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Return to Campus

Thank you to Student Council and the Impulse Improv team for creating this video about our Hybrid In-Person + Virtual campus.

More than any school year in our history, planning for the 2020-2021 school year has required an incredible level of preparation.

In all aspects of our planning, the safety of our students, faculty/staff and families continues to be our highest priority. We remain committed to following the advice of medical, public health, risk management, educational and legal experts throughout this process. None of the guidelines we are working with are self-generated. The feedback from our parents/guardians and faculty/staff surveys have helped our Reopening Task Force formulate the best practical applications of guidelines for our campus. We will continue to monitor the evolving situation in our county and state as we determine the safest learning environment scenario for the Holy Cross community. We are prepared to change course as needed.

Our school year began virtually on Tuesday, September 1. We have had several opportunities to bring small groups of students to campus for activities following safe distancing guidelines. On Thursday, October 1, following an updated assessment of the conditions in our county, we determined that we could implement the Hybrid In-Person + Virtual plan beginning on Thursday, October 15. This decision was not made lightly but was made with much prayer. We realize the importance of in-person instruction, but we must balance our decision-making process with the available information in this ever-changing situation.

Hybrid In-Person + Virtual Plan

Health and Safety - Preparations and Precautions

Preventive Measures

Holy Cross administration relies on our partnership with our families to ensure the safety, health and shared responsibility within our community. Multiple preventive measures have been put in place with the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Maryland Department of Health, and the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services along with our own medical and legal consultants.

Holy Cross strongly recommends that all faculty/staff and students refrain from nonessential travel outside of the DMV due to the recent increase in COVID-19 infections in other states. Any faculty/staff or student returning from out-of-state travel should get tested for COVID-19 promptly upon arrival home. Any faculty/staff or student who travels to a state with a COVID-19 rate above 10% must get tested and self-quarantine at home until the test result is received. A list of state COVID-19 test positivity rates can be found using the CDC COVID-19 Data Tracker at https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#testing_testsperformed.

Daily Health Screenings

The Academy of the Holy Cross will use a screening tool in order to check-in students each morning. Kathleen Clark, School Nurse, will provide the community with instructions on how to use this screening tool. All families must complete screening tool 30 minutes prior to their student’s arrival on campus. Students who do not submit their screenings before arrival will be directed to a secondary check-in to have their temperature taken and a parent/guardian will be contacted in order to complete the screening tool. The screening tool should also be completed on days the student is at home in order to track trends within our community.

Personal Protective Equipment Policies

According to CDC Guidance

The Academy of the Holy Cross Mask Policies:

All students, faculty and staff will wear masks while in the building and while outside. Holy Cross maintains the right to ask a student to change masks if it is distracting or inappropriate. Each student and faculty member will be provided with five triple-layer cloth masks courtesy of The Academy of the Holy Cross. Students, faculty and staff are permitted to wear their own mask. Masks must be closed and completely cover the nose and mouth and placed securely under the chin at all times to protect others in case the wearer has COVID-19, but doesn’t have symptoms. Masks may not be placed on the forehead or around the neck. More research is needed on the effectiveness of bandanas and neck gaiters, therefore, the use of these products will not be permitted.

The Nurse’s Office will have disposable masks available for those who forgot a mask, or whose mask becomes soiled or damaged.

Masks may be removed while eating lunch. There will be brown paper bags available for students to place masks in so that it is kept clean.

Face Shields

A face shield is primarily used for eye protection for the person wearing it. At this time, it is not known what level of protection a face shield provides to people nearby from the spray of respiratory droplets from the wearer. There is currently not enough evidence to support the effectiveness of face shields for source control. Therefore, CDC does not currently recommend use of face shields as a substitute for masks.

Glove Policies

For the general public, wearing gloves is not necessary in most situations. CDC recommends wearing gloves when cleaning or caring for someone who is sick. Gloves will be available in the classrooms for cleaning desks and electronic devices.

Goggle Policies

The School Nurse and Athletic Trainers will wear goggles when caring for anyone with a fever and/or respiratory symptoms.

Scrub Policies

The School Nurse and Athletic Trainers will wear scrubs.

Physical Barriers

In many areas of the school building, in particular in offices with high traffic, plexiglass physical barriers will be used.

Students, faculty/staff will follow all instructions from individuals in offices that they enter in order to maintain proper physical distancing.

Response to a Laboratory Confirmed Case of COVID-19 and Persons with COVID-19-like Illness in Schools

Updated August 28, 2020

This guidance accompanies the “Decision Aid: Exclusion and Return for Laboratory Confirmed COVID-19 Cases and Persons with COVID-19-like Illness in Schools, Child Care Programs, and Youth Camps.”

This guidance applies to persons with a laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19, regardless of whether they have symptoms, and persons with symptoms of COVID-19. Exclusion, quarantine and return to school for persons with laboratory confirmed COVID-19, and persons with symptoms of COVID-19 is based on CDC and Maryland Department of Health/Maryland State Department of Education guidance and is to be implemented by schools and local school systems in collaboration with the local health department.

For the purposes of this guidance, COVID-19-like illness is defined as:

1. Any one of the following: cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, new loss of taste or smell,

2. At least two of the following: fever of 100.40 or higher (measured or subjective), chills or shaking chills, muscle aches, headache, sore throat, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, and congestion or runny nose.

Isolation, Exclusion, Quarantine, and Return to School

a. If a student or school staff member develops symptoms of COVID-19 during the school day, the school will:

i. Safely isolate the person in the designated isolation area and place a surgical mask on the person if they are not wearing a cloth face covering as appropriate;

ii. Conduct the appropriate determination of the student’s condition based on presenting symptoms–this will be carried out by the School Nurse or Athletic Trainers who will don the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE);

iii. Begin the process for the person to leave the school as soon as possible;

b. When the school is informed of a laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19 in a student or school staff member, regardless of whether the person has symptoms, or learns of a student or school staff member with COVID-19-like illness, the school will immediately contact the Montgomery County Health Department and work with the contact tracing staff to identify close contacts in the school setting. Parents are asked to please cooperate with the Montgomery County Health Department in regards to contact tracing. The school will follow the communication and notification procedures in the guidance entitled “Response to a Laboratory Confirmed Case of COVID-19 and Persons with COVID-19-like illness in Schools.” It is important that schools maintain confidentiality during the contact tracing process in accordance with the U.S. Department of Education guidance regarding the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) or individual school privacy policies as applicable.

c. The school will follow the “Decision Aid: Exclusion and Return for Laboratory Confirmed COVID-19 Cases and Persons with COVID-19-like Illness in Schools.”

d. The school will also follow the instructions from the local health department for all matters regarding exclusion, quarantine, and return to school for a person with a positive test for COVID-19 or who has symptoms of COVID-19 and those who have had close contact with a person with COVID-19 or COVID-19-like illness; and

e. If the number of laboratory confirmed cases of COVID-19 or COVID-19-like illness meets the definition of an outbreak, the response decisions, including possible school closure, will be made by the local health department.

Holy Cross Clinic Dismissals for those who become sick at school

(Students or Faculty/Staff)

Individuals who are sick will be sent home or to a healthcare facility depending on how severe their symptoms are and follow CDC guidance for caring for oneself and others who are sick.

Anyone who has COVID-19 symptoms will be separated and evaluated in the designated Isolation Room, across the hall from the Nurse’s Office.
If more than one person is in the isolation room they will be kept six feet apart and the window will be kept open.
Masks will be worn at all times.
Parent/guardian/emergency contact will be called to pick up the student from the loading dock door near the Isolation Room and Nurse’s Office as soon as possible and within a half hour at the most. Parents/guardians will be instructed to pull around to that exit to pick up students and will call the school upon arrival so the School Nurse can accompany the student safely to her ride.
Parents and guardians should keep a list of potential family members, friends, neighbors who can pick their child up promptly. Students will not be permitted to stay in the clinic for more than a half hour unless there are extenuating circumstances.
Parents/guardians should contact healthcare provider to determine if an office visit is necessary, or whether to go the emergency room
The School Nurse will follow up with the parent/guardian to see how the student is recovering

If an ambulance is needed to bring someone to the hospital, the school will alert the EMS that the person may have a COVID-19 infection.

Clean and Disinfect

All areas used by a sick person will be closed off and not used until after cleaning and disinfecting.

Academics

In the Hybrid In-Person + Virtual Model the student body is divided into three groups, according to advisories per grade, so that a subgroup of each grade will be in the building for two consecutive days. With similar alphabetical sortings each day, families with siblings will attend school on the same day.

