COVID-19 Updates

Dear Families and Students, 

Thank you for your continued support and patience as we have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic together. It is amazing to think that almost two years ago, we shut our doors and began the work of keeping our community safe, while also providing the education and experience that we all want for our students. Thank you for all you have done and all you continue to do to keep yourselves and others safe as we prioritize the health and safety of our community, while also following the guidance of state and local health officials. 

As you are likely aware, Governor Newsom made a significant announcement last week about the state's masking policy for K-12 schools in response to declining case rates and hospitalizations across the state. Beginning at 11:59 p.m. on March 11, California will end its statewide indoor masking requirement in schools. As we have done all year, we will continue following the state and county guidelines and are updating our policy accordingly. As of March 12, masking will still be recommended for all students and staff regardless of vaccination status, but will no longer be required.  

Through March 11, all students and staff are still required to wear masks indoors in order to comply with the state mandate. 

We are aware the response to this news may be mixed and may cause anxiety for some. Please keep in mind even after the policy changes go into effect, masking will remain recommended and will continue to be an important mitigation strategy for those who are more vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19 infection and/or who remain concerned about their risk of exposure. Evidence continues to suggest that wearing a mask remains an effective tool for protecting oneself from COVID-19 transmission.  

We encourage all of you to consider individual and family risk levels and make an appropriate decision based on personal circumstances. It is critically important that personal choices around masking be made by each and every member of our community and respected as we move into this next phase. One should not make assumptions regarding someone's beliefs or health status based upon their choice to wear or not wear a mask.  

We will continue our other mitigation strategies including regular testing, requiring vaccination and/or weekly testing  and requiring vaccinations for participation in extracurricular activities. We greatly appreciate your continued support and patience as we learn how to manage living with COVID-19. 

Read full message here.

Dear Presentation Community,

We are writing to give you an update on the Omicron surge and how it relates to our campus. 

According to our latest numbers, we gave 81 on-campus PCR tests this week and are pleased to announce that for the second week in a row no one tested positive. 

It appears that the Omicron surge is waning. We have been advised by the Santa Clara County Department of Public Health that we can resume our previous practice of identifying and then notifying close contacts of a positive exposure, as we did prior to the Omicron surge. When we return from the Winter Break, we will resume that type of COVID-19 email notification as needed for our community.  

In addition, we will continue weekly testing for individuals who are unvaccinated on Tuesdays. That weekly testing also remains available to anyone who would like to be tested. Finally, we will continue to update the online COVID-19 dashboard on a weekly basis. 

The health and safety of our community continues to be our top priority and we thank you for your ongoing support of our efforts to keep our community healthy and safe.

Sincerely,

Stacey Teague '85 Stebbins 

Vice Principal, COVID-19 Designee

Dear Presentation Community,

We are writing to update you about a change in the policy allowing students to return to school after the COVID-19 isolation period. The West Catholic Athletic League (WCAL) has decided that athletes who have returned to campus after 5 days of isolation also meet the requirements to return to their sport.

In accordance with their decision, Presentation has decided to also allow students in any extracurricular activity to return, provided that they wear a mask AT ALL TIMES in accordance with CDPH and SCCPHD guidelines. 

Current guidelines set forth by CDPH and SCCPHD will allow a student  to move out of isolation after 5 days, IF they meet the following requirements:

• Student MUST have a negative antigen test on or after Day 5 AND be fever-free for at least 24 hours, with symptoms improving  (FDA at-home approved tests are accepted.)
• Student MUST wear a mask (N95, KN95 or double-mask) at all times (even outside) when around others for at least 10 days. 
• Students participating in any extracurricular activity must wear a mask at all times (even outside) and while participating in their activity. (For example, an athlete participating in an outdoor sport MUST still wear a mask while practicing or competing.) 

Those who choose not to test or cannot obtain a test may exit isolation after 10 days AND if their symptoms are improving and they are fever free for 24 hours. 

We appreciate your continued support as we navigate the changing guidelines.

In partnership,

Katherine Georgiev

Principal

Stacey Stebbins 

Vice Principal, COVID-19 Designee

Dear Parents: 

The health and well-being of our students and staff continue to be our highest priorities. We are dedicated to maintaining the best learning experience possible while protecting the safety of our students and staff. For the majority of children, the risks from COVID-19 infection are outweighed by the known social and mental health harms of remote learning, even during the current Omicron surge. We are committed to in-person instruction with our safety measures in place.

On January 12, 2022, the California Department of Public Health released revised guidance for TK-12 settings in which they identified alternative approaches to contact tracing and quarantine. In the event of wide-scale and/or repeated exposures, as we have been experiencing during the current Omicron surge, once weekly testing may be implemented in lieu of traditional exposure notification and contact tracing. This approach makes sense during the height of the Omicron pandemic given that frequent exposures are occurring inside and outside of school, along with in the community where exposures are not or cannot be communicated.

Therefore, between January 18, 2022 and February 21, 2022, we will NOT be sending individual close contact notifications. Instead, we will focus on weekly testing of all students and staff. We will update you when this protocol changes in accordance with fewer exposure events or additional guidance from local and state public health authorities.

Our school will continue to follow safety protocols, including masking and proper ventilation, to further reduce the risk of in-school COVID-19 transmission.

What does this mean for you and your child? 

• Your daughter may remain in school unless she develops symptoms or tests positive for COVID-19. Being exposed to somebody with COVID-19 does not necessarily mean that your child will become infected. Vaccination and wearing a mask can reduce the chance of infection even if exposed.
• Your daughter should be tested for COVID-19 once a week. By testing weekly, anyone who has a COVID-19 infection can be identified, even if they do not have symptoms. To access weekly testing resources, you may access PCR testing at Presentation on campus on Tuesdays or go here to find a free community testing site near you. Also, any FDA-approved over-the-counter (at-home antigen) tests may also be used. Note that if your child tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days, antigen testing (vs. PCR) is recommended. 
• If your daughter develops symptoms of COVID-19 or tests positive for COVID-19, please make sure she isolates at home immediately and notify us right away. When you notify us, we can take additional steps to keep our school community safe.
• If you learn that your daughter is exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, we suggest she get tested within 3-5 days after the exposure, or sooner if your daughter develops symptoms. Either a PCR or rapid, at-home antigen test may be used.
• Your child must continue to wear a mask indoors at school as outlined in the  Panther Pledge.
• If you haven't done so yet, your daughter should get fully vaccinated against COVID-19. A booster dose is recommended five months after the second dose. If your child has been boosted, please update your Magnus account or contact AnnMarie Kelly with questions: akelly@presentationhs.org. COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect against the spread of the virus and against severe disease. 

We will keep you updated on our community's health in the weekly Friday parent newsletter.  

We encourage you to contact us with questions and concerns. Please email either Stacey Stebbins or AnnMarie Kelly at sstebbins@presentationhs.org or akelly@presentationhs.org. 

Sincerely,

Katherine Georgiev

Principal

Stacey Stebbins 

Vice Principal, COVID-19 Designee

Dear Presentation Community Members,

Thank you for your continued support and caution as we returned to in-person learning this week.  You have demonstrated incredible care through our mandatory COVID-19 testing last week, staying home when you are symptomatic and following all County guidelines.  We are hopeful that this spike in COVID-19 cases locally will be short-lived, and yet we are taking every precaution to keep our community safe. 

Our top two priorities this year have been protecting the health and safety of our community and maintaining in-person learning and we have been fortunate to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 on campus this school year.  As the Omicron variant increases the number of classes locally, we continue to make decisions related to COVID-19 with these two priorities in mind.   Please review the important safety information and updates below.

Expectations of All Community Members

Based on these priorities, the following are expectations of all community members:

1. Adhere to the Panther Pledge and all county guidelines to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
2. Wear an effective mask properly at all times on campus, except when eating and drinking. The Santa Clara County Public Health Department now recommends N95 and KN95 masks OR double masking with a surgical mask and a cloth mask or two cloth masks. KN95 masks are available on campus.
3. Avoid discretionary travel or potentially risky social gatherings.
4. Do not come to school if you have any COVID-19 symptoms.
5. Get a COVID-19 vaccine booster as soon as possible. Anyone not yet vaccinated is strongly encouraged to immediately do so in order to protect themselves and our community.

UPDATED:  COVID- 19 Vaccination or Testing Requirement

The Santa Clara County Department of Public Health considers a person to be fully vaccinated only after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine booster.  Therefore, 

• All students must submit proof of full COVID-19 vaccination including a booster to Magnus Health by Friday, February 4, 2022.  You will be notified as soon as the submission is open in Magnus Health.  Any student who is not fully vaccinated must participate in routine, weekly testing.
• All students who wish to participate or continue their participation in Presentation's co-curricular activities must submit proof of their vaccine booster to Magnus Health by Friday, February 4, 2022.  Contact Mrs. AnnMarie Kelly with questions about how to submit your vaccination status.

