Dear Nueva Community,

Well, here we are, beginning the final lap of the school year now that spring break is behind us. I hope you all had a healthy, restful, and fun week and trust you all were able to enjoy this beautiful April weather! With only eight weeks left to go and fewer than 30 onsite student days remaining, the 2020-21 school year is indeed nearing its end. I’d like to use this opportunity to provide a brief update on our plans for the next two months and also respond to some inquiries that have come my way in recent weeks. As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out and ask questions, share reflections, and offer suggestions. Our community is built upon this type of open dialogue, and we’re committed to maintaining this approach as this school year comes to a close and we make preparations for the next year.

More Students and Faculty/Staff On Campus for the Remainder of This School Year

With the Covid landscape improving in our region, county and state restrictions being eased, and an increasing number of people getting vaccinated, Nueva is able to bring more students on campus, and we’re able to offer more onsite activities. 

Lower School
The lower school will continue to host the large majority of its students on campus, Monday through Thursday each week. Even though only a handful or two of students continue to be fully remote, we continue to ensure they too enjoy a full Nueva educational experience. 

Middle School
The division between Atlantic and Pacific cohorts is now a relic of the past. All middle school students are invited to be back on campus Monday through Thursday each week, now that we are able to accommodate larger student groups in classrooms and in shared spaces.

Upper School 
Students in grades 9-12 will also have the opportunity to be on campus Monday through Thursday as of April 26, although in-person classes will continue to be taught to different grade levels on different days of the week. After-school activities, socially distanced social gatherings, and onsite components of virtual trips are all a part of this increased opportunity to be on campus.

Frequently Asked Questions About On-Campus Teaching and Learning

Why can’t students be on campus on Fridays as well?
Hybrid learning and everything that goes along with it provides essential time for faculty and staff to assess student work, offer co-curricular learning activities, and collaboratively plan with colleagues. Remote Fridays continue to be necessary to make sure faculty and staff have the time and space they need to continue their successful implementation of hybrid learning, including time for mixed cohort learning activities and student support structures.

What will the beginning of the 2021-22 school year look like? Will students be on campus?
Our hope and anticipation is that the large majority of teaching and learning will resume being on campus in the fall as the new school year gets underway. Obviously, we need to continue to monitor virus activity and vaccination rates, but we are planning for mostly in-person education. Certain activities and trips might still need to be modified, and we will make those types of decisions later on. It is also likely we will continue to maintain certain health and safety protocols to mitigate risk.

Will the school make accommodations for students and families who need or choose to be fully remote for the remainder of this school year?
Yes, Nueva will honor some families’ decisions to continue to learn remotely for the rest of this school year. However, it is important to note that there is no guarantee there will be remote-only options in the coming school year.

Will Covid vaccinations be required for enrollment in the 2021-22 school year?
We don’t know yet. It is possible that students will be required to be vaccinated against this virus, just as other vaccinations are often required in schools and universities. However, at this point in time, it is unlikely that any sort of requirement will be implemented by the beginning of the new school year. As always, official accommodations will be made for those who are unable to be vaccinated, regardless of the timing of any enrollment-based requirement. 

An Important Reminder About Our Collective Responsibility Toward Health and Safety

As I wrote in Nueva Notes on April 1, “Let’s not get complacent and let our guard down now that we have a chance to exit from the worst of this pandemic.” The Nueva community has been phenomenal in working together to minimize this virus’ impact on our learning activities. Our success rate as defined by our cumulative testing results is nothing short of remarkable. The school has never experienced any onsite transmission:

COVID:  Weekly surveillance testing

*Includes all onsite and offsite surveillance testing for return to campus

We need to continue to be vigilant. Our most recent positive case just surfaced immediately preceding spring break. (For those in the Upper School, please read our standard letter announcing this case.) It is critically important that we continue to mask, distance, sanitize, screen, test, and limit gatherings. 

Thanks for your ongoing understanding and support as we learn by doing and learn by caring together!

Lee Fertig
Head of School