COVID-19 Updates

On May 13, 2021 Governor Walz announced an end to Minnesota’s statewide mask requirement. However, Minnesota’s Safe Learning Plan, along with the existing face-covering guidance will remain in effect at Groves. Through the end of the 2020-21 school year, masks must continue to be worn by everyone inside school buildings.

Additional health and safety recommendations from the CDC and Minnesota Department of Health for summer programming and other in-person services are expected to be released in the coming weeks. Thank you all for your continued support of the safety policies that keep our community safe.

Dear Groves Parents and Guardians,

Happy New Year! We hope your holiday celebrations were safe and filled with memorable moments.

Before our winter break, we sent a communication to families that offered reflections on the school year thus far, safety reminders for a safe holiday season, and a promise to communicate the mode of learning Groves will follow after distance learning for Lower, Middle, and Upper schools Wednesday, January 6 through Friday, January 8. Guidance from Governor Walz in his December 16 announcement detailing next steps on COVID-19, specifically for schools, our internal criteria at Groves, and conversations with our division directors and teachers and feedback from parents, helped to inform our decision for the instructional delivery model would work best for Groves:

Our Plan Moving Forward

Groves Academy is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for our entire community of students, guests, visitors, stakeholders, faculty, and staff. Our goal is to mitigate the potential for transmission of COVID-19 in our building and community, and that requires full cooperation among our staff, leaders, families, and clients. Only through this cooperative effort can we establish and maintain the safety and health of all persons balanced with the delivery of transformative learning experiences. (Groves Academy COVID-19 Preparedness Plan)

Both our experience, as well as the research on unique learners suggests strongly that in-person delivery of multisensory instruction is the best approach and acknowledges both the academic and social-emotional and well-being of our students. We have therefore developed a staggered approach to bringing all of our students back on campus for our Hybrid Schedule of four (4) days of In-person learning and one (1) day of distance learning.

Our Schedule Starting Monday, January 11

All divisions – Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools– will continue in distance learning for an additional week, Monday, January 11 through Friday, January 15.

Rationale:

• Recommendation from Governor Walz and the MDE that schools should wait a minimum of two to three weeks before transitioning students back for in-person or hybrid learning models
• It naturally creates a barrier that is easier/potentially safer to manage and verify any data points that are needed to make better decisions about continuing or stopping in-person learning to keep everyone as safe as possible.

Staggered Approach to Returning to Our Hybrid Schedule

Lower School: Tuesday, January 19, the lower school will return to our hybrid schedule of (4) four days of in-person learning, Monday through Thursday, and (1) day of distance learning on Friday.

• Please note there is no school Monday, 1/18 in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• The middle and upper schools remain in distance learning

Middle School: Monday, January 25, the middle school will return to our hybrid schedule of (4) four days of in-person learning, Monday through Thursday, and (1) day of distance learning on Friday.

• The upper school remains in distance learning

Upper School: Monday, February 1, the upper school will return to our hybrid schedule of (4) four days of in-person learning, Monday through Thursday, and (1) day of distance learning on Friday.

As of Monday, February 1, All Divisions Will Be On Campus

Our Continued Hope

We will press forward together and believe we will be stronger when we emerge from the pandemic. Thank you for your commitment to the school and to each other.

Sincerely,
The Groves Academy Leadership Team

Dear Groves Community,

Thank you for your continued support as we navigate the challenges of the school year due to COVID.

We were recently notified of two lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in members of the Groves community with exposure dates of 11/30, 12/3, and 12/4.

Through contact tracing, we identified those who had close contact–defined as someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24 hour period — and have communicated directly with those individuals. If you were not contacted, your risk of exposure, and that for other individuals in the building on those dates is no greater than the risk of contracting the virus in the general community.

For privacy reasons, we can’t share many details about the status of the individuals who tested positive. At this time they are staying home.

We will continue to keep you updated if there are any further developments. In the meantime, please remind your student that the best practice for limiting exposure is to:

• Stay home if they are ill
• Maintain 6 feet of social distancing at all times
• Encourage your student to avoid gathering in groups
• Wear their mask
• Practice proper respiratory and hand hygiene

If you have any questions or concerns please reach out.

Sincerely,

Dan Morgan, President, Groves Academy
Deb Peterson, Director of Human Resources
Kim Peeples, Head of School
Nancy Segreti, Director of The Learning Center

An Important Update to Our Plan

November 16, 2021

Dear Groves Parents and Guardians,

We hope you all had a safe, healthy, and happy weekend. We had some family time, but also monitored closely the daily information about COVID infection rates, and we have a very important update for you.

Our Guiding Principles

Throughout the fall, we strove to balance what was happening outside of Groves with the actual experience i n our school based on these guiding principles:

• Protecting the health and safety of all students, families, and Groves employees as our first priority
• Following the MN Safe Schools Plan, and consulting the MN Dept of Health, CDC, MN Dept of Education, and State of Minnesota guidelines for operating an educational institution. Making differentiated adjustments specific to the unique needs of Groves Academy, Groves Learning Center, and Groves Literacy Partnerships
• Maintaining our commitment to providing transformative learning experiences for our students

Acknowledging Our Current Reality

Our school community worked very hard to ensure a safe learning experience even as Hennepin County case numbers continued to accelerate. However, the rapid increase in COVID-19 case counts in recent weeks suggests that hospitalizations will continue to climb thus stressing the capacity limits of our local health care system. According to an article published yesterday by Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), “The average positivity rate for tests over the past week is now 14.8 percent. State officials have long considered 5 percent a concerning threshold.” At Groves, we are experiencing similar stress to our system: the daily unknowns about potential exposure at the teacher and staff level have a deep impact on who is in our building every day making it difficult to ensure teacher consistency. At this point, we cannot ignore the rising public health risk and the strain it has on the Groves community:

• Out of an abundance of caution, Groves will transition our Middle and Upper Schools to Full Distance Learning starting Monday, November 30 through Friday, January 8, 2021. This was an extraordinarily difficult decision and we know many middle and upper school students and families will be disappointed. However, in light of community conditions around us, we believe it is the best choice for the continued health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff. We appreciate the support, encouragement, flexibility, and cooperation we have received from our community this fall. As we have pledged throughout the year, irrespective of the mode of instruction, we will continue to deliver transformative learning experiences that maintain our commitment to a highly personal and academically exceptional learning experience for all our students.

What Remains the Same

• Professional Development (Friday, November 20 through Tuesday, November 24) Teachers will use these days to plan and prepare for full distance learning. The school will not be in session on these days.
• Winter Break (Monday, December 21, 2020, through Tuesday, January 5, 2021) Upon return from our Winter Break, Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools will be in full distance learning on Wednesday, January 6 through Friday, January 8, 2021.
  • We remain strongly committed to providing in-person education. If our circumstances at the time suggests that it is safe to do so, our goal is to return to our Hybrid Schedule of four (4) days of in-person learning and one (1) day of distance learning on January 11, 2021.

Our Hope

We will press forward together and believe we will be stronger when we emerge from the pandemic. Thank you for your commitment to the school and to each other.

Sincerely,

Dan Morgan, President of Groves Academy

Kim Peeples, Head of School

Deb Peterson, Director of Human Resources

Dear Groves Learning Center Families,

We hope you and your families are well. At Groves, we had a great start to the school year and we are so honored to support your student(s) whether that be in-person or virtually.

As an organization, Groves is committed to balancing health and safety with a robust and transformative learning experience during COVID-19. This means that every day, we strive to keep in-person learning experiences and services available to our community while also remaining committed to and continually enhancing our safety protocols. Along with closely monitoring our students and staff at Groves, we also continue to monitor the spread of COVID-19 in our greater community in Minnesota. Given the increasing rate of positive cases and increased absences due to symptoms associated with COVID-19, we have decided to make changes in how we deliver some of our services.

As with everything we do at Groves, we will differentiate our approach to how we respond to COVID-19 based on the differences in every service we provide.  We know that we can not completely eliminate the risk of COVID-19 exposure but we can decrease the risk with the following changes in our service delivery. Please know that this timeline may change due to new information.

