Diane Borgmann
Dear Sycamore Trustees, Parents, Faculty, and Staff,
I hope this update finds you safe and healthy! The spring weather we've enjoyed this week has buoyed the spirits of many, and I hope you are feeling some new life.
There is no doubt that this time is unpredictable, frustrating, and challenging. We do, however, have to be in sync with the world and face the reality of our times. It is our calling to be resilient in the face of uncertainty, and at Sycamore we will do that to the best of our ability. There are constants. Our mission and our core values of respect, moral courage, empathy, and relationships haven't wavered. We know who we are and what we do, and we plan to deliver on that mission and those values. Our faculty and staff have a deeply ingrained sense of purpose, and I'm very proud of their enthusiastic adoption of our Distance Learning Plan. After all, the school building is closed; school is not closed.
Our Administrative Leadership Team continues to meet at least weekly, and we constantly review where we are, what's coming up, and what decisions have to be made. We have currently made the following new decisions:
- We will not hold a graduation ceremony as planned on May 21; it's not safe or advisable. Robert Walker and the Middle School team are working on an appropriate way to provide closure to our 8th graders and send them off for the summer. You will be receiving more information as ideas develop. We are committed to holding an in-person graduation ceremony during the summer if at all possible. Of course, we can't promise that it will happen, but if it's possible, it will happen. We want to celebrate with our 8th graders and their families in a personal way. I know this is a sad outcome for our 8th graders and their families, and it certainly is for us.
- Our summer programs are cancelled through July 4, at least. Decisions about camps and classes after July 4 will be made as we go forward. You will be hearing from Dusty Burwell and Trent Tormoehlen, and they will be available to answer your specific questions.
- Starting April 14, we will resume our Distance Learning Plan; April 13 is a faculty planning and preparation day. We will then complete the school year as planned, officially ending on May 20. Some teachers may plan wrap-up activities with their classes on May 21, and you will hear more from them about those plans.
- We are working on a plan to get children's belongings that were left at school back to them, probably on May 21 and 22. Stay tuned for the specifics of that plan.
- We are also planning to have a celebration for this year's classes sometime before next year's classes start. The proximity of that celebration to the first day of school next year is still to be determined.
Thanks to all of you parents who are hanging in there with us as we navigate this new course! Thanks to our faculty and staff, especially those who have children at home, for the depth of their commitment and their positive, can-do spirits! Thanks to my Administrative Leadership Team for always being on call and ready to provide thoughtful advice. Thanks to our Board of Trustees for their support and guidance. We truly are all in this together!
We will continue to do our best to meet the challenges before us. I appreciate all the ways you communicate your support. As always, we are available to you. I miss our regular and frequent interactions, and I miss the kids terribly.
Onward and upward!
Be well,
Diane