Yesterday, we watched in horror and outrage as a violent mob stormed the U.S. Capitol in a deadly effort to disrupt the certification of the election victory of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. It also left us with questions as educators and parents as to how we would help our youth and children make sense of this assault on our democracy.
The Vision: This winter, the people of Bonny Doon — you and your neighbors — will plant daffodil bulbs in every corner of our mountain community. Come spring, the vibrant golden blooms of hundreds of thousands of daffodils will appear amid the fire-scarred landscape of Bonny Doon. Once established, the flowers will return every spring thereafter in greater profusion, on roadsides and hillsides, in public and private spaces, all over Ben Lomond Mountain. If we plant 100,000+ bulbs they will multiply in place over a few years to become over 1,000,000 blooms for Bonny Doon!
With the surge in COVID-19 cases in the area and new State health guidelines and restrictions, I want to provide an update on what this means for Bonny Doon School. Attached is information on the results of the recent parent survey as well as details of current in-person learning cohorts on the school campus, and how any expansion is being impacted by County health conditions, plus an outline of next steps.
The order would prohibit private gatherings of any size, closes certain sector operaons except for critical infrastructure and retail, and requires 100% masking and physical distancing in all other sectors. However, this order does not impact or modify the state’s prior guidance on school reopening processes. Schools that are offering in-person services will be able to continue to provide them, but schools are not permitted to begin implementaon of hybrid instructional models while our county remains in the Widespread (purple) county risk level in the Blueprint for a Safer Economy monitoring system.
We would like to express our deep appreciation and gratitude for our community of students, parents, school personnel, and board members. Thank you for your flexibility, patience, and perseverance as we continue to navigate the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis. Our community’s ability to adapt, change, and support each other in times of crisis is truly remarkable.
As you know, we have implemented multiple health and safety protocols including cleaning, face covering, and social-distancing measures during COVID-19. We are also committed to informing you of any potential health risks.
We therefore want to notify you that a person associated with our school has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
Governor Newsom has announced that Santa Cruz County is one of many counties to move to the Widespread (Purple) Tier within the California Blueprint for a Safer Economy . This announcement immediately increases restrictions for a range of economic activities, including prohibiting schools from expanding to a hybrid schedule. Santa Cruz County
Districts and Charter Schools are now reviewing the impact of this announcement on our timelines for expansion of in-person instruction.
Our fall Parent-Teacher Conferences are approaching. Each year, these conferences provide an opportunity for parents/guardians and teachers to discuss student progress. Teachers will be sending out instructions for scheduling these meetings on Friday. Due to the pandemic and the fire, this year’s conferences will be necessarily different from prior years.
Please join the County Superintendent of Schools,
all school district Superintendents, charter school leaders,
and authorities from our local department of public health
for a community Town Hall discussion about school plans
to expand in-person services on Monday, Nov 2 at 5 p.m. You may join the zoom webinar at https://santacruzcoe-org.zoom.us/85393550668
or stream the event live from our youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/santacruzcoe/live
Santa Cruz County School District Superintendents and Charter Schools are committed to expanding in-person instructional programs and services safely. The safety of our students, educators, and families is paramount as our school districts and charter schools make important decisions about returning to in-person instruction.