UPDATED:  Isolation Period for COVID-19 Positive Tests 

We continue to follow the guidelines set forth by CDPH and SCCPHD and have made the decision to move to the 5-day isolation period permitted by the CDC and SCCPHD. That means the following:

           1. Anytime a test is positive (regardless of vaccination status), the individual must isolate at home for at least 5 days after the first symptoms started or the date the positive test is collected.

           2. In order to exit isolation and return to school, the individual MUST test negative on/after Day 5 AND only if fever-free for at least 24 hours and symptoms are improving. It is recommended that an Antigen (can be a rapid, in-home test) is used. 

          3. The individual MUST wear a mask at all times when around other individuals for at least 10 days. 

          4. Students who exit isolation before 10 days may return to class, but will not be permitted to participate in any extracurricular activities until after the 10-day waiting period is complete.

          5. Individuals who choose not to test or cannot obtain a test may exit isolation after 10 days AND only if their symptoms are improving and they are fever-free for 24 hours.

Thanks to these precautions and your commitment to maintaining our community's safety, the number of positive COVID-19 cases within our community remains relatively low:

• 38 students, or 6% of our student body, are currently in isolation.  We expect this number to come down as students test out of isolation this week.
• 7 faculty/staff/coaches are currently in isolation.
• 1 positive case on campus this semester since the start of classes.

We know it is never easy to be absent from school and so our faculty and staff are making every possible adjustment to support any students who must be away from school for any reason.  All lessons are video recorded and available to students, along with all class materials, on Schoology.  Teachers are also being very flexible with due dates to ensure all students have the support they need to be successful in their classes.  We are incredibly grateful to them for their professionalism and flexibility.  Finally, as we prioritize in-person classes, we may make adjustments to any large events or meetings to mitigate the risk of spreading COVID-19.  We will keep you updated as we make any additional adjustments to maintain our community's health.  

Thank you for your continued trust and flexibility as we navigate the pandemic together.  We are grateful for your support and commitment to keeping our community safe.

In Partnership,

Katherine Georgiev

Principal

Stacey Stebbins

Vice Principal of Student Affairs

Dear Parents, 

We hope you are enjoying a restful and fun summer with your family. We are eagerly planning our full return to in-person learning in August that prioritizes the health and safety of our community, maintaining the Presentation experience, and our strong academic program. Please review this information carefully.

COVID-19 Risk Mitigation

The CDC and CDPH both released updated guidelines for K-12 schools for the 2021-22 school year. In the recommendations, both agencies state the importance of layering multiple protection strategies to protect the health and safety of school communities. Our primary protection strategies are vaccinations, routine COVID-19 testing, mask-wearing, and daily symptom screening.

• COVID-19 vaccinations are encouraged for all eligible students. The CDC says that vaccination is the leading public health prevention strategy to end the pandemic. The FDA has approved vaccines for 12-15 year olds and appointments are currently available through your healthcare provider or a county vaccination site. We highly recommend your daughter is vaccinated this summer. All parents must report their daughter’s vaccination status to the school via Magnus before August 1st. 

• Masks are required indoors on campus throughout the school day, unless or participating in an exempted co-curricular activity. Masks are optional outdoors. This is in-line with CDPH’s guidelines for K-12 schools.

• Weekly COVID-19 testing is required for all unvaccinated students, faculty and staff.  Any students, faculty, or staff who are unvaccinated or decline to state their vaccination status must be tested weekly and also in advance of large school gatherings, such as assemblies, liturgy, and mixers. Testing will take place on campus and is free of charge. Our first gathering is the Opening Liturgy on the first day of school, and so unvaccinated students will be given information about reporting to campus before school begins for their first test.

• Every student and faculty/staff member will undergo a daily health screening using a survey. This survey will be emailed to everyone each morning. Students without symptoms will receive a QR code they will use to enter school each day.

We will keep you updated if there are any changes to the CDPH guidelines for K-12 schools that affect our plans.

Dear Parents,

It is hard to believe that this unprecedented year is coming to an end.  We are proud of our students for their many accomplishments, resilience, and the joy they’ve shown in this trying time and are eager to celebrate the Class of 2021 with our Class Day and Graduation celebrations next week.  We remain indebted to you for your partnership, support and trust as we navigated these challenging times as a community, and to our faculty and staff for their professionalism and dedication to your daughters’ growth.  

We are thrilled to welcome everyone back for in-person instruction in the fall.  We invite you to join me and Holly for our final leadership office hours of the year next Wednesday where we’ll share more information about our plans for the fall.  Specifically, we’ll discuss:

• Our priorities for the year

• Our plans for a full return to in-person instruction this fall,

• COVID-19 risk mitigation measures,

• Academic policies, next year’s instructional calendar, and bell schedule,

• Programming and staffing updates.

A recording and all materials from the office hours will be sent in next week’s parent blast.

Finally, Santa Clara County encourages all those eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine to be vaccinated as soon as possible.  The FDA has approved vaccines for ages 12-15 and the county began scheduling appointments for that age group this week.   Please complete the form sent to you via email to report your daughter’s vaccination status. 

Thank you for your continued partnership.  We look forward to seeing you and your daughters in the fall with a return to campus and for the reestablishment of our unique community and special traditions that are the hallmark of our Presentation experience.

Katherine Georgiev, Principal

Fall 2021 Reopening Update

We are thrilled to announce that we are planning for a full return to in-person instruction 5 days/week this fall. Education at Presentation is transformative and immersive, and our graduation outcomes that focus on developing the whole person are best delivered and experienced in person.  Updated guidance from the state, paired with the availability of vaccinations and testing make the plan for a full return possible.

Important Next Steps:

• Vaccination Reporting:  Santa Clara County encourages all those eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine to be vaccinated as soon as possible in advance of special events this spring and a return to in-person instruction in the fall.  The COVID-19 vaccination will not be required to attend Presentation in the fall, however, we do ask that you report if your daughter has been vaccinated as that helps us plan the extent to which we must conservatively mitigate risk in the fall.  Please the form sent to you via email to report your daughter’s vaccination status. 

• Medical Leave Requests: Students will be required to return to school for in-person instruction in the fall. If your daughter will be unable to attend school in person due to an extenuating medical circumstance, please contact Nancy Taylor, Vice Principal of Student Services by TODAY, May 14th. You will be required to provide medical documentation stating that she cannot attend school with the reason and anticipated duration. 

COVID-19 Vaccination Opportunities

There are several free vaccination clinics available in Gilroy (see this document for more information).

Requests for In-Person Instruction

We have limited space available on campus for additional students to return to in-person instruction for the last few weeks of school. If your daughter is interested in returning, please contact Nancy Taylor, Vice Principal of Student Services, who will review your daughter’s schedule to confirm we have a space for her in each of her classes. Please note that requests take approximately 1 week to become approved and finalized.

Preparing for Spring In-Person Events

There are many special events planned for this spring, especially in honor of our seniors. These events are important to us and we are remaining vigilant in our risk mitigation efforts to ensure they can happen.  Please join us in ensuring the health and safety of our community by continuing to uphold the Panther Pledge.

Fall 2021 Reopening Update

We are thrilled to announce that we are planning for a full return to in-person instruction 5 days/week this fall. Education at Presentation is transformative and immersive, and our graduation outcomes that focus on developing the whole person are best delivered and experienced in person.  Updated guidance from the state, paired with the availability of vaccinations and testing make the plan for a full return possible.

Important Next Steps:

• Vaccination Reporting:  Santa Clara County encourages all those eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine to be vaccinated as soon as possible in advance of special events this spring and a return to in-person instruction in the fall.  The COVID-19 vaccination will not be required to attend Presentation in the fall, however, we do ask that you report if your daughter has been vaccinated as that helps us plan the extent to which we must conservatively mitigate risk in the fall.  Please complete the form we sent to your email to report your daughter’s vaccination status. 

• Medical Leave Requests: Students will be required to return to school for in-person instruction in the fall. If your daughter will be unable to attend school in person due to an extenuating medical circumstance, please contact Nancy Taylor, Vice Principal of Student Services by May 14th. You will be required to provide medical documentation stating that she cannot attend school with the reason and anticipated duration. 

COVID-19 Updates

• We are proud of our safety and risk mitigation efforts and are excited to have students on campus for classes, activities, and events with zero cases of COVID-19 on site.  We are pleased that the health of our local community is improving and ask for your daughter to continue to adhere to the Panther Pledge.  This is especially important during this festive time of year and we ask that you practice discretion and remain vigilant to ensure everyone’s safety. 
• It has come to our attention that a number of local high school students attended a large, private, social gathering in April.  This event has since been deemed a super-spreader event and is problematic not only due to the threat it poses on human life, but also because it can compromise our ability to stay open.  Should there be cases of COVID-19 on campus, we may be forced to close for in-person instruction and would not be able to provide on-campus programming and events, such as prom, Class Day, and Graduation.  Please have a conversation with your daughter about how to remain vigilant and uphold the Panther Pledge this spring.

