Fairy dust on my desk.
For many years I kept a bottle of fairy dust on my desk. Whenever I had students come into my office with a problem, I would sprinkle some fairy dust on their heads to help them calm down and figure out solutions to their problems. After a good talk and more fairy dust to give them strength and clarity, they would leave with the feeling of everything will work out. I must say the success rate was quite high.
Today I wish I could sprinkle fairy dust on our world to make COVID-19 disappear and for us to return to our regular lives. Unfortunately, right now, that is just wishful thinking.
At Conchita we are spending the summer researching, learning, and planning for the opening of the 2020-2021 school year. As we have said from the beginning, our priority is the safety and well-being of our community: teachers, students, administrators, staff, and their families. We have been educating and taking care of children for generations and have had our share of crises and difficult times. Our reputation, growth, and longevity bear witness to our ability to overcome and make the best of trying times.
We have three possible scenarios for the start of the school year:
1. Full-time, In-Person
2. A Blended Approach
3. Remote Learning
At this time, and with COVID numbers rising, we cannot tell you which of the three protocols will open the school year. We do not want to say one thing and then have to change it due to circumstances not in our control. We need to work with the reality and uncertainty of the current situation. We will continue providing you with information as it develops.
One thing we have clear is that our students must get back to their school and their regular classes and schedules as soon as it is safe to do so. We are aware of the important role in-person school attendance has on the emotional and physical development, and well-being of our young students. That is why we will nurture and strengthen their connection with their teachers, peers and school. We are blessed with passionate, loving, creative and wise faculty and staff; eager to have students back in their classrooms growing, laughing and learning.
I am pulling out my old bottle of fairy dust and will virtually sprinkle all of us to help us think with clarity, assume responsibility, have patience, take care of each other and get information from reliable sources. Everything will work out.
Blessings and much love,
Maribel Z. Diaz