On Monday, November 30th:

• Tutoring – All services will be delivered virtually via Zoom.
  • If you are currently tutoring in person.
    • Starting Monday, November 30th, we will shift to virtual sessions via Zoom.
    • Your session dates should not need to change.
    • Your tutor will reach out to schedule Zoom meetings on our calendar.
    • If you are currently receiving services in person and would like to shift to virtual delivery prior to November 30, please reach out to your tutor.
    • Per our policies, based on the health and safety of our students and staff, The Learning Center reserves the right to adjust safety practices, pause services, or deliver 100% virtual services at any time and thus, are not providing refunds if you choose not to complete your current session virtually.
      If you would like to discontinue services after you have completed your current sessions.
  • If you would like to discontinue services after you have completed your current sessions.
    • Please inform your tutor as soon as possible.
    • We would be happy to add you to the waitlist for when we return to in-person services. We will not be able to ensure that you will continue to work with your current tutor, but will work to ensure that you have a suitable tutor match. If you would like to be added to the waitlist, please send an email to vandellc@grovesacademy.org and cc your tutor.
• Diagnostic Testing – Clinical interviews and final feedback meetings will continue to be held via Zoom.  Due to the nature of diagnostic evaluation, testing will be conducted in-person with safety precautions and screening measures in place.
  • We continue to look at recommended safety protocols and are committed to adding additional safety measures as needed.
  • Effective immediately we will no longer allow snacks during testing, meal breaks will continue to be held in a separate room.
  • Any family member dropping off or picking up a student must wear a mask when interacting with the provider before and after the appointment.
• Speech-Language Therapy – All therapy sessions will be delivered virtually via Zoom. Evaluations will continue to be conducted in person and clinical interviews and final feedback meetings continue to be held via phone or Zoom.
  • Your provider will reach out with instructions for logging into sessions if you are not already participating in sessions via Zoom.
  • If you are currently receiving services in person and would like to shift to virtual delivery prior to November 30th, please reach out to your provider.
  • We continue to look at recommended safety protocols and are committed to adding additional safety measures as needed.
  • Effective immediately, we will no longer allow students to eat snacks during evaluations.
  • Any family member dropping off or picking up a student for an evaluation must wear a mask when interacting with the providers before and after the appointment.

We thank you for your understanding as we make decisions in the interest of the health and safety of our students and staff, and we are honored to support your family. We are committed to resuming in-person learning for all of our services as soon as circumstances are favorable and will continue to communicate with you.

Warm Regards,

Nancy Segreti
Director of The Learning Center
Groves Academy

• The number of confirmed cases in our community
• The number of absences due to quarantines
• Close contacts in our school community
• Other data such as individuals with influenza-like illness
• Groves staff own children going to distance learning

• Lower School: 4 days of in-person learning / 1-day of distance learning (our current model)
  NOTE: An additional day of distance learning will be added to the Lower School schedule if warranted–3 days of in-person learning (Tuesday-Thursday) and 2 days of distance learning (Friday and the following Monday)
• Middle School and Upper School: 3 days of in-person learning (Tuesday-Thursday); 2 days of distance learning (Friday and the following Monday)

• Stay home if they are ill
• Maintain 6 feet of social distancing at all times
• Encourage your student to avoid gathering in groups
• Wear their mask
• Practice proper respiratory and hand hygiene

Dear Groves Parents and Guardians,  

Thank you all for your support as we returned to Groves following a busy summer.  We were so happy to welcome everyone back.  

As you know, this will be a challenging year in many ways, and as expected, we are beginning to experience some of that now.  We were recently notified of a lab-confirmed case of COVID-19 in a member of the Groves Academy community with an exposure date of 9/14/2020.

We worked with the individual and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to identify those who had close contact–defined as 6 feet or less for 15 minutes or more–with the case. The determination by MDH was that no Groves employees or students were identified as a close contact. Therefore, the risk of exposure for anyone present in the building on that date should be no greater than the risk of contracting the virus in the general community.

For privacy reasons, we can’t share many details about the status of the person. At this time they are staying at home. 

We will continue to keep you updated if there are any further developments. In the meantime, please remember that the best practice for limiting exposure is to:

• Stay home if you are ill
• Maintain 6 feet of social distancing at all times
• Avoid gathering in large groups
• Wear your mask
• Practice proper respiratory and hand hygiene

Groves strongly encourages families to refer to the newly released MDH COVID-19 Attendance Guide for Parents and Families for the guidelines on when to keep their student home. Groves follows closely the Minnesota Department of Health Decision Tree on when faculty, staff, and students are to be excluded from the program due to illness.

As the school year continues your child may notice an increase in the number of students in distance learning, or a substitute teacher standing in for their teacher.  A reminder that not all absences are COVID related (i.e. seasonal allergies, pre-existing conditions, etc.) 

We remain committed to working closely with the Minnesota Department of Health when there is an exposure in the building and will follow their guidance for identifying close contacts and notifying the Groves community.

Reminder on the procedure for absences due to illness and/or medical concerns

• Be sure to contact the School Nurse at nurse@grovesacademy.org  or 952.915.4264 by 8:00 a.m. if your student will be absent due to illness, pre-existing conditions, or medical concerns.  

Classwork & Homework Assignment Expectations:

1. If your student will need to be absent due to illness for up to three (3) consecutive days, please communicate with his or her homeroom teacher/advisor and classroom teachers to assist your student with keeping up with classwork and homework assignments asynchronously.   This continues to be an important method of keeping students engaged with what’s happening in the classroom, health permitting.
2. If a student is absent due to COVID-related concerns for four (4) or more days consecutively, the School Nurse will stay in contact with parents/guardians about their student’s condition.  Regarding academics, Ellen Engstrom, the director of curriculum, will take the lead coordinating support for instruction should remote learning be needed.

Please Note: Remote learning is not an option for consecutive absences that add up to three (3) days or if those absences are not related to illness or a medical condition. 

We are truly appreciative of your support and partnership in creating a safe, engaging, and meaningful learning environment for all of our students.

Sincerely,

Dan Morgan, President

Kim Peeples, Head of School

Deb Peterson, Director of Human Resources

Groves Academy hosted a Virtual Town Hall for our school families on August 19. 

Thank you for staying connected with us over the past few months as we readied and communicated our plan for the upcoming school year. Since we distributed the plan August 7, we received a number of responses with some common questions. Thus, we felt it would be helpful to host a Town Hall videoconference so we could answer these for a wider audience, provide you with some updated information, and take any other outstanding questions you might have. Kim Peeples and the school leadership team will be on hand along with myself and a few other key Groves staff to help guide this conversation.

Dear Wonderful Groves Community,

This historic year continues to speed along and presents us all with new and unprecedented scenarios. I hope that, despite the challenges and fear we face, you, your families, and your loved ones have found moments of joy and positivity this summer.

We are thrilled to report that our Summer Program successfully concluded today after four weeks of healthy and safe in-person learning for more than 100 students and 30 staff members. Our Safety task force at Groves created the comprehensive Summer Program Safety Plan that struck the right balance between the health and safety of our students, faculty, and families with a robust and powerful educational opportunity.  Congratulations to all!

The Groves team worked tirelessly over the past few months to identify the best, safest, and most impactful way to return to Groves this Fall.  I hold such deep gratitude and appreciation for every person who supported this process including a number of Groves parents, and numerous experts who were consulted and gave freely of their time. Thank you all!

The Return to Groves plan can be found in the above web viewer. The document is extensive and thorough, and I encourage you to read it carefully.  I also understand there may be topics that are not fully addressed within the plan.  Please make note of these and email your questions to covid-19faq@grovesacademy.org  These will be monitored by a team of people who will respond as quickly as they can.

