May 1, 2020
Greetings everyone. As we enter the month of May, thankfully we are seeing small signs that we are emerging from the isolation brought upon our community by COVID-19. I and my team are fully cognizant that this has been and at least for the near future will continue to be a time that has challenged each of us in unique and personal ways. To those of you that have experienced loss in any way, I extend my heartfelt condolences and thoughts. Please know that even in the bad, especially in the bad, Bolles is here for you. This is not permanent and together we will persevere. We will continue to find comfort and assistance within the Bolles community.
This has been a period of introspection and growth at Bolles. We have been forced to step away from our norms and have renewed appreciation for the essential and valuable aspects of the Bolles community. This pause has reminded us what really matters, and I believe will also fundamentally change us for the better. First and foremost, the relationships that are cultivated. Appropriately, next week is National Teacher Appreciation week, and as a leader and Bolles parent I am proud of our remarkable and dedicated team. I hope you can join me in thanking them for what they have done, are doing and will do. Second, we have been reminded of what defines the Bolles experience. In my opinion, this is the relentless pursuit of excellence in all areas. Just as we did not shy away from pursuing excellence when moving to distance learning, we will apply the same powerful lens to what Bolles will look like in the future. Independent schools are the gold standard for improving our world, and the Jacksonville community looks to us for guidance in these extraordinary times. These are exciting times in education, and the one thing I do know is that we cannot return to exactly as things were in the past.
It is my ardent hope that over the next weeks and months we will again be able to interact on campus in person and not via video. As I mentioned before, returning to campus will require all of us to be flexible and patient. Please know that throughout this process the health and wellness of each member of our community is the top priority. It is not something that we should or will rush. Our plan will be tailored to Bolles. Our goal will continue to be to provide continuous in person learning and extracurricular experiences in a premium environment.
Along those lines, I am excited that we are planning for an on campus Commencement ceremony for the Class of 2020 on Saturday, May 23. The ceremony will be limited in size and scope and will adhere to strict social distancing guidelines. As we move into Phase 2 of the National Coronavirus Response Plan, we will slowly be re-opening our campuses. You will be receiving more details soon regarding collecting your child's articles from school, book buy back, and returning school devices and library books. We are planning for extracurricular and summer camp offerings to begin a gradual opening in a limited capacity (both online and on campus) following Commencement and are aiming for limited boarding camps, such as swim and crew, to return to operation at the beginning of July. Finally, we are planning to be fully back on campus for the start of the 2020-21 academic year. Nonetheless, please know that we will continue to plan for multiple contingencies, and if there is a second wave of cases we will be prepared to pull back.
Obviously, the situation will remain fluid, and we will continue to keep you updated. There are still plenty of unknowns, but we will be prepared to pivot quickly. Ironically, we have come closer together while being apart. I am so grateful for all aspects of this special community and thank those of you who have reached out with words of encouragement and support. In many ways we have been humbled, and this experience has reminded us how much education matters. This is especially true since our graduates and future graduates will be the ones on the front lines addressing future challenges that will come our way.
Be resilient and stay well.
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