Dear Shaker Road School Infant through Pre-K Families,
As you have likely heard, Governor Sununu and New Hampshire Commissioner of Education Frank Edelblut ordered schools in New Hampshire to move to a remote learning model through April 3. At that time the Covid-19 situation in our state will be reassessed and the Governor and Commissioner will provide school leadership with additional recommendations moving forward. While some schools will use the coming week to prepare for this model, SRS began putting preparations in place for this possibly over a week ago and will begin remote learning with our Kindergarten through Ninth students on Tuesday, March 17.
In addition to the closure of our Kindergarten through Ninth Grade, we will also be closing our Infant through Pre-Kindergarten program until Friday, March 27. At that time, SRS will reassess this public health crisis and determine if it is possible to return to the classroom safely. Although Governor Sununu did not require private childcare centers to close, we have heard from many infant, toddler and pre-Kindergarten parents who are physicians and healthcare providers who have urged us to close these programs for the purposes of public health. While it seems that children may not be as affected by the Covid-19 virus as their grandparents, or those with suppressed immune systems, it is possible that children may carry the virus and ultimately push the medical system to the limits. Additionally, we value the health and safety of our faculty members in these programs, many of whom have loved ones at homes who may be vulnerable. The decision to close childcare at Shaker Road School was not made lightly. We realize that for many families, this will be difficult. We encourage you to heed the Governor’s advice and discourage gatherings, including small groups, to protect yourself and your family from exposure and contagion. Shaker Road School does not support the creation of a classroom-like setting which would contradict the advice from Governor Sununu and Homeland Security.
For generations, Shaker Road School been a dependable member of the Concord community providing high quality education and childcare for many students and children. Families who have been part of the SRS community for years know that SRS will rarely close and we pride ourselves on our reliability for working families. However, it is clear that Covid-19 has created an unprecedented situation. A public health emergency such as this is something unlike anything we have ever faced. By following the advice of medical professionals, we hope Shaker Road School can help be part of the solution as we work through this situation. We hope to reopen for childcare as quickly as possible,but will only do so when we feel it is safe.
Should students need to gather belongings from their classroom, school buildings will be open tomorrow, Monday, March 16 from 8:30 to 3:30 pm.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call or email.
Sincerely,
Douglas Hicks, M.Ed.
Co-Head of School
Patricia Hicks, M.S.
Co-Head of School
Matthew Hicks, Ph.D.
Principal
Caitlin Connelly, M.A.
Director of Enrollment
