Monday Message 8-9-2021

Dear Trinity families,

Where did the summer go? We are very excited about this school year, as we have made massive gains from where we were a year ago. Parents will be allowed back on campus, parents will not have to wear a mask during drop-off or pick-up in the car, we will utilize the walkup glass doors for drop-off and pick-up, we will not be offering remote learning, nor will we need to quarantine an entire class of students because of a COVID exposure, and we will be able to be outside without masks! When indoors on campus, we will ask everyone to mask, whether vaccinated or not, as we will continue to follow the CDC guidelines. Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools | CDC. Also, please see The Episcopal Diocese of Texas guidelines and information HERE.

Please plan to join us for Parent Orientation, Monday, August 16th at 6 pm in the Trinity Episcopal Church santuary. We ask that while you are indoors on campus, we follow CDC guidelines and wear a mask. If you are a new family or a Trinity Ambassador family, we will have an Ambassador Reception at 5 pm an hour before the Parent Orientation on the garth, where masks will not be required outdoors.

Other housekeeping:

1. Adjust your routines: to ensure all children are prepared for the start of school. i.e. bedtime, eating, medication etc.

2. Parents’ Safeguarding God's Children class on Saturday, August 21st at 9:00 am in Eaton Hall. Anyone who plans to be on campus (volunteer, chaperone, drive for field trips, lunch monitor, etc.) more than 6 hours this year needs to attend Safeguarding God's Children (SGC). People are not added to the class until they complete all the steps: interview, application, and background check. You can contact Mrs. Rachel Brown at rbrown@tesgalv.org who will help you determine whether you need certification in Safeguarding God’s Children (SGC).

3. Extended Day Director: Mrs. Debbie Rushing is planning some great structured activities and students will no longer need to stay in smaller cohorts! Extended Day ends at 5:30 pm and if you do not pick your child up, all children are sent to Extended Day. Information on this will be in your green folders at Parent Orientation.

I am surrounded with many opinions on the matter of COVID and it can divide us or bring us closer together as a school community. While I do not have all the answers, I do ask that you trust in me as I am doing what is best to navigate COVID. Please know that I am listening to every parent and taking into consideration ALL of your view points. Hopefully, the mask wearing is short-lived and we can all get on with some normalcy. We will have many mask breaks and I am confident your child’s teacher will not let masks get in the way of a spectacular school year. My number one priority is keeping students and faculty/staff safe, while continuing in-person instruction. 

*The Administration met today for parents to have a clearer direction of what our protocols will be. You will receive this information prior to Parent Orientation.

Sincerely,

Mark Ravelli, Head of School