With this model, there are approximately 124-128 students maximum in the building on any day within the cycle. The lowered capacity enables appropriate six feet distancing between desks in all classrooms. New webcams have been installed in all classrooms to facilitate synchronous and collaborative learning between those students in the building and at home.

The existing block schedule of four classes on each Purple/White Day will resume for the duration of the proposed hybrid schedule. Classes begin at 8:00 am and conclude at 2:30 pm, each class will be 75 minutes in duration with a structured 15-minute transition time, with release times dependent on location within the building. Students may have a staggered arrival and departure depending on their schedule.

The goal of each model has and will continue to be health and safety. Should local conditions require it, Holy Cross is prepared to continue instruction in a virtual environment. Teachers and students will systematically progress through the curriculum as if they were in the building through a synchronous schedule.

A
October 15-16
October 26-27
November 5-6
November 16-17
November 30-December 1
December 10-11

B
October 19-20
October 29-30
November 9-10
November 19-20
December 3-4

C
October 22-23
November 2-3
November 12-13
November 23-24
December 7-9

Student Life

Student Attendance

It is extremely important that students attend class each day, whether virtual or on campus. All students should remain in class until the teacher dismisses the students. Attendance is being recorded in all classes.

Each day that a student is absent or tardy from Holy Cross, her parent/guardian must notify the Attendance Office at (301) 929-6457 or by email: attendance@academyoftheholycross.org as early as possible in the morning, but before 7:30 am. This includes ALL students – both on campus and distance learning. Voicemail messages may be left during the night.

Parents/Guardians are asked to leave a detailed message to include the following information:

Name and grade of their daughter
Reason for absence
If she has a fever
If their daughter been exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 patient or if their daughter has a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis
If the parent/guardian has spoken to their daughter’s physician or if they have a pending appointment
If there are additional questions or concerns, parents/guardians may call the School Nurse.

When a student returns to the physical campus, she must present a note from the parent/guardian to confirm the telephone call on the day(s) of absence. The note is to be presented to the Front Desk before school in the morning. The School Nurse may check in with any student who has been absent to have a follow up conversation or health assessment.

Morning School Arrival Procedures

All families must complete the screening tool 30 minutes prior to their student’s arrival on campus. Students who do not submit their screenings before arrival will be directed to a secondary check-in to have their temperature taken and a parent/guardian will be contacted in order to complete the COVID-19 screening. The screening tool should also be completed on days the student is at home in order to track trends within our community.

School building doors at Entrance 1 will open at 7:00 am.

All students will use this entrance from 7:00-7:30 am.
Upon arrival, students will have a mask on and check with the Faculty Member on Duty to ensure their COVID-19 Screening was received by the school.
Students arriving via carpool or the Metro will continue to use Door 1 for entrance through the remainder of the day.

At 7:30 am, two additional entrances will open.

Junior Drivers and their carpools, and Bus Arrivals, will enter through the Theatre Courtyard. Masks will be on upon arrival. Students will check with the Faculty Member on Duty to ensure their COVID-19 Screening was received by the school.
Senior Drivers and their carpools will enter through the Gym door. Masks will be on upon arrival. Students will check with the Faculty Member on Duty to ensure their COVID-19 Screening was received by the school.

Upon arrival, all 11th and 12th graders will report to the Gym, where they will wait to be dismissed to their classrooms at 7:45 am. All 9th and 10th graders will report to the Student Commons, where they will wait to be dismissed to their classrooms at 7:45 am. Students must report directly to their classrooms at that time.

Students in line for morning check-in by 8:00 am will not be considered tardy to class that morning.

If a student has a free period or study hall 1st or 5th period, they may arrive at school late with parental permission. Parents/Guardians must submit a signed letter giving their student permission to arrive late because she has a 1st or 5th Period Study Hall or Free Period. The letter should include the dates the student is allowed to do this, such as “For the Fall Semester.” Students can turn this letter in to the Attendance Officer, who will provide a list of excused students to teachers and the Front Desk.

Any student who arrives after 8:00 am will need to enter school through Door 1 and check in with the Front Desk. Upon arrival, students should have a mask on and have submitted their COVID-19 Screening for the day.

End of the Day Dismissal Procedures

The Academy of the Holy Cross will use a staggered dismissal system. Students will remain in their last period classroom until their group is dismissed.

Junior drivers and their carpools will be dismissed first. They will exit the building using the Theatre Lobby door
Senior drivers and their carpools are dismissed next. They will exit the building using the gym door.
Carpool, Metro, and Bus students will be dismissed using the hallway color-coded system. These students will exit the building using Door 1. Faculty/Staff will monitor the vestibule to prevent students from gathering and additional faculty/staff will direct traffic and students outside to ensure safety in the car loading and driving away process.
Students participating in athletics or the theatrical production will report directly to their assigned practice areas. Please refer to the Athletic and Performing Arts protocols for additional information on these activities.
Students who are not picked up by 3:15 pm will be directed to wait for their ride in the Student Commons. The Student Commons will be arranged so that students can work at individual tables at proper physical distance. Access to the remainder of the building will not be allowed. The building will remain open for these students until 6:00 pm.

Early Dismissals

Parents/Guardians must notify the attendance officer of any planned early dismissal so students receive a pass to leave their class at the appropriate time. Students can drop off signed letters at the front desk upon arrival. Parents/Guardians will need to wait outside of Door 1, visible to the front desk and should call the front desk upon their arrival so the student is dismissed.

The school does not condone students leaving campus in third party car services and, specifically, ride-sharing services whose own policies explicitly prohibit minors from using them.

If a student has a Free Period or Study Hall during 4th or 8th period, they may leave school early, with parental permission. Parents/Guardians must submit a signed letter giving their student permission to leave early because she has a 4th or 8th period Study Hall or Free Period. The letter should include the dates the student is allowed to do this, such as “For the Fall Semester.” Students will turn this letter in to the Attendance Officer, who will provide a list of excused students to teachers and the Front Desk.

Any student who leaves early for this reason must sign out at the front desk before leaving. Students participating in afterschool sponsored programs may not leave and return to campus.

Clinic Dismissals for non-COVID 19 related illnesses

Any student who feels ill will be dismissed following standards set by the Health Clinic protocols. Parents or guardians will need to pick up students immediately.
Parents and guardians should maintain a list of potential family members, friends, neighbors who can pick their child up promptly. Students will not be permitted to stay in the clinic for more than a half hour unless there are extenuating circumstances.
All students dismissed from the Clinic will exit the building via the Loading Dock. Parents/Guardians should call the school upon arrival so the School Nurse can accompany the student safely to their ride.

Visitors on Campus

In accordance with recommendations from both the CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics, parents, guardians, and non-essential visitors will not be allowed in the school building. Parents/guardians who need to come into the school building will contact the individual they need to see to set up an appointment. Meetings with faculty, staff, and administrators can be scheduled to take place virtually or by phone call with an appointment. Parents/Guardians will be required to complete the screening tool before entering the school building.

Deliveries by USPS, UPS, FedEx and other mail and order delivery companies will be delivered to Moreau Hall.

Deliveries of food for the lunch caterer or other large items ordered by the facilities team will be delivered to the loading dock door.

All delivery personnel will be required to wear a face mask on before entering the building.

No faculty, staff or students are permitted to let visitors into the building at any time.

School Closures

The Academy of the Holy Cross will make decisions related to COVID-19 openings and closures in accordance with recommendations from the Maryland and Montgomery Departments’ of Health and other government agencies. These decisions are in no way related to the decisions made by Montgomery County Public Schools’ announcements.

In the event of school closings or delayed openings due to inclement weather, the Academy follows the Montgomery County Public Schools’ announcements.

Safety Protocols for Food and Drink

Students are required to bring their own, clearly labeled, water bottle for refilling on campus. All water fountains are removed, but bottle filling stations are available. If a student forgets her water bottle, she can ask for a disposable cup to use for the day. Students may not share water bottles with one another.

Lunch Protocols

Students have the option to pre-order a box lunch from Off the Hook Catering or bring their own lunches. Vending machines and microwaves will be unavailable.
Students will pick up their labeled boxes from the Student Commons at the start of lunch.
Under no circumstances will students share food/drink with one another.
Students will eat their lunch with their advisory in a pre-determined location in outdoor spaces when available. Faculty/staff will monitor these locations.
All students will wash their hands before eating. They will also use the available cleaning wipes to clean their eating area. Cleaning protocols will be followed after lunch.
Students are not allowed to use food delivery services at The Academy of the Holy Cross.

