Good evening, CCPS families! Faculty and staff are eager to welcome our Cavaliers (9th-12th graders) and Eagles (6th-8th graders) back to school tomorrow! It will be an unprecedented start to the 20-21 VIRTUAL+ school year, and truthfully, what the first day experience entails will be dependent upon each person’s individual situation. As a staff member and student, you may be kicking the year off at school in a VIRTUAL+ learning hub, wearing a mask, keeping a safe distance from your colleagues/peers, and regularly washing those hands. Or, you may be starting the school year from home, stationed in front of a computer in a spare bedroom, at the kitchen table, or at a family desk. 

As I welcome our secondary students (6th-12th) and staff back on the “Eve of Day 1”, I know that the work truly began days, weeks, and even months ago in preparation for this unique school year. Thank you – thank you for the grace and mercy shown to one another, the patience that have been offered and will be needed, and the solution-oriented mindset that both families and employees have embraced. 

We begin the year confident in the established, in-person safety measures outfitting every school facility. We begin the year proud of our food service department’s ability to provide meals for all CCPS students. We begin the year appreciative of our transportation department’s ability to prepare our VIRTUAL+ equity groups’ individualized bus route needs. We begin the year pleased with our special educators’ communication with families to appropriately amend individualized education plans to meet the needs of each child. We begin the year celebrating educators’ admirable commitment to professional learning, relationship building, and communication with students and parents. We begin the year thankful for the engagement of our school community in the evolving details associated with a pandemic reopening. 

We are also grateful for technology! While a blessing, it can simultaneously cause emotions and stressors that are less than ideal. And… while we have recently experienced an elementary demand for devices beyond our currently available supply, the collective stakeholder response has been understanding and heartwarming. Thank you for adopting this supportive approach as we embark on this new VIRTUAL+ journey on August 24th (grades 6-12). 

We anticipate device hurdles this week. We expect some connectivity issues. We know, while we strive for excellence, there will be numerous opportunities for growth and improvement. Every one of us, student, staff, and parent, is climbing a steep learning curve – but we are doing it hip-to-hip with one another – #OneCaroline. 

And so, on the “Eve of Day 1” for so many of you, I wish you a safe, healthy, and growth-producing school year. It will not be void of challenges – use these opportunities to be innovative and courageous. It is not the time to pause our collaborative efforts – reach out, communicate, share thoughts and ideas. Most importantly, we share a common goal – the success of every CCPS student. 

Let’s get this year started! 
Sarah

Sarah  Calveric, Ph.D.
Superintendent