COVID-19 Response

Dear Cascades Academy Families,

I'm writing today to provide an update from the Pathways Forward team. You'll recall that last week we shared the Looking Ahead plan that outlined our approach to planning for the 2020-21 school year. This week we received additional guidance from the Oregon Department of Education's which outlines several recommended protocols for school in the fall including:

• Physical distancing (minimizing contact within 6 feet with other people)
• Cohorts (conducting all activities in small groups that remain together over time with minimal mixing of groups)
• Protective equipment
• Hand hygiene and environmental cleaning and disinfection
• Isolation of sick people and quarantine of exposed people

You may find the complete guidelines here: Ready Schools, Safe Learners.

Our leadership team did a walk through of the campus yesterday after reviewing the guidelines, and we feel very optimistic about our ability to maximize student time on campus next year while keeping health and safety as our top priority. In addition, we are committed to finding an alternative solution for families who are not able to be on campus due to individual health reasons.

As you can imagine, the programmatic planning for next year is multi-layered and complex. Our faculty and staff are meeting next week to dive further into the implications of these most recent guidelines and determine how to adapt our curriculum while maintaining our deep commitment to mission and core values. Once we have determined our re-entry plan that addresses the recommended guidelines, we will be required to submit our plan to the local health authority for approval. The state acknowledges that each school's situation (enrollment, facilities, etc.) is unique, and we anticipate that our campus and smaller enrollment will be beneficial in our planning.

On that note, we are grateful to all who completed the last survey that we sent. We received 93 responses and an overwhelming willingness to participate in focus groups. We are in the process of following up with those who expressed interest. From those surveys we identified some clear trends including:

• Preserving our commitment to whole-child learning that includes challenging academics, experiential learning, social emotional learning, social responsibility, community and social connection continues to be important.
• Student health and safety is paramount. At the same time, we learned that every family may have different risk tolerances for what that means.
• For most families, there is a clear longing for a return to in-person classes as much as possible.
• Students really miss their friends and want to reconnect socially with their peers.
• There were some unexpected benefits of remote learning for middle and upper school students including greater autonomy and independence.
• Some of our students and families are immune-compromised, and as such, we must find an alternative to serve them as well.

Hearing directly from you is instrumental in our planning and helps us keep what is best for students at the heart of all of our decisions. Thank you!

At this point, we will plan to communicate with you again in early July after the Department of Education releases its next version of the guidance on June 30. In the meantime, our Looking Ahead plan, referenced above, as well as all Covid-19 communications, can be found on our website.

As we embark on this next phase of our planning, we continue to be bolstered by your gratitude and support. We certainly have a busy summer ahead, and we will keep you updated as our planning evolves. Until then, I wish you all a wonderful start to the summer.

Sincerely,

Julie Amberg
Head of School

Dear CACO Families,

Today marks the beginning of our 7th week of remote learning. I find that each day continues to bring both unique challenges and, fortunately, some pleasant surprises too. Like many of you, I'm trying to juggle impossibly competing demands – working at home while meeting the educational and personal needs of my family. On any given day, my own emotions seem to mirror the emotions of the family member who is struggling the most. Some days that means feeling frustrated and fragile and other days feeling grateful and joyful. "One day, one decision at a time," I remind myself. I smile, take a deep breath, and carry on.

This letter is a follow-up to the earlier video communication from our Board Chair, Holly Wylam Klein, in which she shared that a group of appointed trustees and administration leaders have formed a new ad hoc "Pathways Forward" committee. The committee is actively creating a strategic and operational vision that will prioritize student and community health and wellness, ensure the quality and depth of our academic programs, and safeguard the long-term sustainability of our school for the coming academic year. Among many tasks, this committee is undertaking the planning for several reopening scenarios guided by our mission and core values as our north star. We are actively monitoring local and state guidelines and developments, attending webinars with experts, and connecting with our counterparts at independent schools throughout the country. While our goal is to be ready to open for in-person learning in the fall, we - like all schools - are planning for a variety of scenarios.

Given the circumstances, it would be premature to roll out the menu of possibilities for the fall at this time. But, our promise to you is that we will provide clear and timely communication as more information is known. Nimbleness, inventiveness, flexibility, creativity – we are calling upon all these skills in our planning and feel lucky that as a small, independent school these characteristics are already a hallmark of our school culture.

Of critical importance to our work is our commitment to serving, uniting, and sustaining our extraordinary community. We understand that the last few weeks may have presented unexpected financial hardship for some families. In recognition of this, the Pathways Forward committee's first priority was to create a series of Financial Assistance Pathways for families experiencing an unexpected change in circumstances. Our hope is to be able to keep current students enrolled and to allow new students to join us as planned, despite financial changes that may have arisen because of the pandemic.