I recognize that some of our decisions as an organization may not resonate with you and that your family may have different and strong ideas about how we should operate or what will work best for you as a family.  We honor that and support you. Please know that we worked extremely hard to absorb and process all viewpoints, and that this plan is the result of making the best judgments based on our internal expertise, that of the Groves parents and outside experts we consulted, and the collective information from trusted sources locally, nationally, and internationally that will best serve our entire community.  We also recognize that COVID-19 is widespread and we know we are likely to acknowledge its presence inside Groves this year.

This document is not the end of a process, rather, it is the beginning of what will be a fun and impactful year (and certainly one with some challenges).  Some very useful information will follow in the coming weeks to help you successfully navigate your Return to Groves:

• A “Cheat Sheet” of key information extracted from the much longer document
• Back-to-school forms and calendars, school supply ordering, and our lunch program info
• Maps, diagrams, descriptions, and instructions for drop-off and pick-up
• Videos to watch with your kids about the upcoming year
• A calendar of communication to help you stay connected to Groves
• Groves’ plan for a robust approach to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

Finally, some gratitude–thank you for being our partners this year.  We deeply value our relationship with you and your amazing children, and we always strive to serve you well.  This year will be fraught with uncertainty and challenge.  We know you will help us overcome all barriers with positivity, grace, and cooperation.

With Sincere and Deep Appreciation,

Dan Morgan
President, Groves Academy

Dear Groves Community,

I hope this note finds you and yours well having hopefully enjoyed a lovely weekend. As you know, last Thursday the Governor and his team announced their recommendations for opening schools this Fall. Overall, the plan is well organized, flexible, and incorporates a good mix of direct science and data with the ability for local decision making. I applaud the Governor and everyone involved in the team with creating a functional plan in the midst of difficult and unknown circumstances.

The good news is that the plan does not alter our overall goal for launching the school year and Fall programming at Groves. As it stands, we still intend to see Groves Academy students back in our building on the schedule I previously communicated: Monday to Thursday at school, and Friday at home for a half day of virtual learning. The Groves Learning Center will continue to operate as they have with individualized plans and instruction customized to the clients’ needs.

We continue to pour over the Governor’s plan to see if there are areas in our plan that need adjusting, and we will monitor closely the changes in COVID-19 infection rates in Hennepin County which are a guidepost for making changes to how schools operate. As situations change, we reserve the right to make alterations to our plan. Thank you for your patience. We intend to release the Return to Groves Plan later this week. We cannot wait to see all your smiling faces very soon!

All the Best,

Dan Morgan
President, Groves Academy

As we communicated in early June when we released our Safety Plan, we are committed to consistently monitoring state and national guidelines and orders for safety protocols related to COVID-19. We are also committed to implementing necessary changes immediately.

In the past 24 hours, two critical orders have been made by the city of St. Louis Park and Governor Walz regarding mask coverings. Governor Walz’s Executive Order 20-81, “requires Minnesotans to wear face coverings in indoor businesses and indoor public settings.” At Groves, the health and safety of our students, our staff and faculty, and our families remain our top priority. Effective on Thursday, July 23rd, Groves Academy Summer Programs will require that students wear cloth face masks in the building at all times. They will be able to remove their masks only when adhering to social distancing guidelines during snack and lunch times. If your child has a medical condition which compromises their ability to breathe, please notify our Nurse at nurse@grovesacademy.org immediately to discuss a plan for your child.

Thank you for joining us in our commitment to health and safety. It has been such a pleasure getting to know our Summer Programs students. We are looking forward to the coming weeks and are excited to continue to provide in-person learning at Groves.

Warm Regards,

Summer Programs
Groves Academy

Dear Dedicated Groves Families, Caregivers, and Students,

I hope this message continues to find you and your loved ones healthy, happy, and well. As the summer heats up, so do our preparations for the coming year. I am pleased to announce that this week, thanks to the incredible work of our Learning Center team in collaboration with the School team, the Groves Summer Program began and we welcomed over 100 students back to school. Included are some pictures to give you a sense of how things are structured and will look in the Fall. Also, you will find useful and detailed information about our plans for schedules and curriculum.

SCHEDULE INFORMATION, GROVES ACADEMY:

(subject to change based on evolving conditions)

• New Student Orientation (NEW students only), Monday, August 31st, arrival and dismissal schedule based on division–times still TBD
• 1st day of school for ALL students, Tuesday, September 1st, all divisions start this day at 8:25 am with a 1:00 pm dismissal
• In-person, full-day learning Monday – Thursday every week (no half day on Wednesday)
• At-home, half-day distance learning on Fridays from 8:30am – 12pm
• Traditional ASA will be suspended for the fall session (through Thanksgiving) at minimum. Families who need coverage will be able to enroll in before care from 7:30-8:15 am and/or after care from 3:15-5:00 pm (rolling pick up) at NO cost.

SCHEDULE INFORMATION, GROVES LEARNING CENTER

• Continues as normal–individualized based on family need and schedule availability
  Option for hybrid tutoring model–virtual tutoring, or in-person tutoring

CURRICULUM INFORMATION

Groves Academy, a leader in education for students with learning disabilities and executive functioning challenges, is taking well-researched action steps to ensure that we provide a safe, relevant, and emotionally responsive education that prepares our students for whatever the world brings their way. At the heart of the Groves Academy approach to curriculum is teaching students the process of learning (learning how to learn) so that they will be successful lifelong learners who can accomplish their own goals. The four pillars guide our curricular approach: Social-Emotional Learning; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Executive Function; and Technology.

• Social-Emotional Learning: Social and emotional learning (SEL) at Groves Academy empowers students to understand themselves and to interact with others in meaningful and productive ways. This occurs in a nurturing environment where students engage in experiences designed to foster self-awareness and utilize metacognitive strategies to reflect on their own patterns of thinking and behavior.
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Groves Academy welcomes all students and prepares them to embrace their neurodiversity. We are committed to creating an environment that respects and values individual differences, backgrounds, cultures, identities, and perspectives. By teaching students to see, hear, and value themselves and others, we prepare them to make a meaningful difference in the world. Additionally, through emphasizing service to others, we deepen their understanding of their impact, not only at school and in their own community but also in a complex, interconnected world.
• Executive Function: Executive function (EF) skills represent the brain’s ability to coordinate the thinking and behavior needed to achieve a goal. Examples of these skills include starting a task, planning, and prioritization, sustained attention, organization, and time management. The stronger these skills are, the easier it is for a person to achieve their goals and priorities. Groves Academy has long recognized the critical role executive function plays in students’ academic performance. Some have characterized EF skills as the “hidden curriculum” of all schools. We seek to explicitly define these skills in order to bring them into students’ awareness and ultimately build independence.
• Technology: Groves Academy has long recognized the importance of integrating both educational and assistive technologies into the curriculum of all grade levels in our school. Technology enhances learning by empowering students to take control of their learning and gives them access to resources, varied methods of communication, self-expression, and collaboration. In the 21st century, technology makes it possible for instruction and learning to move beyond the physical classroom to anywhere in the world. Through assistive technology, students can break down barriers to learning to achieve their potential in various academic and post-Groves environments.

All the very best,

Dan Morgan
President, Groves Academy
morgand@grovesacademy.org

Questions to be answered in future communications:

• Will 100% distance learning be available if we do not want to attend in person this year?
• What will distance learning look like if my child has to quarantine?
• How will in-person learning work if my child’s teacher has to quarantine?
• Are sports and other activities going to be available?
• Other questions, as they are gathered

One piece of information to discuss with your student:

Show them the pictures of Groves so they can begin to prep for what it will be like to enter the building, and practice wearing a mask when navigating crowded indoor spaces.

Resources for you, and experts influencing our work:

• MDH Guidance
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)- COVID-19 School & Childcare Information
• COVID-19 Self-Screening Tool

Dear Dedicated Groves Families, Caregivers, and Students,

I hope this message finds you and your loved ones well, and that your summer is bringing you some precious relaxation, and hopefully some reconnection with the people and the communities that are important to you.

