Important Updates, Reminders and Requests

 
Dear TGS Families:

Thank you to the families of 203 students (out of 333) who have completed our survey! Thus far, there are roughly 25% requesting continued remote learning and 75% opting for a return to school for in-person instruction. Because this information is key to our space planning, we are extending the deadline to respond to the survey to next Wednesday, Oct. 14. If we do not hear from you, we will count your child as a remote learner, and that status will continue for the duration of this semester. Please complete the survey as soon as possible! 

Once again, subject to all nine of the Pima County Health Department COVID-19 metrics being in the good or moderate levels and positivity rates at or below 7%, the transition plan for moving to in-person learning is as follows:

1. 5th graders return the week of October 19
2. 8th and 12th graders return the week of October 26
3. All students choosing in-person instruction return to campus the week of November 2

Everyone, with the exception of our original on-campus student cohort, will be working remotely on Wednesdays.

We receive updated metrics from PCHD every Monday or Tuesday. Therefore, we will announce the final decision for our 5th grade students’ anticipated October 19 return to campus on or before Wednesday, October 14.

Thank you, as well, for the continued good questions! Many inquired about the lunch program and how it would be handled in the second quarter. Our “grab and go” model has been effective and so we will continue that format as we bring students back to campus. Lunches will be distributed outside at various locations on both the MS and US sides of campus. Staff will wear masks and gloves during distribution. Students will only be permitted to eat outside—either in the tented areas, existing patios, or on the lawn. Staff will be circulating throughout the lunch periods to reinforce social distancing guidelines. We are maintaining the existing schedule until we can determine how much time this all requires. Please note that, assuming our return to campus proceeds as planned, the final day for drive-up lunches will be Wednesday, October 14.

Another popular question had to do with physical education classes. As much as possible, P.E. classes will be held outdoors. Students will be masked and social distancing will be maintained. When indoors, students will be spread throughout the gym with masks on. Our P.E. teachers have been working hard to develop creative new activities that encourage physical exercise and conditioning but that can be done independently. Any equipment used will be sanitized between classes, and students will be asked to wash their hands before and after class.

And finally, the all-important question of what classes will look like for both remote and in-person learners is the question that we as a group of faculty and administrators are still sorting out. As we’ve stated before, we’re committed to ensuring that students will receive a comparable learning experience no matter the delivery platform. Our goal is to have several  concrete examples of how that learning might look, utilizing different content areas, pedagogical approaches, and grade levels, next week. Please visit our Return to School FAQ page for additional questions and answers. 

Due to the fact that we’re attempting to create multiple outdoor learning spaces, we will be utilizing several grade-level “hangouts” on campus (e.g., the freshman ramada, sophomore patio, etc.). We are grateful that our Student Council and the senior internship project of a member of our class of ‘21 are helping us transform an outdoor patio space adjacent to the theater for general student use during this period of outdoor learning. If you have any outdoor patio furniture—particularly tables, chairs and umbrellas, that are gently used and could be donated to the school, we would be very grateful! Please contact Mary Babbitt to arrange any such donation.

Thank you for your continued support and engagement. We are grateful to have you as members of our TGS community.

Warm regards,

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