List of 9 news stories.

• COVID Protocols Update 10/1/21

  10/1/2021
  Please click here for the Covid Protocols, updated October 1, 2021.
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• Mask Opt-Out Policy and Form

  9/10/2021
  Last Friday, we launched a dashboard reflecting all covid-related student absences. The dashboard is updated daily and reflects all positive cases and quarantines for students by division (early learning, lower and middle school). In addition to student covid-related absences listed on the daily dashboard, we will show the percentage of parents opting out of the mask mandate by division. Opt-out percentages will be published on September 20 on our covid page. 

   

  Opt-out Policy: If covid-related absences are below 10 percent in any one division, the parent opt-out will apply. If the percentages in any division exceed 10 percent, ALL students in that division, including opt-outs, will be required to wear a mask until we have had 2 straight weeks below the 10 percent threshold. Once that threshold has been reached we will lift the mask mandate for that particular division and return to the opt-out approach. I assure you that we will be evaluating and re-evaluating this on a daily basis and will adapt accordingly if things change dramatically. Simply put, we are making decisions based on our numbers. As a school, if 20 percent or more of our school population is absent for illness, we may need to take additional precautions and actions such as temporary closure to have the buildings professionally cleaned, per the guidelines from our accrediting agencies.

   

  Below is a list of numbers, by division:  

  • Early Learning, PK3 - K: 125 total students, if 13 or more are out due to covid-related illness, we will suspend the mask opt-out for 2 weeks.
  • 1st - 5th Grade: 240 total students, if 24 or more are out due to covid-related illness, we will suspend the mask opt-out for 2 weeks.
  • Middle School, 6th - 8th grade: 148 total students, if 15 or more are out due to covid-related illness, we will suspend the mask opt-out for 2 weeks.

  For those choosing to opt-out, the electronic opt-out form is available by clicking here. You must be logged into the website in order to access the form. All submissions must be made by noon on Friday, September 17 to begin on Monday, September 20. If you would like to opt-out after this date please contact Gabi Oates, our school nurse, at goates@hces.org.  

  
  

  We are implementing the opt-out through December. However, we will continue to re-evaluate our numbers and our approach on a consistent basis and respond accordingly if things change dramatically. We will still require ALL students (including opt-outs) to wear their masks when inside the Chapel (respecting the wishes of the Church) and when in line receiving lunch in the Commons. All faculty and staff will continue to wear masks.
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• Quarantine Circumstances

  9/8/2021
  Each child placed in quarantine is an individual case and will be treated as such. Administrators and teachers will work together to determine whether to provide work to be picked up and completed at home or potentially send recorded lessons home (not live stream). Though this school year is much different in terms of at-home learning, we may determine that our Adaptable Learning Program would be put in place if an entire class was placed in quarantine.  
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• COVID Testing Information

  8/30/2021
  Students who opt to take a COVID test in order to return to school, must go to an approved testing center and present the official test results to Nurse Gabbi Oates. At-home tests are not accepted.
  
  Covid-19 Testing Sites:
  

  • CVS and Walgreens Locations (please visit the individual sites for hours or to make an appointment)
  • Department of Health Testing Sites (Operational hours are from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m., seven days a week.)
    • DOH Leon Administration Building, 2965 Municipal Way, Tallahassee, FL 32304
    • Lake Jackson Town Center at Huntington, 3840 N. Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32303
  • Leon County Schools Testing Sites (https://www.leonschools.net/Page/53139)
  • FAMU Bragg Testing Site - Nomi Health at the Covid-19 Testing Site at 2507 Wahnish Way, Tallahassee, FL, 32307 (Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday)
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• Updated COVID Protocols

  8/10/2021
  While we had hoped that mitigation strategies would not be necessary this year, the dramatic increase in COVID cases locally has forced us to reexamine our plans. After consulting with medical experts and on the recommendations from our accrediting agencies, we have made the tough decision to require masks for ALL students (PK3 through 8th grade), parents, and visitors while indoors on campus (vaccinated and unvaccinated). We will continually re-evaluate this decision and send an update on Friday, September 3rd.
  
  Click here for updated COVID protocols.
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• 

  COVID Protocols Update

  8/2/2021
  Dear Families, 

  
  

  We are counting down the days to welcoming you and your children back on campus next week! I would like to communicate with you a few small changes since our July summer mailing. 

  
  

  With the increase of COVID cases in our local Tallahassee community and hospitals, we are re-evaluating our approach and making adjustments as we begin the school year. 