We at Groves are hard at work, planning and preparing for both our summer program, as well as the structure of all our programming in the fall.  This is the first in a series of bi-monthly communications that will run through the summer (and likely beyond).  I will share with you as much information as possible so you can begin to plan for the coming year.  Importantly, I do not want to overload you, so I hope to keep these messages concise, and consistent.  I will include bullet points on our progress; I will highlight information in red that will be different from the past; I will include a thought or two on what to communicate to your student so you can help them visualize their time at Groves this fall thus allowing them to be better prepared when they walk through the door.

Finally, I want to extend my sincere gratitude and appreciation to the entire Groves organization and community for the incredible effort everyone exerts every day.  Your tireless dedication will ensure an amazing summer and school year as we shift the paradigm of education.  Thank you!

Important Information

• The summer program begins on July 13th.  If you are enrolled, you will already have received the safety and operations plan. You can also find it on our website here. We look forward to seeing you!
• We await word from the Governor and the Minnesota Departments of Education and Health to release their “return to school” recommendations on or around July 27th.  Groves will likely align with much of their proposal.
• We will release our comprehensive plan shortly after we hear from the Governor.
• Four task force groups are deep in the planning process for the coming year: Curriculum, led by Ellen Engstrom and Kim Peeples; Facilities, led by Colin Roney and Lawrence Graham;  Health & Safety, led by Deb Peterson; Communications led by Dan Morgan.
• Each task force includes 1-2 Groves parents who participate with us in weekly meetings.
• A parent focus group was conducted on June 24th to get critical stakeholder input and voice into our planning process.  Thanks to all who participated!
• Our work for the Fall is centered on returning to school in a Hybrid Model. Every week would include four days in person atGroves, and one day of distance learning at home (subject to adjustments, as needed,  based on evolving state and government guidelines and recommendations)
• There is a strong consensus that consistently including distance learning each week, among many benefits, enables students, parents, and teachers to be better prepared for the possibility of a shift to full distance learning.
• The Learning Center will offer options for in-person or virtual tutoring and speech-language services, and plans to continue offering in-person diagnostic assessments.
• An expert from Ecolab toured the building and provided a detailed report on how to successfully manage social distancing, cleaning, wearing masks, etc.

One piece of information to discuss with your student:

Please inform your student that they will be required to wear masks in the building anytime appropriate social distancing cannot be maintained.

Resources for you, and experts influencing our work:

MDH Guidance

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)- COVID-19 School & Childcare Information

COVID-19 Symptoms

Thank you for your connection, and for your support.  Education works best when the partnership is strong.

All the very best,

Dan  Morgan
President, Groves Academy

2020 SUMMER PROGRAMS SAFETY PLAN

Dear Groves Parents and Guardians,

The Close of the 2019-2020 School Year

We began the 2019-2020 school year as we’ve done in the past- from welcoming new students and parents to the Groves community in August to the annual Groves Ski Day in February, with many events that brought us together in between.

With the impact of COVID-19, on April 1, we transitioned from meeting together on campus to connecting virtually through Zoom. Our mission of creating transformative learning experiences for our students and a commitment to maintaining strong relationships were at the center of our planning and teaching during the months of April through June. We experienced success, faced challenges, updated schedules, and altered plans. We witnessed Groves’s entire community using our values of authenticity, collaboration, compassion, discovery, and tenacity throughout our experience. We did this, together.

Thank you, Groves parents and guardians! We could not have made such an enormous shift without your support, feedback, and trust.

Graduation and Student Award Ceremonies:

View Groves Academy’s end of the year virtual ceremonies by clicking HERE . Videos will be uploaded at the designated dates and times:

• Lower School – Tues 6/2, 4:00pm
• Graduation and Senior Video – Tues 6/2, 7:00pm
• Middle School – Wed 6/3, 4:00pm
• Upper School – Wed 6/3, 4:00pm

Planning for the 2020-2021 School Year

As the current school year closes, we must accelerate the detailed planning necessary for the 2020-2021 school year. What makes this especially challenging is the evolving nature of COVID-19. In many ways, we will embark on planning with a number of unknowns– when additional peaks with the virus will occur, the availability of a vaccine or treatment protocol, the local and federal government response, etc. Nevertheless, the necessity for thoughtful planning could not be more important. We are committed to striking the balance between the health and safety of our students, faculty, and families with a robust and powerful education opportunity.

The guiding principles for this essential work are:

• • Creating plans, procedures, systems, and protocols aligned with our mission–We build confidence, success, and purpose through transformative learning experiences– and executed through our values–authenticity, collaboration, compassion, discovery, and tenacity.
  • Delivering on the value proposition (relationship, continuity, preparation) to our entire Groves community (students and their families, faculty, and staff) that we are doing everything in our power to make their health and safety our TOP priority.
  • Planning for not “going back” to operating as usual. The hybridization of in-person/online delivery of instruction and services will need to be part of our experience for the foreseeable future. We must continue to normalize change and be the pioneers in LD delivery models.

Taskforce Groups
To accelerate and inform our plan, four task force groups are being formed:

• • Curriculum Task Force (Focus: technology, scheduling, the scope of the curriculum, social/emotional/mental health care/ wellness, research and delivery of best pedagogical practices for our students)
  • Medical/Health and Safety Task Force (Focus: protective equipment protocols for stakeholders, ncleaning protocols, onsite testing/temperature check policies, research best practice)
  • Facilities Task Force ( Focus logistics– social distancing configurations, cleaning and sanitizing protocols, outdoor traffic during dropoff and pickup, research best practice)
  • Communications Task Force (Focus: connects with each task force–execute various stakeholder communication needs, conduct surveys of stakeholders, monitor federal, state and local pandemic-related legislation and executive actions that may affect the research best practice)

* We will also offer opportunities for parents to participate in a parent forum as well.

Tentative Timeline:

• June 8 – June 26: Each task force will develop plans relevant to their specific area
• June 29 – July 10: Finalize the plan
• Week of July 13: Share the plan with the entire Groves community

* If you have any questions, please contact me or Dan.

Enjoy the warmth of the summer months and continue to stay safe!

All the best,

Kim Peeples
Head of School

Dear Groves Summer Families,

We hope this email finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy.  We are looking forward to seeing your child this Summer for much needed in-person learning! The Groves Safety Task Force is currently developing a COVID-19 response and safety plan for the Summer Program experience that encompasses procedures and protocols for arrival/dismissal, social distancing practices in the building, readiness, and response for a COVID-19 case, and cleaning procedures. We are closely monitoring guidelines from the Office of Governor Walz, CDC, and WHO in order to develop a comprehensive plan for a great Summer at Groves.

Below is an update on our payment deadline and answers to some frequently asked questions.  We will continue to communicate with you as our planning continues.  As always, please do not hesitate to email us directly at summerschool@grovesacademy.org

Key Dates:

You will receive a communication about our safety plan for Summer 2020 on June 15th, 2020
The payment deadline has been extended to June 22nd, 2020

FAQ’s: Payments, Refund Policies, and Safety Plans

Q: What is the Groves refund policy if the program is canceled?
A: If the Summer Program is canceled, all families will receive a refund for program fees. The $40 application fee is nonrefundable.

Q: What if the program is held and I decide to withdraw my child due to health and safety concerns?
A: If the program is not canceled and a family requests to withdraw after the payment deadline of June 22nd, 2020 Groves will offer a refund in the amount of 50% of the payment before July 1st. After July 1st, no refunds will be made. 

Q: Will Groves offer other services if the program is canceled or I decide to withdraw due to health and safety concerns?
A:  In all cases, Groves will work with you and your family to ensure that your child gets the summer services that they need! We do offer 1:1 tutoring and speech-language services and can work with you individually to determine the best fit for your child. 

Q: What is the safety plan for the Summer Program?
A: The Groves Safety Task Force is currently developing a COVID-19 response and safety plan for the Summer Program.  We will communicate the details of that plan with all families on June 15th, 2020.

Again, thank you for planning your Summer with Groves.  We are looking forward to seeing you!

