11.13.20 School Closure Notice

Dear Exceed Lower School families,

As you know, our community’s health and safety continues to be our first priority during this challenging time. Today, we became aware that New York City’s 7-day rolling average is 2.83% and is predicted to reach 3% without a sharp downturn in cases. Due to this, the Exceed Lower School building will be reclosing and transitioning to fully remote learning as of Monday, November 16. At this time, we anticipate returning for in-person instruction on Monday, November 30. This reclosure applies to all school-related functions and events and daily instruction at ALL school buildings in the Explore Schools network.

We will communicate any updates regarding reopening via email, ClassDojo, and SchoolMessenger (autodialer) as well as on the school website. All scholars should attend remote learning beginning Monday, November 16 at 8:00 a.m. You can visit the Exceed Lower School Virtual Learning site for more information if needed: http://bit.do/fK4Wy.

Schedule Updates

If your scholar was hybrid, he/she will follow the remote schedule for his/her grade level. If you scholars we remote, he/she will continue to follow his/her remote schedule. Please check your scholar's Google Classroom, as well as your scholar's Bitmoji Classroom on our Exceed Lower School Virtual Learning site for more information if needed: http://bit.do/fK4Wy.

We encourage all community members to continue to follow the CDC’s guidance to prevent the spread of illness:

• Wear a mask in public places and when in close proximity to others.

• Keep a safe distance of at least 6 feet from others.

• Wash hands frequently and effectively (using soap and water, for at least 20 seconds).

• If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content.

• Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, and nose.

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

• Clean and disinfect surface or objects you touch frequently (phone, tablet, remote).

• Please stay home when sick, and for at least 24 hours after a fever has ended.

• Please self-quarantine for 14 days after close contact with someone known to be COVID positive at the time of exposure.

The health and safety of your child is our highest priority, and we do not make this decision lightly but with great caution to protect our community. If you or someone in your family has medical concerns or questions, please contact your family’s primary health care provider. If you have questions for the school, please reach out to espine@explorenetwork.org so that they can be addressed as quickly as possible.

Weekly Structure:

• Mondays and Tuesdays:

  • Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, and Howard (1st-3rd Grade 12:1:1) attend school in person.

  • 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, and NYU (4th-5th Grade 12:1:1) attend school remotely.

• Wednesdays: all scholars attend school remotely and do work independently.

  • Rising Circle for all grades from 8:00-8:25 a.m.

• Thursdays and Fridays:

  • Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, and Howard (1st-3rd Grade 12:1:1) attend school remotely..

  • 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, and NYU (4th-5th Grade 12:1:1) attend school in person.

Exciting opportunity! Apply to become the Explore Schools Family Board Representative!

Explore Schools is excited to launch the application for family members of Exceed to express interest in becoming the Explore Schools' Family Board of Trustees Representative. If selected for this role, you would serve a 2-year term in the position, attend monthly board meetings as a voting member of the Board of Trustees, and work to build connections across family communities at our schools to ensure that your voice is representing the shared interests, opinions, and perspectives of families/guardians with students currently attending our schools. If you would like to learn more about this opportunity, please review the role description here, or reach out to Ms. George. Applications are due on November 13^th, and can be submitted by taking this survey

• Monday, 11/16: Virtual Meet & Greets with Ms. George! - 7-8 p.m. each night

• Wednesday, 11/18: Family Teacher Conferences

• Friday, 11/20: Half Day Remote Classes end at 11:50 am.

ClassDojo Links by Class: