Reopening Communication to Families
January 28, 2021
Dear Families,
We hope this note finds you safe and in good health. As always, we remain appreciative of your support as our city and school district work through the constant changes associated with COVID-19. We understand the challenges you face having to toggle between in person and virtual learning; we are deeply grateful for your flexibility and working with us to ensure we are being smart and safe during these unprecedented times.
City Officials have been monitoring COVID-19 cases in the city and we are proud that New Orleans is trending in a very positive direction! Between the widespread testing available across the city to vaccine planning being underway, City leaders are optimistic and have moved New Orleans to a modified Phase 2 beginning tomorrow, January 29, 2021.
Yesterday, NOLA Public Schools announced that Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade would return to in-person school on Monday, February 1, 2021; high schools will remain virtual with some students returning to in-person learning in small groups. A full high school return to in-person school is expected to begin on Monday, February 22, 2021. We have seen the positive impacts of in-person learning and continue to work so that our school buildings are safe for all students. We will also continue to offer virtual learning for families who prefer to have students learn virtually. All of our PK-8th schools will be closed Friday, January 29 so that our teachers and staff can prepare for our in-person start next Monday. High school students will still have virtual school on Friday, January 29.
IN-PERSON LEARNING RETURN BASED ON GRADE LEVEL
PK-4 Students: In-person learning begins Monday, February 1, 2021. Schools will be closed on Friday, January 29, 2021.
5th – 8th Students: In-person learning begins Monday, February 1, 2021. Schools will be closed on Friday, January 29, 2021.
High School Students: A full high school in-person learning is expected to begin on Monday, February 22, 2021. Small groups of students may return to in-person learning now. HIgh School students will have virtual school on Friday, January 29th.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS IN SCHOOLS
Our teams continue to work to keep our buildings safe, sanitized and ready for your children. The health of our students and staff is our top priority and we are doing everything in our power to ensure a safe return for everyone. We have outfitted schools with temperature monitoring stations, hand cleaning stations, social distancing reminders & signage, mask mandates, air purifiers, and many other safety precautions. For a reminder of all safety precautions put in place at our schools to ensure safety, click here.
Additionally, in our Fall Restart Family Handbook, you will find a detailed list of safety precautions and procedures that we are implementing in all of our schools and our instructional model options. That handbook can be found here. As always, we will follow both NOLA-PS and CDC COVID-19 guidelines and recommendations.
KNOS CLINIC
Our health clinic at Booker T. Washington High School, in partnership with Louisiana Academic Health, remains open. There is optional COVID-19 testing, as well as other services, available for all students, staff, and students’ families. The clinic is open every Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, click here.
BUS INFORMATION & TECHNOLOGY
This information will come directly from your schools soon.
MEALS
As students return to PK–8th grade campuses, on-site food services will resume. For families who remain virtual, there will be weekly meal pickup available at Booker T. Washington, Frederick A. Douglass and John F. Kennedy high schools.
Families, we can’t say this enough to you – THANK YOU. Thank you for your continued partnership. Thank you for your great flexibility. Please know that we are doing everything in our power to ensure that your children have access to a great education and school experience. COVID continues to force us to be innovative about how we provide that, but we are grateful to have the best parents on this ride with us. If you have any questions or need more information on this, please contact your school or visit kippneworleans.com/reopening.
Thank you,
Todd Purvis
Chief Academic Officer
KIPP New Orleans Schools
