Head of School Back to School Update – July 25, 2021

Aloha Saint Mark Parents!

I am writing with the latest Saint Mark updates as we prepare to welcome students back to school this week. 

CONGRATULATIONS
Please let me begin by going back and offering up a big congratulations to our school families for all of last year’s hard work. As a result of your dedication and cooperation in following our safety protocols and working to decrease possible exposure, we were able to keep COVID-19 out of our school and students on campus almost the entire year. It was a wonderful feat that very few other schools were able to accomplish. Congratulations and thank you!

INCREASING COVID-19 CASES IN OUR COMMUNITY 
Similar to this time last year, we are unfortunately seeing the number of community COVID-19 cases rising as we head back to school. This is likely because of several simultaneous factors that include the highly contagious nature of the Delta-variant, relaxation of general prevention measures, and the resurgence of tourism. Taken together, the increase in cases is not an unexpected result given the current vaccination levels within our state.

As we prepare to return to campus this week, our focus on safety has not changed.  We will continue to pay careful attention to community conditions and strictly observe safety protocols in the same ways that allowed for so much success last year.  As before, we will rely on science and are prepared to take every necessary and appropriate safety measure to prevent COVID-19 transmission on our campus.

SAINT MARK REMAINS CAUTIOUS BUT CONFIDENT 
While the growing number of daily cases is troubling and is cause for increased vigilance and adherence to the recommended/required preventative strategies, Saint Mark Lutheran School remains confident that it is well positioned to safely resume campus instruction to students in the coming days.

QUARANTINING COHORTS
It is important to understand that if and when we do have a COVID-19 positive case on campus and it is determined that that individual was in close contact with a cohort, that cohort will be sent home for 10 days of quarantining as is explained in COVID-19 CAMPUS PLAN – Policy and Procedures 2021-2022.  Families need to understand and plan for this possible reality.

LET’S GET VACCINATED!
Saint Mark continues to strongly encourage all those eligible (currently 12 yrs. and older) to get the COVID-19 vaccine to please do so!  We understand that getting vaccinated and establishing community (herd) immunity is our best chance of getting Hawai`i’s kids and teachers fully back-to-school and resuming more normal/traditional school activities.

As you are probably aware, the vaccine has shown to be approximately 95% effective.  While this is a great efficacy rate, it’s not 100% which means we should expect to see breakthrough cases where vaccinated people test positive. However, it is important to keep in mind that the vaccine also decreases the severity of the illness for those breakthrough cases. In fact, the CDC reports that as of July 19, 2021, more than 161 million people in the United States had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.  And during that same time, there were 5,914 patients (only 0.0036%) with COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough infection who were hospitalized. The vaccines very much turn COVID-19 from a life-threatening illness into a respiratory infection from which most people recover without significant symptoms or complications.  Please encourage friends and family who are not vaccinated to get vaccinated.

Our expectation is that in September/early October, the Pfizer vaccine will be approved for ages under 12 and that we will see a majority of students get vaccinated. Saint Mark will be working/partnering with another private school in an effort to offer a vaccination clinic to our students.  This is part of our continual effort to strongly support vaccination as the best COVID-19 mitigation strategy.

FACULTY/STAFF BACK TO WORK
The entire faculty and staff were excited to return to campus this past Friday for a wonderful day of collaboration and training.  Time was spent thoroughly discussing and practicing Saint Mark Lutheran School’s COVID-19 Campus Plan as well as other important topics as we prepare to welcome students back on campus.  The entire faculty and staff also participated in its annual Emergency First Aid and CPR Training.

CLASSES RESUMING THIS WEEK
K-8 students return on Wednesday, July 28  (with early dismissal)
Drop-off:  Gr K-8    7:15 to 7:55 a.m.
Pick-up:   Gr K-2    11:15 a.m.
Gr 3-5    11:30 a.m.
Gr 6-8    11:45 a.m.

ELC students return on Friday, July 30 
Drop-off:  PK to 8    7:15 to 7:55 a.m.
Pick-up:   Gr K-2     2:15 p.m.
Gr 3-5     2:30 p.m.
Gr 6-8     2:45 p.m.
PK3&4    3:00 p.m.

OTHER IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES
K-8 Parent Visitation/Supply Drop Off – Monday & Tuesday, July 26 & 27
ELC Parent/Student Visitation Day – Thursday, July 29
Before/Aftercare Begins for registered students – Monday, August 2
Back-to-School Orientation (K-5) – Wednesday, August 4 from 6:00 – 7:00 pm (Virtual via Zoom)
Back-to-School Orientation (6-8) – Thursday, August 5 from 6:00 – 7:00 pm (Virtual via Zoom)
Back-to-School Orientation (PK) – Tuesday, August 10 from 6:00 – 7:00 pm (Virtual via Zoom)

PARENTAL SUPPORT IS NEEDED
This week’s increasing transmission rates should be a powerful reminder that we must all do our part to adhere to the recommended/required preventative strategies.  All members of the Saint Mark School community have a shared responsibility to prevent the spread of this disease.  As such, we are imploring our school families to support us in our efforts to keep our Saint Mark and broader community safe!

Thank you for your time and support and, as always, please do not hesitate to contact the school office should you have any questions.

Mahalo, Blessings and Stay Safe,

David Gaudi
Head of School