August 7, 2020

Dear FIRSTNAME,

We are reaching out to share the news of a Virtual Only Option that we have just launched at Barrie School for the 2020 -2021 school year. This program was designed and created for families with children entering P3 to 12th grade and whose families are unable or uncomfortable with a return to in-person learning.

Our leadership team, staff, and faculty unveiled this option on Wednesday to current families and we wanted you to be among the first outside this group to learn about this important development.

We know that many of you have found your next school community, but if you are still weighing your options we wanted you to be fully informed about our ability to serve families in this new way. The letter below from our Head of School Jon Kidder, outlines the plans and preparations for this new virtual option and the year ahead.

If you would like more information or would like to be in conversation about how we can support your family, we welcome your phone call or email.

Regards,

John, Theresa, and Beryl
Your Admission Team

301-576-2800

admission@barrie.org

August 5, 2020

Dear Parents and Guardians,

It has been quite a week. I want to let you know that the members of our school's COVID-19 Task Force take the health and well-being of everyone in our community very seriously, and we monitor incoming data every day.

We are scrutinizing the newest available data and aim to make a balanced and considered decision about the most appropriate way to begin this new school year. In practical terms, what this means is that Barrie School will announce our plan by August 12 about whether our first day of classes will be on campus, online, or with a phased approach whereby some divisions open with on-campus learning while others are virtual.

Since the back-and-forth between local and state officials may continue for some time, we will continue to plan according to our school's decision-making protocols which focus on health, safety, and the best available medical data -- as well as the counsel of the school's COVID-19 Task Force and the advice of our nurse, Kirstie Abernathy, and consulting School Physician and Pediatrician, Dr. Kevin Creamer.

How We Plan to Steward All Families: As we shared in the July Fall Preview meetings, our goal is to create one of the safest schools in the U.S. based on our comprehensive health protocols. These include robust social distancing guidelines, distinct "Learning Villages" of students to minimize germ exposure, and enhanced air filtration systems among many other measures.

We also understand that while these efforts are deeply appreciated, some families are still not comfortable sending their children for in-person instruction this year. For these families, we have created the following options:

P3 to 5th Grade Virtual-Only Track: I am happy to share that the Board of Trustees has unanimously approved the Virtual-Only Academic Track for Primary and Elementary students. As I shared previously, the tuition of this program is reflective of a high quality, full-day Montessori experience led by nationally renowned educator, Cathy Carpenter. Please click below for details on the tuition and daily schedule:

Details - P3 to Grade 5 Virtual-Only Track

While priority will be given to those with documented cases of family members who are immunocompromised or otherwise have high-risk medical conditions, we will do everything possible to accommodate everyone who feels this is the most appropriate option for their family.

6th to 12th Grade Virtual-Only Track: After months of non-stop faculty planning, we are pleased to announce the creation of a Virtual-Only Track for our Middle and Upper School (MUS) students. While the outcome is similar to the Lower School version, the structure of this program is designed to allow students to access live classes and course material from their homes through a fully interactive learning experience. The pedagogical expertise and technical prowess required of faculty to design engaging classes with students in two different locations is impressive. I would like to applaud the efforts of the entire faculty in making this possible -- with a special appreciation to our Middle and Upper School Teaching and Learning Committee who worked all summer to make this happen.

In this option, students will be able to:

Virtually join their peers during campus classes, assemblies, and most community time activities via Zoom with high quality sound so they can participate in real time.
Follow their in-person class schedule and participate in classroom discussion and activities.
Choose this option for 1, 2, or 3 trimesters, with the option to renew at the end of each trimester.

We will install video-conferencing equipment in each of the MUS classrooms, enabling students to fully participate in all academic and student life experiences. Students will be able to reach out to their teachers for additional help as needed and per our normal routines. The tuition for this program will be the same as for the regular in-person instruction.

In closing, I just want to add that it is simply amazing that our faculty and staff have created this range of opportunities to support our students and our families during an already difficult time. I want to thank the entire community for all of your support as we approach the start of this school year.

In partnership,

Jon Kidder

Head of School