From the Head of School: Campus Reopening Dates

Dear Duchesne Community,

Leaning into the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart and respectfully caring for our entire community, Duchesne has made the decision to postpone the on-campus classroom instruction scenario of our plan.  We will now extend the remote learning scenario for all Pre-K3 through 12th grade students through September 4.

Since our plan’s release, many factors were reevaluated, including the execution of the plan which would compromise the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff, the programming for our students and the operations of our campus.  The decision to extend the remote learning scenario was not taken lightly and without thorough examination of all factors surrounding our on-campus classroom instruction.  The overall plan remains a good one that has broad support from our community and when fully implemented, at the right time on campus, should sustain the well-being and attendance of our students, faculty and staff.  Our new timeframe was vetted by the Board of Trustees and has their full support and now we ask for your support as well.

School will start remotely as planned on August 10, with our intention to continue remote learning for all students through September 4 and to begin an accelerated staggered start on campus immediately after Labor Day.  We will anticipate beginning on campus on September 8 and 9 with Lower School, followed by Middle School on September 10 and concluding with the Upper School on September 11.  The effect of this timing revision will be to extend remote learning by 8, 12 and 15 days for Upper, Middle, and Lower Schools, respectively.

While we know this announcement may disappoint some of you and may relieve others, we want to remind you, as previously stated, “first and foremost, our goal is the health and well-being of our students, faculty and staff and to seek a safe return to our campus”.  We are also sensitive to the health and well-being of our families and their desire for a safe return to campus as soon as possible.  Please be aware that this decision is designed to meet the specific needs of Duchesne.  Our mission is to build our community and to faithfully educate our girls without reservation and to the best of our ability. Rest assured that our remote learning will do both, and while remote, the implementation of our new Mod Schedule in the Middle and Upper Schools will also provide an exciting new opportunity for our girls.

In closing, may we look forward to celebrating our 60th anniversary year during the week of September 8 with love and affection for the mission we cherish and wish to preserve.  Thank you for doing so in unity and patiently accepting this new timeframe.

May we pray to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for lives lost, for those severely impacted by the effects of COVID-19, and for trends to continue to improve.  Also, may our actions serve to reduce the spread of the virus and draw us closer to reuniting in person with joy and hope for our community when we do so.

I am very grateful for our loving community and you may expect me to remain in close contact with you over the weeks ahead.   

Sincerely,

Patricia Swenson
Head of School