COVID-19 Updates

• We are happy to report that we've still had NO CASES of COVID-19 on campus! We are so grateful to our faculty, staff, and students who have been working hard to follow and maintain our risk mitigation guidelines.
• We are particularly proud of our Athletics program for following Santa Clara County’s checklist for recreational sports so closely.  While there have been cases in the County linked to youth sports, our Athletic staff’s leadership is allowing students to have athletic seasons while also keeping them safe. These guidelines are best practice and they are working for our community and so we will be applying them to all of our co-curricular activities through the end of this year.

After nearly three weeks of being reopened for in-person instruction, we're happy to announce that we've had NO CASES of COVID on campus! 

• We are so grateful to our faculty, staff, and students who have been working hard to follow and maintain our risk mitigation guidelines. It feels good to deliver on our promise to keep our community as healthy and safe as possible.
• As a reminder, once we return from Easter Break, we no longer need to do temperature checks! The new process for students to have their boarding pass scanned, grab a colored wristband, and head into campus.
• Countless kids have expressed how much better the learning experience has been because of this. And teachers once again feel the joyful reward of watching a student struggle with a problem, grasp a new concept, or have an “aha” moment. All of this is possible when students come back to campus.
• And please also know that if your daughter is feeling sick, we want to support her in staying home--just make sure you call our attendance line before the first period of the day (Lisa Fuqua, 408-266-1060) to let us know. Thank you.

COVID-19 Policy Updates

• Santa Clara County announced on Tuesday that we are now in the “Orange Tier.” What does this mean for PHS?

  • We may continue operating in our rotating, in-person instructional model.

  • Indoor worship can happen at 50% space capacity with modifications, which means we may start to hold mass and prayer services indoors (although singing must continue to happen outdoors)

  • Gyms can operate at 25% capacity indoors, which means PE classes and dance classes and teams may workout indoors up to 25% of room capacity.

  • Cohorting guidelines no longer apply; therefore, PHS students who are on-campus for any reason may continue participating in any/all activities/programs outside of Presentation, as long as you are adhering to the county guidelines and Panther Pledge.

• We have continued to revise our health-screening process based on the requirements and recommendations outlined by the county. As such, beginning after Easter break:

  • We will NOT be doing a temperature check as part of our screening process. Only the symptom check is required, which is captured in our Workwatch survey questions all faculty, staff, students, and coaches complete prior to arrival.

  • We will no longer require our faculty and staff to submit to Covid testing every two weeks. It is still recommended, but not required.

• We continue to adhere to all state and CalOsha guidelines; however, the CDC recently changed their guidance to suggest that “social distancing” in schools can now safely be maintained at just three feet apart. The state has specified:

  • Six feet should always be maintained between adults at all times, and between adults and students.

  • In classrooms, however, we can go down to three feet between student chairs. 

  • But, If we choose to do this, we would need additional mitigation efforts (which would include returning to stable groups/cohorts, which does not work for our in-person instructional model). 

  • Therefore, we will continue to maintain six feet of social distancing and only reduce that if/when it is necessitated by academic or co-curricular programming.

• We are excited to announce that 35% of our faculty and staff are fully vaccinated as of today! Even more will continue getting their full dosage over the next couple of weeks and be fully vaccinated after Easter break!!

• Students who are on-campus for any reason may now participate in one cohort/activity outside of Presentation.

• California Department of Public Health strongly recommends Californians avoid non-essential travel of more than 120 miles from one’s place of residence. At this time, however, Santa Clara County has lifted the 10-day quarantine requirement after travel (although it is still recommended if you travel out of state).

• Seniors attending school on campus may wear appropriate free dress every day.  All students may wear appropriate free dress on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Dear Families,

We are thrilled that the health of our community is improving.  Santa Clara County is now in the Red Tier and Presentation is permitted to reopen for in-person instruction beginning March 15 for the students who opted-in to in-person instruction.  The following updates will guide our on-campus operations moving forward.  Please note that all classes will continue to operate remotely for students who opted out of in-person instruction using our Neat Board technology.

Policy Updates

• Students who are on-campus for any reason may now participate in one cohort/activity outside of Presentation.

• California Department of Public Health strongly recommends Californians avoid non-essential travel of more than 120 miles from one’s place of residence. At this time, however, Santa Clara County has lifted the 10-day quarantine requirement after travel (although it is still recommended if you travel out of state).

• Seniors attending school on campus may wear appropriate free dress every day.  All students may wear appropriate free dress on Fridays.

Instruction

Beginning March 15th, most of our faculty and staff will return to campus.  Teachers will teach in-person to the students who have opted-in for in-person instruction.  Students on campus will attend 2 days/week and will rotate through their classes.  Students attending remotely will still attend classes via Zoom.  Please note that not all teaching faculty are returning in-person and students who are on campus in those classes will be supervised by another staff member.

On-Campus Orientation

Students attending classes in person must attend a mandatory orientation next week.  Students received an email from Mrs. Taylor confirming their orientation assignment and may wear free dress to their orientation.

Afternoon Pick Up 

• During our cohort model, students must be picked up promptly at their dismissal time (12:45 p.m. or 3 p.m.) in front of campus. 

• Beginning March 15th, students must leave campus after their classes end for the day by either 12:00 p.m. on Blue Days and by 1:00 p.m. on Gold Days.  

• Extended Care:  Students must be supervised at all times on campus and students will have the opportunity to sign up to stay on campus between the end of the school day and the start of their co-curricular activities (1:00-4:00 p.m.). A form will be sent to all students attending in-person instruction next week to sign-up for this program.

Attendance

• On-Campus Check-in:  Students who attend school on campus must arrive at their designated WORKWATCH station at their designated time between 7:30-8:00 a.m. in order to be screened into campus for the day. If a student who is assigned to be on campus on any given day decides to stay home and attend classes remotely, their parent must contact Lisa Fuqua, our Attendance Coordinator, by 8:30 a.m. to report a student absent: lfuqua@presentationhs.org; (408) 266-1060.

• Tardy Policy - Arriving to Campus after 8 a.m.:  Students must arrive during their designated arrival time and complete the WorkWatch screening before 8:00 am. If there is an extenuating circumstance that requires a student to arrive after 8 a.m. they should contact the Main Office at (408) 264-1664 to ensure that there is a staff member available to screen them in at the WORKWATCH health screening station. Tardy policies per our student handbook apply if the student is late to class.

• Study Periods:  Beginning March 15th, Students will be supervised during their study period in the Library and attendance will be taken.  Students must be on campus at 1st or 5th period even if they have a study, but students may leave campus if they have a study 4th and 7th period. 

Please help keep these opportunities open and protect the health and safety of our community by committing to the Panther Pledge.  Asymptomatic COVID-19 testing is also a way that students and families can help keep our community safe.  Our faculty and staff are all tested 2x/month and we encourage students to test regularly.  Thank you for your partnership and commitment to our community.

Good afternoon,

Santa Clara County announced today that the county will enter into the Red Tier tomorrow, March 3. We are thrilled that the health of our community is improving and that this permits us to bring students back for in-person instruction.

What does this mean?

• We will continue to provide our on-campus remote learning cohorts through Friday, March 12th.  Students enrolled in these cohorts should continue to attend as scheduled.  Remote learning cohorts will not operate after March 12th.

• Beginning the week of March 15th, students who opted-in to in-person instruction will attend school rotating through their classes two days per week -- either Monday/Tuesday or Thursday/Friday.  Campus will be entirely remote for all students on Wednesdays.  Students who will be on campus must attend orientation next week.  More information will be sent to these families and students directly.

  • Please note that enrollment is closed for in-person instruction at this time. We created our rosters for in-person instruction and remote learning cohorts based on the responses parents submitted to opt in/out (sent on November 12) as well as the follow-up survey to all who opted in (sent on February 5).

  • Students should continue reviewing the daily bulletin for other opportunities to come to campus for events and/or co-curricular activities.

• We must still follow state and county guidelines that require 6 feet of social distance on campus and only permit religious or civic gatherings/events.

• Classes will still operate remotely using our new Neat Board technology in classrooms.

Additionally, we are pleased to announce that students who are on-campus for any reason may now participate in one cohort/activity outside of Presentation.  For example:

• A student who is attending on-campus classes may participate in one non-PHS activity before/after school.

• A student who is participating in a Presentation co-curricular activity may participate in one non-PHS activity before or after school.

