Good afternoon Murch Families,
Tomorrow marks the two-year period from when the pandemic arrived and we began planning for virtual instruction to tomorrow, where we find ourselves making another transition and entering a new phase of getting back to the way life was pre-pandemic. All of you have received the notice from the Chancellor that starting tomorrow, masks are optional for all students, staff, and visitors. This policy will apply to all school related activities.
There are several emotions that are coming to surface and all of us at Murch continue to prioritize the safety of every individual in our school. It is vital that whatever individual choices are made by families, teachers, and staff are respected.
We all recognize that this is a significant change for our school community and may cause some initial concern. I want to strongly reiterate that all our students and staff are welcome to continue to wear a mask if they choose, and we will actively promote a climate where this choice is respected.
Families who wish to continue to have their child wear a mask will have access to free masks at school. Families who wish for their child to continue to wear a mask, or not, should have a conversation with their child about their expectations.
We will continue to screen for students who exhibit symptoms and follow the protocols for positive cases that the district, in conjunction with the CDC and DC Health, have established.
The focus is on safety and doing our best to maintain the routines and practices we have worked very hard to be the consistent force that students need daily.
Please communicate with your teachers, any relevant information that you would find useful to share. We will monitor the events of this first day to make sure that we are focusing on the right things.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to me at chris.cebrzynski@k12.dc.gov.
Respectfully,
Principal Cebrzynski