Warm Regards,

Nancy Segreti and Kristina Schatz

These challenging times give us new opportunities to understand how we can deliver on our mission to provide transformative learning experiences. While we continue to learn just how capable and creative our students and teachers are, we recognize the enormity of the challenge COVID-19 presents to our current and potential families.  Our hope is that finances are not a barrier to an education at Groves in the 2020-2021 school year. Thus, we created a Groves Student and Family Emergency Fund which will offer additional need-based tuition relief to as many families as possible, above traditional financial aid.

As a nonprofit organization, we are seeking the generous support of our donors and anyone in a position to contribute to this cause. If you are in a position to give, please connect with Groves’ Director of Advancement, Lynn Giovannelli, giovannellil@grovesacademy.org  All gifts will offer some measure of security to Groves families and will allow our incredible teaching team, the true heroes of Groves, to continue providing a world-class education to the unique and amazing learners we see every day.

After thoughtful discussions with families, teachers, and our community, our leadership team has made the very difficult decision to move Groves 2020 Summer Programs from June to July.

Our current plan is to gather for Summer Programs in person at Groves from July 13 – August 7, 2020.

We had hoped to see our halls filled with Groves summer students soon, but we know that it is our collective responsibility to safeguard the health of our students, families, and staff. However, we are excited that we have a plan to serve you this summer with the same high-quality programming that we are known for.

We will continue to monitor the recommendations from public health officials and we will work to ensure that we have a safe and secure learning environment in July. We will keep you updated as we hear more from Governor Walz, the MN Department of Health, and the CDC on summer program operations and safety.

New Details:

Grades 2-8 Academic Program 
July 13 – August 7
9:00am-12:00pm
Monday – Friday

Enrichment Programming – Cancelled
We have made the decision to cancel all Enrichment Programming for Summer 2020. We believe that this is the best decision for the safety and well being of families and staff.

Grades 6-8 Writing and Executive Function Program 
July 13 – August 7
12:30-3:30pm
Monday – Friday

Before Care & After Care – Cancelled
We have made the decision to cancel Before and After Care for Summer 2020. We believe that this is the best decision for the safety and well being of families and staff.

How to Cultivate Brilliance in Your ADHD Middle Schooler: A Survival Guide For Parents – Moving to online Zoom Meeting
Session Dates June 16, June 23, June 30, July 7
Time 6:30 – 8:00pm
Zoom information will be emailed to you prior to the class start date.

Thank you for your patience and commitment throughout this ever-changing COVID-19 outbreak. We remain focused on providing a safe learning environment for our Groves community.

Groves Academy Continues Our Journey

Extension of Distance Learning

With the current impact of COVID-19 in our region and out of an abundance of care for our students, teachers, and the greater Groves community, we will follow the governor’s extension of distance learning through the end of our school year. We know that for our students, distance learning cannot replace the in-person transformative experience of a Groves education. Know that Groves teachers, administrators, and leaders remain driven to create the best experiences for our students.

Our Commitment as We Continue Our Journey

Inclusive Communication. Our communication with Groves families will remain consistent and informative. Groves teachers, division directors, and leadership team members will keep families informed of changes in scheduling, student progress/challenges, and upcoming events. We will also continue to seek your feedback through conversations and surveys.

Dedication to Our Students. As stated by one of our middle school teachers, “We are attuned and responsive to students’ academic, social and emotional needs.” Relationship-building activities include one-on-one check-ins between students and teachers; creating opportunities for students to connect with each other outside of class through faculty/counselor- lead zoom gatherings; regular meetings among teachers, division directors, and administrators about our students.

Creating Transformative Learning Experience. First and foremost, our teachers are devoted to maintaining high expectations for our students that are realistic and attainable. Thoughtful lesson planning that prioritizes essential concepts and skills guide our synchronous and asynchronous approach. Finally, teachers will persist in reaching out to students who are struggling and co-develop a plan for improvement.

The Plan Moving Forward

Teacher planning time. We will schedule two additional days of planning time for teachers to prepare for continued distance learning. Dates will be announced in advance. End of the Year Ceremonies and Awards. Although we will not be able to meet in person, Groves plans to honor our students for all their hard work and perseverance through a very difficult time. As our plans solidify, we will share dates and details with you.

Graduation. We have been meeting with our seniors, members of the faculty, and staff to create a plan for honoring the Class of 2020. Those plans include both immediate and future ways to acknowledge this important rite of passage. We should be ready to share the plan in greater specificity in the coming weeks and may ask a senior parent or two to lend their talents in celebrating our seniors!

Other considerations. We will send future communications about picking up personal items from the school, returning laptops/textbooks/school equipment.

In closing, thank you, Groves Academy parents and guardians. Your support, partnership, and trust helped us to reach this point in our distance learning journey. Let’s continue our travels together!

Be well.

Kim Peeples
Head of School

Dan Morgan
President

Currently, Groves aims to run Summer Programming as planned. Our intent is to deliver the same quality service that we have always delivered for summer 2020!

However, the safety and well being of our families is of the utmost importance to us so we are also working through contingency plans. We will update families as soon as possible if we need to move to a contingency plan.

Thank you.

Dear Groves Family,

We hope this communication finds you safe, well, and finding moments of joy with your family.  On Wednesday, March 25, Governor Walz announced Minnesota schools will continue to be closed and offer distance learning until May 4. Groves Academy intends to follow this guideline as well.

Our execution of distance learning will utilize the following cycle:

• March 30-31:
  These days will be used for teaching planning, preparation, and professional development–no instruction for students
• April 1-17:
  Distance learning following the schedules established in each division
• April 20-21:
  These days will be used for teacher planning, preparation, and professional development–no instruction for students
• April 22- May 1:
  Distance learning following the schedules established in each division
• Monday, May 4:
  School is scheduled to open

We will continue to be in communication with the Groves community as adjustments to our current plan may be needed.

Be well.

Kimberly Peeples
Head of School

Dan Morgan
President

Commitment to Our Mission 
The mission of Groves Academy is to build confidence, success, and purpose through transformative learning experiences.

March 27th, 2020
Dear Groves Learning Center Family,

I hope this communication finds you safe, well, and finding moments of joy with your family. On Wednesday, March 25, Governor Walz announced Minnesota schools will continue to be closed and offer distance learning until May 4. The Learning Center at Groves Academy intends to follow this guideline as well. Please see the details of the plan for our services below. As we continue to monitor the state and national recommendations for health and safety, this plan may change. We will continue to communicate with you.

Diagnostic and Speech-Language Evaluations: If you have a testing appointment scheduled prior to May 4th, we will be in contact with you to keep the evaluation process moving forward. Up until April 17th, we will be able to start your child’s diagnostic assessment process with a virtual clinical interview and we will be in touch to confirm that appointment. After April 17th, there may be an opportunity to continue with your in-person evaluation appointment at Groves. We will contact you individually to discuss this potential opportunity.

Diagnostic and Speech-Language Evaluation Feedback Meetings: These services will continue to be held via an online platform. You will be given instructions for how to join the virtual meeting with your service provider.

Tutoring and Speech-Language Sessions: These will continue to be held via an online platform where appropriate.

Summer Programs: We will continue to accept and process applications. We are excited to see families this Summer and continue to monitor the state and nationwide recommendations for health and safety. We will send communication if the manner in which we deliver our Summer Program experience changes.

May 4th: The Learning Center at Groves is scheduled to reopen for all in-person meetings and learning at this time. If you would like to continue online services for tutoring and speech-language therapy, please speak with your provider.

We will continue to be in communication with the Groves community as adjustments to our current plan may be needed.

Be well,

Nancy Segreti
Director of The Learning Center

Dan Morgan
President

Dear Groves Community,

I am thinking about you all and hope you and your loved ones are doing well.  I have heard from many of you recently and the stories you’ve shared are heartwarming and heartening during these weeks of weirdness.