• A student who is attending on-campus classes and is in an on-campus co-curricular activity may participate in one non-PHS activity before or after school.

• For athletics, student-athletes will be able to participate in their Presentation sport and their club/outside sport simultaneously while adhering to all Santa Clara County, CA Department of Public Health and Presentation guidelines and policies. 

• Student-athletes who are multi-sport athletes will be able to play both of their sports, however, not simultaneously. You will need to complete one season of sport before moving to another. 

Please help keep these opportunities open and protect the health and safety of our community by committing to the Panther Pledge.  Asymptomatic COVID-19 testing is also a way that students and families can help keep our community safe.  Our faculty and staff are all tested 2x/month and we encourage students to test regularly.  Thank you for your partnership and commitment to our community.

In partnership,

Katherine Georgiev

Principal​​​​​​​

• Regulatory Update:  Santa Clara County is in the Purple Tier.  Presentation continues to be guided by County guidelines, the new State of California framework for schools, and our reopening priorities of safety and maintaining the Presentation experience and our academic program. We are still permitted to run stable cohorts and not yet allowed to open for in-person instruction.  
• On-Campus Programming: All students may sign-up for our on-campus remote learning cohorts by completing this form to be placed on the waitlist.  On-campus co-curricular programs continue to be available and are communicated by our program directors directly to students.  Students CAN participate in on-campus co-curricular programming even if they are still learning remotely at home.  Please help keep these opportunities open and protect the health and safety of our community by committing to the Panther Pledge.  We strongly recommend that all students who are on campus for any reason take voluntary COVID-19 tests 2x/month.
• Update to Cohort Participation Guidelines:  Students may participate in an academic cohort PLUS one additional before/after-school cohort. For the purposes of our on-campus programming, this means that Presentation students may participate in one PHS academic/school-day cohort, and one PHS co-curricular cohort as well. Students may still NOT come to campus if they are participating in other cohorts/activities outside of Pres.
• Return to In-Person Instruction:  We take the responsibility of a safe return seriously and are planning in earnest for a possible return to in-person instruction. Families who committed to returning for in-person instruction will receive more information about the status of reopening and our on-campus student orientations next week.
• Bell Schedule:  In an effort to maintain continuity, we will not be changing the bell schedule if we return to in-person instruction.

• Regulatory Update:  Santa Clara County is in the Purple Tier.  Presentation continues to be guided by County guidelines, the new State of California framework for schools, and our reopening priorities of safety and maintaining the Presentation experience and our academic program. We are still permitted to run stable cohorts and not yet allowed to open for in-person instruction.  

• On-Campus Programming: All students may sign-up for our on-campus remote learning cohorts by completing this form to be placed on the waitlist.  On-campus co-curricular programs continue to be available and are communicated by our program directors directly to students.  Students CAN participate in on-campus co-curricular programming even if they are still learning remotely at home.

  • Please help keep these opportunities open and protect the health and safety of our community by committing to the Panther Pledge.  When on campus, students are required to be in uniform, unless otherwise specified by the program coordinator, and abide by Presentation’s on-campus policies,including:

    • Wearing masks at all times (except to eat or drink and need to momentarily move it)

    • Staying six feet away from other students and staff at all times

    • Following all signage/markings throughout campus

    • Wiping down your desk/work area at the end of each day

    • Sitting in one of the identified circles, benches/tables (one person per bench/table) and/or stay six feet apart during breaks and lunch

    • Turning your phone into the "cell phone parking lots" hanging in classrooms

    • Following all other school policies and expectations, as outlined in our student handbook

• Update to Cohort Participation Guidelines:  Students may participate in an academic cohort PLUS one additional before/after-school cohort. For the purposes of our on-campus programming, this means that Presentation students may participate in one PHS academic/school-day cohort, and one PHS co-curricular cohort as well. Students may still NOT come to campus if they are participating in other cohorts/activities outside of Pres.

• Return to In-Person Instruction:  We take the responsibility of a safe return seriously and are planning in earnest for a possible return to in-person instruction. While we cannot predict when the county will enter into the red tier, our goal is to prepare our faculty and staff and the students who committed to attending in-person this spring for the possibility of a return to in-person instruction in early March.  Families who committed to returning for in-person instruction will receive more information the week after break.

• Regulatory Update:  Santa Clara County is in the Purple Tier.  Presentation continues to be guided by County guidelines, the new State of California framework for schools, and our reopening priorities of safety and maintaining the Presentation experience and our academic program. We are still permitted to run stable cohorts and not yet allowed to open for in-person instruction.  

• Update to Cohort Participation Guidelines:  Effective this week, students may participate in an academic cohort PLUS one additional before/after-school cohort. For the purposes of our on-campus programming, this means that Presentation students may participate in one PHS academic/school-day cohort, and one PHS co-curricular cohort as well. Students may still NOT come to campus if they are participating in other cohorts/activities outside of Pres.

• Return to In-Person Instruction: We take the responsibility of a safe return seriously and are planning in earnest for a possible return to in-person instruction. While we cannot predict when the county will enter into the red tier, our goal is to prepare our faculty and staff and the students who committed to attending in-person this spring for the possibility of a return to in-person instruction in early March.  We are doing this by:

  • Continuing our optional, on-campus opportunities for students.

  • Planning on-campus orientations for our faculty and staff the week of March 1st and for students returning to in-person instruction the week of March 8th.  Classes will continue to meet remotely through March 12th with orientations on campus in the afternoon.

  • We will be ready to begin in-person instruction in the hyflex model as early as 3/15 if the county has been in the red for 5 consecutive days.  If we have not returned in the in-person hyflex model by April 1st, we may make the decision to stay in the cohort model through the end of this school year to ensure the continuity of our academic classes and ensure high-quality on-campus co-curricular and event programming through the end of the year.

  • Families who committed to returning for in-person instruction will receive a form to confirm their intent to return via email today.

• On-Campus Programming: All students may sign-up for our on-campus remote learning cohorts by completing this form to be placed on the waitlist.  On-campus co-curricular programs continue to be available and are communicated by our program directors directly to students. Please help keep these opportunities open and protect the health and safety of our community by committing to the Panther Pledge.  When on campus, students are required to be in uniform, unless otherwise specified by the program coordinator, and abide by Presentation’s on campus policies,including:

  • Wearing masks at all times (except to eat or drink and need to momentarily move it)

  • Staying six feet away from other students and staff at all times

  • Following all signage/markings throughout campus

  • Wiping down your desk/work area at the end of each day

  • Sitting in one of the identified circles, benches/tables (one person per bench/table) and/or stay six feet apart during breaks and lunch

  • Turning your phone into the "cell phone parking lots" hanging in classrooms

  • Following all other school policies and expectations, as outlined in our student handbook

• Regulatory Update:  Santa Clara County is in the Purple Tier.  The Regional Stay at Home Order was lifted on Monday, 1/25. You can read the press release from the County here with information about what immediately changes. Presentation continues to be guided by County guidelines and the new State of California COVID-19 and Reopening In-Person Instruction Framework & Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools in California and our reopening priorities of safety and maintaining the Presentation experience and our academic program.  This change means that we are still permitted to run stable cohorts and not allowed to open for in-person instruction.  The soonest we will open for in-person instruction will be 3/2, presuming our County is in the Red Tier for 5 consecutive days and that our community is prepared to return.  We are working on a framework and timeline now that will give you a better idea as to when and how we’ll make that decisiona and what the return to school will look like.

• On-Campus programming continues to be available to students and is communicated by a program director directly to students.  Please help keep these opportunities open and protect the health and safety of our community by committing to the Panther Pledge.

• Athletics Update Hello Panthers! This week has been a whirlwind-- the stay at home order was lifted, Santa Clara County updated their youth sport guidelines Tuesday then revised those youth sport guidelines late Wednesday night paving the way for high school athletics to slowly begin again! During this time the WCAL Athletic Directors and Commissioner have worked to come up with a road map for the rest of the school year and athletics seasons. While we recognize this is not a perfect solution/plan, we do think it is the best way forward for everyone (athletes, coaches, administrators, school staff, etc.). Below is a snapshot and full document for the WCAL roadmap moving forward. 
  WCAL League Update 
  CIF All Sports Guidelines
  CDPH Youth Sports Guidance
  SCC Youth Sports Guidance
  
  You might be asking yourself, when will tryouts occur? When will I know if my sport is going to be able to practice/tryout? I don't understand this document at all, I need help? The Athletic Department will be hosting a Town Hall next Wednesday, February 3rd at 6 pm to help answer some of these questions. Please register here. In the coming week, the Athletic Department will be meeting with each program individually to strategize and game plan the tryout schedule, practice schedule, game schedule, etc. to have the best plan in place for our athletes. 
  