Classroom Transitions, Hallway Use, and Bathroom Use

Class will be dismissed in a staggered fashion to allow for less students in the hallway at any given time. Additionally, students are allowed up to 15 minutes for transitions between classes.

Hallways are now one directional. Physical guides are located both on the floor and at eye level to help guide students in the appropriate directions. Additionally, stairwells are also one directional.

Bathrooms are clearly marked with how many students can be accommodated at a time. Additionally, there are markers outside of the bathrooms to promote physical distancing while a student is waiting for her turn to enter the bathroom. Each hallway of classrooms will be assigned a specific bathroom to use during the day and students will only go to those assigned bathrooms during class. Teachers will only allow one student at a time to leave the classroom. Femine hygiene products will be available in all bathrooms. If a bathroom has run out of the products, soap, or appear to need to be cleaned, students will notify their teacher who will contact the appropriate personnel. Bathrooms are considered high touch areas and receive frequent cleaning and disinfection throughout the day.

Classrooms will be stocked with First Aid Kits so students who need Band-Aids or other small health related products do not need to walk through the hallways or expose themselves to students in the Health Center throughout the day.

Student Assembly and Event Protocols

Monday Morning All-School Assemblies will be student led and livestreamed into classrooms at the end of the second period on Mondays before lunch dismissal. Clubs will be assigned times to present and put together pre-recorded information presentations to be shared with the student body.

Class meetings will continue to take place virtually until recommendations allow for large group gatherings and proper physical distancing guidelines to be implemented.

All clubs will meet in virtual Google Meets. The Google Meet codes will be available on the school’s club website.

The Co-Curricular Time and Monthly Cultural/Heritage Celebrations will continue to take place virtually until recommendations allow for large group gatherings and proper physical distancing guidelines to be implemented.

Large group events, both during the school day or in the evening will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine if they can take place in accordance with health and safety guidelines at that time.

Counseling Services

The Academy of the Holy Cross is committed to the continued availability of all counseling services. The school believes that counseling and support services are essential to students with the COVID-19 pandemic. Faculty and staff will receive training to assist in the identification of student distress. The School Counselors will continue to be available for individual and group counseling. Counseling programs will be designed so that they may be presented virtually or in-person.

The College Counseling department has been working alongside rising seniors and their families as they begin the college application process. Regularly scheduled individual meetings will occur via video conferencing if not in person, but routine group updates will be provided through email and Naviance. Meetings with college and university representatives take place virtually. Each senior will have the opportunity to meet 1:1 with their college counselor (virtually or in-person) this fall to discuss their college list, application essays, and answer any questions they have.

The Saint Mary’s Resource Program will continue to be innovative and collaborative when supporting students with documented learning differences, especially as the school continues to be flexible with the method of curriculum delivery. Students will continue to meet in their regularly scheduled SMRP Study Halls. Professional development continues to focus on learning differences and accommodations in a virtual environment, to assist in the planning of instructional units and the implementation of learning accommodations.

Campus Ministry

The spiritual life of the community is a hallmark of the Holy Cross mission. Campus Ministry continues to organize opportunities for our students to celebrate their faith. All-School liturgies will be livestreamed. Daily chapel activities will take place outside (weather permitting) and virtually.

Monthly Liturgies will continue to take place on campus. The Mass will be livestreamed into the classrooms and virtually for those students who are not in the main meeting space.

Morning Prayer and Meditation – available both virtually and outside, weather permitting

Weekly reconciliation will still be available. Students will need to leave their masks on during reconciliation.

Weekly Mass will continue to take place during lunch.

Performing Arts

The Fall Production will be digital or virtual in nature. The fall production will have a deliberately smaller cast and the rehearsal schedule will be created to limit the number of students needed in the Theatre at one time. All students involved in after school performing arts activities will be expected to follow all safety protocols set forth by the Director of the show and The Academy of the Holy Cross.

No events will be held with live audiences in the theater until further notice

Athletics Protocols for the Fall Exhibition Season

COVID-19 Procedures: In order to attend any athletic activity, all individuals must complete the health screening tool prior to arriving on campus or at the practice facility. The Athletic Trainer will oversee that this has been completed by all participants before practices may begin.

Tryouts: In order to try out for a fall team, all students must submit a physical, and have registered/completed their baseline concussion test. Tryouts will take place during the week of September 21. Information regarding dates and times for specific teams can be found on the Athletics page on the school website.

Practices: During all virtual learning, those who make a team will be able to attend practices as normal.

Facilities: Only the following individuals will have access to the campus athletic facilities: Athletic Director, Assistant AD, Athletic Trainer, Coaches, and players. Parents/Guardians will not be permitted to attend practices or scrimmages at this time.

The gym will be limited to 25 people maximum, including players and coaches. All individuals must be masked at all times. Physical distancing of six feet will be enforced. Equipment will be cleaned at specific intervals during practice, and all individuals will take breaks to wash their hands.

The turf space will be divided into two fields, one sport per field. All individuals are required to wear a mask upon entering and exiting the facility. Coaches will be masked at all times. Players will be able to remove their mask while playing, but must wear their mask while on the sidelines.

Scheduling: All coaches will work with the Athletic Director to schedule practices and scrimmages.

Transportation for scrimmages: Pending the scheduling of scrimmages, there will be more information forthcoming on how students will be permitted to transport themselves to and from these events.

Hybrid School Model - Athletics Plan

If and when Holy Cross pivots to the Hybrid In-Person + Virtual plan, athletic activities will be adjusted.

Practices will be held after school at a time that will allow students to attend.

Co-Curricular

Holy Cross values the importance of gathering as a community regularly. In the Hybrid In-Person + Virtual plan, we will utilize our digital technology in order to meet together. Weekly all-school assemblies will be livestreamed for our community. Club meetings, class meetings, and other co-curricular activities will continue to take place virtually or in small groups on campus when these gatherings can safely take place.

Enhanced Cleaning and Disinfecting

The Academy of the Holy Cross will follow all best practices when cleaning and disinfecting classrooms, restrooms, campus common areas, and high touch areas to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We have procured two Victory electrostatic disinfectant machines to assist our facilities team and cleaning contractor in rapidly disinfecting frequently used spaces. All classrooms will be provided sanitizing wipes or sanitizing spray to allow students to ensure that their desk space is clean after every class period. Additionally, our facilities team will disinfect all classrooms during the lunch break. Our contractor will deep clean all classrooms in the evening. Bathrooms and common areas will be cleaned and disinfected during all four class periods, and will be deep cleaned in the evening by our cleaning contractor. Additional hand sanitizing dispensers will be positioned in common areas around the school to encourage proper hand hygiene.

Updates to Campus Infrastructure and Equipment

Classroom layouts are being individually modified to maximize physical distancing based on the room size. Additional outdoor seating has been purchased to maximize the use of exterior spaces. All common area furniture has either been reconfigured or removed to encourage physical distancing.

Following the CDC’s emphasis on ensuring good air circulation within the buildings, the HVAC systems will be run at all times while the buildings are occupied. All exterior windows will be opened for increased circulation of outdoor air while spaces are occupied.

Plexiglass shields will be installed in selected areas for protection where physical distancing is limited (e.g. reception desks, Principal’s Office, Nurse’s Office, etc.).

All water fountains have been replaced with water bottle filling stations.

All toilets will be fitted with touchless flush valves.

See Additional Details Here

Communication to Families

Wednesday, October 15: Shared Responsibility

October 14, 2020

Dear Holy Cross Families,

As we continue to navigate the disruptions and challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, I would like to take a moment to express my gratitude for how the Holy Cross community has been responding.

Through these trying times, we have looked at our shared values of community, inclusion, social responsibility, and accountability to each other to guide our decision making.

After beginning our 2020-2021 school year remotely, tomorrow we begin our Hybrid In-Person + Virtual phase of our reopening. To be successful, we are relying on the individual and collective efforts of our faculty/staff and families to maintain and sustain a healthy school community during this pandemic. We believe that all of our community is committed to doing all that it takes to stay healthy.

We understand that how we take care of each other and reduce the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak on campus is dependent upon the commitment to the following proactive measures; wearing a mask, maintaining social distance, washing hands, staying home when experiencing COVID-like symptoms, avoiding large gatherings, and eliminating unnecessary travel. Because asymptomatic people can transmit the virus to others who can then become ill, we must all act as if we might be contagious when we are in the presence of other members of our community. We each bear the responsibility to protect the health and safety of each other. Even when we are not on campus, we are relying on each other to uphold the highest standards of community health. In line with the guidance we have received from federal, state, and local health officials, Holy Cross is doing its part to combat COVID-19.

