School Opening Delayed

Dear St. John’s Lutheran School Families :

Yesterday evening, the school board held a virtual meeting to address the fact that we have a confirmed case of COVID-19 within our school staff.

 First and foremost, we pray for those affected that God would bless them with health.  The health and well-being of our school family is our foremost concern, and has shaped the policies we’ve implemented for the reopening of school this year.

 Following the procedure of contact tracing, the Health Department has already contacted anyone they deemed a close contact.  We feel fortunate that this occurred prior to school opening, as that has greatly reduced the possible contacts; however, if you have any concerns about your own potential exposure, please pursue a COVID-19 test of your own.

 The school board needed to decide how to proceed following this information, and after prayerful consideration, it was decided that the first day of school would be delayed until Monday, September 14th.  We haven’t even had the chance to welcome in the students and explain the process which we will be following, which would make an abrupt change to distance learning for the opening of school difficult to set up in such a short time frame.  None of the students has textbooks needed for this process either- and because of the confirmed case and best practice surrounding COVID-19 contact tracing, they shouldn’t be coming into the school to pick them up right now.   Additionally, we have been waiting for delivery of the i-Pads we intended to use to support distance learning among the lower grades.

 We understand this creates some difficult situations for some of our families, but we want to keep our school family as safe as possible.  We will keep you informed with any developments.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

 Phil. 4:6 “Do not worry about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Mr. Sellnow