  For questions please contact Athletic Director Kevin Saldivar (ksaldivar@presentationhs.org or 408-686-2089).

• Regulatory Update:  Santa Clara County is in the Purple Tier and under a Regional Stay at Home Order. The Order will stay in place until the Bay Area’s four-week ICU projection shows a capacity of greater than or equal to 15%.  Presentation continues to be guided by County guidelines and the new State of California COVID-19 and Reopening In-Person Instruction Framework & Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools in California and our reopening priorities of safety and maintaining the Presentation experience and our academic program.

• Student Activities and Presentation Traditions:  We continue to be grounded in educating students toward Presentation’s graduation outcomes while prioritizing our community’s health and safety.  Spring is a celebratory time in our community with many events and traditions. We will share more about our plans for student activities in the coming weeks.  Thank you for your patience.

• On-Campus Programming:  On-campus remote learning and student support cohorts began on Tuesday and we welcomed over 60 students back to campus!  This is part of our plans to build capacity to bring students back for in-person instruction later this spring in line with State and County guidelines.  Our co-curricular program directors are busy building on-campus opportunities for students that follow the County guidelines and we will share those opportunities as they become available.

• Regulatory Update:  Santa Clara County has extended the Regional Stay at Home Order, which was originally set to expire on January 8th.  The Order will stay in place until the Bay Area’s four-week ICU projection shows a capacity of greater than or equal to 15%.  

• Student Activities and Presentation Traditions:  We continue to be grounded in educating students toward Presentation’s graduation outcomes while prioritizing our community’s health and safety.  Spring is a celebratory time in our community with many events and traditions.  It is an especially exciting time for our senior students and they will be celebrated for their hard work and accomplishments!  It is important to us that we maintain as many traditions and experiences as we can in a safe environment.  We will share more about our plans for student activities in the coming weeks.  Thank you for your patience.

• On-Campus Programming:  On-campus remote learning and student support cohorts will begin on Tuesday for those students who registered.  We are looking forward to having students on campus!  Our co-curricular program directors are busy building on-campus opportunities for students that follow the County guidelines and we will share those opportunities as they become available.

• Remote Instruction Expectations:  We had a great first full week with students!  As a reminder, our remote classes are guided by these expectations of students and the virtual code of conduct.  Thank you for your partnership and support of your daughter’s learning at home.
   
• Technology Pilot: A group of teachers is on campus this month piloting technology to best support the hyflex instructional model and just completed their first week of classes using the technology.  This model allows students to fully participate in classes in person or remotely and may begin as early as March 2nd.

We continue to be grounded in educating students toward Presentation’s graduation outcomes while prioritizing our community’s health and safety.  As we begin the spring semester, our faculty and staff reflected on this interview from the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) about how to support students in the midst of the pandemic. "If educators right now are thinking, how do we prevent learning loss, how do we have kids catch up on their mathematics, all of those kinds of things, if children’s brains are not open and receptive, it’s not going to work. We have to prioritize well-being and wellness. We have to prioritize relationships. And then we’ll have a cognitive apparatus that’s working." (ISTE) With this in mind, students and faculty spent this week renewing, reconnecting, and recharging for the spring semester.  Teachers also participated in 3 days of professional development preparing for their courses and to support of students in the new year.

Regulatory Update:  Santa Clara County is currently under a Regional Stay at Home Order. Our campus access is limited until 1/19 to ensure best practices in quarantining for those in our community who traveled over the Christmas break.

December 4th -- Parent Update

Dear Families,

We hope you had a restful Thanksgiving break.  We are proud of our students, faculty, and staff all of whom continue to go above and beyond, demonstrate incredible resiliency, and remain committed to learning and service in these difficult times. And, we continue to be grateful for your partnership as we work to provide your daughter with the best possible experience through this unprecedented time.

There have been several updates issued by state and local agencies in the last week and we remain concerned with the continued increase in COVID-19 cases in our county. Just today Santa Clara County along with several other Bay Area counties issued stay-at-home orders starting this Sunday; it is important to note these orders do not apply to schools.  We hope the following information helps clarify Presentation’s plans for the second semester in line with our reopening priorities.  We also invite you to join us for office hours on Wednesday night at 5:30 p.m. to discuss any questions you may have.

On-Campus Activities
We have had many students on campus this fall in our co-curricular and learning cohorts. Optional on-campus co-curricular cohorts (i.e. Athletics, Dance, Theater, Campus Ministry, etc.) will continue and we plan to expand these offerings as early as January.  And, our academic support cohort for students who require additional support from our student services team continues to meet.  We are also developing plans to open and expand our optional remote learning cohorts early in second semester.

Celebrating the seniors and welcoming the freshmen to campus is important to us and we are committed to maintaining Presentation’s important traditions and prioritizing these activities.

Instructional Plans
We will begin second semester with remote instruction through February and will continue our intentional, phased approach to bringing students back to campus with the aim of resuming on-campus instruction later in the semester.  To better support both students and teachers and prepare for the spring, we are:

• Adjusting the bell schedule to increase synchronous class times, which will allow for more face-to-face interaction and instruction.
• Investing in additional teacher professional development and allotting more time at the beginning of second semester for teachers to prepare their courses.
• Researching new technology to support varied instructional models.
• Redesigning the flow of traffic, the use of space on campus, and upgrading our facilities to ensure that we meet or exceed the health and safety recommendations.

We appreciate your patience as we continue to work to support the needs of our entire community while responsibly adapting to changing conditions in our county.

Athletics
CIF announced that “all full practice and competition start dates are officially on hold” until further notice.  All Season 1 dates, including tryouts, parent meetings, and team schedules will be adjusted once a new start date is announced.  The optional on-campus training sessions will continue through December 11th and restart early in the second semester.

Travel Guidelines
The most recent county directive mandates that any individuals who traveled more than 150 miles outside the county must quarantine for two weeks.  To protect the health of our community, campus access will be limited over Christmas break and until January 19th.

For more information, you may read each of the latest policy changes here:

• Santa Clara County’s Health Directive issued 11/28/20
• California Interscholastic Federation’s statement released 12/1/20
• California Department of Public Health’s Regional Stay at Home Order issued 12/3/20

Thank you for your continued support and partnership.

November 24th -- On-Campus Updates

Dear Parents and Students,
 
We continue to work to identify and implement the best strategies to protect the health and safety of our community and ensure the continuity of learning and the Presentation experience for all students.  Thank you for your partnership and patience.
 
Cohorts Continue on Campus
As you know, Governor Newsom's November 16th order placed our county back in the “purple” tier. Presentation is not considered “open” per Santa Clara County guidelines and, therefore, cannot resume mixed cohorts or begin new in-person activities until Santa Clara County is in the “red” tier for 14 consecutive days. Our co-curricular and student support cohorts can and will continue to meet while we are in the “purple” tier. Students are also only allowed to participate in one cohort at a time per the County’s cohort guidelines, either on or off campus. Any student who is currently enrolled in an on-campus cohort will receive an email update about the status of their cohort as a result of this change.
 
Remote Until March Due to County Guidelines
Many families expressed interest in both in-person cohorts and attending academic classes in-person when completing the Family Commitment Form.  Because Santa Clara County is in the “purple” tier and Presentation is not currently considered “open” per County guidelines, we must return to school after the Christmas break with remote instruction and we will stay remote until at least March 1st due to the County guidelines, the projected spike in COVID-19 cases after the holidays, and Presentation’s February break.  We will provide an update to our instructional plans at that time and, in the meantime, will continue our intentional, phased approach to bringing students back to campus by offering opportunities in accordance with the county guidelines for schools.
 
We continue to research and implement best practices in remote learning and containing the spread of COVID-19 on school campuses in preparation for the spring semester.  This includes revisiting our bell schedule, investing in teacher professional development, researching new technology to support varied instructional models, redesigning the flow of traffic and use of space on campus, and upgrading our facilities. We will keep you informed of our progress and update you as more details are available.
 
Co-Curriculars
Finally, after-school co-curricular cohorts will continue to operate following the county guidelines for the “purple” tier.  We are awaiting confirmation about the beginning of athletic “Season 1” (cross country, field hockey, volleyball, water polo) from the California Interscholastic Federation and Central Coast Section, which is currently scheduled to begin on December 14th. We will update all athletes and families once we have more information.  The Athletic Department is also hosting a “town hall meeting” on Monday, November 30th at 6:00 p.m. to update families on the current status as well as answer questions as it relates to athletics. Please see your parent newsletter for the registration link.
 
Adhering to COVID-19 safety guidelines is important to protecting our community.  We ask that you and your family continue to follow the recommendations of Santa Clara County’s Department of Public Health to help contain the spread of COVID-19 and protect the well being of our school and local community.
 
