School News

Due to a change in schedule for the preschool and considerations related to COVID-19, the playground will be closed to use after school until further notice.

We know this year will bring changes, but once we are back in the building together, we trust our students and staff will quickly adjust to new routines. If you were at our open house, you might have noticed a number of signs posted in hallways, on doors, and in classrooms.

We hope these reminders will help everyone adjust to the COVID guidelines and will serve as a reminder that we are united in our efforts to keep our community healthy!

Orders placed through the online store by the August 11 deadline have arrived. If you did not pick up your family’s order at the open house, please stop by the school during office hours.

The store has re-opened for those who still need PE shirts or other Trinitas spirit wear, but please note that orders will not be available by the first day of school. Orders are due by September 11.

N.B. All orders will be delivered to school. When asked to enter your address when placing an order, you may enter yours or the school’s (1934 52nd St SE, Grand Rapids, 49508).

Our remaining lost and found items will be donated to a mission thrift store on September 4.  If you recognize something in the photos below, contact the office to claim what belongs to you.

Please start the school year by labeling your child’s jacket, fleece, cold weather accessories, and other belongings, so they don’t become long-term residents of our lost and found.

Among other questions about COVID preparations, we are often asked, “What if…?” What if someone in our family has COVID-19 symptoms? What if someone tests positive? The answers are not simple, and they have changed more than once, but it is worth giving everyone some idea of what different scenarios could look like. We are not medical experts, nor do we have access to the latest data about what is going on in the broader community around us. That’s why we are working with Kent County Health Department. Here are some of those “What ifs” with this week’s simplified answers:

1. What if a student or teacher tests positive? The student or teacher AND all his/her household members may not be in school until certain conditions are met, usually a minimum of 10 days for the positive case. Household members, classmates, and teachers of that person have to remain out of school for 14 days after their last date of close contact.

2. What if a student or teacher is symptomatic and has a pending lab result? That person has to remain out of school until results are received and communicated to the school. (Even if results are negative, that person could still have to quarantine for 14 days under certain conditions.) That person’s household, classmates, and teacher may continue to attend school as long as they are free of symptoms.

3. What if a student or teacher is a close contact to a confirmed COVID-19 case? That person must quarantine for 14 days since the last date of close contact. Household members, classmates, and teachers of the quarantined student/teacher may continue to attend school and should monitor for symptoms.

4. What if someone in the student’s or teacher’s household has COVID-19? A student or teacher that lives in the same house as someone who tests positive for COVID-19 must remain out of school the entire time the family member is in isolation (typically 10 days) plus 14 additional days of quarantine. The total time out of school could be at least 24 days.

5. What if someone in the household is symptomatic, has pending results, and has had close contact with a known case? Others who live in the same household are to remain out of school until test results are in.

6. What if a household member has had close contact to a known case of COVID-19? The student or teacher can remain in school but should be monitored.

While the above “What ifs” are not as whimsical as those usually posed by little children, I hope they shed some light on what the teachers are preparing for and why it is so important for us all to follow best practices, including those in last week’s newsletter on illness and screening.

As daunting as all this is, know that we are planning for ways that we can support those who are required to be home in any of the above scenarios, and that support will include lesson plans AND 1:1 or small groups check-ins from the classroom teacher(s).

Again, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me or to a dean of students. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Regards,

Peter Marth

Trinitas is eager to begin the year with in-person instruction. A hallmark of classical education is direct and personal interaction between teacher and student, while our community life develops through intentional relationship-building. We intend to do all we can to stay open. We need your help to do this! Each family’s commitment to self-screening, practicing good hygiene, and adhering to the guidelines set forth in our COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan will make a difference.

Remote Instruction
In the event that we move to full remote instruction, we will try to maintain our on-campus weekly rhythms as closely as possible with a few anticipated changes.

1. Students in grades K-4 will have required live instruction time with their teachers primarily via Zoom or Teams in core subjects in the mornings. There will be some flexibility with afternoon subjects (e.g., students may be asked to choose two or more non-core subjects to participate in).
2. Students in grades 5-8 will largely follow the same schedule for live and/or recorded instruction time, but there will be more time for independent work within this schedule so that they are not on screens for the entire school day. By using a block schedule, we will reduce the number of Teams and assignments per day during remote instruction.
3. Given the differences between in-person and remote instruction, we are likely to compress the schedules so that teacher-whole class instruction ends earlier in the day. This will allow for teacher-small group or teacher-individual instruction time at the end of the school day.
4. We believe that a synchronous schedule is our best option for remote instruction and moving between on-campus and remote, but we also recognize that this may present a challenge for some families (e.g., device shortages, time for parental support). We are planning to communicate with each family in order to address challenges.

On Campus Instruction with Required Absences
Required absences are any necessitated by the COVID plan or by other normal reasons (e.g., injury, emergency, other sickness, etc.).
We hope to maintain our in-person schedule while also supporting students who are required to be absent. Those students will receive teacher-supplied assignments and materials as well as remote meetings as needed. However, if the number of required absences grows significantly, we may need to move to full remote instruction for the cohort or possibly move to an earlier dismissal time for the entire school (e.g., 2:00 with after care available) to allow the school to remain open while also enabling teachers to support absent students with more remote meetings.

Optional Remote Instruction
After thoroughly examining the possibility, we have concluded that we cannot provide a fully remote option for families who would choose it over in-person instruction. We have decided that it is in the best interest of our students, teachers, and families to concentrate on fully supporting students who are on-campus as well as those students who are required to be absent but intend to return to campus when they are able.

We remain grateful for your prayers as we plan for various scenarios, and we appreciate your patience as we make adjustments along the way.

We hope to see you next Tuesday at our open house and picnic. Classrooms will be open from 6:00-6:45 p.m. They will close at 6:45 so that teachers can join families outside for a time of fellowship. Masks are required for everyone in hallways and all indoor common areas. Masks are not required for K-6 once inside the classroom. In order to reduce traffic inside the building, teachers will be inviting only one student and parent from their class at a time. Parents and students should wait outside the building on the lawn for teachers to greet them at the door. Once inside, students can find their lockers and desks and put away any school supplies they bring that evening.

Those who would like to picnic or simply chat with other families may gather on the lawn after the classroom visit. For those who plan to arrive late, please note the school building will not be accessible after 8:00 p.m.

Rented blazers and ties should be returned at the open house. Families who can’t attend that evening may drop off the items during office hours.

Please be mindful to maintaining social distancing so that we improve our chances of starting the year in-person!

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.

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