The Shutdown Will End. What’s Next For Students?
➯ Ending the Shutdown
As we enter the third month of the COVID-19 shutdown, many states are taking incremental steps toward reopening. Governor Newsom laid out a four-part plan for reopening California which will start rolling out soon, with some retail businesses open for curbside pick up by this weekend. The process will be gradual in order to enable people to resume normal life while also minimizing their risk of being exposed to COVID-19.
➯ What About K-12 Students?
Closing all K-12 schools throughout the state has been one of the most impactful consequences of the quarantine and many families are anxious to get their kids back to school. Governor Newsom has proposed a potentially earlier start day for the 2020-21 school year, possibly as soon as late July or early August. This would make up for “learning loss” experienced by many students due to the abrupt closure of in-person classes as the COVID-19 pandemic began. So what might school look like? Some schools are considering a hybrid school week where students attend school just a few days a week and work remotely the other days. If so, Synergy Academics is already at work preparing programming which would offer curriculum support to enrich students’ learning at all grade levels on the days that they are not at school. However, the question of whether students can safely return to their school campuses will depend on how well the pandemic stabilizes.
➯ Off to College?
Closures caused by the global pandemic have been particularly challenging for college students who had to return to home in the middle of a school year, not to mention for graduating high school seniors who don’t know whether they will be able to head off to their chosen college in the fall or not. Some colleges and universities (including Purdue University, the University of Oregon, Baylor University and Wheaton College) have already announced plans to be open in the fall, but most are still in a “wait and see” mode. Schools are considering alternatives such as holding classes outside, limiting the number of students in classrooms and lecture halls, or having a combination of in-person and remote courses. We expect schools around the country to begin making their decisions over the next couple months.
➯ How Is Synergy Academics Preparing To Reopen Safely?
Once we are permitted to reopen, based on recommendations from state and county officials (potentially within the next week or two), please be assured that the safety of our staff and students is our top concern, and we are taking all necessary measures to provide a safe, healthy environment:
- Acrylic stands are being installed on the tutoring desks to provide a physical barrier between students and tutors while still allowing instruction to be done.
- All staff and students will be required to wear masks until instructed by health officials that it is no longer necessary.
- Desks in our Study Center are separated by partitions and students are seated at least six feet apart.
- Hand sanitizer is available onsite and desks and cubicles will be cleaned/disinfected in between student tutoring sessions.
- Staff health will be closely monitored. If they or any member of their family are exposed to the virus, they will not return to work until they have self-quarantined for a sufficient amount of time to ensure that they are not ill. We will also mandate that our clients not come to the center if they or any member of their family is ill or has been exposed to COVID-19.
- We will abide by any new requirements as they are announced to ensure everyone’s health.
➯ Don’t Fall Behind! Services Available During The Shutdown
Please know that even though our West Hills facility is currently closed, Synergy Academics is still here to help you and your students! Until the upcoming reopening, we are very successfully providing remote tutoring, standardized test prep and college counseling via Zoom or other apps. Please contact us if your students are in need of any help with school or test prep, or if your family is ready to begin the college application journey and you would like to work with one of our excellent college counselors, (818) 425-1400.
Thank you as always for your support of Synergy Academics. We all send you our best wishes for continued health and safety!