The Financial Assistance Pathways are structured to provide custom solutions to families, from changes in tuition payment plans to applying for need-based aid. It is our sincerest wish that no one be forced to make a different decision for fall enrollment because of a change in circumstances. As those of you who attended our presentations this fall on school finances understand, CACO's budget is very lean and carefully controlled. And so, simultaneous to rolling out this program, we will be seeking assistance from our family of donors to grow our limited pool of available funds so that we may help everyone weather this storm. Stay tuned for more information about this community-sustaining initiative, which we are calling "Pay It Forward."

We ask that if you are facing or anticipating a change in your financial circumstances, please reach out to Barb Cartmell (cartmell@cascadesacademy.org or 206.920.8585) before Friday, May 29 to discuss the various Financial Assistance Pathways that may be available.

As we navigate these next weeks and months, I am guessing you have all kinds of other questions as well! I am looking to create a new forum for answering community FAQ's, so please reach out to me directly with what's on your mind, and I'll determine the best way to address those questions with our entire community.

As we continue to gather your feedback, we have genuinely appreciated hearing your heartfelt and resounding gratitude for our faculty and staff. They certainly deserve this recognition and encouragement. And, the same is absolutely true for you - our remarkable families. You have trusted our process, our program, and our community every step of the way. You have guided your children with incredible love, resilience, and encouragement. Together, we have embarked on this journey that no one could have ever possibly imagined, and no matter what the pathway ahead, we too will carry on . . . together.

Warmly,

Julie Amberg
Head of School

Dear Cascades Academy Families,

Yesterday, we heard from Governor Kate Brown that all Oregon schools must remain closed for in-person classes through the end of the school year. Though we are heartbroken not to be able to come back together as a community in person this spring, we understand the importance of this step for the greater good and the health of our world.

Our commitment to you remains steadfast:

• We will continue to provide the best possible remote learning experience for our beloved Cascades Academy students.
• We will focus on our mission and core values, promoting a balance of enriching academics, hands-on experiential learning within an engaged community.
• We will continue to honor and support the unique needs and challenges of each student and family as you navigate remote learning.
• We will look for ways to brighten our students' days with levity, humor, and plenty of time outdoors.
• We will find creative ways to celebrate our students and their accomplishments, especially the senior class of 2020. If the guidelines for gatherings change this spring, we will stay open to celebrating in person if at all possible.
• And, we will continue to ask for your feedback so that we can ensure families are supported through this new and different model.

We understand that students will respond to this news in a variety of ways. We thought it might be helpful to have some guidance from Leah Rapaport, Director of Counseling, around how to support your child. For those students who are saddened by this news, they may essentially be experiencing a sense of loss or grief. This loss may look different for each student and may be expressed in different ways. For our seniors, they could be grieving the loss of normal end of year activities and celebrations. For our younger students, it can be the simple loss of connecting with friends during lunchtime. Lunch at home is maybe just not as much fun as it is at school. With this in mind, the following may be helpful in supporting your child:

• Acknowledge the loss. It is very real for them. Say things like, "I know how sad you are," and "Yes, these are meaningful losses." Let them just express how they feel without immediately trying to fix the feeling.
• Let their questions and concerns guide the conversation.
• Be honest, but do your best to present a hopeful and future-focused perspective.
• As much as possible, exude calm. Fake it until you make it if need be. Your child looks to you for guidance on how to react to stressful events. If you're ok, then your child will feel more confident that he/she will be ok too.
• Encourage continued connection with the community in whatever ways are safe, healthy, and doable for your family. We are all in this together.
• If you'd like to connect with Leah directly, you can schedule an appointment with her here or email her directly.

Knowing that remote learning will continue for the remainder of the academic year, your feedback regarding how it is going for your family and what the school can do to support you is more critical than ever. We will be sending grade specific surveys to each family tomorrow. We would love to hear from every family about what we can do to personalize and enhance your experience throughout the coming weeks.

Although this communication is about the remainder of this year, the Board and I are also thinking beyond the spring in terms of how we can support our families for the long run. Our commitment to preserving and fostering our engaged and vibrant community remains at the heart of every decision. We are deeply grateful to every teacher, parent, and student for embracing this time with such compassion, resilience, flexibility, and love and cannot thank you enough for your continued support, encouragement, and engagement.

With my sincere gratitude,

Julie Amberg
Head of School

Dear Cascades Academy Families,

In an effort to continue to keep everyone informed on developments that affect our school community, I am writing with a few updates.

First, we were happy to learn that the Mt. Bachelor ski instructor who had contact with our four lower school students last Friday has tested negative for COVID-19.

Second, in light of the governor's proclamation issued on Tuesday night that all Oregon schools remain closed until April 28, we have decided to extend our remote learning plan through April 28 as well. As such, the first possible date that we will return to campus will be Wednesday, April 29, and we will continue to re-evaluate this date as new information and recommendations unfold.