Today, I am specifically writing to tell you about some adjustments we are making with the plan for gathering materials and working from the building given Governor Walz’s announcement to stay at home, which begins on Friday night.  Below are the relevant points:

• Tomorrow (Thursday, 3/26) the building will be open from 7am – 4:30pm for you to gather and prep materials
• Friday, 3/27, the building will be open from 7am – 11am for the same purpose.  There is a hard-stop at 11am when you must leave the building
• On Friday, from 12pm to 5:30pm, Lower School parents will be allowed to drive up to the building to retrieve materials.  They will not enter the building.
• John, Colin, and Curtis will support the parent pickup

There are a few non-negotiable parameters you must all follow in order to get this done with as much caution as possible:

• Gloves will be available to everyone who enters the building.  Please use them at all times
• Disinfectant wipes will also be available.  Please use them in your room, at the copier, at the printers, etc.
• Please confine yourself as much as possible to your room or office; limit your movement in the building only to the areas you need to access; avoid common areas like the teacher’s lounge or staff spaces.
• Some rooms will be sealed off.  Please avoid them.
• We would like you to use specific entrances based on your division:
  • Lower School–Front Entrance
  • Middle School–Northeast entrance/old main entrance
  • Upper School–PBL Room/Northwest Entrance
• Administrative/all others–back entrance by the parking lot in front of the playground
• If I reached out to you to inform you that you may have had contact with the Groves person who had a positive COVID-19 test result, then you are not to come to the building.  You can make arrangements with your supervisor who will support you.
• If you are currently sick, displaying any symptoms, or believe you had contact with someone who has COVID-19, then please inform your supervisor right away, and do not come to the building
• Todd Olson and his team spent much of this week on a very deep cleaning of the building–THANK YOU TODD and TEAM!

Because of the stay at home order, the building will be completely closed from this Friday evening through April 10th, barring any changes in the Governor’s mandate.  I know this makes this process a bit more burdensome and I appreciate your attention to the details above.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me, or to Kim Peeples.

As always, you have my sincere gratitude for all your hard work and dedication.  I wish you a calm and quiet rest of spring break, and I am eager to see you soon.

Best,

Dan Morgan
President

Dear Groves Partner School leaders,

I hope the end of this week finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy.  The past two weeks were incredibly challenging for all of us, and I want to thank you for your flexibility and for your support as we pulled together the plan to balance everyone’s safety with the strong desire to continue our powerful partnership.  I also want to extend my deep gratitude to your staff, as well as to Katharine Campbell, and all the Groves coaches who worked tirelessly to prepare for virtual coaching and communication–a new process for them, but one I know will prove useful in the coming weeks.  Katharine and the team will provide ongoing communication about instruction, technology, and coaching support so please be on the lookout for that. I ask for your continued grace and support when we launch online communication and coaching. The Groves team is dedicated to delivering powerful instruction, and it will be great, but there will be times when it isn’t perfect. We hope you understand and partner with us as we discover how to make this an impactful experience.

Thank you again for your continued support.  Our partnership with you is a unique opportunity in the world of education to make revolutionary change in literacy teaching, and in outcomes for students.  I am so incredibly thankful to be on this journey with you. I wish you all a calm and healthy few weeks.

With deep appreciation and gratitude,

Dan Morgan
President

Dear Groves Families,

I hope the end of this week finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy. The past two weeks were incredibly challenging for all of us, and I want to thank you for your flexibility and for your support as we pulled together the plan to balance everyone’s safety with the strong desire to continue a powerful Groves education.  I also want to extend my deep gratitude to all instructors, tutors, and staff at Groves who worked tirelessly to prepare for virtual instruction and communication–a new process for them, but one I know will prove useful in the coming weeks.

Moving forward, I also want to provide a couple of reminders:

1. There will be more communication about schedules, instruction, tech, etc forthcoming so please be on the lookout for that
2. Nancy Segreti and the Learning Center team are available to connect with you about any financial questions you may have pertaining to adjusted schedules
3. I ask for your continued grace and support as we launch online communication and teaching. The Groves team is dedicated to delivering powerful instruction, and it will be great, but there will be times when it isn’t perfect. We hope you understand and partner with us as we discover how to make this an impactful experience

Thank you again for your continued support. Groves would not be what it is today without our incredible families working together to create an environment of love and excellence. I wish you all a calm and healthy few weeks.

With deep appreciation and gratitude,

Dan Morgan
President

Distance Learning Priorities and Expectations

Thanks to the support of our technology team at Groves and in partnership with the division directors and faculty, we have prepared an outline for distance learning. This plan includes schedules, resources, and communication structures for 2nd through 12th-grade students.

Overview of the Groves Academy Distance Learning Plan

Groves Gala Rescheduled to Wednesday, July 15th

As we all navigate these unprecedented times, our focus is on the health and safety of our guests, our families, ourselves and our greater community. Following guidelines from the CDC and Minnesota Department of Health, in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19, we have decided to postpone the 43rd Annual Groves Gala until Wednesday, July 15th.

There is much that is still unknown about how the Coronavirus (COVID-19) will affect our community and we will continue to monitor the situation as the new date approaches.

We hope you will join us in celebrating Groves on July 15th!

Thank you for your steadfast support and flexibility. Please reach out if you have any questions, suggestions or want to talk through anything by contacting Becky Busselman at busselmanb@grovesacademy.org or 952-210-1856.

Please visit our Groves Gala webpage.

March 16th, 2020

Dear Groves Partner Schools,

The Groves coaching team met this morning to brainstorm and develop a distance learning model that will meet the needs of our partner schools. Recognizing that each school may define distance learning a little differently, based on the needs of their students, families and teachers, we discussed the need for flexibility in our model. I want to reiterate that meeting the needs of your teachers is our top priority. We want teachers to feel supported by their Groves coach during this time of e-learning.

We will be using Zoom technology for video conferencing and Google Classroom as our coaching platform. On a weekly basis, the Groves coach will provide a videotaped lesson for each of your teachers involved in the literacy partnership. In addition to the lesson, coaches will include supporting workbook and reader pages for each lesson. These lessons will address PA, Phonics, Fluency and Handwriting. The lessons may extend longer than 30 minutes, to allow for the additional workbook, handwriting or fluency instruction. It is up to your teachers whether to include the complete lesson to students, but we wanted to make those components available, since any of those might be addressed this time of year in an on-site coaching visit. This lesson will help your teachers with the pacing of the lessons and concepts, as we realize that pacing may vary in a distance learning model. I have also asked each team member to schedule a daily 2 hour block via Zoom as office hours, to make sure all teacher, administrator, and curriculum questions are answered.

Your monthly team meetings will continue, using Zoom video conferencing. Your Groves coach will work with you and your teachers to schedule the March meeting prior to the transition to distance learning at the end of the month. Coaches will also continue to schedule monthly administrator meetings. Later in April, we will schedule our Logistics meeting via Zoom, to prepare for a strong launch in the fall, under much more normal circumstances. If you don’t have Zoom, it is being offered free of charge to K-12 schools.

https://zoom.us/docs/ent/school-verification.html?zcid=1231&_ga=2.228851412.995105 639.1583699918-735451631.1546545079

Several teachers have already asked whether to send home workbooks with children. This is a school decision. If you decide to send them home with students, it will be helpful as students complete lessons. We will include PDF’s of all workbook pages appropriate to lessons on Google Classroom. We have a limited supply of Groves Method workbooks if you need to purchase additional workbooks when students return in April or May. We do not stock PAF workbooks.

Coaches will be reaching out this week to you and your teachers to learn more details of your distance learning model. We know that you are still in the process of working out your plans.

Currently, we are putting together a list of literacy resources for parents and will include that list on Google Classroom when complete.

As we navigate this new model of learning together, please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.

Warm regards,

Katharine Campbell
Director of Groves Literacy Partnerships

Commitment to Our Mission
The mission of Groves Academy is to build confidence, success, and purpose through transformative learning experiences.

March 15th, 2020 

Dear Groves Partner Schools, 

We are facing unprecedented and challenging times that can cause justifiable uncertainty and anxiety. We all are having our own personal reactions to coronavirus that ranges from calm to fear, and everything in between. Let us remember this: there is no right or wrong way to experience this; we can only do our best to stay calm, make the best decisions we can with the available information, and support and trust in each other. Keeping this in mind, you’ll find the plan for Groves Literacy Partnerships as discussed all weekend with the Leadership Team, based on the most recent updates from MDE and the Governor. 