We continue to be grateful for our partnership and wish you and your family a blessed Thanksgiving.
 
-- The PHS COVID 19 Taskforce

November 6th -- On-Campus Updates
We have been running a few "pilot" groups of students who are on campus in a classroom during the school day, learning remotely. The students who have participated are doing a great job of following our safety protocols, and they're enjoying the chance to be on campus and in person with other Pres students and staff.  If you're student is interested in being placed on a waitlist for these cohorts, please read over these guidelines and have her complete the embedded "self certification" form. (This must be completed by the student, thank you!) 
On-Campus Guidelines Update

We have been following the earlier county guidelines that required that any students coming to campus verify that they have NOT been participating in any other activities/groups/cohorts outside of Pres. However, county guidance has changed a bit and our Covid-19 Task Force has now decided to revise the PHS policy/guideline.

Beginning on November 16, students will just be asked to self-certify that "If I am participating in an outside activity, I can confirm I'm following the county guidelines/requirements the entire time."

Leadership Team Campus Reopening Replay

If you missed the Leadership Team Office Hours on October 28th, you can watch the replay here. 

October 30th -- Small Cohorts Return to Campus

Small cohorts are beginning to arrive on campus as we build capacity for our return. Though you might not be able to see it, everyone is smiling! We are so excited to have students safely on campus and look forward to the day we can all be back together in person!

While the school hasn't fully reopened yet, we have been running "pilot" programs as a sort of "soft reopening." Here's what we have going on:

• Athletics: a few sports teams have been offering optional training sessions for the last seven weeks. Look out for announcements and emails from Kevin Saldivar about this!
• Dance: optional training sessions have been in progress and continue, updates are communicated by Sara Fugate to the dance team and dance company.
• Campus Ministry: a few core team members are back on site to help Lisa Brunolli plan junior retreat. Coming up next: on-site prayer service for selected peer ministers.
• Community Involvement: look for more details coming from Crystal Catalan about our upcoming "holiday drives" drop-off days!
• Frosh/Senior bonding: Halloween fun was had with Frosh and Seniors on campus this week. 
• Remote Learning Cohorts: we have a few kids on campus in remote learning pods/cohorts, based on invitation only. This will continue to be communicated directly to those selected students by either Nancy Taylor or Andria Bengtson.

REMOTE LEARNING COHORTS
As highlighted above, we have been running a few "pilot" groups of students who are on campus in a classroom during the school day, learning remotely. The students who have participated are doing a great job of following our safety protocols, and they're enjoying the chance to be on campus and in person with other Pres students and staff. So, we'd really like to open this opportunity up to more who are eager for the same experience! If you're interested in being placed on a waitlist for these cohorts, please read over these guidelines and complete the embedded "self certification" form.
 

October 16th -- Campus Reopening Update

As explained in our reopening guide, the campus remains closed to visitors at this stage. However, as you may be aware, Pres and St. Chris have a close partnership which includes an agreement whereby St. Chris has the opportunity to use our field and we have the opportunity to use a portion of their parking lot.

As both schools begin to return to on-campus activities we are working together to safely continue this arrangement. Starting this week, their students will have closely supervised access to the field during their school day when it is not in use for Pres programs. Strict safety and cleaning precautions will be followed.

October 9th -- Parent Survey + Reopening Update

Parent Survey
Earlier this week we shared a reopening update along with a parent survey asking for your feedback and level of comfort with our return plans, please complete the survey today if you haven't had the chance -- your feedback is important to us!

Reopening Update and Remote Learning Expectations
If you haven't read the update, please find it here: Reopening Plan and Remote Learning Expectations.

View the full communication shared 10/6. 

September 23rd -- Parent Update

Dear Parents,
As you may know, in July Santa Clara County was ordered to follow Governor Newsom’s mandate for all schools in CA to “open” remotely for the fall. The communication that followed stipulated that schools would have a chance to reopen as soon as our county reached “Tier 2” status on the Governor’s watch list and maintained that status for two weeks. (Review county orders here.) Santa Clara County reached the two-week mark on Wednesday, September 23, and therefore is allowed to reopen schools for student programming under the previously shared framework. 

As we communicated in the July 24 parent newsletter, we will NOT be returning to campus this semester for in-person instruction during the school day (periods 1-7). However, we are committed to bringing more students back on campus during “Phase 1,” more specifically, co-curricular activities, special academic classes, and student services may be scheduled to return to campus during this time period. Athletics and dance were the first activities cleared under County guidelines to return under these conditions. These groups have been piloting our screening and supervision practices for the past week, and we are now working to bring back additional student programs to enrich and carry out the Pres Experience this year. These opportunities will be presented to students and families as they are rolled out in the coming weeks. 

As plans to bring students back to campus take shape, we ask that families, faculty and staff continue to follow county health guidelines including those for wearing masks in public, limiting in-person interactions, avoiding large group gatherings, and remaining close to home. And, although not required, we are strongly encouraging faculty, staff and students to get a flu shot this fall.

We will continue to monitor the updated county guidelines in light of our established priorities for bringing students back on campus and responsibly progressing through the opening phases. Know that we are committed to supporting our students and staff, and that we understand that getting your daughter back to campus, even for short periods of time, can help support her social-emotional, spiritual and intellectual wellbeing. Please continue to watch the newsletter for further updates related to on-campus programming opportunities.

Covid-19 Task Force Priorities

• Support of students with highest needs
• Student/Pres experience (mission-driven programming and support)
• Social-emotional well-being of students
• Hands-on learning (VPA, science, etc.)
• Frosh/transfer student experience

Remote learning is most successful when there is alignment between the school and family. We understand that this experience has been challenging for many. Please know that we remain grateful for your support throughout this pandemic experience.
 
In Partnership,
Holly Elkins,
President
 

September 11th -- Parent Update

Dear Families,
Despite the ominous skies this week, I continue to be grateful that our community is currently safe from the fires and we’re starting to see some improvement with the Coronavirus level in Santa Clara county moving to red from purple. We continue to pray for those impacted directly by wildfire and Coronavirus, especially for the first responders. And, we remain watchful of our county health levels and will keep you updated on our return to campus plans for co-curriculars and eventually curricular programming. Next week, dancers and fall athletes will return to campus for in-person practice. And we will continue our plan to remain remote for instructional time during the academic day for the rest of this semester so we do not disrupt learning mid-course, but we may look at bringing certain students back to campus for specific academic support and/or experiences.

In Partnership,
Holly Elkins,
President
 

Dear Families,

Presentation’s mission, the health and safety of our community, and maintaining our exceptional academic and co-curricular programming continue to be our top priorities as we prepare for the return to school.  

As we shared last Friday, Governor Newsom outlined new parameters and guidelines for both public and private school operations for returning to school this fall.  The new mandate requires fully remote instruction until the county is removed from the State of California’s Monitoring List for 14 days.  Santa Clara County is currently on the Monitoring List and you may view the total number of cases in our county on the Santa Clara County Department of Public Health’s website. 

As reflected in our re-entry plan, we have been preparing for three possible return-to-school options -- 100% Remote, 100% On Campus, or a Hybrid experience. Initially we planned to return with a hybrid experience, however, given the current data for Santa Clara County and the Governor’s announcement, we will return to school with a 100% remote experience in August.   Instruction will continue remotely for the duration of the fall semester, with limited on-campus academic and support cohorts and co-curricular programming provided if and when possible.  

While this is a change, we are not throwing out our plan or revising the original one.  Our three options remain the same, the bell schedule and “Gold/Blue” calendar remain the same, our instructional plan is the same, and we still have the ability to pivot to a new scenario when we’re able to do so. Our plan was designed strategically to flex to the needs of our students and the changing needs of our state and county so we can scale-up and scale-down in person instruction and activities as needed.   

We appreciate your support as we finalize the details of our reopening plans and prepare to welcome your daughters back to campus.  Please review the following important details as we prepare our return.

“Returning” to School in August
We will return to school in August with the 100% Remote Presentation Experience, during this time, Presentation’s campus and facilities remain closed to all students, parents, and visitors.

• All instruction will occur remotely.

• Our remote learning approach has been improved from last spring which was crisis learning in response to a sudden call to close the campus. We have been preparing for our return to school all summer with robust professional development and are ready to employ best practices in remote learning. 

• Freshman Orientation and Transfer Orientation will be conducted remotely. Freshmen and their families will receive details via email the week of August 3rd.

• If and when the county guidelines permit us to do so, we will continue to provide on-campus academic and co-curricular programs in fixed cohorts and we will expand these options as county guidelines allow, and need and capacity increases.

• We will remain in 100% remote teaching/learning and limited on-campus programs for the duration of the fall semester. 

  • This allows for continuity in the teaching/learning experience without disruption for training and implementation of new practices mid-semester.

