Temporary Shift to Remote Learning for Holly High School

November 4, 2020  

Dear HAS Families, 

I am communicating with you today regarding some significant events that have occurred over the past few days at Holly High School.  In just over a period of 48 hours, we received notification of 5 new COVID-19 positive cases resulting in quarantine of students and staff at Holly High School.  These are the first positive cases at HHS and all of them result from exposure outside of the school. 

Fortunately, the protocols and the cohorting mitigation strategy that we have in place at the high school significantly reduces the total number of students quarantined.  However, these cases still impact operations at the building.  You will recall from some of my recent communications this Fall, it is important that all of us work together on practicing safety protocols outside of school.  Though our strict mitigation protocols in school have prevented the transmission of the virus within our buildings, our ability at the high school to adequately staff classrooms for In-Person learning has declined quickly since yesterday. 

As a result of these positive cases, we now have over 20% of the high school’s In-Person teachers out of the classroom under quarantine.  This does not include additional support staff at the high school that have also been quarantined.  As a result, Holly High School will transition to temporary remote Virtual Learning for all students, Thursday, November 5th through Friday, November 13th. The high school will continue on the same daily and weekly schedule during the remote Virtual Learning.  By making this transition, our students will still be able to continue with instruction from their teachers that have been quarantined.  

As you know, we have worked very hard to keep our doors open to In-Person learning for our students and families.    Unfortunately, we surpassed the threshold today on the ability to continue In-Person learning as result of these recent cases.  We cannot overcome issues that take place outside of the school building that leads to quarantine of students and staff.  Unfortunately, we have become aware of some gatherings that have taken place outside of school, including a Halloween party with reportedly little evidence of mask-wearing or physical distancing.  

I want to reiterate that the transition to In-Person learning in October has been a success overall.  The protocols implemented in our buildings have been effective and thus far, we do not have evidence of positive cases of COVID-19 tracing back to exposure at school. Any non-compliance of protocols outside of school will continue to put In-Person learning at risk.  

While the other buildings will currently remain open to In-Person learning, they are also dealing with quarantine issues at a smaller scale.  We will continue to do everything we can to provide the In-Person option for our families.  With that said, we need to be mindful of the increasing number of positive cases happening in our county and community.  

As the prevalence of active cases in our community impacts our schools, we face a significant challenge of maintaining the day-to-day operations. Therefore, I am recommending that our families prepare for the possible transition back to temporary remote Virtual Learning over the next several weeks.  

In closing, I encourage everyone to please give careful consideration as a family to avoid gatherings and continue to seek ways in which we can safely get through the coming months to protect everyone’s health and keep our students in school.  

As a final reminder, “Grab and Go” breakfasts and lunches will be provided free of charge for all remote students on Wednesdays from 3:30 – 5:30 pm at Holly High School at the back of the building near the auditorium entrance. We are adding one additional day this week on Friday 11/6, 3:30 – 5:30 pm also at Holly High School.  

Any additional announcements regarding the shift to remote Virtual Learning will come from your high school principal, Mr. LoFiego and your student’s teacher.  

Sincerely,

 Scott M. Roper, Superintendent

HHS Temporary Shift to Remote Virtual Learning Nov 4 2020