Please know that should further information become available, this could change: 

1. Beginning tomorrow, March 16, coaches will not be in partner schools providing coaching. We feel it is important that as your school begins planning for distance learning, your coach be a resource that supports your teachers as they develop their classroom model for literacy instruction, during a school closure. Our planning begins tomorrow, in anticipation that teacher requests will begin on Tuesday.
2. On Monday and Tuesday, all coaches will receive training in online instruction and meetings. Supporting our partner schools this spring is our top priority. Providing GLP team members with training in online learning will help your Groves coach continue to support your teachers, using the distance learning model in place in your school.
3. If your school moves to a distance learning model later in March, your Groves coach will continue to provide coaching support to your teachers, virtually, based on your school’s model.

Please know that we strive to balance the passion we have working with schools to ensure all children learn to read, with the wider goal of keeping everyone safe and healthy in a truly trying time. 

Once again, thank you for your ongoing support and patience as we traverse this unknown path together. 

Warmest regards, 

Katharine Campbell
Director of Groves Literacy Partnerships

Dan Morgan
President 

Commitment to Our Mission
The mission of Groves Academy is to build confidence, success, and purpose through transformative learning experiences. 

Dear Learning Center Families,

We are facing unprecedented and challenging times that can cause justifiable uncertainty and anxiety. We all are having our own personal reactions to coronavirus that ranges from calm to fear, and everything in between. Let us remember this: there is no right or wrong way to experience this; we can only do our best to stay calm, make the best decisions we can with the available information, and support and trust in each other. Keeping this in mind, you’ll find the plan for The Learning Center at Groves Academy as discussed all weekend with the Leadership Team, including feedback from many parents, faculty, staff, and based on the most recent updates from Governor Walz.

On Wednesday March 18th, CAMPUS IS CLOSED.
Please see below for details. Please know that should further information become available, this could change: 

• We will remain open on Monday the 16th and Tuesday the 17th. Staff and faculty will receive training during this time in online instruction and meetings. This may require your meeting or session to be rescheduled. Office Manager, Meagen Sundstrom, will reach out if that is the case.
• We will shift to online learning and meetings from Wednesday March 18th – April 17th. Please note this is subject to change as we learn new information.
• Diagnostic and Speech-Language Evaluations: These services will be canceled and rescheduled. Office Manager, Meagen Sundstrom, will be in contact with you individually to discuss a plan that best fits your family. We understand that this causes a disruption in the educational planning for your child. We will make every effort to reschedule your evaluation appointment as soon as possible. During this time our team is here to provide additional conversation and discussion about your child’s needs. If you would like to  consult with a member of our team, please reach out to Office Manager, Meagen Sundstrom, at sundstromm@grovesacademy.org
• Diagnostic and Speech-Language Evaluation Feedback Meetings: These services will be held via an online platform called Zoom. You will receive a calendar invite with an easy to click link to join these meetings.
• Tutoring Sessions: These will be held via an online platform called Zoom where appropriate beginning March 18th. Your tutor will be in touch with you regarding your child’s tutoring schedule and will provide you with an easy to click link in a calendar invite for each session.
• Speech-Language Sessions:
  • For Students in Our School: Our School is operating on a half day schedule Monday the 16th and Tuesday the 17th. If your child has a session prior to 1pm, that session will continue as planned. For students who have sessions after 1pm on these days, they will not have services. Conferences will be held as planned on Wednesday the 18th and Thursday the 19th via an online platform or via phone. Please coordinate with your child’s Speech-Language Pathologist. Our School will observe Spring Break from Wednesday March 18 – March 31st. Speech-Language sessions will resume on April 1st via online learning.
  • For Families in Our Community: Planning and preparation for your child to have a quality learning experience is our priority. We will continue offering sessions at Groves on Monday the 16th and Tuesday the 17th as schedules allow. Speech-Language Providers will use Wednesday March 18th – Friday March 20th to learn the online platform and prepare lesson plans and materials to ensure we are prepared to offer services that will continue to foster growth for as long as we need to. There will not be sessions Wednesday March 18th – Friday March 20th. Your student’s speech-language pathologist will be in touch regarding your student’s schedule over the next few weeks. Online speech-language therapy sessions for students in our community will resume on Monday March 23rd.
• Summer Programs: Applications will continue to be processed without interruption or delay.

Tips for a successful online meeting or educational session: 

1. Dedicate a consistent, distraction-free space (no TV, radios, etc.) in your home for students. Preferably, this would include a cleared counter or desk and a chair.
2. If able, provide the following for your child in their work space: headphones to eliminate distraction, writing utensils, and paper.
3. Establish a routine around preparing for tutoring and speech-language sessions.
4. When possible, we recommend that a parent or guardian join the first online session and be available for future sessions to support their child as needed.

If you have meetings or sessions scheduled in The Learning Center on Monday the 16th or Tuesday the 17th and you are concerned about coming in, please let us know and we will do everything we can to reschedule your appointment or schedule it to occur online. You can reach out to Meagen Sundstrom at sundstromm@grovesacademy.org

In closing, Groves Learning Center Families, please know that we strive to balance the passion we have for the unique type of student and instruction we deliver, with the wider goal of keeping everyone safe and healthy in a truly trying time.

Once again, thank you for your ongoing support and patience as we traverse this unknown path together.

Warmest regards,

Nancy Segreti
Director of The Learning Center

Dan Morgan
President

Commitment to Our Mission
The mission of Groves Academy is to build confidence, success, and purpose through transformative learning experiences.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are facing unprecedented and challenging times that can cause justifiable uncertainty and anxiety. We all are having our own personal reactions to coronavirus that ranges from calm to fear, and everything in between. Let us remember this: there is no right or wrong way to experience this; we can only do our best to stay calm, make the best decisions we can with the available information, and support and trust in each other. Keeping this in mind, you’ll find the plan for Groves Academy as discussed all weekend with the Leadership Team, including feedback from many parents, faculty, staff, and based on the most recent updates from Governor Walz.

Please know that should further information become available, this could change:

• We will remain open on the early release schedule Monday and Tuesday only to allow for training on our virtual learning plan as well as for parent conference prep.
• We will officially stop school instruction on Wednesday and the building will close to students.
• Parent conferences will occur as scheduled on Wednesday and Thursday but will be conducted virtually or via phone. Communication will be sent tomorrow with directions.
• New dates for Spring Break: Wednesday, March 18 through Tuesday, March 31.
  We will shift to full virtual learning at this point that will begin with students on 4/1/20 and continue until 4/17/20 (unless we receive new information). More details are forthcoming.

Care for Children of Families of Emergency Workers:
In accordance with Governor Walz’s request and the Minnesota Statutes 2019, section 12.21, subdivision 3(11), Groves will provide child care for currently enrolled students 12 and under who are children of emergency workers critical to the State’s response to COVID-19.

• Dates for Care: Wednesday, March 18 and Thursday, March 19.
  You must contact Amy Luffey – luffeya@grovesacademy.org by Tuesday, March 17.
• Healthcare staff as described below:
  • Health care providers and systems, including hospitals and clinics
    Post-acute and long-term care facilities, including nursing and assisted living facilities
  • Other health systems and organizations, such as:
    Home Care workers or Personal Care Assistants
    Ambulance/emergency
    Direct Care and Treatment
  • Other emergency staff, including:
    First responders
    Firefighters
  • Personnel providing correctional services
    Essential Court personnel
    Minnesota State Veterans Homes staff
    State and local public health agency employees
    MNsure Navigators
    County financial/eligibility workers
    County case managers
    Or any county staff in emergency management or health and human services

We fully understand that some families may be concerned about having their students come to school tomorrow. Please know that we will follow all the advice laid out by GovernorWalz and his team today, and will do everything we can to mitigate opportunities for exposure and transmission, but we know that there is inherent risk involved in simply being in public. If you decide that you are not comfortable with your student coming to school, please send an email to Amy Luffey — luffeya@grovesacademy.org — and let the homeroom teacher or advisor know as well.

