Dear Parents,

Welcome to the 2020-21 School Year! The first thought that most of us here at school wish to address is just how different and strange this opening is, and....it is. I have been around Waldorf circles long enough to have been through other openings that were not ideal, yet perhaps these are more opportunities for the gaining of grit and resiliency. For the past week and one half, we have observed the Kinderhaus students, along with the 1st and 2nd graders arriving at school with smiles on their faces and engaging with their teachers and peers. Many dash from their car to their outdoor space ready to begin the exploration of the day.

Perhaps you have read as a child or with your child, Thimble Summer, winner of the 1939 Newberry Award for the best in young adult literature. The story features Garnet and her love for life growing up in rural Wisconsin, along with the trials and tribulations she faces. The author of the book, Elizabeth Enright, provided these thoughts in her award speech. They are respondent of the time and what the world was going through at that moment.

“Of course, in every childhood there is sorrow, too. Sometimes a lot of it. And it seems more than unjust and undeserved that it ever will again. Sorrow in childhood is a monstrous, alien thing, and one has not yet learned the philosophy that can dull the corners of it. Fortunately, though, for the normal child who is brought up in safety, the grief lasts a far shorter time than the happiness. Their grief is hot, and violent, and soon over, like a firecracker, but the unconscious joy and interest in living are steady, and taken for granted, as daylight is. Always, there is the large, uncomplicated fact that they are loved, and protected, fed, disciplined, and dealt with justly by family. The world for the child, is a secure, eternal place. Let us hope, even in such sick and troubled times as these, that someday it will be the privilege of every child to feel like this.”

Every era and historical period is filled with trials. Each generation has their own challenges that must be met. We have ours at the moment, and while a return to normalcy is wished for, some will say the new normalcy that we are growing into has its own beauty and opportunity for transformation. As we return to in class schooling, we have the opportunity to deepen our community roots. The various health guidelines that we have, can now be the center of how do we look out for each other. Can we accept the mantle of wearing a mask, washing our hands frequently, staying home when just a little sick and giving grace to each other to understand that what is good for all? The tangible deeds of this are one point of the equation, and yet the intangible deeds of giving grace, thinking of the other and standing in their shoes for a moment, may even be the harder task.

The teachers are well prepared to bring education to the students and this week is a celebration of re-joining each other in learning with only six feet between us, versus through the distance of cables. We are excited to begin anew again and hoping that as Ms. Enright says, “That the world for the child, is a secure, eternal place."

We look forward to this new beginning and wishing us all good fortune in maintaining health and happiness.

Tim Connolly – Faculty Administrator

Larry Smith – Business Administrator

Anne White – Community Development Administrator

Changes for the 2020-21 School Year

Some Details for First and Second Days, Cohorts, and Recess

12:30 Dismissal on Tuesday, August 25th. Please keep in mind that with Tuesday, August 25th, being the first day back on campus for the 3rd – 8th grade that all of the students from Kinderhaus through 8th grade will be dismissed at 12:30. With the buses up and running on this first day, it would otherwise be a difficult transportation day. There is no rest time or afternoon care for the Kinderhaus students.

The second day back is our traditional early release Wednesday at 2:15 due to Faculty meetings. There is after care for the Kinderhaus students as per usual.

Cohort Groupings: As noted in our re-opening documents, the grades classes are working in what the State of Colorado Education Department calls “cohort groupings”. According to the CDE, each class of students is considered a cohort. Students would remain in their cohorts all day using staggered recess, lunch and bathroom breaks to avoid contact as best as we can with other students from other cohorts. This will mean that subject classes will be taught in blocks over the first weeks or months of the school year, until such time that the CDE changes its directive based on the slowing spread of the virus. One example is that the 5th and 6th grades will be one cohort. Beside Ms. Hall and Ms. Noll, the two classes will share Ms. Handy and Mr. Connolly along with the Aspen Music Festival teachers through September 18, when the cohort will switch. At that time, Mr. Connolly will continue to teach math to the two grades, but a news subject teacher will rotate in to be with the classes.