Right now, I can only imagine that, like me, you are trying to balance savoring spring break with your family, keeping up on world developments, and navigating the unknown. During these last few days I have found it helpful to ground myself by asking two questions, "What do I have control over right now, and what can I do to help others?"

As I think about these two questions in the context of our school community, I am focused on working with our exceptional teachers to design an innovative and personalized approach to education delivered in a new way. While we will no longer physically be connected on our campus, we remain focused on delivering a robust academic program while also facilitating the emotional support and social connection that our students need and deserve.

In the spirit of helping others, I want to be sure that you know that our public school district is providing free Grab and Go meals for those who may be facing food insecurity during this time. Complete details may be found here.

In addition, former Cascades Academy Director of Counseling, Dawn Betts, is hoping to return to Bend this spring after her school in Ghana closed recently due to the Coronavirus. She and her husband, Steve, are looking for a place to rent during April and May until their home becomes available again in June. If you or someone you know can be of assistance to them during this transitional time, please let me know, and I will connect you.

I will continue to send updates as they become known. Until then, I wish you all well!

Warmly,

Julie Amberg
Head of School

Dear Cascades Academy Families,

Last night, Governor Kate Brown announced that all schools in Oregon should close from March 16-31. While fortunately, this closure aligns with our spring break, at the same time, we think it's prudent to start thinking about our educational approach after the 31st. As such, we have decided to move to remote learning from Wednesday, April 1 through Friday, April 3. The earliest we will hold classes on campus is Monday, April 6, but we are also making plans assuming we may need to extend the remote learning period beyond April 3. We will continue to monitor ongoing developments and communicate any changes to this plan.

In addition, our Spring Break Camp (March 23-27) and No School Day Program (March 30) have been canceled. During spring break, our facilities team will proceed with a deep clean of the campus.

This decision was not made in response to specific cases of COVID-19 being present in our community. Cascades Academy has no reported or confirmed cases of students, faculty, staff, or administration with Coronavirus COVID-19 or who have had direct exposure to someone who has been diagnosed with Coronavirus COVID-19.

The situation in Oregon and around the world is evolving quickly, and we hope to know a lot more during the next few weeks. Please know that this is not a decision that we take lightly, as all of us at Cascades Academy know this will have an impact on your families. As educators and school leaders, our work is to focus on what is best for our students, faculty, staff, and community.

These are extraordinary times, and it is up to all of us to be proactive to protect the most vulnerable among us. The social distancing measures recommended by our health authorities include keeping children home as much as possible and not having them gathering in groups. While the virus does not as severely affect children, they are capable of spreading it to more vulnerable populations.

We have been preparing for the possibility of remote learning for the last couple of weeks, and we feel confident in our ability to deliver a modified, yet high-quality and age-appropriate educational experience remotely. Because we feel it's important for teachers to still have their spring vacation, we will use March 30-31 to fine-tune our remote learning lessons and be ready to engage with students beginning April 1.

During the remote learning period, you will receive regular email communications from us including information about schedules, course explanations, and expectations, including attendance procedures and guidelines for the student work environment. Cascades Academy administrators, faculty, and staff will be accessible through email; find their contact information on the Steelhead Connect directory.

Remote learning will look different at each grade level and require different technology needs. Content will be delivered via Steelhead Connect which requires an internet connection. At this point we anticipate the following:

• PK-3rd Grade: Parents will need to be able to login to Steelhead Connect to access content, activites, or assignments for their children periodically.
  
• 4th-5th Grade: Students will need access to a device for a portion of the day. If you do not have a device at home that your child can use, school Chromebooks will be available for checkout on Tuesday, March 31st for any 4th/5th grade student who needs one. Exact details re: checkout process and Steelhead Connect login information will be communicated on March 30.
  
• 6th-12th Grade: Students will continue to use their own laptops to access Steelhead Connect.

If you have any concerns about your ability to access content during the remote learning period, please contact Bernadette Shilliam.

Our top priorities during this time will be fostering continued student engagement and academic progress and maintaining a sense of community. I wish you all could witness how quickly our teachers have embraced this pivot to remote learning. We are lucky to already have so many technology tools in place, and I have the utmost confidence in both our teachers and our students to adapt and respond positively to this change.

In the midst of these challenges, I continue to be grateful to be a part of this community. I trust that every member of our community - students, faculty, staff, and parents/guardians - will work together, supporting each member of the Cascades Academy community and our larger Central Oregon community.

I will continue to keep you informed as we move forward. Please reach out to us with any questions or concerns. Thank you for your continued support. I know at times it feels hard to think about much else beyond this unprecedented crisis, but I do wish you all a wonderful spring break and hope that you find time to get outside and have some quality time with your loved ones.

Sincerely,

Julie Amberg
Head of School