Brook Hill Family,

I hope you are enjoying your summer break and entering into a time of much needed rest!

The global pandemic has impacted every aspect of our lives and has changed how we interact with family, friends, and neighbors as well as how we address responsibilities at work and even how we worship.

Recently, Governor Abbot announced that Texas schools would be allowed to open for in-person classes this fall. We are very excited by this news and are pleased to report some of our initial plans and policies from our Coronavirus Task Force and Student Health Advisory Council (SHAC) for returning to campus in August.

Originally our first day of school was set for Wednesday, August 12, 2020. However, to give us a few more days to be fully prepared for the new school year, we are moving the first day of school to Wednesday, August 19, 2020. Other than that one change, for now, our school calendar remains the same.

GOALS:

As we make plans for re-opening campus on August 19, we want you to know that we will be READY. No matter what happens this year, our primary goals are to:

• Provide a comprehensive, quality, Christ-centered, college preparatory education for our students.
• Ensure the safety and well being of our students, families, faculty, and staff.

SCENARIO 1: THE NEW NORMAL

We are excited to reopen campus, return to in-person classes, and resume athletic and artistic events. We cannot wait to be back on campus with you!

Although we are returning to normal, it will be a new normal. The realities of COVID-19 still linger, and we take the health and safety of our students, families, faculty, and staff seriously. We are creating preventative measures to limit exposure and keep our community healthy.

By working together, we can help prevent the spread of disease among our community and keep our students’ school experience as normal as possible. Here is a brief overview of our plans to date:

• Screening:
  • All students, faculty, and staff will be asked to self-screen for symptoms of COVID-19 and stay home if they are symptomatic.
  • Students, faculty, and staff will be encouraged to maintain social distancing when possible.
  • Brook Hill may implement mandatory screening for students, faculty, and staff at various times during the school year as needed (e.g., temperature checks upon arrival).
  • Until further notice, absences for illness will be excused with no doctor’s note necessary. For a prolonged absence, an educational plan will be established with the campus principals.
  • Students traveling internationally within 14 days of arriving on campus must obtain a negative COVID-19 test result after their arrival in the USA before coming to school or moving into their dorm.
    • This applies to both day and boarding students.
    • Brook Hill will help facilitate these tests as needed.
    • Boarding students will receive additional instructions concerning arrival procedures.
  • Visitors and volunteers may have limited access to campus at various times during the year and may have to follow additional protocols as needed.
• Disinfection & Sanitation
  • Brook Hill is implementing additional disinfection and sanitation protocols that will include strengthening ongoing procedures, purchasing new cleaning tools and supplies, and implementing scheduled disinfecting regimens.
  • Hand sanitizing stations have been added across campus. Students, faculty, and staff will be encouraged to wash and sanitize hands regularly.

As of right now, The Brook Hill School does NOT plan to do the following:

• Require the wearing of masks during class and in public gathering spaces, although it will be optional for those who wish
• Require students to sit six feet apart in class
• Substantially modify the daily schedule (half days, alternate days, etc)

SCENARIO 2: MANDATED DISTANCE LEARNING

Brook Hill does not plan to close campus during the school year. If we do temporarily close, it will be because our government has mandated it or because we believe that continuing to remain open would be detrimental to our community.

If we temporarily close, we want you to know that we will be ready to deliver an excellent distance learning education to our students. No matter what, no matter where, your child will excel academically, socially, and spiritually at The Brook Hill School.

ADDITIONAL PROTOCOLS

Brook Hill’s Coronavirus Task Force is closely monitoring this evolving situation and is prepared to make changes and adjustments as needed to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our community.

In the coming weeks we will bring more clarification and greater detail to this plan. 

In the meantime, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

We have created a survey so that we can easily gather your feedback. Would you please take a moment to let us know your thoughts by filling out a short, two question survey here?

I look forward to seeing you again soon!

Blessings,

Rod Fletcher

Head of School