I look forward to seeing our girls back on campus. If you have a concern related to the COVID-19 guidelines, you should contact the appropriate COVID-19 Task Force member, me, our school nurse Kathleen Clark, or Principal John Sullivan.

Thank you for doing your part to keep the Holy Cross community safe.

Sincerely,

Kathleen R. Prebble
President and CEO

"We want to obtain the cooperation of all, for we wish only that our work will be the wok of all so each one may have the merit of it." –Blessed Basil Moreau

Cohort Groups with Starting Dates

Friday, October 2: Hybrid Reopening Plan

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Every day we are reminded of the strength and resilience of the Holy Cross community. Our faculty and staff continue to show innovative and creative gifts as they lead classes and prepare for the return of students to our campus.

Our last survey indicated that 75% of our families are prepared to return to campus in a hybrid environment, 20% have chosen to remain virtual and 5% were unsure at that moment. For a variety of reasons, eight faculty members will also be working entirely virtually in our hybrid environment.

Our plans for returning to campus include the following elements.

Mandatory Testing for all faculty/staff and students will take place on Tuesday, October 6 and Friday, October 9. The on-campus testing will be conducted by Capitol Diagnostics. Please read this detailed information letter carefully and follow the directions for scheduling the testing for your child, registering your child on the Patient Portal, and completing the minor consent form.
We will begin our Hybrid In-Person + Virtual Plan on Thursday-Friday, October 15-16 with Group A, Monday-Tuesday, October 19-20 with Group B and Thursday-Friday, October 22-23 with Group C. The Groups are organized by Advisories – see the listing here. Please read this information for additional details about transitioning to the Hybrid plan.
The Hybrid Academic schedule (available here) will mirror our virtual schedule with most Wednesdays remaining asynchronous to allow for community building, meetings, resource help, faculty office hours, etc.
Please complete the Hybrid School Survey (available here) if you did not complete it previously, if you indicated you were unsure of your decision or if you have changed your mind about your previous decision. Please remember if you elect to go virtual, we will need a two-week window to move your child to the hybrid environment.

Today is a challenging day for our country as the President and his wife have now tested positive for COVID-19. As we pray for the recovery of all those who are sick, we are reminded that things do change—sometimes daily. If the test results of our school community appear to be higher than expected or the stubbornly high case rate in our community continues to rise, the school will re-evaluate to determine if going Hybrid on October 15 is the safest decision for our community. We continue to be thankful for the wonderful families that we serve and ask for God’s guidance in all that we do.

Sincerely,

Kathleen R. Prebble
President and CEO

Monday, September 28: Health Screening Tool - PLEASE READ

Pinpoint Health Screening Tool

As we prepare to host the sophomore and junior classes on campus on Wednesday, September 30, as well as the continued return of student athletes to campus, we will begin to use the Pinpoint Health Screening Tool for all students coming to campus. Beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, September 29, parents/guardians will receive an email from Wellness@pinpointhealth.us with a link for the Wellness Screener.

Please read the Frequently Asked Questions for details about the tool. Remember, the screening tool needs to be filled out 30 minutes before your child comes to campus for any activity. It only takes a few moments to complete.

If you have any questions about the tool, please contact Kathleen Clark, RN, School Nurse at kaclark@academyoftheholycross.org.

Thanks for partnering with us as we bring students back to campus.

Friday, September 25: Reopening Plan and Survey

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As we approach our October 1 decision date regarding bringing students back in a Hybrid In-person + Virtual model, we would appreciate your responses to the following survey.

Please complete the survey by mid-day on Monday, September 28.

We realize that this is an important decision for our families and faculty/staff. As a community we are committed to protecting the health and safety of all of our members. We also realize that no matter how aggressive our health and safety plans are, there is no zero-risk in returning to campus while COVID-19 exists in the community at large. We would like you to consider the following important information as you make your decision.

Please see the newest draft of our return to campus plan. It includes significant information concerning cleaning protocols, response to COVID-19 cases, Pinpoint Health screening tool, and movement throughout the building. Please note the school’s new travel policy:

“Holy Cross recommends that all faculty/staff, and students refrain from nonessential travel outside of the DMV due to the recent increase in COVID-19 infections in other states. Any faculty/staff or student returning from out-of-state travel should get tested for COVID-19 promptly upon arrival home. Any faculty/staff or student who travels to a state with a COVID-19 rate above 10% must get tested and self-quarantine at home until the test result is received. A list of state COVID-19 test positivity rates can be found using the CDC COVID-19 Data Tracker at https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#testing_testsperformed.”

If your child is involved in a club sport that travels out-of-state, we highly recommend that you elect the virtual school option.

If on October 1 Holy Cross decides to add the hybrid option, we will ask for your final decision by Monday, October 5. Our current model will have our hybrid in-person + virtual schedule beginning the week of October 13. Students may not drift in and out of the model. Families will be required to give a two-week notice if they wish to change their selection once the model begins.

Please understand that for an assortment of reasons, not all faculty members will be returning to campus. You may elect an in-person model and your child’s teacher may still be teaching remotely. In those cases, we will have an adult presence in the classroom.

We continue to find ways to build community with our girls through campus ministry gatherings, class meetings, advisory meetings, club meetings, athletic workouts and drama rehearsals. We will continue to bring groups of students back to campus on Wednesdays and enjoy very much seeing the girls in person.

Together we have partnered to truly model courage, compassion, and scholarship for our girls as we navigate these uncharted waters. Thank you for trusting your most precious gifts with us.

Sincerely,

Kathleen R. Prebble
President and CEO

Our work here is the work of each and every one and we are all, individually and collectively, responsible for it in the eyes of God and others. –Blessed Basil Moreau

Wednesday, September 2: Important Handbook Information

Hello,

This 2020-21 academic year has begun like no other in the history of The Academy of the Holy Cross. I have enjoyed seeing students in their virtual classes and meeting with them through video conferencing, but the hallways and classrooms are quiet and lonely.

As we begin the year apart, we would like to provide clarity in the expectations and protocols until we are able to be together on campus as a whole community. In addition to the 2020-2021 Student and Parent Handbook (available here) we have created an Addendum (available here) which outlines academics, attendance, behavioral expectations in the virtual and hybrid environment, and the management of COVID-19 and non-COVID-19-related illnesses. This document reinforces what has already been communicated to students, families and teachers, and should answer any questions that might remain. Please read both of these documents carefully. I encourage you to contact me with questions and concerns as the year progresses.

All families must complete the Student and Parent Handbook Agreement Form (available on the Parent Portal) by Friday, September 18.

Handbook Agreement Form

We will continue to communicate our plans as they develop for the Fall and Spring semesters.

Best,

John Sullivan
Principal

Friday, August 14: Reopening Status

Dear Holy Cross Families:

As we move ahead with our virtual reopening plan, I wanted to assure you that we will continue to monitor the health and safety landscape of our surrounding communities, with the intent to move to a hybrid scenario as soon as the local conditions warrant such a change.

We are confident in our ability to pivot from virtual to hybrid in an almost seamless movement. We continue to strengthen our reopening plans and modify our classrooms and buildings to be in compliance with existing CDC reopening guidelines. Through our involvement with the Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington (AISGW), we are in regular communication with representatives of Governor Hogan's office, the Maryland State Department of Health, and Dr. Gayles, Health Officer/Chief of Public Health Services in Montgomery County. Last week we were assured by Governor Hogan’s office that we would receive from the state metrics and safety plan requirements for reopening our schools. The county has been waiting for guidance from the State of Maryland on this issue for a number of weeks. We have not yet received these recommendations.

We do know there is no one factor or one metric that will determine a safe return to campus for in-person instruction. This fact has been reiterated in conversations with both the Maryland State Department of Health representative and Dr. Gayles. In the absence of threshold metrics at a state level, the county has been using metrics based on CDC guidelines for re-opening schools. The CDC defines low incidence plateau as 10 cases per 100,000 people over a period of 14 days. This rate is equivalent to 0.71 new cases per day per 100,000 people. Following these guidelines, in Montgomery County this translates to 8 cases per day. Moderate transmission according to the CDC equates to 50 cases per day per 100,000 people over 14 days, which translates roughly to 38 cases per day in Montgomery County. We are not yet within this range. In the absence of state guidelines, the county is monitoring all of the following: rate of community transmission; new COVID-19 hospitalizations; visits to the emergency room for COVID-19-related symptoms; and test positivity rates. The CDC stresses that “all decisions about following [their recommendations for reopening schools] should be made in collaboration with local health officials and other state and local authorities.” I hope this helps you understand how complicated the landscape is for determining the correct time to reopen an individual school.

