Dear Parents,

“The times in which we live call for fervor, fidelity, and generosity. The heart’s best security is to trust in God alone.” - St. Madeleine Sophie Barat

As our eleventh week of in-person instruction for the 2020-2021 school year draws to a close, I am exceptionally proud of our educators and students for their dedication and flexibility. As we look ahead, I am thankful for your courage, confidence and faith in the mission of Academy of the Sacred Heart. In particular, I am proud of the strength I have witnessed since the onset of the pandemic. It is the strength of this community that I lean on and trust as we move forward.

After extensive review of the data and consultation with educational and medical experts, Academy of the Sacred Heart will shift to our remote learning model, beginning Monday, November 23. This includes all students from Pre-K through Grade 12, and will remain in effect until after the Christmas break. This includes a suspension of all athletic practices and competitions. As a reminder, flex learning remains an option for families in the interim. Reach out to your Learning Community Leader if you’d like to make that shift before November 23.

We expect the Early Childhood Program to stay open, as long as there is sufficient parent demand and staff capacity. Our hours of operation will be slightly reduced to end an hour earlier: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Kensington Hall has already begun the routine of remote learning, and we will maintain that routine and keep them remote next week - Monday, November 16 through Friday, November 20.

We chose this path forward with care, based on the following information. First and foremost is the health and safety of our community. Reducing the risk of spread within our school community, as well as our surrounding area, aligns with our mission. While we have prioritized in-person learning to date, we know that we can only deliver quality, consistent instruction with a healthy faculty and student body. Since October 19, approximately one in four students have been out of the building due to exposure or illness. Currently, we have 12 employees out due to an exposure. Further, our fellow independent and/or Catholic schools in the area are seeing an increase in cases meeting or exceeding the rising levels throughout the state.

As we shared at the beginning of the year, our Learning Community Leaders worked diligently over the summer to prepare for remote instruction if needed. Their work has continued throughout the school year, and robust remote learning plans are in place. Watch for additional information from your Learning Community Leader today. They are available to answer any questions you may have.

Our goal will be a return to in-person learning as soon as possible after the first of the year. The time between Thanksgiving and the New Year gives us the opportunity to watch the data and make an informed decision about when to return safely.

By sharing this information a week in advance, I hope to ease the transition as much as possible; however, remaining in-person throughout next week requires continued vigilance. Additional positive cases and exposures may override our planning, so let’s all do our part to stay safe. Next week, please ask your child to bring all items home with them every day in the event that a sudden closure is necessary.

Along the same lines, you can help us return to in-person learning as soon as possible by masking up, eliminating social gatherings and maintaining physical distancing whenever possible, now and throughout the holiday season.

I’m heartened by the advances being made toward a vaccine, and believe the end is in sight for this pandemic. It is a marathon, and we will cross the finish line together, stronger than ever before. As we await that day, “Sacred Heart of Jesus, we place our trust in you.”

In courage and confidence,

Damian Hermann
Head of School