Important Logistics and Lessons Learned! 

October 30, 2020 

 Dear TGS Families:

 We’ve had a terrific week with our 5^th, 8^th, and 12^th graders on campus and look forward to welcoming the remaining grade levels on Monday! We’ve also learned a few lessons and want to pass along the following words of advice:

 Breathe deeply and be patient. The parking lot will be more crowded, and the technology used to connect our remote learners does not always work as it should. We are working on improving the technology. Drop-off and pickup will take more time (important information and directions are provided at the end of this message).

1. Please remind your child to order their lunch. Students will receive an email from SAGE on Fridays to order lunch for a full week. Instructions for ordering will be included in those emails. Students are provided with multiple choices, and if you’re concerned about any dietary needs, you can reach out directly to Chef Ian Churchill (i.churchill@sagedining.com). Of course, you may choose to send your child with a lunch instead.
2. Please continue to practice social distancing with your children at home so they become used to knowing how the space between one another feels. We can only continue to bring students back to campus if everyone follows the guidelines. Not doing so could result in students having to work remotely. This safety protocol seemed to be more of a challenge for everyone than wearing the masks over the past two weeks, so we appreciate your support in the adjustment.
3. Your child may very well complain after the first day or two about various aspects of being at school. Our current in-person experience simply isn’t what they’re used to having during normal circumstances. We’re seeing students adjust as time goes by. Many have shared that it’s worth being able to see each other in person. Please remember that if you choose to return to remote learning, you will need to stay in that format for the remainder of the semester. 
4. As more students return to campus, we will expand the number of lunch lines to minimize wait times.
5. For answers to many other questions about protocols and procedures on campus, please remember that our Guide to Reopening Campus can be found on our website or by clicking here.

By the end of the day today, each returning grade level will be sent a specific welcome letter tailored to their needs and outlining additional expectations and considerations. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions or if you don’t see the message in your inbox. Always check your spam, as we’ve discovered that is often the culprit in missing communications.

 As I referenced earlier, we’ve developed a new pickup procedure for dismissal time. In order to promote safety and increase the amount of space for all of the anticipated cars, we will be expanding the pickup areas on campus and staggering pickup times.

Middle School pickup time will be 3:30

Upper School pickup time will be 3:40

 Middle School families will now drive beyond the u-shaped area past the Community Garden just south of our theater and circle back to newly designated grade level student pickup areas (see diagram). Upper School families will pickup and exit with their students before entering the u-shaped portion of our driveway, turning right as though you’re headed to the gym and then circling back to the US pickup area on the corner (see diagram). For families with more than one child in the MS, your children will be located at the grade level pickup area of the youngest child. For families with both US and MS students, the MS student will be brought to the US pickup area by an adult where they will wait with their older sibling. Volunteers will be directing traffic to help everyone with these new procedures. Again, breathe deeply and be patient!

 Thank you. Whether you are returning to campus or continuing remotely, we look forward to seeing everyone on Monday!

Kind regards,

Julie A. Sherrill, Ph.D.
Head of School