Dear GFA families,
In my May 29 letter, I shared that we have been considering a revised start date for the 2020–21 school year. Traditionally, GFA classes begin after Labor Day. We have made the decision to begin GFA classes on Tuesday, September 1, which conforms with guidance from the State of Connecticut. We continue to work on schedules for orientation and other opening activities. We expect that Upper School orientation and preseason athletic practices will begin on August 24; we expect to begin student orientation activities for students in the Lower School on August 31 and in the Middle School on August 26. While there are still several details to work out, we wanted to get you this information as early as possible to facilitate your summer planning.
Our goals in making this change to our calendar are to maximize the time students and teachers can be together and to give students more time to connect with one another. That is important for all of our students as we adjust to new rituals and routines based on health and safety measures that will be in place. Knowing that there may be periods during the academic year when we might have to move to remote learning, the more on-campus time we can create to build relationships and community in the fall, the better. We are making this change in conversation with our peer schools across the region, many of whom either already start before Labor Day or have recently made the shift for next year. The decision feels particularly appropriate considering that Labor Day falls relatively late in September in 2020.
We do not make this change lightly. We recognize that beginning classes before Labor Day is a cultural shift for many of you. For some, this may require a change in family plans, and we appreciate your flexibility. As always, if you have concerns, we would like to hear from you.
Our reopening planning process is moving forward successfully, and I'm pleased to report that we will be prepared to welcome all GFA students on campus for full days of instruction five days a week this fall. We will also be prepared to offer remote access for any student who is unable to be with us on campus or whose family determines that learning from home is right for them. We will provide you with further information in the coming weeks.
We are eager to see your children again and to continue their educational journey together in person. I'm sending all best wishes for a safe, healthy, and restorative summer.
Best regards,