Breadcrumbs

Dear Parents,

As I promised, I write to provide an update to Penn Charter’s plans regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. While it was our plan to remain open until spring break’s official start next week, out of an abundance of caution and care for our community, we have had to adjust our plans.

Given the recent updates about mitigation and social distancing from the CDC and public health officials with whom we have been in regular contact, we will begin spring break earlier than scheduled. Please note the following about our educational programs and plans for remote learning, and please be alert to further communications from other administrators.

Our Schedule

Friday, March 13

  • No classes pre-K to 12. Penn Charter is not in session for students while our faculty take part in professional development to complete the PC Distance Learning Plan. 
  • The free child care we offered Lower School and Middle School families is organized and staffed for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for those who registered; students should report to the division.
  • No sports practices, games or team gatherings.

Saturday, March 14

  • PSATs are canceled.


Monday, March 16

  • School will not be in session starting on this day. 
  • At 10-10:30 a.m., Middle and Upper School advisors will test-run PC Distance Learning in advisor groups. Advisors will send advisees a link in advance for the 10 a.m. test of our technology systems.
  • Lower School homeroom teachers will check in with families on Monday by email.
  • Spring break begins when these online sessions conclude. While it was our hope to maintain our schedule through Thursday, March 19, this is no longer possible. All events scheduled between March 16 and March 30 are canceled (including Lower School parent-teacher conferences, student-led conferences in Middle School and the Cum Laude ceremony). We will reschedule these opportunities to recognize student work and celebrate student achievement.  

Athletics and Extracurricular Activities

  • As mentioned above, PC athletics, competitions and other activities are suspended beginning Friday, March 13.  This means there should be no official or unofficial practices or team gatherings on this day or through March 29.
  • It is our hope that practices will resume on Monday, March 30, prior to our scheduled resumption of school on Tuesday, March 31. However, this decision will need to be made closer to the date and based on COVID-19 status.

Resumption of School and Possibility of PC Distance Learning

It is our plan that school will resume on campus as scheduled on Tuesday, March 31.  Of course, this depends on an assessment of COVID-19 risk. If we are not able to be physically present on campus at spring break’s end, we will implement our plan for PC Distance Learning.  

Distance learning will employ alternate methods for teaching and student learning. Our plan isn’t designed to replicate the on-campus experience exactly, but we will maintain our commitment to support and challenge our students.

If your student does not have dependable Internet access at home, please let us know by contacting Director of Educational Technology Michael Moulton. Also, are there other impediments to your child being able to participate in classes from home? If so, please contact your child's division director.

We have set the following pre-K to 12 goals for the Penn Charter Distance Learning Plan:

  • academic progress
  • meaningful engagement
  • maintaining relationships and connection

Middle and Upper School

At 10:00 a.m. on Monday, March 16, we will engage Middle and Upper School advisors and students in a tech test of the virtual meeting platform we have selected: Google Meet. Students from grades 6 to 12 should attend a virtual meeting via Google Meet with their respective advisory groups. Advisors will send out an invite in advance. The purpose of this first virtual meeting is to ensure that all students understand how to use Google Meet since this would be the primary platform for class gatherings. During this live group session by advisory, students will learn about our distance learning plan, including schedules, guidelines and other expectations should we move to this model of instruction after spring break. More details regarding the specifics of our distance learning plan would become available at that time.

Lower School

Lower School teachers have been working to help students maintain a sense of calm, while also gently preparing for a closing of school. Students in all grades were encouraged to take out books from the library, and those in third through fifth grade will be bringing Chromebooks home for spring break and, if necessary, longer.

Distance learning for Lower School students will focus on these two objectives: providing opportunities for maintaining skills in reading, writing and math; and maintaining students’ sense of community and connectedness. In the coming days, we will be sharing a set of resources and guidelines to support Lower School families should there be an extended break from school.    

Family Travel

As you know from recent school emails, we already canceled all school trips. Our policy on family travel has changed because of new government restrictions: All non-essential travel abroad is now a U.S. Department of State Level 3 Global Health Advisory. If you travel abroad, you must self-isolate for 14 days upon your arrival back in this area -- and you must contact Coordinator of Health Services Debra Foley by email about your itinerary. 

Positive Results

If you or your child tests positive for COVID-19, you must contact Coordinator of Health Services Debra Foley by email. If you feel ill and suspect the symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, dry cough, shortness of breath), please contact your health care provider by phone for recommendations. It is important that you do not present at a health care office, urgent care or emergency room without prior notification.

Sharing Information with Students

We have not announced the calendar changes to students, but this afternoon both Director of Upper School Erin Hughes and Middle School advisors asked students to take home at the end of the day today all educational materials, athletic equipment, musical instruments and other belongings. If your student forgot to bring something important home today, they may collect it tomorrow, March 13. 

We have been listening to student concerns and answering their questions. While some Upper School students seemed to make light of the potential for distance learning and “not having to come to school,” many also expressed concern about the virus (particularly for grandparents), disappointment about not being able to see friends and partake in athletic events and prom, and even grief about potentially ending the school year removed from their school community. 

I hope you will talk with your children about their concerns and listen to their disappointment. These are trying times, even for the youngest in our community. This is not the school year we envisioned for our children, and no plan for the next few weeks or months that we devise now can be perfect. If we can show sympathy for those who are ill or caring for sick family members, empathy for each other, and patience during an extraordinary time, we will end up stronger.

Sincerely,

Darryl J. Ford
Head of School