   

  Masks will still be optional for students, however, we strongly encourage everyone to wear masks indoors while our case numbers in Leon County are at an elevated level. All faculty and staff (vaccinated or not), will be wearing masks for the foreseeable future while indoors and during carpool in order to keep our students and families safe. Students will need to bring a mask each day to school as they will be required during chapel services in the church and in The Commons while in the serving line. We will also be utilizing the outdoor chapel for services when weather permits and adjusting dining procedures. There will also be additional outdoor seating for lunch. 

   

  All of our back-to-school events are still scheduled as planned for our families and we welcome parents to join us on campus. We strongly encourage all parents and visitors to wear a mask while indoors. If you are unvaccinated, we ask that you wear a mask on campus at all times. 
  
  Click here to view the COVID Safety Protocols.

   

  As we monitor this situation each day, we will continue to communicate changes as they develop. This was not how we anticipated starting the school year and we understand the frustrations that arise with this current situation. We hope to make changes once again as numbers begin to decrease. We truly appreciate your flexibility and support as we strive to keep our entire school community safe. Regardless of these changes, we are looking forward to a very successful and wonderful school year. 

  
  

  See you next week!   

  
  

  Sincerely, 

  
  

  Peter Klekamp 

  Head of School
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• COVID Protocols Update

  7/29/2021
  We are continuing to monitor COVID in Leon County, and at this time our policies remain the same. We will respond as needed and will remain flexible in our approach to keep our students, faculty, and families safe. 
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• Back to School COVID Guidelines

  7/13/2021
  As we approach a new school year with lots of excitement and anticipation, we wanted to share updated guidelines and protocols for the 2021-2022 school year.
  
  

  Click here to view the 2021-2022 Safety Protocols

  • Masks will be optional but strongly encouraged for students for the 21-22 school year. 
  • Faculty and Staff (vaccinated or not) will wear a mask while indoors and at carpool until further instructed. 
  • We encourage all visitors to wear a mask. We ask that unvaccinated parents and visitors wear a mask while indoors. 
  • HCES encourages everyone to get vaccinated and continue their efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

  
  The HCES Re-Entry Task Force will continue the work it began last year, assessing and reviewing COVID-19 guidelines to ensure student, employee and parent safety on campus. This committee reviews guidelines from the various federal and state agencies including the CDC, DOE, Leon County Health Department and independent school accrediting agencies such as FCIS, NAIS, SAIS and others. 
  
  
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• A Look Back on the 2020-2021 School Year

  5/21/2021
  Dear Holy Comforter Families,
   
  What a year! To be honest, when I look back on this past year, I feel so much pride. I am so proud of our students who excelled this year, both in and out of the classroom, with all sorts of obstacles before them. They learned to climb over them, keep striving and succeed!
   
  I am so proud of our teachers. They have worked tirelessly over the past 16 months, since the pandemic began, with passion and enthusiasm so that we could create the absolute safest and best classrooms for all our children.  Each teacher managed to continue to create a warm and caring space for our students to learn and grow. Was it a typical HCES classroom? No. It was socially distanced, but the love and support remained.
   
  I am so proud of our administrators. I am blessed to be surrounded by incredibly smart and dedicated people who make decisions on what is best for our school always having the children at the center. We make decisions as a mom and/or dad while also looking through the experienced lenses of an educator.
   
  I am so proud of our staff. “What needs to be done? I’ll do it.” We were all stretched thin this year and everyone did what needed to be done every step of the way. They thought creatively, worked together, and met every challenge with enthusiasm and the same high standards we always strive for at Holy Comforter.  
   
  I am so proud of our parents and school community. Many decisions were made this year that had nothing to do with educating children. In a school community with over 360 families, I know that we are not always going to agree and that is what makes us a stronger school community. A community with an open door, an open mind, and an open heart. 
   
  As we reach the end of this year, I feel a happy exhaustion. I have never been so tired at the end of the school year and yet so excited and hopeful for the beginning of another. I look forward to a “normal” summer where we have time to reflect and re-evaluate all that we have accomplished and think of ways we can do it better. I am deeply appreciative of all the emails I have received over the course of this year as we successfully navigated the unknown. We have learned a lot and I hope we never have to use this knowledge again! 
   
  We made it. We made it through a challenging and memorable year and I am so thankful to each and every one of you. I hope and pray we return in August rested, renewed, and ready for an extraordinary 2021-2022 school year! I wish you and your family a safe and restful summer.
   
   
  Most Sincerely,
    
  Peter Klekamp
  Head of School
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