If things go as planned it will be back to school as normal for Simpson Academy in just over a month.
New headmaster Nick Lee said plans now are to start classes on Friday, August 7. He said the school will first be and deep cleaned and the campus sanitized. He said the only thing that would postpone plans would be an order from the governor.
Registration is already in full swing, and an open house has been set for Thursday, August 6, from 7 a.m. until noon for the upper grades, and the elementary grades will be from 3:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. He said they have had to close some classes because they are at capacity already so the pandemic is not really impacting their plans.
Lee said the teachers and staff will start back to work on August 3.
He said that student athletes are being checked daily at practices, and they are using as much precautionary procedure as possible.
Regarding social distancing when school starts back that is pretty difficult because of the size of the school and classrooms but he added that they are partnering with a cleaning company as well as implementing procedures as they can from other private schools.
He added in the event there are issues they will develop certain code levels for protecting the students and faculty. They will start out on a “green” status which basically means they will be at the same standard they were before Spring Break of last semester. Based on advise from higher levels or the governor they will make the appropriate adjustments. He said it could be a hybrid of whatever the situation is deemed as necessary.
When asked about distance learning Lee said that he was able to observe the process that went on from Simpson during the last nine weeks and was very impress with the way the staff adapted to distance learning which included zoom meetings as well as video lessons that were sent to students but he was quick to point out that nothing compares to the one on one instruction.
He said there will be certain items like drink fountains will be closed and other issues which have not been finalized. He said he is confident that the staff will be able to address any issue that may come their way.
Lee said he is really looking forward to having a great year at Simpson under his administration.
