Fall Break Message from Head of School - 9.30.21
/Next week is our fall break, and school, including school offices, will be closed. We look forward to seeing your children back in school on Tuesday, October 12th.
COVID-19 protocols to return from break.
VIMSIA will maintain the same procedure from the beginning of the year to return to school after fall break. Students and staff who provide proof of completed COVID-19 vaccine will be exempt from testing at this time. The VIDOH will be on campus on Tuesday, October 12th, to test unvaccinated students, ages four and up.
Any student that was tested during the break can submit one of the following approved results:
Negative PCR test result must be submitted prior to starting on-campus school. The date of testing must be within 7 days of the student’s start date, OR
Negative Antigen test result must be submitted prior to starting on-campus school. The date of the test must be within 7 days of the student’s start date.
For students that are 3 years old and younger, we will require one of the test results from either one parent, guardian, or older sibling that lives in the same household. VIMSIA will also accept proof of vaccination from both primary caregivers of a toddler, and an attestation that they or any caregiver of the toddler have not been exposed to anyone with COVID-19 (VIMSIA’s COVID-19 Honor Code).
Families submitting documents to OpenApply must do so no later than noon on Monday, October 11th. Students who do not provide an approved test result will be required to participate in the scheduled VIDOH testing on Tuesday, October 12th, only available to students ages four and up.
VIMSIA continues to move forward in this chaotic world. Day by day and week by week, we seek ways to improve on our three main goals of this year:
Operating a safe COVID-19 environment.
Addressing the emotional health of our staff and students.
Providing academic excellence.
After-school activities have resumed not only with PGIA’s study hall and clubs but in the Montessori program. We have revamped our extended day program, now called Spark Academy, while also offering classic favorites. Available courses can be found here.
VIMSIA launched our sailing team that trains three days a week, and we are seeking ways to offer the other approved sports safely for the students.
We recently welcomed representatives from NYU Abu Dhabi and Simmons University to campus for presentations to support our Diploma Programme students with their future educational journey. On Wednesday, October 13th, after we return from break, the PSATs will be administered to the 10th and 11th-grade students.
In addition, the National School Breakfast and Lunch program will resume after the break - Ms. Duncan has already contacted families that have opted to participate in the program.
Yours in Education,
Michael Bornn
Head of School