Reopening Brookwood School (July 16, 2020)

To the Brookwood Family:
 
All of us at Brookwood School are looking forward to returning to campus and reuniting as Warriors! We are excited to see our returning students and welcome the students who are new to the Brookwood Family.
Thursday, July 16, 2020
 
To the Brookwood Family:
 
All of us at Brookwood School are looking forward to returning to campus and reuniting as Warriors! We are excited to see our returning students and welcome the students who are new to the Brookwood Family.

We recognize that the current COVID-19 numbers are concerning today; however, we remain pragmatically optimistic. We appreciate the confidence that has been shown to us by our community as we have moved closer to opening day.

As we have shared, our Campus Reopening Taskforce has worked diligently to develop and refine plans to reopen safely. Our overriding goal has been to make life on Brookwood’s campus as normal as possible while staying as safe as possible for our students within the context of our current environment. 

We have also developed a Health Advisory Committee, which consists of four local physicians and our School Nurse. This group has provided level-headed feedback to help us think through what we need to do for our school from people who fully appreciate the priority of having kids in school.

Additional Reopening Brookwood Information
In the interest of clear and transparent communication, we have created a Campus Reopening Page on our website. I hope that you will find this page to be informative and address any questions that you may have. If you have any additional questions, please email Kelly Campbell, kcampbell@brookwoodschool.org, or contact the appropriate member of the Campus Reopening Taskforce.

Of particular note...

I want to draw your attention to a few specific updates that also appear on the website:

Broadcast LearningBrookwood places a high value on classroom-based, engaging education with teaching and learning experiences on campus. However, for those students who are out sick, are in quarantine due to COVID-19 exposure, or have a family member who is at high risk for exposure to COVID-19, we will provide this alternative option of broadcasting classes through Google Meet to students who are at home.

Face Coverings: It is increasingly clear that face coverings will be necessary to prevent the spread of the virus. We will ask that students, faculty, and visitors wear cloth face covering over the nose and mouth on campus when physical distancing is not possible. We expect that students will be able to remove face coverings during class as the desks in our classrooms have been spaced out according to American Association of Pediatrics guidelines. This is subject to change pending requirements as we get closer to the start of the school year.  Students should bring their own CDC-approved cloth face covering.

Weekly Health Update: We will provide a weekly health update from our School Nurse with information about COVID-19 in our school and community. Our goal is to be proactive in our communication, recognizing the reality of the fact that we are living amidst the virus.
 
Health, Safety, and the Partnership Between Families and Brookwood 
We recognize that campus will look different this academic year. The health, well-being, and safety of our students and their families, as well as our faculty/staff and their families comes first, so we will be implementing enhanced health and safety protocols and practices. We will take great care in orienting students to campus life and our new health and safety procedures when we return to campus. Our success and the ability to remain on campus depends on the collaboration, transparency, and trust of our entire Brookwood community
 
First Day of School -- August 10
We are still on track to open school on August 10. For the Middle and Upper School students, this will be a full day of classes. They will receive orientation in their first period class to our safety procedures. Our goal, frankly, is to get right back to it; for this reason, we will not hold a mini-class day. Each of our Lower School classes will be on campus for one hour each. During that time, the children will spend time with their teacher, and the parents will receive an orientation from our Lower School Director, Mrs. Francine Wright. The schedule for August 10 is posted on the calendar in MyBrookwood or click here.
 
Four Operating Modes 
There are many unknowns ahead, so flexibility and agility are paramount. We recognize that plans will evolve and modifications will be made as we navigate this together. We will have ups and downs, but we will all be working to ensure the best experience for your child and your family. 
  • Blue - In this mode, Brookwood will cautiously proceed with many aspects of normal school operation while limiting some activities due to their elevated risk to the health and safety of our community.
  • Yellow -  This mode employs multiple physical distancing strategies to limit transmission risks by increasing physical space between students and limiting interactions in large group settings. 
  • Orange - This mode reduces the total number of people who can be on campus or a portion of the campus at any time to maximize physical distancing and minimize the mixing of student groups. 
  • Red - This mode requires us to close the campus or a portion of the campus to students.  The Continuous Learning plan adopted this past spring is implemented for those students. This may have to be implemented in short periods by division or the whole campus.  We would expect to close the campus only in the events of  1) widespread presence of the virus on campus or, 2) government-mandated shutdown.

While our priority is to be on campus as much as possible, we are also preparing for potential interruptions and may need to adjust the school calendar accordingly. As always, we will work closely with our families to communicate more information when and if needed.
 
Staying Informed with the Latest School Information 
Our communication with you will be proactive, transparent, and timely throughout the summer and school year. The Campus Reopening page is your most up-to-date and current source of information. We have done our best to provide initial answers to some of the larger questions we are hearing from families in the Frequently Asked Questions section, but we know you will have more questions, so please share them with Kelly Campbell, kcampbell@brookwoodschool.org. You can also expect several Back to School Information emails from us in the coming weeks, beginning tomorrow, addressing topics such as dress codes, arrival and dismissal procedures, school forms, and information from Pepi Foods. 

The strength and grace of our Brookwood community are among our greatest assets. We are confident our students, faculty, staff, administrators, and families will work together and support one another as we step into this new educational landscape. We are here for you and we are grateful for your partnership.
 
Go Warriors!
 
See you in August,
Dr. Randy Watts
Headmaster
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Located in Thomasville, GA, Brookwood School is a private school for grades JK-12. Students benefit from a challenging academic program, fine and performing arts, competitive athletics, and a wide selection of extracurricular activities.