Dear Wilberforce Families,
Here's a link to a short video message.
Our Spring Break proved a very strange week. The break started early, with the canceling of our Sound of Music debut and the closing of our school on Wednesday, March 11. The break ended yesterday with Governor Murphy's announcement of a "stay-at-home" order until further notice. At this point in time, all efforts are focused on "flattening the curve" of infections and buying time for our health system to gather resources to address an anticipated spike in that curve.
Based on current conditions, we do not know when we will be able to physically reconvene our school. We do not think it will be possible to convene anytime before Easter (April 12), and perhaps later.
Thus, we turn our focus tonight and in the coming week to remote learning. Today you will receive, or may have already received, emails from one or more of our faculty leaders outlining the tools we will be using for remote learning, as well as schedules and general guidelines. We anticipate this week being one of adjustment. All of us will face technical challenges and frustrations, and we ask for your patience as we get the tools working and establish new rhythms around our new processes.
Along with the challenges, we do not want to miss the opportunities that this season may bring. A modified schedule provides more extended time to read, to journal, to enjoy nature, to exercise, to try art, and to go deeper into subjects of interest than a normal school schedule would allow. We hope that parents and students will take advantage of this time. We will be sharing ideas, and we hope you will share yours.
As I mentioned in my earlier correspondence, we find ourselves in the season of Lent, a time of self-examination and repentance, as well as a time to anticipate Easter, when we celebrate Christ's death on the cross for our sins and His resurrection from the dead. This is our hope as Christian families! We pray that the current disruption of our health, routines, and prosperity brings us into new ways of appreciating and relying upon the hope of Christ.
We also pray that we find new ways to care for each other and to serve the larger community. Please check in with classmates and parents, and ask them how it's going. And please continue to pray for people who are affected acutely by this crisis: especially those who are infected, the vulnerable, those working on the front lines (including health care workers, and grocery workers!), scientists, leaders, and others.
We also want to make this interlude fun, whenever possible. So we have posted a new hashtag: #wilberforcetogether. As we start remote learning, please share fun pictures of your family's learning at home.
God is at work. Let's move forward with great anticipation as to what He is going to do in our community.
Sincerely in Christ,
Howe
--
Howe Whitman Jr.
Head of School