We want to bring our girls back to campus and we will be ready. We are working around-the-clock to ensure the best possible virtual experience until we are able to have our girls together safely. We realize how critical reopening our campus is to the social-emotional well-being of our students and we are devoting the resources and attention to supporting each member of our community.

We know that this has not been an easy time for our families. Thank you for your questions and ongoing support. We will continue to share information with you regularly. Please contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.

We are guided by the core values of the Sister of the Holy Cross:

Compassion compels us to stand with and embrace each other
Faith impels us to trust God ever more radically
Prayer grounds us in God’s unconditional love
Community commits us to seek ways to journey together

Sincerely,

Kathleen R. Prebble
President and CEO

Monday, August 10: August Athletics Newsletter

August Newsletter

Athletics Department Update

The summer at Holy Cross was quite busy during June, July, and the beginning of August as we held a number of team workouts for our students. Our coaches put together sessions to work on skill building and conditioning, which also allowed the girls to be on campus and provided a bonding experience. This is the final week of the summer workouts and we will take a break for a few weeks. During this break there are orientation sessions for faculty, staff, and students, and we felt the need to focus on getting adjusted back into the school routine. We have discussed both the virtual and hybrid school models, so that if necessary we can pivot when the school decides it is safe to do so. If and when there is a change, the new schedule will be sent out. With that being said, we are excited to say that we will be holding team activities this fall for our teams that normally play during this season.

Welcome to Our Community!

We are thrilled to welcome the following new coaches to our community.

Melissa "Missy" McMahon Eaton '88: Varsity Field Hockey Head Coach

Missy has transitioned from the JV Head Coach, to now oversee the Holy Cross field hockey program. As an alumna she appreciates the opportunity to contribute to the growth and reputation of the program. Currently she holds a position in the Warhawks Field Hockey Club as the U19 Age Group Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator, getting girls to the next level of play. She is motivated by sports and loves when students realize sports can teach them to be more organized and can humble them on their journey in life.

Akilah Bethel '11: Varsity Basketball Assistant Coach

Akilah is excited to be returning to Holy Cross after completing her professional basketball career. After graduating from Holy Cross she earned a full scholarship to play basketball at West Virginia University. Following an unfortunate injury, she transferred to Louisiana State University and earned her degree. She then went to play professional basketball overseas in Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Puerto Rico and Australia. While overseas, Akilah trained and coached youth boys and girls teams. In between her time away, she also became an assistant coach at Eastern Technical high school.

Erica Klein: Varsity Soccer Assistant Coach

Erica brings several years of experience as a player and coach to the Holy Cross program. She spent time playing for Trinity College in Hartford, CT at the Division III level before deciding to focus on her studies. Erica is coming to Holy Cross from Walt Whitman High School, where she has been the head JV girls soccer coach for the past four seasons. Prior to Whitman, she was the assistant JV coach at Bullis for two seasons. In addition, she has been coaching with Arrington Training and Development since 2015, where she has worked with teams of all ages and skill levels, and is currently the head coach for two MSI teams and the assistant coach for two Maryland Rush teams. She has her F, E, and D licenses through US soccer and is an accredited interscholastic coach through NFHS.

Ashley Gardner: Varsity Lacrosse Head Coach

Ashley grew up in Cranberry Township, PA, attending Seneca Valley High School. She played Division I lacrosse at George Mason University from 2009 to 2013, where she was a two-year defensive starter and a captain her senior year. Following graduation, she earned her master's in secondary education from Slippery Rock University. Coach Gardner has coached lacrosse at both the high school and club level in Western PA.

Kelly Miller '14: JV Volleyball Head Coach

Kelly is excited to return to her alma mater as part of the coaching staff. Kelly is the assistant coach for the Metro 15 East team and brings over 13 years of playing experience at the high school and club level as setter and opposite. In college, Kelly played for Towson University's club team, which she was a part of the executive board her senior year. She also plays adult club with D.C.'s Women Volleyball, when her schedule allows.

Jenifer Roe: Varsity Softball Head Coach

Jen will be taking over as the next Head Coach for the softball program. She was recruited as an outfielder and designated hitter (DH), and played collegiately at the University of Virginia and the University of Notre Dame. Jen brings 10 years of previous coaching experience. This includes high school softball beginning as a volunteer coach in 2002 while serving on active duty in the Navy, grade school softball, grade school baseball, and travel softball from the 10U level through the 16U level. She is currently in her fourth year serving as the CYO Softball commissioner at St. Jane de Chantal on the CYO Board. While coaching 16U travel softball, Jen served as the recruiting coach engaging directly with college coaches from the junior college level to the Division I, II, and III level to help our players gain visibility and eventually become recruited.

Julie Celeste: JV Field Hockey Head Coach

Julie returns to the Holy Cross Athletics Department, this time as the JV Field Hockey Head Coach. She played in college at Widener University, and previously coached for three years in the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District.

Ying Van Schaik: Varsity/JV Field Hockey Goalie Coach

Ying has been coaching field hockey since graduating from Hood College in 2014, where she played goalie. She has previously coached at Centennial High school, Mount De Sales Academy, and Hood College. Ying is the current head coach for the Centennial High School field hockey program team, and the goalie coach at McDaniel College. She is also a USAFH Futures goalie coach at American University, a level 1 site, and is USAFH Level 2 Certified Coach.

We also want to acknowledge two individuals who are taking on new roles within Athletics.

Beth Hagler will serve as our Athletic Trainer and Assistant Athletic Director.

Kit Mathews has become the Administrative Assistant for the Athletics Department.

Paperwork for Athletic Participation

All students must have a valid physical on file and complete the baseline concussion test through XlntBrain. If you have questions, please contact School Nurse Kathleen Clark or Athletic Trainer Beth Hagler.

Information regarding Tryouts and Practices

Equestrian

The Equestrian Team will run a regular schedule whether the school schedule is virtual or hybrid.

Tryouts will be held at Waredaca Stables on Thursday August 19 and Saturday August 21.

Practices will take place on Tuesdays. Varsity at 4:30 pm. JV at 5:30 pm.

The information below is for all teams during the VIRTUAL model. All teams will begin activities on Monday, September 21.

Cross Country

Tryouts: Saturday September 26, Field 3, 8:00 am - 3 mile time trial

Practices: Tuesday and Thursday, Field 3, 4:30-6:00 pm; Saturday 8:00 am

9/29, 10/1, 10/3, 10/6, 10/8, 10/10, 10/13, 10/15, 10/17, 10/20, 10/22, 10/24, 10/27, 10/29, 10/31, 11/3, 11/5, 11/7

Field Hockey

Tryouts: September 22, 23, 24, AHC Turf, 6:00-8:00 pm

Practices:

Varsity: Monday and Wednesday, Turf, 4:00-6:00 pm 9/28, 9/30, 10/5, 10/7, 10/12, 10/14, 10/19, 10/21, 10/26, 10/28, 11/2, 11/4

JV: Tuesday and Thursday, Turf, 4:00-6:00 pm 9/29, 10/1, 10/6, 10/8, 10/13, 10/15, 10/20, 10/22, 10/27, 10/29, 11/3, 11/5

Goalies ONLY: Saturday, Turf, 8:00-10:00 am 9/26, 10/3, 10/10, 10/17, 10/24, 10/31, 11/7

Soccer

Tryouts:
Freshmen/Sophomores: September 21 and 23, Turf, 4:00-5:50 pm

Juniors/Seniors: September 22 and 24, Turf, 4:00-5:50 pm

Practices: Tuesday and Thursday, Turf, 4:00-5:30 pm, 9/29, 10/1, 10/6, 10/8, 10/13, 10/15, 10/20, 10/22, 10/27, 10/29, 11/3, 11/5

Tennis

All team events will take place at Georgetown Prep Tennis Center

All girls interested in playing tennis should sign-up by sending an email to Coach Creamer

Tryouts: Wednesday September 23 and 30

Practices: Wednesdays 4:30-5:30 pm and 5:30-6:30 pm

10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10/28

Volleyball

Tryouts: September 21 and 23, AHC Gym

JV: 3:30-5:30pm

Varsity: 6:00-8:00pm

Practices:

Varsity: Monday/Wednesday/Friday, Gym, 6:00-8:00 pm, 9/28, 9/30, 10/2, 10/5, 10/7, 10/9, 10/12, 10/14, 10/16, 10/19, 10/21, 10/23, 10/26, 10/28, 10/30, 11/2, 11/4, 11/6

