FCS Communications

Hello FCS Families,

In our email last evening, December 8, we shared information about picking up your student’s materials on Thursday, December 10. We will not have classes at either of our buildings on Thursday as we facilitate the pick up and as teachers prepare for online learning. Online classes will begin Friday, December 11, and will continue the following week. We still have no school for Christmas break December 19 through Monday, January 4.

We shared in yesterday’s email that we have a number of uncertainties at this time that have led us to the decision to shift to online learning. Although we cannot share specific situations and health information with you, a major concern right now is a growing number of potential close contacts and a few potential positive cases that could impact entire grade levels or classrooms at both the Lower and Upper Schools. Today we learned of one additional positive case among our Upper School staff and we have already notified those who are close contacts with this person. In addition to this, we still have uncertainties related to other potential positive cases, and we believe it would be a risk to continue to hold classes when we are uncertain about a number of situations. If we do find out about any additional positive cases, we will determine who may be a close contact and contact those families immediately.

In the meantime, we strongly encourage you to watch your children for symptoms and remain diligent to follow social distancing precautions now and especially during Christmas break. We are asking that you remain on high alert regarding your child’s interaction with others, and how that interaction relates to potential exposure to the COVID virus. These interactions (particularly parties, etc.) have an impact on others in our school community. Remaining healthy over Christmas break will be very important for our return to school in January. At this time we hope and plan to return to on campus classes in January, but of course we need to assess the health of our student body and staff closer to that time. If your child tests positive for COVID or is a close contact this coming week or during Christmas break, please email your child’s principal.

Online classes will begin this Friday, December 11. Look for an email from your child’s principal about Online Learning Expectations, pay attention to any emails from your child’s teacher, and log onto Google Classroom to begin classes on Friday. We use Google Classroom as our primary portal for online learning, and teachers have been working with students since the start of the year as appropriate for each grade and class to prepare them for this possibility. Our goal is to continue to provide excellent education with our distinctive Christian focus and strong relationships while we need to hold online classes.

Finally, we know that all of us need encouragement and a reminder to focus on God and His strength at times like this. This change is challenging to both parents and school staff and most of us agree it is not what we desire right now. We want to encourage you, just like we need you to encourage each other and the school staff with whom you interact. We do not need to worry or fear, because our God is in control and has a great plan for our good. Because of the incredible power of gratitude to change our perspective and because God commands us to give thanks in all circumstances, today we choose to give Him thanks for:

• Providing us almost the entire first semester to build relationships with our students, which is the perfect foundation for online learning.

• Our school Board members, who give us much support and who we know are diligently praying for us at this time.

• The current health and safety of each of our students, families, and school staff. God has clearly protected us and we give Him the glory.

• Parents and others who are praying for us and reach out to encourage us to keep our focus on God and look to Him for wisdom and guidance. We are all praying for YOU as well, as we know this time is challenging for our parents.

• Our amazing team of educators - classroom teachers, instructional technology leaders, and the many people involved in meeting needs right now. God has given FCS a great gift through His servants who work here.

We will continue to be in contact with you as we have new information. Thank you, FCS families. We look forward to seeing you again soon.

The FCS Administrative Team