In closing, Groves Parents and Guardians, please know that we strive to balance the passion we have for the unique type of student and instruction we deliver at Groves, with the wider goal of keeping everyone safe and healthy in a truly trying time.
Once again, thank you for your ongoing support and patience as we traverse this unknown path together.

_______________________ ________________________
Kimberly Peeples
Head of School

Dan Morgan
President

Commitment to Our Mission
The mission of Groves Academy is to build confidence, success, and purpose through transformative learning experiences

Commitment to Our Mission and Contingency Planning

The mission of Groves Academy is to build confidence, success, and purpose through transformative learning experiences. We are committed to fostering those experiences as well as planning for instances where alternative instructional delivery methods warrant exploration.

With the evolving nature of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States, particularly in our neck of woods, the Groves Academy leadership team is actively monitoring the spread of the virus and is keeping abreast of recommendations from health authorities. As a precautionary measure, we are also in the process of developing a contingency plan to best prepare ourselves for prolonged absences and/or school closures.

Our Next Step

*IMPORTANT UPDATE* We will be using Monday March 30th as a training day for our staff. If you have an appointment on that day, we will be in contact with you if we need to reschedule your appointment. If you have any questions, please contact Office Manager, Meagen Sundstrom, at sundstromm@grovesacademy.org

Groves Learning Center Staff will use Monday, March 30 as a planning and professional development day to solidify our systems and procedures. We realize this will impact your schedule, however, we appreciate your patience, understanding, and partnership as we navigate these unusual waters. As noted above, the schedule for this day is currently being solidified and we will be in contact with families and staff if we need to reschedule your appointment in order to allow for staff training. If you do not have internet access at home, please contact us at learningcenter@grovesacademy.org

Below is a description of three levels of protocol. We are developing systems and procedures for each Learning Center service while keeping in mind student and family well-being, safety, and academic needs when the conditions for teaching and learning aren’t like anything we’ve experienced before:

THE LEVEL I SCENARIO: The Learning Center IS OPEN.
INCREASED ABSENCES.
In Level 1, the Learning Center is open and there are increased absences. Students and adults are absent more frequently and in greater numbers. Diagnostic and Speech-Language
feedback meetings will be held via video conference. When you schedule your appointment with our Office Manager, you will receive instructions on how to join that meeting with your Psychologist or Speech-Language Pathologist. This will begin after staff training on Monday, March 30th.

THE LEVEL 2 SCENARIO: The Learning Center IS OPEN.
SIGNIFICANT AND PROLONGED ABSENCES.
In Level 2, we are trying to find creative ways to support families who are more vulnerable and may need to stay home, those who may be quarantined but otherwise able to participate in school assignments, and those who are recovering from illness and want to get back on track. We will work with you to determine the best way for your student to participate in ongoing services like Tutoring and Speech-Language therapy. Feedback meetings for Diagnostic testing and Speech-Language evaluations will continue to be held via video conference beginning after staff training on Monday, March 30th.

THE LEVEL 3 SCENARIO: CAMPUS IS CLOSED.

• Diagnostic and Speech-Language Evaluations: These services will be canceled and rescheduled.
• Diagnostic and Speech-Language Evaluation Feedback Meetings: These services will be held via an online platform.
• Tutoring and Speech-Language Sessions: These will be held via an online platform where appropriate.
• Summer Programs: Applications will continue to be processed without interruption or delay.

We recognize that virtual learning and testing is not a substitute for the in-person, multisensory instruction our students receive in The Learning Center. Given the needs for 1:1 Diagnostic and Speech-Language testing, we will reschedule those services if we move to Scenario 3 (Campus is Closed). Groves will make every effort to provide students with the opportunity to continue Tutoring and Speech-Language sessions using a virtual instruction model should the campus close.

We are currently finalizing the technology and training components for shifting to teaching completely online. We appreciate your patience and grace in giving us space to do this well. It’s worth mentioning again that we can all work together to help mitigate the spread of illnesses like coronavirus, flu, and colds by staying home if you are sick, covering coughs and sneezes, cleaning and disinfecting common spaces, and avoiding close contact with people who are sick.

If you believe that you or someone in your family is at risk for coronavirus, please stay home and contact us at Groves immediately so we can create a plan for you. Should this continue to be a concern as we head into the summer months, we will evaluate the needs keeping the health and safety of our families and staff top of mind. We will communicate with staff and families as needed regarding any updated plan for the Summer Program as necessary.

For further thoughts on prevention consult the CDC website, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Thank you for your continued support of Groves and our mission. We so value your partnership and your understanding.

Nancy Segreti
Director of The Learning Center

Dan Morgan
President

Following up on yesterday’s communication (attached), I want to provide an update concerning our ongoing contingency planning:

Groves will dismiss at 1:00pm next week – Monday, March 16 through Thursday, March 19.  This will allow the necessary time for our faculty/staff to receive training and planning for virtual learning. Like a typical Wednesday, aftercare will be available until 5:30 for families that need it. Please RSVP.

Parent/Teacher Conferences will continue as scheduled, Wednesday, March 18, 1:30pm-7:00pm and Thursday, March 19, 1:30pm-6:30pm.

CHANGE: We will host conferences remotely via Zoom and/or phone rather than in person. More details and instructions will be sent out early next week. As a reminder, the conference scheduling system will close tomorrow March 13 at 11:55pm. 

Travel Plans for Spring Break:  Whether you are staying local or traveling abroad, it is important to stay apprised of updates and information on COVID-19. We recommend the following sites for direct communication and information:

COVID-19 Situation Summary – Centers for Disease Control

Travel Health Notices – Centers for Disease Control

Travel FAQs – Centers for Disease Control

Travel Advisories – U.S. Department of State

Information for Travelers – Centers for Disease Control

Health Alert Network – Centers for Disease Control

The Minnesota Department of Public Health states that it is the responsibility of public health officials to manage and enforce quarantines for travelers going to countries the CDC has identified as “Warning Level 3” and “Alert Level 2”. However, families anticipating a visit to these regions, including flight layovers, should expect public health officials to request a 14-day self-quarantine based on current travel advisories. If you believe your student will experience an extended absence due to a required or self-imposed quarantine following spring break, please contact your classroom teacher (LS) or advisor (MS/US) to make a plan for homework and instruction.

References:

Commitment to Our Mission and Contingency Plan 

Prevention, Treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) _ CDC.pdf

What you need to know about COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease.pdf

Weiman_Kow_Artwork_Coronavirus_.pdf

We at Groves Academy wish to thank you for your ongoing support and patience as we traverse this unknown path together.

Warmest regards,

Kim Peeples
Head of School

Dan Morgan
President

Dear Groves Family,

As I am sure you are well aware, the coronavirus continues to present a potential challenge.  At Groves, we are monitoring the situation closely as we want to take precautions with our organization to ensure that everyone is safe and healthy.  We continue to refine Groves’ Crisis Management Plan for infectious agents.  For coronavirus specifically, we will follow the guidelines defined by the CDC, and the process of Minnesota Public Schools.  In the recent past, action plans were implemented both for SARS as well as Swine Flu (H1N1) so this process will be similar.

In the event of an outbreak, anyone who is considered to be a medium risk will be asked to stay home for two weeks.  If there are opportunities to virtually support their education or their work at Groves, we will explore that individually.  In our building, we always work to ensure that our spaces are clean and sanitary.

We can all work together to help mitigate the spread of illnesses like coronavirus, flu, and colds by staying home if you are sick, covering coughs and sneezes, cleaning and disinfecting common spaces, and avoiding close contact with people who are sick.  If you believe that you, or someone in your family is at risk for coronavirus, please stay home and contact us at Groves immediately so we can create a plan for you.  For further thoughts on prevention, you can consult the CDC website, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

More information will be forthcoming as we monitor the situation, but please know that all steps will be taken to keep our community safe.  Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Kind Regards,

Dan Morgan
President