JV: Monday/Wednesday/Friday, Gym, 3:30-5:30 pm, 9/28, 9/30, 10/2, 10/5, 10/7, 10/9, 10/12, 10/14, 10/16, 10/19, 10/21, 10/23, 10/26, 10/28, 10/30, 11/2, 11/4, 11/6

Basketball

Practices:

Varsity: Tuesday/Thursday, Gym, 5:30-7:30pm; Saturday 10:30 am-12:30 pm, 9/22, 9/24, 9/26, 9/29, 10/1, 10/3, 10/6, 10/8, 10/10, 10/13, 10/15, 10/17, 10/20, 10/22, 10/24, 10/27, 10/29, 10/31, 11/3, 11/5, 11/7

JV: Tuesday/Thursday, Gym, 3:30-5:00 pm; Saturday 8:00-10:00 am, 9/22, 9/24, 9/26, 9/29, 10/1, 10/3, 10/6, 10/8, 10/10, 10/13, 10/15, 10/17, 10/20, 10/22, 10/24, 10/27, 10/29, 10/31, 11/3, 11/5, 11/7

Policies and Procedures

The Athletics Department is following the guidelines for return to play from the National Federation of High School Sports, as well as information from the CDC, state of Maryland and Montgomery County Health. We have made a change to our current mask policy. At this time, all participants of indoor sports activities must now wear a mask at all times.

Friday, August 7: Orientation Newsletter

Freshman Orientation

Welcome to the Class of 2024,

The start of school is quickly approaching. Freshman Orientation will take place on campus in just a few short weeks. A virtual orientation program option is also available for those families who wish to not send their child to campus. Please know that the plans to come to campus are tentative. We are waiting for final approval from Montgomery County to bring students to campus. Students will receive a schedule of daily activities via their email on Monday, August 24, 2020.

While we are starting the school year within a virtual learning environment, we also understand how important it is for all of our students to feel connected with their classmates, advisors, teachers, and the entire Holy Cross community. During their orientation time, girls will spend the day, with their advisory. Students attending virtually will log-in and participate through Google Meet. Each advisor is dedicated to providing support and community connection to their students and they are looking forward to getting to know each member of their advisory. Additionally, students will meet the Administrative Team, the school counselors, members of the Athletics Department, Performing Arts Department, and our Campus Minister.

Our orientation schedule has been adjusted to ensure we can maintain appropriate health and safety standards and reduce the risk of the spread of COVID-19. Two advisories are scheduled to be on campus Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. All students will attend virtual orientation on Friday and Monday. Please see the assigned orientation days below. Students can find their assigned advisor on their schedule in PowerSchool.

Tuesday, August 25, 2020: Maye and Sweeney/Teter Advisories, 8:45 am-2:00 pm
Wednesday, August 26, 2020: Ouellette and Gardner Advisories, 8:45 am-2:00 pm
Thursday, August 27, 2020: Mullikin and Kelley Advisories, 8:45 am-2:00 pm
Friday, August 28, 2020- Virtual Orientation Day for ALL Class of 2024 students, 9:00 am-2:00 pm
Monday, August 31, 2020- All-School Virtual Orientation 8:30 am-2:00 pm

We will spend the majority of our time outside, so please dress comfortably for the day. Uniforms are not required for orientation. Students should have their face maskson upon arrival, bring a clearly labeled water bottle and their iPads. We will provide individually wrapped lunches for all students who are on campus. Please complete the Freshman Orientation Registration Form by Thursday, August 20, 2020 so that we can prepare for orientation. Students who opt to come to campus will also be required to complete a COVID-19 Symptom Questionnaire before their arrival. More information on that process will be provided closer to orientation time.

All freshmen will meet virtually on Friday, August 28, 2020 and meet their teachers through Google Meet. Our All-School Virtual Orientation will take place on Monday, August 31, 2020. On this day, students will spend more time with the counselors, their advisors, teachers, and have the opportunity to virtually meet their Big Sisters from the Class of 2022. At a time when friend groups and familiar faces may not be present on campus, the Big Sister/Little Sister program, in addition to our advisory program, will help provide a sense of familiarity and belonging both in our virtual and hybrid learning environments.

The Academy of the Holy Cross is committed to strengthening the collaboration between our school and the families. As we begin this school year, communication, collaboration, and community will help ease the transition to high school during these uncertain times. We are looking forward to the return of our students to campus over the coming weeks. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out via email or phone call at (301) 929-6451.

Sincerely,
Lindsey Tonks
Assistant Principal

Transfer Student Orientation

Welcome to The Academy of the Holy Cross,

The start of school is quickly approaching. Transfer Student Orientation will take place on campus in just a few short weeks. A virtual orientation program option is also available for those families who wish to not send their child to campus. Transfer Student Orientation is scheduled for Friday, August 28, 2020, from 8:45 am to 12:00 pm. Please know that the plans to come to campus are tentative. We are waiting for final approval from Montgomery County to bring students to campus. Students will receive a schedule of daily activities via their email on Monday, August 24, 2020.

While we are starting the school year within a virtual learning environment, we also understand how important it is for all of our students to feel connected with their classmates, advisors, teachers, and the entire Holy Cross community. During their orientation time, transfer students will spend the morning on campus and have the opportunity to get to know their new school community. Students attending virtually will participate through Google Meet. Students will meet, the Administrative Team, the school counselors, members of the Athletics Department, and Performing Arts Department,

We will spend the majority of our time outside, so please dress comfortably for the day. Uniforms are not required for orientation. Students should have their face maskson upon arrival, bring a clearly labeled water bottle and their iPads. We will provide individually boxed lunches for all students who are on campus. Please complete the New Student Orientation Registration Form by Thursday, August 20, 2020 so that we can prepare for orientation. Students who opt to come to campus will also be required to complete a COVID-19 Symptom Questionnaire before their arrival. More information on that process will be provided closer to orientation time.

Our All-School Virtual Orientation will take place on Monday, August 31, 2020 from 8:30 am-2:00 pm. On this day, students will spend more time with the counselors, their advisors, and have the opportunity to meet each of their teachers via Google Meet. The Academy of the Holy Cross is committed to strengthening the collaboration between our school and the families of each of our students. As we begin this school year, communication, collaboration, and community will help to ease the transition to a new school during these uncertain times. We are looking forward to the return of our students to campus over the coming weeks. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out via email or phone call at (301) 929-6451.

Sincerely,
Lindsey Tonks
Assistant Principal

All-School Orientation

Welcome back,

The start of school is quickly approaching, and I am excited to share our plans for our orientation programming and preview many of the activities we have planned for our student body. We recognize that the end of last year was not traditional in any sense and we know how important it is to help our students reconnect with the Holy Cross community as we begin the 2020-2021 school year. Students’ advisors, teachers, and the administration are looking forward to continuing to build relationships and are looking forward to kicking the year off with our All School Virtual Orientation program on Monday, August 31, 2020 from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm.

Students will receive a detailed schedule of daily activities along with necessary Google Meet links to participate, via their email and Google Calendar, the week of August 24, 2020. Each grade level will have the opportunity to reconnect with their advisory, participate in a class meeting with the Student Council and school administrators, and meet our new school counselor. Additionally, students will meet with each of their teachers throughout the day to ensure access and to troubleshoot any technical issues before classes begin on Tuesday, September 1, 2020.

This year we will have all new matches in our Big Sister/Little Sister Program. Because their original Big Sisters graduated, members of the Class of 2023 will receive new Big Sisters from the Class of 2021. The Class of 2024 will be matched with a Big Sister from the Class of 2022. For our upperclasswomen, this is an exciting opportunity for them to serve as a Big Sister and mentor to our 9th and 10th grade students. For our underclasswomen, this is a wonderful way to reach out and make connections before we have the opportunity to return to campus in our hybrid scenario. When we are able to move to hybrid learning, Big Sister and Little Sister advisory pairs will be on campus at the same time, further extending and strengthening this relationship. At a time when friend groups and familiar faces may not be present on campus, the Big Sister/Little Sister program, in addition to our advisory program, will help provide a sense of familiarity and belonging both in our virtual and hybrid learning environments.

We are eagerly awaiting and looking forward to the opportunity to welcome our students back campus in small groups. We are continuing to research ways in which to accomplish this while also following guidelines put forward by Montgomery County and proper health recommendations and guidelines from the state of Maryland and the CDC. As we begin this school year and strengthen our virtual student activities, we know that communication, collaboration and community will ease the transition into a virtual start of the 2020-2021 school year. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out via email or phone call at (301) 929-6451.

