When COVID first hit in the spring of 2020, none of us could have imagined the ways in which it would change our lives. In the midst of doing our best to keep ourselves and our families safe, we watched as other aspects of our lives and communities were thrown into turmoil. While we all had different experiences and were impacted to different degrees, we were all affected in some way.

 

In the midst of it all, the Welsh Hills community was able to reopen with on-campus instruction. Through strong and empathetic leadership, informed by data and a commitment to children, Welsh Hills instituted mitigation policies and procedures, including the following, that kept the students and staff safe:

 

• Required masking for all community members three years of age and over

• Only staff and students permitted to enter facilities

• Screening and temperature checks at arrival

• Small pod sizes with no mixing

• Consistent handwashing, cleaning, and sanitizing

• Daily cleaning with electrostatic sanitizing sprayer

• Installation of UV system air cleaner in the main building’s air handler

• Individual air filtration units to circulate clean air

• Frequent use of outdoor classroom spaces

 

These strategies proved effective for us, as we were able to offer in-person instruction for the entire 2020-2021 academic year.

 

Given that a significant portion of our population is not yet eligible for vaccination, and in keeping aligned with our mission and vision, we have decided to revise our mitigation protocols in a very thoughtful way. This plan will allow us to remain fluid as we observe, monitor, and adjust as needed.

 

Our long-standing goal is to provide the best Montessori-based educational experience for our students. We will resume our standard class sizes, and we will continue to require masking for every community member aged three and over when indoors. By continuing to wear masks indoors, we can resume many of the Montessori and best-practice teaching tools that make Welsh Hills School effective and unique.

 

To see a detailed list of COVID protocols and procedures in place for the upcoming fall term, please click here to review the document
“COVID Protocols for Fall Term 2021.”

 

The safety of our community and educational experience of our students are my top priorities. I believe that our approach serves
both of those goals.

 

Be safe and well,

​

​

​

​

​