  • It also allows us to continue to increase our capacity to bring students to campus through limited on-campus programs such as athletics, dance, theater, robotics, speech and debate, students with accommodations, science labs, etc. 

• Athletics competition will happen this school year, but start dates and seasons have changed. Please see the complete Athletics update here. 

Cohort and House Assignments
While we are not returning to campus in the Cohort Model, students will still “meet” remotely in cohorts and houses for community building and other student support programming.  Students received their cohort and house assignments directly via email earlier today.

Semester Calendar
View an overview of our academic calendar for the first semester here.  Note that the instructional calendar and vacation dates remain unchanged.

Community Expectations
We are all called by our faith and mission to serve our school and local community and act responsibly. As such, it is our expectation that all students, faculty, staff, and community members adhere to county health guidelines, including requirements and recommendations with regard to social distancing, wearing face masks, practicing good hygiene, and travel.  Our community’s responsible adherence to these requirements will help contain the spread of the disease and will be required of all community members in order to physically return to campus.
 

In partnership,
 

Holly and Katherine

2-1-1 for Local Assistance

2-1-1 is a free, 24-hour telephone number that offers support with health and human services, utility assistance, housing and shelter, child care, legal assistance, mental health and counseling, and other vital resources.

Public Health Departments

For the latest updates on how your county is responding to the coronavirus pandemic, please click the links below:

• CA Department of Public Health
• Santa Clara County Department of Public Health
• Santa Cruz County Department of Public Health
• Monterey County Department of Public Health

State and Federal Resources

Unemployment, Disability, and Workers' Compensation insurance

If you are unable to work due to having or being exposed to the Coronavirus, you can file a Disability Insurance claim here: EDD Disability Insurance claim.

If your hours have been reduced or your employer has shut down operations due to Coronavirus, you can file an Unemployment Insurance claim here: EDD Unemployment Insurance claim.

If you are working fewer hours or not working because your child's school is closed and you need to care for them, you can file an Unemployment Insurance claim here: EDD Unemployment Insurance claim.

Paid Family Leave and Sick Leave

If you're unable to work because you're caring for a sick or quarantined family member with Coronavirus, you can file a Paid Family Leave claim here: EDD Paid Family Leave claim.

If you or a family member are sick, there may be paid sick leave or other paid leave that is available. Additionally, employees at worksites with 25 or more employees may also be provided up to 40 hours of leave per year for specific school-related emergencies, such as the closure of a child's school or day care by civil authorities (see Labor Code section 230.8). Whether that leave is paid or unpaid depends on the employer's paid leave, vacation or other paid time off policies. Discuss your options with your employer, and read more about Paid Sick Leave eligibility here: DIR Paid Sick Leave eligibility.

* The Labor and Workforce Development Agency has more information about potential benefits, including informative chart displaying and explaining these benefits: LWD Coronavirus Resources.

Income Tax Relief

If the Coronavirus has impacted your ability to file your state income tax return on time, you can file for an extension.

DMV Grace Period

If your driver license or vehicle registration is expiring soon, and you don't want to risk coronavirus exposure or transmission, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is offering announced a 60-day extension for renewals of driver licenses and vehicle registrations with expiration dates beginning March 16, 2020. More information can be found here: DMV 60-day extension.

Small Business Administration

If your business has suffered substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus, you can apply for a low-interest federal disaster loan.

Price-gouging is illegal in California. If you or someone you know needs to file a complaint against an individual or business, you can add your claim here.

If you or your child is experiencing challenges or concerns related to mental health, please see the following mental health and crisis resources.

In case of an immediate threat or danger, call 911.

COVID-19 Resources

Co-vid 19 clinic locator
https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/clinic-locator/?q=95125

Co-vid 19 screening and testing support
www.projectbaseline.com

California Immigrant Youth Justice Alliance
https://ciyja.org/covid19/

Santa Clara Public Health Information
https://www.sccgov.org/sites/phd/DiseaseInformation/novel-coronavirus/Pages/order-health-officer-031620.aspx

Center for Disease Control and Prevention- prepare your household for Covid19
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/get-your-household-ready-for-COVID-19.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fcommunity%2Fhome%2Fget-your-household-ready-for-COVID-19.html

Suicidal Thoughts 
1. NAMI - Mental Health Emergency and Mobile Crisis for Santa Clara County https://namisantaclara.org/crisis-support-3/

2. Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-TALK (8255) – Call anytime if you’re feeling desperate, alone or hopeless. This number will route you to the crisis center nearest you. 

3. Military Crisis Line 800-273-8255 (or text 838255) – Crisis support for current or former U.S. military personnel and their families. 

Mental health support (which can include bullying, cyberbullying, suicidal thoughts and everything below) 
1. Boys Town National Hotline 800-448-3000 (serves girls too) – The Boys Town National Hotline is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and staffed by specially trained counselors. Parents, teens and families can find help with a range of issues including abuse, anger, depression, school issues, bullying etc. 

2. Covenant House — Nineline 800-999-9999 – A support service and 24-hour helpline for homeless youth. Deals with a wide range of issues, including bullying, suicide, basic needs, health, sex, drugs & alcohol and sex.

3. ReachOut 800-448-3000 – Site where teens and young adults can find the information they need, reach out, tell their stories, and voice their opinions “without fear of being judged or being different.” 

4. Crisis Text Line (lets people reach out for support via text messaging). Text 741-741 

Dating abuse, domestic violence and cyberstalking 
1. Love is Respect National Dating Abuse Helpline 866 331-9474 – 24-hour helpline for teens, parents, friends and family, peer advocates. All communication is confidential and anonymous. 

2. National Domestic Violence Hotline 800 799-SAFE (7233) or text TELLNOW to 85944 – A 24-hour hotline for any type of domestic abuse, including dating abuse and cyberstalking. 

3. The Cyber Civil Rights Initiative: Provides counseling and technical advice to victims of nonconsensual pornography (“revenge porn”) through a 24-hour Crisis Helpline.

Drug and alcohol issues 
Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator (SAMHSA) – Searchable directory of drug and alcohol treatment programs shows the location of facilities around the country that treat alcoholism, alcohol abuse and drug abuse problems. 

LGBT & questioning youth 
1. The Trevor Project 866 488-7386 – Provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. 

Self-harm and eating disorders 

1. Any mental health resource center can help in urgent cases. 

2. HelpGuide.org – More of a resource center than an emergency response service but good information on all sorts of self-harm issues. 

3. National Eating Disorders Association & helpline 800-931-2237 

4. Proud2BME: An information resource and forum on eating disorders and body issues.

Sexual exploitation (offline or online), abuse or missing teens/kids 

1. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) – 800-843-5678 24-hour response line for children who are missing or victims of sexual exploitation. 

2. Rape Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) – 800-656-HOPE More than 1,100 trained volunteers are on duty and available to help victims at RAINN-affiliated crisis centers across the country. 

3. National Runaway Switchboard (800-RUNAWAY) – The mission of the National Runaway Switchboard (NRS) is to help keep America’s runaway, homeless and at-risk youth safe and off the streets. 

4. National Child Abuse Hotline 800-4-A-Child 800-422-4453 or text CHILDHELP to 847411 – Operates a 24/7 hotline with professional crisis counselors who, through interpreters, can provide assistance in 170 languages. 

5. Cyber Civil Rights Initiative: Provides counseling and technical advice to victims of nonconsensual pornography (“revenge porn”) through a 24-hour Crisis Helpline (also listed unders domestic violence and dating abuse).

AP Exam Testing Updates
In an announcement released today, March 20, CollegeBoard has cancelled all in-person AP exam administration in May.. Many details about online exam content and administration have not been shared with schools. Details about content, the testing schedule, and exam administration will be shared with schools on April 3rd. We will keep students and parents updated as CollegeBoard provides more details about online test administration. Please contact Ms. Ishida via email if you have any questions.

SAT Test Center Closures
Students who were affected by a test center closure for the March & May SAT should follow the instructions sent by College Board regarding make-up testing OR registering for another test date. If “make-up testing is to be determined”, College Board is still working to arrange a date and test center. You'll be contacted as soon as a makeup test is scheduled. You may visit sat.org/register to register for a future test date. Registration for the August 29 administration will open in late April. Students who used a fee waiver to register for the March or May SAT should call the number below to ensure that fees are waived for your new registration. 

If you have any questions, contact Customer Service at sat@info.collegeboard.org or 866-756-7346. Customer Service hours are 8 a.m.–9 p.m. ET, Monday–Friday. Reach out to your college counselor if you need additional guidance. 

April 4 ACT Updates
ACT has rescheduled its April 4 national test date to June 13 across the U.S. in response to concerns about the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). All students registered for the April 4 test date will receive an email from ACT in the next few days informing them of the postponement and instructions for free rescheduling to June 13 or a future national test date. For detailed information, visit this ACT website.