Sincerely,
Lindsey Tonks
Assistant Principal

Wednesday, August 5: Virtual Learning Program

Hello:

The 2020-21 academic year is just around the corner and The Academy of the Holy Cross has spent the summer months preparing for a school year unlike any other we have experienced. In a COVID-19 world, we have thoughtfully designed a plan to both deliver an excellent educational experience and be responsive to the changing circumstances.

Holy Cross will begin the school year on Tuesday, September 1, 2020 in a virtual setting. A learning plan has been designed to ensure the continual delivery of a premier, college-preparatory education.

Virtual Learning

During virtual learning periods, students will receive their instruction and learning in a synchronous online learning environment facilitated by the use of Google Meet. Classes will be 60 minutes in length, with a 15-minute break between, and will meet twice per week according to their Purple/White designation. Students are expected to be visible and responsive during instructional periods.

Alternate text

Students are expected to attend all virtual classes and events, where attendance will be taken, just as they would in the physical school building. Holy Cross students will be expected to remain online and engaged for the duration of each class period. Teachers will provide direct instruction and provide the opportunity for students to engage in small and large group discussions as well as collaborative projects.

Community and Advisory Time

Wednesdays have been designated to support and maintain our focus on the commitment to community and student support, while also providing space for academic engagement in an independent and asynchronous setting. This allows students and adults the time to nurture Holy Cross’ close-knit community through virtual all-school assemblies, student-led community events and class meetings. College Counseling will also provide comprehensive support and instruction to seniors during this time. Additionally, this time will include all of our important student support activities including advisory and school counselor programming which is being designed to support social-emotional wellness.

Separating the student body into two groups ensures quality and accessibility of programming. The administration is working to develop specific programs that address the needs of each grade. For example, during the morning timeframe, freshmen and sophomores might be participating in counseling or advisory programming, completing a group activity, celebrating monthly birthdays or attending class meetings. Meanwhile, the juniors and seniors will have access to teachers and other academic resources and support. After lunch the two groups will switch and juniors and seniors will meet with advisories, could then attend a class meeting with College Counseling while the freshmen and sophomores could be meeting with teachers, school counselors or receiving peer tutoring through the honor societies.

Students will begin meeting with their advisories during the days spent in orientation. Throughout the year the advisors will remain in close contact with their student advisees through the advisory period, individual check-ins and by engaging in fun activities together as a community.

Large school-wide events have already been planned that support and foster the Holy Cross community. The weekly All-School Assemblies (ASA) will continue to be organized by student leaders and presented to the entire school community. Our diverse student body will be celebrated through monthly cultural-heritage assemblies and will feature the students and faculty/staff. Interpersonal relationships will be enriched through the Big Sister-Little Sister program and an assortment of watch parties, where groups of students simultaneously view a video or livestream with the ability to socially engage with one another. Holy Cross Day will be celebrated in the fall with a Mass, an assembly acknowledging the Sisters of the Holy Cross, and surprise activities.

Academic Resources

All students will have access to teachers for additional support and assistance. Teachers will maintain regular office hours which will be posted on their class portal pages. Students will have the ability to formally schedule a meeting time through the appointment function of their Google Calendars. Additional support will be made available through department specific resource time, such as the Math Lab, Science Help Center and World Language Lab.

Student Support

Holy Cross’ commitment to community connectedness for all of our girls and faculty, superb instruction and appropriate academic challenge, and sustained learning support remains vibrant.

Our signature Saint Mary’s Resource Program will continue to support students with learning differences and ensure the appropriate implementation of accommodations in the digital environment. Students will meet during the scheduled Saint Mary’s Resource Program Study Hall to receive the same quality individualized support as would be expected in person This also allows for the students to access and receive support to fully implement their specific accommodations. Beyond the study hall, our Saint Mary’s Resource staff will continue to be available for support and guidance throughout the day.

College Counseling

The College Counseling Department has worked to transition their program to satisfy the needs of the students and guarantee the high-quality service that they have become known for. The college counselors will continue to work with students and families throughout the application and decision process. Students and families should plan to meet with their counselor once the school year begins, they will have the option of virtual or in-person meetings. Beginning Wednesday, September 2, 2020, students will be able to meet with college admissions representatives through video conferencing, and the schedule will be available through Naviance email notifications.

Counseling Services

Our school counselors remain committed to promoting the academic, personal and social development of each student. Their role is to provide students with support and the skills necessary to achieve success. In addition to being available to students for virtual individualized counseling, they have planned school-wide and grade-specific programs to promote developmentally appropriate management and wellness skills.

Student Activities

Social development is an important part of school and we aim to continue providing opportunities for social interaction. Each extracurricular activity is designed to allow students to develop into strong leaders who are actively engaged in supportive of their communities. Clubs have been organized so that each has a designated meeting period, during lunch or after school, on designated days; a calendar will be provided as we approach the first day of school.

Campus Ministry

Peer ministers will continue to plan and organize prayer services and chapel activities. Each grade will attend their annual retreat, with the possibility of both Kairos and Junior Retreat occurring during the Spring semester. Peer Ministers and Campus Ministry will continue to offer daily chapel activities, including meditation, praise and worship, and morning prayer, before lunch and after school. Monthly Masses will be livestreamed to the Holy Cross community.

Families should expect to receive additional information regarding the specific expectations and protocols of virtual learning next Friday, August 14, 2020. I personally appreciate your flexibility and understanding as we continue down this unique path. The partnership we are forming is essential to the success of our students, your children, and their well-being.

As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

John Sullivan
Principal

Friday, July 31: Reopening Plan Update

Dear Holy Cross Families,

When we closed our campus in March, we hoped we would not be facing the same decision in August. Our top priority has always been the health and safety of our girls, our faculty/staff, and our families. Recent comments from Montgomery County’s Health Officer, Dr. Travis Gayles, stating that in-person learning is unsafe at this time, have made it fundamentally impossible to reopen our school in the hybrid plan as we had anticipated. We continue to investigate safe reopening options that meet all relevant healthcare guidelines and could potentially be supported by the county. In order to ensure the well-being of our girls and faculty we will begin classes virtually on Tuesday, September 1. We will reassess the conditions in our county on Thursday, October 1, to determine if and when a hybrid plan might be put in place. This decision was not made lightly but was made with much prayer. We realize the importance of in-person instruction, but we must balance our decision-making process with the available information in this ever-changing situation.

We remain committed to offering our students the best academic and co-curricular program even when delivered virtually. Under the direction of Principal John Sullivan, our faculty have been engaged in on-going professional development throughout the summer to increase student engagement in a virtual environment. We have increased our faculty’s tool kit to better serve our girls with learning differences. We continue to explore ways to be an inclusive community for our girls in the Moreau Options Program. Our counselors will offer more virtual opportunities for one-on-one counseling sessions as well as building our repertoire of virtual programming. Assistant Principal Lindsey Tonks is working to enhance the student life experience, including the advisory program, club meetings, class meetings and school-wide community building events. Next week you will receive specific details about our virtual schedule from Mr. Sullivan. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions.

Ms. Tonks will also be sending further details about freshman, transfer and all-student orientation next week. We hope to bring freshmen and transfer students on campus in small groups to meet their advisories and have an opportunity to interact with their counselors, connect with their Big Sisters, and meet the administrative team.

Families needing assistance with internet access or loaner devices should please contact Director of Educational Technology Dena May, as soon as possible so our IT Team can address these issues before classes begin.

Holy Cross is committed to providing students a full high school experience. The Performing Arts Department, under the direction of Laura Meehan, continues to explore all possibilities for creative expression in either a physical or virtual environment. Please watch for an Athletic Newsletter from Athletic Director Dena Rapoport as she explains the parameters involved in moving forward with our athletic program.

The Academy of the Holy Cross is over 150 years old and has weathered many difficult challenges in its history. We are prepared to meet the needs of our girls in this continually evolving environment. Our commitment to our mission, “developing women of courage, compassion and scholarship,” is more critical than ever. We are dedicated to achieving this goal together.

Sincerely,

Kathleen R. Prebble
President and CEO

“If your institution has already produced admirable results, it is destined to produce still happier ones.” –Blessed Basil Moreau

Thursday, July 2: Holy Cross Athletics: Moving to Phase 2

Moving to Phase 2

The Athletics Department is planning to move into Phase 2 for summer workouts starting Monday, July 6. With this shift, we want to inform everyone of all pertinent information.

What will change?

