Dear Upper School Students and Families, We hope this message finds you doing well and beginning to get ready for the opening of school. While this has been a different summer for all of us, we are working hard to get the PC campus ready for students' arrival the week of Aug. 31 for orientation. We are writing to share information with you that we hope you will find helpful as you begin to think about our return to PC. Know, too, that we continue to work through many details around the opening of school and will be sharing more with you in the days and weeks ahead. The safe return to campus for students and teachers continues to be our highest priority. We are hopeful that the positivity rates in Philadelphia and neighboring counties will make it possible to return in person. Clearly, what we do now will impact the safe return to campus, so we ask that you continue to be mindful about wearing masks and maintaining social distancing, not attending large group gatherings, and not traveling out of state in the next two weeks. Changes in behaviors now could help to make in-person schooling more successful in September. Here is other information that we would like to share with you regarding opening plans as they currently exist. We recognize, too, that any or all of this might change as health indicators or other factors change at PC or within the city or state. Health & Safety - We will be asking all members of the PC community (Upper School students, parent or guardian, faculty) to sign a Covid-19 Community Compact to demonstrate individual and family commitment to both personal and community health and safety. This compact will be shared along with other divisional registration materials.
- We will be using an email notification system called Safety iPass linked to the school's emergency communication system for families to do daily health screenings at home before coming to school. Students' screening will be verified upon arrival by the scanning of a unique QR code or student ID barcode. The home screening requires a daily temperature and symptom check. Please purchase a home thermometer, if you do not already have one, for the morning temperature check.
- The wearing of masks is essential for community safety and required for students, faculty and staff on campus. Families will need to provide masks for their children to wear to school. Masks need to be solid colors or small patterns; PC logos are permitted, but no camouflage, and no commercial or political slogans, symbols or lettering. Students need to wear masks when on campus and in buildings, and are required to bring an extra mask to school each day.
- We know that we have had and will continue to have Covid-19 positive cases within the PC community. While details will be provided in the school's forthcoming Health & Safety Plan, we know positive cases of Covid-19 will be reported to the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH), and PC will work with the PDPH, families and the larger community regarding contact tracing and communication of information. At this time, we are waiting to hear from the PDPH regarding specific protocols for schools.
Orientation - Student orientation will take place the week of Aug. 31 to Sept. 4, 2020. In advisory groups, students will learn about new health and safety protocols and the daily schedule, do a building walk-through, have pictures taken for ID cards, and complete other grade-specific business. Students will be on campus from approximately 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the following days:
♦ Monday, Aug. 31 - 12th grade ♦ Tuesday, Sept. 1 - 9th grade ♦ Wednesday, Sept. 2 - 10th grade ♦ Thursday, Sept. 3 - 11th grade We are staggering arrival and departure times by advisories between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. for screening purposes and will share more details the week of Aug. 24.
- Students should bring masks, their laptop, a writing utensil, a reusable water bottle, and a lunch or snacks, along with their bookbag – as well as patience and flexibility – as we go through so much that is new for the first time. As time allows, students may gather under our tents for lunch.
- Students and parents/guardians should plan for a virtual grade meeting the night before your assigned orientation day, during which we will share more detailed information about orientation and the opening of school as well as answer questions.
♦ Sunday, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. - 12th ♦ Monday, Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. - 9th ♦ Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. - 10th ♦ Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. - 11th
- Starting now through orientation week, students should email Sandy Portnoy (sportnoy@penncharter.com) and Rachel Dyer (rdyer@penncharter.com) with any scheduling questions. For technology/laptop issues, please contact techsupport@penncharter.com. We encourage students to set up virtual conversations to address concerns.
When School Opens, Daily Schedule - Classes for all students begin on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020.
- The school day times for Upper School have changed slightly: School will begin at 8:45 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. We are asking that students arrive on campus no earlier than 8:15 a.m. and leave no later than 3:30 p.m. unless they are participating in an after-school activity.
- While we are finalizing details of the schedule, here is what we can share now about the hybrid model we will follow for Upper School:
♦ Only half of the Upper School will be on campus each week. We will use the blue team and yellow team groupings that are familiar to returning families: Blue team students will be on campus during blue week, and yellow team students will be on campus during yellow week. There is simply not enough space in the main building, the Kurtz Center and the six tents we are using for Upper School to accommodate more than 500 Upper School students and faculty moving safely on campus.
♦ The Upper School schedule is a hybrid schedule. When students are on campus, they will attend in-person classes with teachers. If students are off campus, they will participate in class synchronously through classroom technology systems.
- Because we are not using book or gym lockers, the dress code is relaxed to allow students to wear appropriate clothing for physical education, athletic training and movement throughout the day. The only addition to this year's dress code for Upper School students is the wearing of masks.
- CulinArt dining services will be available on a limited basis. Families can choose to bring lunch or to pre-order lunch through CulinArt's NutriSlice app, and these box lunches will be delivered to students. Students will need to bring snacks for breakfast and other times during the day.
- Regarding fall sports, the Inter-Academic League is suspending fall sports between Aug. 22 and Sept. 14. If plans move forward for a fall season, practices would begin Sept. 14. Please see the Return to School webpage for full details.
In closing, we recognize again that any and all of this could change in the coming weeks. Penn Charter's Upper School is a microcosm for the country as we live with great uncertainty given the pandemic, the school culture issues of race and gender, and Upper School leadership. While we are committed to doing better for all in our community and seek to resolve the leadership challenges as soon as possible, know that the Upper School leadership team is working tirelessly to plan for the safe reopening of the Upper School. If you have specific questions related to the opening of school that are not answered here or on the Return to School webpage, please reach out to your child's advisor, grade dean Sharon Ahram for 11/12, grade dean Marianne Master for 9/10, Lee Payton or Beth Glascott. Take care, 3000 West School House Lane Philadelphia, PA 19144 215.844.3460 unsubscribe |