
Most Improved Student Award: Maraika B.
Character Award: Robyn T.
Perfect Attendance: James G.
For returning students, honors that would have been awarded at the end of the school year will be presented during a special event this fall. More details will be coming.
Trinitas’s COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan for the coming year is now in its final stages of review. We have based our plan on Michigan’s “Return to School Roadmap” (elements of which are binding on non-public schools) and guidance from the CDC, Kent ISD, and Kent County Health Department. The official plan has been reviewed by faculty and will soon be reviewed by the board; you will receive a copy on or before August 17.
Please keep in mind that there will be changes to the plan throughout the year as guidance evolves at federal, state, and local levels and as we determine what best serves our students and staff. We will communicate those changes in our newsletters and in a dedicated place on our website. One thing that will not change is our commitment to a safe and healthy, rigorous and joyful learning environment.
For now, I want to address a few elements of the plan:
Phases and Face Masks
1. If our region is in Phases 1 through 3 of the MI Safe Start Plan, we are required to teach only online.
2. If we are on campus in Phase 4, students in kindergarten through 6th grade will generally not be required to wear face masks in their classrooms. One exception might be when they are working in close proximity to one another. Guidance on exceptions is still changing. 7th and 8th graders and all adults will be required to wear face masks.
3. If we are in Phase 5, masks for 7th and 8th graders and adults will be encouraged but not required.
Masks, which families will need to provide, may be cloth or disposable. Now is the time to find the most comfortable mask for your child and to get them accustomed to wearing it.
PE Uniform Reminder
You have read by now that students will not change uniforms at school this year. When they have PE, they will wear that uniform all day in order to eliminate the close contact that would occur with a uniform change. The expectation, then, is that PE uniforms fit well and are in very good condition.
Beach Towels
You will also have noticed the addition of beach towels to the school supply list. Students will use their towels as often as we can have lunch outside in the fresh, open air.
No Microwaves or Shared Utensils
As you plan for this school year, please note that we are removing shared, high-touch items such as microwaves. There will be no way to warm food at school, so you might need to add an insulated food container to your back-to-school list.
If our school community even remotely reflects the broader culture, families will likely be unhappy with various elements of the plan. Some may find them too loose; some may find them too strict. That is understandable. It will be important for students, however, that we do not vent our frustrations in front of them. Please, if you have a complaint or concern, bring it to the attention of someone on staff who can do something about it. If it has to do with the classroom, talk through it with your child’s teacher. If it has to do with the school, talk through it with me or a dean of students.
I do expect that we will encounter obstacles periodically. One of the many benefits of being a smaller community is our ability to adjust quickly. This was evident when our teachers were able to convert their classes to online delivery over a three-day weekend last year. I have every reason to believe that we will be just as flexible and agile as together we perceive and respond to new challenges and opportunities as they arise. I look forward to seeing you all again soon and to working with an exceptional team of teachers and staff to serve your family!
Regards,
Peter Marth
With other nonpublic schools, we have received confirmation that we will have to adhere to the “required” elements of the Roadmap released by the governor’s office on June 30. When our region is in Phases 1-3, we will be limited to remote instruction. When we are in Phases 5-6, we have a great deal of latitude to pursue best practices that fit our circumstances.
Phase 4 requirements for in-person instruction present greater challenges when it comes to keeping the learning environment as “normal” as possible. We are still working out the details, but we expect that grades 5-8 will have to wear masks during Phase 4 in-person instruction. We are almost certain that masks will remain optional for grades K-4 students in the configuration we will propose. Many more details are sure to follow.
We are pleased to announce that our kindergarten and 8th grade graduation will be held on Monday, August 3, at 6:30 p.m. To stay within the current limit of 100 people for outdoor group gatherings, we are only extending the invitation to our graduate families at this time. Parents of graduates should submit their RSVP form to indicate if they are able to attend and how many “tickets” are needed for their family. We are able to invite parents, siblings of all ages, and two guests (e.g., grandparents) from each graduate’s family. If space allows, we will make any extra tickets available to other school families on a first come, first served basis.
We thank you again for your patience as we have waited to host this special occasion. We are also making plans to hold the “awards” part of our Awards and Graduation program. Students will be honored for their accomplishments at the beginning of the school year.
