March 19, 2020 Coronavirus Update: March 19, 2020 Dear Parents, Colleagues, Students and Friends,
The first week of Distance Learning is almost completed and it seems that everyone has been largely satisfied with the results. I want to congratulate students, teachers and families for rallying round and embracing the new normal as we traverse this complicated period together.
Some information to pass along to you all :
- Following an announcement from the Governor's office, Community School of Naples will be closed through at least April 15th 2020. Distance Learning will continue throughout this period for all CSN students. Good teaching and learning will therefore continue for CSN students with expectations of excellence and achievement; just by other means. Well done students and colleagues. We are proud of your calm endeavor and work achieved in this new format. Be sure to keep in touch with your class teachers during this period of Distance Learning at CSN. That is where the learning continues to take place: between teacher and student. Should you have any other questions, of course contact your Division Head or myself.
- Next week will be Spring Break. There will be no formal Distance Learning for students during that week. This will give our teachers and students a chance to regroup and reconnect with their own families, before restarting DL again on March 30. However there may be reading assigned on a class-by-class basis. We will also take the time next week as teaching professionals to review our teaching tempo and expectations of our students, especially in this complex period where students and teachers are all a little nervous, perhaps even mildly traumatized by events going on around them. It's a new landscape for all of us and we should be gentle in our approach to each other as teachers and students.
- Formal Distance Learning for all CSN students will restart on Monday March 30.
- All Athletic and after-school events are cancelled until further notice.
- Angel Ball cannot now be held on March 28th 2020. We are currently looking at our best options to find a suitable future date either in Fall 2020 or in Spring 2021. Many sponsors with whom we have spoken, have already agreed to leave their contributions in this event. We hope that all sponsors will also commit in the same way. If you have any questions about Angel Ball, please contact the Advancement Department. We will have more answers, including possibly a definite new date, very soon. I also wish to commend in the highest terms our Angel Ball Chairs, Ms. Danielle Bishop and Ms. Nancy Barbounis for their inspirational efforts and outstanding work in the most trying of recent circumstances. Outstanding commitment to our school.
- On behalf of the Board of Trustees, faculty, staff and students of Community School of Naples, allow me to note how proud I have been of the reaction of our community to the rapidity and gravity of recent events. Our students, parents, faculty and staff have been patient and adaptable and have made important memories even in these trying times.
- Our beautiful little town of Naples is caught up in a tidal wave of concern sweeping across the entire world at the moment and we are all taking a moment to find our own true north. However, it is a truism to say that all things in life have a beginning, a middle and an end. This period too will eventually come to an end and we will be fine on the other side of it.
- I am in school most days. Contact me at any time if you have any questions.
I will write to everyone in the CSN community every Monday and Thursday during this period of closure with any updates and further information.
Wash hands, everyone. Be well.
Kind regards, Dr. David Watson Head of School
COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF NAPLES Naples, FL 34109, USA Ph. (239) 597-7575 |