COVID-19 Update: Austin and Headwaters School Moved to Stage 5

Headwaters School
Earlier today, Austin-Travis County moved out of Stage 4 and into Stage 5
Dear Headwaters Community, 

Earlier today, Austin-Travis County moved out of Stage 4 and into Stage 5 based on Austin Public Health's (APH) Risk-Based Guidelines due to rising cases and hospitalizations. To learn more about this shift, please see the press release here. 

If you recall, we updated the Rubric on Friday, December 18, 2020 and each Weekly Update provided some additional context. Here is the rubric at this link. 

Here are the changes by campus, including details about returning in January. This information was shared in your Campus Weekly Updates on Friday, December 18, 2020:

Springs Campus: Early Childhood Program
Because of the success of our safety protocols and your diligence in helping us keep our community safe, we plan to remain in school 4.5 days a week. Our usage of outdoor spaces will be maximized. We understand that some families may not feel comfortable sending your children to school in Stage 5, and we’re working through options for your enrollment to remain flexible. If you are interested in pausing or deferring your child’s enrollment during Stage 5, please reach out to the business office to discuss options.  

Creek Campus: Elementary Program
We will transition to distance learning, and all Creek students will begin school virtually on Tuesday, January 5. Please see your class update for Tuesday morning start times and Zoom links. Guides will send detailed Distance Learning schedules on Monday, January 4. 

Given this development, there is the possibility that we’ll need to extend the school year calendar. After three consecutive weeks of distance learning for K-1, Early El, and Upper El, we will suspend distance learning. If Austin is still in Stage 5 the week of January 25, the elementary programs will go on break and make up that time in June.  Please note: The Arctic Terns (our full-time Distance Learners) will not stop school but will continue Distance Learning with Sunni and Christi. 

1/1/2021 Update: Creek Parents, please see your inbox for a required response email from Virginia Luff regarding a Stage 5 Learning Commitment Update. This is also posted in the Nest on your Creek Community group. 

River Campus: Middle and High School Programs
Classes will resume with our online schedule on Tuesday, January 5, 2021. The schedule for when we return on Tuesday, January 5 is at this link for the River Campus Master Bell Schedule. 

An important note: For the first week of school, classes will be 60 minutes. Should we be in Stage 5, in January our Headwaters@Home classes will continue to be for 60 minutes in duration, with the option to increase instructional time to 75 minutes.

Public Safety Reminders from Austin Public Health
Austin-Travis County leaders remind the public to continue to be vigilant and practice good hygiene, physical and social distancing, and wear face coverings to prevent the disease from spreading and help keep each other safe. We encourage families to check out Austin Public Health’s COVID-19 Holiday Safety Guidance page for further guidance, too.

As a reminder, campuses and the business office will be closed from December 21 through January 4. Classes will resume Tuesday, January 5, 2021. 

If you have any questions, please reply to this email or contact your program director. We are still currently on winter break, so your reply may take a bit longer than usual. Thank you in advance for your patience.

For so many reasons, we hope that we will not be in Stage 5 for long.

Take care,

Headwaters School
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As a 501(c)3 non-profit school, Headwaters School does not discriminate because of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other classes protected by federal, state, or local law in its admissions, financial aid, hiring, or board membership processes.