Recess times of the day will remain much the same with the Middle School breaking in the morning at 9:55 and the Lower School breaking at 10:15. Lunch recess will remain the same at 12:30. What we will be doing this year is stretching the use of the full 11 acres of the campus by using the space in the wetlands all the way up to the front of the campus outside of the Eurythmy Room. Some classes will eat first and play second as we do now, versus other classes will play first and eat second so that we can utilize more distancing and play space. The first few days will utilize some trial and error, and we will correct as we go to find the right balance to it all.

Reminder: Please check your children for symptoms every morning

and stay home if you or your children are ill.

Community Positive Behavior Agreement

We need your help! Please do your part to support the school so we can stay open to in-person learning. The school expects every individual on campus to practice the 4w’s.

1 Watch your space – maintain physical distance. As much as we want to physically greet each other after such a long absence, please refrain from hugs and handshakes and maintain 6’ distancing.

2 Will Stay home when sick – complete the symptom checker every day and stay home if symptoms present – better safe than shut down.

3 Wear your face covering – all adults all the time; students per policy in re-opening plan here.

4 Wash your hands – prior to coming on campus, please use sanitizer prior to leaving your vehicle. Students to wash in classrooms upon arriving.

Thank you for supporting our re-opening plan. Adherence allows us to serve your children in the best way – in-person. Let’s do this for the sake of everyone’s health and safety.

Pickup Traffic Flow

This year we will be utilizing every possible space to help allow for physical distancing during pickup at the end of the school day. Administration will be on hand to help coordinate traffic and the safe pickup of students.

The goal is to avoid any unnecessary parking and to keep adults in their vehicles whenever possible.

First and Foremost:

Always drive slowly. Be mindful of children during both pickup and dropoff.

Grade 8: South side of the center island.

Grade 7: North side of the center island.

Grade 6: North side of the aisle, near the dumpsters.

Grade 5: On the west roundabout (formerly Faculty Parking).

Grade 4: At the arch between the lower and middle school.

Grade 3: In the Orchard as you enter school

Grade 2: On the west roundabout (formerly Faculty Parking).

Grade 1: On the west roundabout (formerly Faculty Parking).

Early Child / Kinderhaus families: Please park on the east-most side of the main lot, closest to the Kinderhaus, and walk to pick up your children.

New Bus Operating Plan

The school has added a 3rd bus route to help maintain cohorts in effort to reduce the risk of virus transmission. Thank you to parent and employee willingness to share driving duties to make this possible.

Thank you as well to Danielle Hammond for returning to drive the Aspen route, and to Ryan Fulton for returning to drive the Carbondale route.

The 2020-21 bus schedule can be found here.

Sorting Out Coronavirus Fact From Fiction

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, people were fighting misinformation about health conditions, vaccines and treatments online. With the pandemic constantly evolving, it may be hard to keep up and understand what’s factual and what is fake—especially if your primary source for news is social media.

It’s important to be up to date on COVID-19 guidance to understand your local regulations. Misinformation continues to spread about topics like at-home treatments, how you get infected, and what’s safe or unsafe once you go out in public.

As the number of COVID-19 infections rises across the globe, it’s important now more than ever to understand the facts and correct guidelines for protecting yourself.

Fighting the Infodemic

Public health officials say they are not only fighting a pandemic, but also an “infodemic.” Defined as an overabundance of information—both accurate and not— the infodemic makes it hard for people to find reliable guidance online or on social media.

Consider asking yourself the following questions to sort out coronavirus fact from fiction:

Who’s saying it? Check out not just who sent you the article or graphic, but also the author and whether it’s posted by a well-known publication. When it comes to health care, peer-reviewed journals add another level of credibility to research.
What proof do they have? Consider the information more credible if there are additional links or evidence in the article.
When was this published? It’s easy to share outdated information, especially on social media. Check the date, as the pandemic continues to quickly evolve day by day.
Where else is it being reported? Do a quick online search to see if trusted organizations (like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization or local public health officials) are also reporting it.
Why are they saying it? Try to understand the study’s funding, which may impact its credibility. Certain organizations may have a motive or bias.

If you’re still aren’t sure, ask yourself whether you do believe the information. Trust your gut and rely on solid sources.