Dear Providence Day community:
First, I extend my bittersweet congratulations to the Class of 2020 on their senior day today, as they are foremost in my mind and heart. Please note their takeover occurring on Providence Day's Instagram account, and keep watching for many more tributes we are planning to honor this class in the coming days and weeks.
We have moved quickly to try to answer the many questions we know you have about the remainder of the school year. We have faced the challenge of making plans while under a set of restrictions that we hope, but cannot guarantee, might be different by the end of May. Therefore our plans must be adaptable for both the most restrictive and least restrictive environments we might face, depending on the guidance issued by the state. But these are the decisions we know we can announce:
- The final day of remote learning will be May 22 for all grades except seniors, who have been separately notified their final day of remote classes will be the originally scheduled date of May 8.
- Commencement will occur on May 29. Details of how much of the ceremony can occur in person and on campus, versus remotely, are still being determined, but we do need every senior to plan to wear their cap and gown on that date. Many more details will be forthcoming.
- We are paying special attention to our hallowed tradition of "bus photo day." There will be two plans: We are reserving the date of July 31 for an in-person gathering on campus to take the photo, assuming state conditions allow it. We will also execute a backup plan involving Photoshopping images of smaller groups of students, just in case.
- The dates between May 26 and May 29 will be used to observe many of our typical end-of-year traditions, including the fifth-grade ceremony for Lower School (May 26) and eighth-grade ceremony for Middle School (May 28) and the PDEspys, among others. A complete list of dates and times will be shared soon.
- A determination about our Summer Camps in June will be made on or near May 8, when we know more about the governor's guidance. A decision about July camps will be made at a later date.
In the near term, I wanted to call some events occurring next week to your attention. First, in the wake of our school's amazing success in coming together to support Loaves & Fishes, I am pleased that our curricular commitment to social responsibility endures in the form of the Share Your Kindness site, put together by our community engagement team of Erica Katz (Lower School), Kelly Lawler (Middle School), and Dr. Jennifer Bratyanski (Upper School). If you haven't seen it yet, please click the link to see suggested activities for students to engage in with their families, and ways to participate in the international Giving Tuesday Now event coming up May 5.
Secondly, I thank the School Counselors for the Student Wellness Webinar they conducted yesterday evening to share valuable information with parents. Our next school-sponsored webinar will be next week, with Jack Whelan and the College Guidance team answering your burning questions on Thursday May 7 at 7 p.m. Be sure to use this link to submit advance questions, and watch Thursday Notes for instructions for tuning in.
As Teacher Appreciation Week approaches next week, please join me in thanking the entire team of faculty, staff, and administrators who have been working so hard on your behalf in these incredibly challenging circumstances. We appreciate them, and I appreciate all of you. I look forward to sending more information your way soon.
Please stay safe and well.
Cheers,
Dr. Glyn Cowlishaw