We are delighted to be welcoming back our incredible scholars, families, and staff to Pride Academy School year 2021-2022!
We want to take this opportunity to thank you all for your tremendous efforts over the past year to help our scholars flourish both personally and academically, despite facing the many challenges of Covid-19.
Pride Academy has been working very hard these past months making safety preparations for this coming school year so that everyone is kept safe from Covid-19.
What excites me the most about returning is getting to socialize again, meeting everyone, and getting back into clubs -Ramona Linton, Eighth grader
To ensure your child’s safety, we have implemented the following safety precautions and protocols below.
To facilitate social distancing:
- We have placed social distancing floor tags throughout all common areas.
- Students will remain in their rooms while teachers transition from class to class.
- Cafeteria tables will be placed in a socially-distanced fashion.
- Student desks have been spread out in each classroom.
- Speakers have been installed in every classroom, so teachers can be heard more clearly through their masks.
To ensure proper hygiene measures are followed:
- Air purifiers have been added to every room and office in the building.
- Student and teacher desks have been outfitted with safety shields.
- Hand sanitizing stations will be in every classroom.
- An increase of PPE supplies will be available for all teachers, staff, and students.
- A chromebook will be available for each student to limit the number of books needed.
To promptly identify positive cases of Covid-19:
- Weekly COVID-19 testing will be required for all teachers and staff.
- Weekly COVID-19 testing will be available for all students.
- Another nursing staff member will be added to the team.
“I’m excited for my child to be back in a social environment with his peers, where he can be active and enjoy being in a school and group setting. I’m also excited to see Ms. Thomas greet the children at the door every morning” Shanice Bryant, parent of 8th grader, Gavin Crank
Many of these protocols were implemented during Phase 1 and Phase 2 this past spring, as well as in our summer enrichment programs.
Although these precautions will probably make this school year very different than other years, I think we are all just excited to be in school and be together again as a Pride family.
Principal Mrs. Fiona Thomas reminds us that although our start of the year will be very different this year, we can get through this together.
“It will call for all of us to be gracious, compassionate, and flexible. With patience and open minds and hearts, we commit to partner together to keep everyone safe, cared for, and learning and teaching with joy, peace of mind, and high academic expectations.”
We appreciate your patience and understanding in following our Covid-19 protocols at Pride Academy. Though this school year won’t be the same as those before the pandemic, our teachers and staff are committed to providing the same quality of education to our scholars and attentive support to our parents.
We hope you are all looking forward to your return at Pride Academy and extend a heartfelt welcome to all new scholars beginning their learning journey with us. If you have any questions regarding our Covid-19 protocols please feel free to get in touch with Mrs. Fiona Thomas by email at fthomas@prideacs.org or by phone at 973-672-3200 ext. 201