At this time we are going to allow ONLY the Basketball and Volleyball programs access to the gym.

Procedures

Students MUST wear a mask upon exiting their car, and keep the mask on until they are in the gymnasium.
Students will ENTER the school and gym using Door #4.
Students need to use hand sanitizer before the workout begins.
Students will EXIT the gym and the building using Door #3.
Student MUST wear a mask upon exiting the gym
Parents/Guardians who are picking up students must wait in their cars in the senior parking lot.

Cleaning

Workouts will be stopped at specific intervals, every 20 minutes, to allow for cleaning of equipment to take place. Students will also be asked to wash their hands after wiping down equipment.

The capacity for outdoor workouts will increase to a MAXIMUM of 50 people (coaches and players total).

The capacity for indoor workouts will be a MAXIMUM of 10 people (coaches and players total)

Students MUST wear a mask upon exiting their car, and walking up to the turf. Once on the turf at their specific location, they can remove their mask as long as they are social-distancing and 6 feet away from another student/coach.
At the end of the workout, students MUST put their mask back on to walk from the workout location, through the proper turf exit, and to their car.

In the event of inclement weather, outdoor teams will move to the Theater Lobby where they will maintain their social distance until it is safe to return to outdoor activity.

What stays the same?

All students and coaches will continue to complete the Symptom Questionnaire PRIOR to coming on campus for a workout. This form must be completed before every workout. We are asking that all temperature checks take place at home before arriving on campus. Please send all forms to your coach, who will review them and pass them along to the Athletics Department.
All students must have a physical on file with the school in order to participate in a summer workout.

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Daily Symptom Questionnaire

If you have specific questions for a coach you may reach them at the following information.

Basketball: Walter Gray - wgray@academyoftheholycross.org

Country: Carlos Pla - cpla@academyoftheholycross.org

Field Hockey: Missy Eaton - meaton@academyoftheholycross.org

Lacrosse: Gary Morgan and Jackie Branthover - AHCLacrosse@academyoftheholycross.org

Soccer: Lance Van Winter - lwinter@academyoftheholycross.org

Volleyball: Dave Geiser - dgeiser@academyoftheholycross.org

Friday, June 12: Reopening Plan

Dear Holy Cross Families,

More than any school year in our history, 2020-21 will require an incredible level of preparation. That process is well underway. Our COVID-19 Task Force continues working diligently to safely reopen our campus. We will have a comprehensive reopening plan in place, with student and staff safety as the paramount focus.

Due to the life cycles of schools, athletics is leading the way as we resume limited on-campus conditioning and skill development for student-athletes on Monday, June 15. Our Athletic Director Dena Rapoport is meeting with our coaching staff to instruct them on our phase-in procedures as we prepare to welcome student-athletes back on campus, using a controlled approach. For more information, please reference the Athletic Newsletter sent earlier this week.

Our current Re-Opening Plan involves a hybrid model that will allow students to learn, engage, and stay connected to their peers, at times in person and at times through virtual learning. We have spent a considerable amount of time calculating how many faculty and students are able to be on campus at the same time while observing social distancing procedures. Our plan will include daily entry requirements for students, health procedures in school, cleaning and disinfecting processes, lunch procedures, PPE policies and much more. We anticipate having a complete plan with policies available to families by Friday, July 31.

We remain committed to following the advice of experts throughout this process. None of the guidelines we are working with are self-generated; we are relying on the guidance and expertise of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Governor Hogan and the Maryland Department of Health, and the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services. Our COVID-19 Task Force is determining the best practical applications of guidelines for our campus.

In fine-tuning our plan, we ask all families to complete the following Pre-Return Readiness Survey for each Holy Cross student in your family. Please complete the survey by Friday, June 19.

Pre-Return Readiness Survey

On Tuesday, August 25 we will welcome the Class of 2024 on campus. Returning students will return on a staggered schedule the following week. Mr. Sullivan will be in touch next week with additional information.

As a community we have overcome much this year. We were asked to step into the unknown. Although scary or frustrating at times, we persevered and we as individuals and as a community are stronger for the experience. We will update you with more details of our reopening plan in the weeks ahead. Please do not hesitate to reach out with your questions or concerns. On behalf of the faculty and staff, we wish you a great start to your summer and look forward to seeing you in August.

Sincerely,

Kathleen R. Prebble
President and CEO

"Learn to consult Jesus inferiorly every time you have a decision to make."

–Blessed Basil Moreau

Tuesday, June 9: Athletic Newsletter - Summer

Athletics Newsletter

The summer heat is upon us and that can only mean one thing. It's time to get outside and enjoy the weather.

Recently we learned from Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich that the county has entered Reopening Phase 1 with regard to COVID-19. With tight guidelines in place, this phase does allow for the slow return of outdoor activities. At this time the Athletics Department at The Academy of the Holy Cross is excited to announce that we will begin holding summer workouts for some of our sports programs. Please know that in order to implement these activities, we have diligently planned the necessary procedures for these events to take place on our campus. Families need to read and understand the instructions relating to the sport you plan to attend.

Below is the schedule for Phase 1 of all sports that are holding workouts. These workouts will begin on Monday June 15. Students who are interested in attending will need to sign-up for a slot via a sport specific SignUpGenius. Sessions are kept to 9 players maximum and 1 coach. All sessions during Phase 1 will be held outdoors. Coaches who are running these sessions will be sending more information on what you can expect during these workouts.

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Requirements for Participation

All students must have a current physical on file at the school.
Students must complete a daily COVID-19 symptom questionnaire, to include a self temperature check, and have the document signed by a parent/guardian. This form will be completed and collected daily before the session begins. It is available here for your convenience and will also be posted on the Athletics section of the Holy Cross website.

Daily Symptom Questionnaire

Procedures for Drop-Off/Pick-Up/Student Drivers

Each team will have a designated location on campus for students to be dropped off, one at a time. One student at a time should approach this station so that they can turn in their symptom questionnaire to the coach. Upon review, the student will then be asked to move to the field/space where their session is taking place (to avoid congregating). Once all students have arrived for a session and have been checked in by the coach, the session will begin.

For those girls planning to drive themselves to these activities, please plan to park along the driveway in the junior parking area.

At the end of the session, we ask that you please stay in your car to wait for your daughter. Those activities taking place on the turf field will be dismissed via the ramp closest to the softball field. Volleyball will be dismissed from Field #3, and Basketball will be dismissed from the senior parking lot.

Specific drop off/reporting locations:

Volleyball: picnic table on Field 3.

Basketball: senior parking lot.

Soccer: outside door #5 (theatre lobby).

Field Hockey: bottom of the steps leading up to the turf, closest to the black fencing leading up to the turf.

Lacrosse: bottom of the steps leading up to the turf, closest to the black fencing leading up to the turf.

Additional Information

Maintain social distance by being 6 feet apart as all times.
Masks shall be worn when social distance cannot be maintained.
Once groups are determined, students may not switch from one group to another based upon sport.
Interaction between groups shall be avoided.
Players shall bring their own water bottle, shoes, towels
1. Due to restrictions in Phase 1, we will not have water coolers outdoors at each field. Athletes must bring a filled bottle. Door #4 will be unlocked for students to use the bathroom and/or use the water filling stations to refill bottles.
If a player is experiencing any of the following symptoms, we ask that they do not attend the workout.
1. Fevers, chills, cough, muscle aches, headache, sore throat, runny nose, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of taste or smell.
Each student should bring their own hand sanitizer. Liquid hand sanitizer will be provided and must be used by everyone before a workout begins. There will be no high fives, back slaps, or any other physical contact permitted.
Alcohol wipes will be provided and used to wipe down equipment at the end of a workout.
Each girl will be issued one piece of equipment for the workout.
If you are interested in participating in a sport but haven't played on the school team or if you are a new/incoming student, please email the coach of the sport you are interested in to receive the link to sign up.

SignUp for a Summer Workout

Below you will find the links for each sport to signup for a supervised workout with the coach. Please sign up for only 1 slot per day. If you have any questions, please reach out to the specific coach or to the Athletic Director, Ms. Rapoport .

If you have specific questions for a coach you may reach them at the following information.

Basketball: Walter Gray - wgray@academyoftheholycross.org

Field Hockey: Missy Eaton - meaton@academyoftheholycross.org

Lacrosse: Gary Morgan and Jackie Branthover - AHCLacrosse@academyoftheholycross.org

Soccer: Lance Van Winter - lwinter@academyoftheholycross.org

Volleyball: Dave Geiser - dgeiser@academyoftheholycross.org

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