As our country continues to manage the COVID-19 emergency, Comcast is taking immediate steps to help connect low-income families to the Internet at home. New Internet Essentials customers will receive two free months of Internet service, which is available to all qualified low-income households for $9.95/month plus tax. Apply by April 30, 2020.

Additionally, for all new and existing Internet Essentials customers, the speed of the program's Internet service has increased to 25 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps upstream. That increase will go into effect automatically for no additional fee and it will become the new base speed for the program going forward. "During this extraordinary time, it is vital that as many Americans as possible stay connected to the internet – for education, work, and personal health reasons,” Dave Watson, Comcast Cable Chief Executive Officer.

https://www.internetessentials.com/covid19

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March 16, 2020 Dear Families, Thank you for your continued support as we navigate the implications of the recent COVID-19 outbreak together. We hope that your daughters are getting into the swing of online learning as we settle into this temporary new norm. Please review the following news and updates.  As you may have heard, the Santa Clara County Health Department as well as five other county health departments in the Bay Area announced a shelter in place order as of midnight tonight until April 7th. As such, we are extending our school closure until April 7th and due to our already scheduled Spring Break, we plan to return to campus Monday, April 20th. This is subject to change based on unfolding events and we will continue to update you as we learn more. It’s OK! We appreciate students’ openness and willingness to try new things today with our online learning systems.  We know that this is a new process for everyone and teachers are committed to being patient and compassionate as we all get used to this new system.  It's OK if things go wrong (tech glitches, trouble logging on, needing more time, etc.), our teachers are prepared and will be flexible to help support students through this transition. Please encourage your daughter to reach out to her teacher if she’s having any trouble completing her coursework. Community Events We know that there are many important community events scheduled for families and students when we return from spring break.  We are reviewing each event in light of the changing guidelines and working to preserve each important tradition as best as we can.  We’ll share more information with students and families as we approach these upcoming dates.   Shelter In Place Resources Free Meals for Students:  Santa Clara County is providing services to students who need lunch during the closure. Review their list here. If you do not live in Santa Clara County, please check with your county's department of education to see what services are available. In Need of Assistance? If you are in need of assistance following the COVID-19 outbreak please fill out the following survey from South Bay Mutual Aid. The information you provide will be shared with volunteers so they may contact you if they are able to help.  Self-Care During Remote Learning:  Following is a video resource that helps students find balance and self-care during remote learning.  We are approaching this new phase with open minds and hopeful hearts. At this uncertain time, we encourage you to take care of yourselves and your families. Practicing our shared faith and a little grace, we will get through this together. We continue to keep all those impacted by the COVID-19 virus in our prayers, along with their caregivers and family members.   Please join our global Church in this timely prayer from Pope Francis Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope. We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick. At the foot of the Cross you participated in Jesus’ pain, with steadfast faith. You, Salvation of the Roman People, know what we need. We are certain that you will provide, so that, as you did at Cana of Galilee, joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial. Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform ourselves to the Father’s will and to do what Jesus tells us: He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us, through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen. We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God. Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test – and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin. In partnership, Katherine Georgiev, Principal Holly Elkins, President Copyright © 2019 Presentation High School, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 2281 Plummer Avenue San Jose, CA 95125 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Please see updated guidance from the county health dept:

https://www.sccgov.org/sites/phd/DiseaseInformation/novel-coronavirus/Pages/order-health-officer-031620.aspx

CDC Mitigation Guidelines

White House Event and School Recommendation

https://www.sccgov.org/sites/phd/DiseaseInformation/novel-coronavirus/Documents/03-09-20-Health-Officer-Order.pdf

Per the recommendations of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and County of Santa Clara Health Department, Presentation remains open and does not have any current plans to close unless directed to do so by public health officials.  

Presentation has prepared a comprehensive emergency response plan to prepare for a variety of prevention and containment responses that might be recommended by public health officials.  Our response plan goals include:

1. Promoting the health and safety of all Presentation students, employees, and community members.

2. Maintaining essential school operations in the event of any response up to and including school closure.

3. Ensuring students complete all coursework for the Spring 2020 semester.

4. Preserving student experience and traditional community events to the extent possible.

Please check our website for updates and to review a summary of our emergency response procedures in preparation for possible school closure, updated event protocols, and other important attendance information.

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Coronavirus Emergency Response Plan

Per the recommendations of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and County of Santa Clara Health Department, Presentation remains open and does not have any current plans to close unless directed to do so by public health officials.  

Presentation has prepared a comprehensive emergency response plan to prepare for a variety of prevention and containment responses that might be recommended by public health officials.  Our response plan goals include:

1. Promoting the health and safety of all Presentation students, employees, and community members.

2. Maintaining essential school operations in the event of any response up to and including school closure.

3. Ensuring students complete all coursework for the Spring 2020 semester.

4. Preserving student experience and traditional community events to the extent possible.
    

Maintaining Student Learning
In the event of school closure, classes and most student programs will continue to operate remotely according to our regular school schedule.  Students will engage with their teachers and the curriculum remotely in either:

1. Synchronized learning environments in which the teacher will deliver live lessons and facilitate classroom discussions using video conferencing provided to all students using iPad apps and Schoology.

2. Independent or project-based assignments administered by teachers at the time of each scheduled class period.

In the event of a school closure, all student support services, clubs, and programs will continue to “meet” remotely as scheduled using these same tools unless otherwise announced.

Home Technology Expectations
Students will need a stable internet connection to be used with their school-issued hardware (iPad) plugged into a power source for all-day use.  A good measure of a stable internet connection is the ability to stream Netflix or Apple TV, as this level of bandwidth should allow for most connections to PHS systems. Minimize the number of active internet connections to maximize connection speeds (i.e. close unnecessary browser windows, end video/audio streams that are not related to the current work, etc.).  Students should update all iPad apps on a weekly basis so all platforms are at the latest build, thus communicating efficiently. Headphones/headsets are recommended for communication via their iPads.  

If students do not have access to a stable internet connection at home, please contact Katherine Georgiev.

Attendance Policy and Protocol
While Presentation remains open and operational, our attendance policies/procedures remain in effect.  Please continue to keep your student home from school if she is sick, especially if she has a fever. Please call Mrs. Fuqua, our Attendance Coordinator, at (408) 266-1060 to report absences by 9 a.m. per school protocol. 

We recognize that we have a strict attendance policy.  All absences will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis at the end of the semester prior to a student being assigned a Make-Up Unit assignment.  We will take into consideration absences related to flu-like symptoms and not penalize students with Make-Up Units should this be the reason for absences.  Questions regarding our attendance policy may be directed towards MaryLynne Rodriguez or Nancy Taylor.

In the event of a school closure, attendance will be assessed and monitored via Schoology, online participation and work submission.  Families would be required to continue to follow the attendance procedures listed above if a student were to not be in “attendance” during her remote class time. 

Community Events
At this time, Presentation is reviewing all upcoming events. We will notify community members of changes to any events via email, our website, social media, or phone or text messages as needed.  

At this time, all scheduled events will feature increased spacing between guests, reduced capacity/ticket sales to limit total participation, and our enhanced facility maintenance protocol per the CDC guidelines for large events.  For Theater events, for example, we will sell 50% fewer tickets to increase space between guests. You may review all event guidelines and recommendations for attendees here. 

For additional information, please visit the Public Health Department’s website at http://sccphd.org/coronavirus, which is updated regularly.

We will monitor the developing situation and inform you of any additional public health recommendations.  We appreciate your help in ensuring our community’s health in this situation.

https://www.sccgov.org/sites/phd/DiseaseInformation/novel-coronavirus/Documents/COVID19Update-Schools.pdf

February 28, 2020

Per the federal CDC guidelines, Santa Clara County public health officials are requesting all schools ask any students or staff who have been in Hubei province within the last 14 days to return home and call the County Public Health Department immediately.  Students or staff who have been to other areas of mainland China (this excludes Hong Kong) within the last 14 days should also not come to school. They should monitor themselves for symptoms for the 14 days since their last day in China.  

Per health officials, Santa Clara County residents, students, workers, and visitors should continue to engage in their regular activities and practice good hygiene, since this is the height of the flu season.  Healthy people should not be excluded from activities based on their race, country of origin, or recent travel. Best practice in preventing the spread of infectious diseases remains:

1. If you’re sick, stay home.

2. Wash your hands and don’t touch your eyes, nose, and mouth.

3. Recommends getting your Flu shot.

For additional information, please visit the Public Health Department’s website at http://sccphd.org/coronavirus, which is updated regularly.

We will monitor the developing situation and inform you of any additional public health recommendations.  We appreciate your help in ensuring our community’s health in this cold/flu season.