UPDATE 2/19: ESD will resume on campus learning and teaching on Monday, February 22.

In an email sent to the ESD community earlier this afternoon, Head of School David L. Baad said: 

Dear ESD Community,

We hope this message finds your family safe and ready for the warmer weather coming our way. 

Yesterday, I walked our campus with Director of Campus Safety Jody Trumble, Campus Maintenance Engineer Bryan Stuart, and Director of Facilities Jay Michael to see and learn more about the impact of this week’s weather. Although five buildings have suffered a range of plumbing issues, I am happy to report we will be ready to return to campus for in-person learning and teaching on Monday. Great credit belongs to Ms. Trumble, Mr. Michael, and Mr. Stuart for their outstanding work this entire week. 

An on-time start to the day is anticipated, however, please know we will leave the option open for a late start should the forecast for safe early morning road conditions be in question.

Many in our community have faced difficult circumstances this week, if your family is in need of support or help, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Should returning to campus on Monday not be possible for your child, please contact your respective division head.

We look forward to seeing students, faculty, and staff on Monday. 

Stay safe,

Dave Baad
Head of School

UPDATE 2/17: Due to continued weather-related difficulties for both ESD faculty and families, remote learning has been paused for the remainder of this week (Thursday, February 18 and Friday, February 19).

In an email sent to the ESD community earlier this afternoon, Head of School David L. Baad said: 

Dear ESD Community,

Most importantly, we hope that this message finds you somewhere safe and warm. We have received reports from many in our community about power outages, burst pipes, and other hardships that are making their lives difficult right now. Please know our counselors and chaplains are available for support should you need it.

Our intention for today was to offer optional opportunities for students and faculty whose lives have not been disrupted to engage in academically constructive activity. While that succeeded to some extent, we realized that holding classes and posting assignments was putting an unintended burden on those addressing very difficult weather-related situations. As a result, we have decided to suspend all instruction for the rest of this week. Campus will be closed through Sunday evening.

Early reports from our facilities team are that, like homes across the area, a few of our buildings have suffered from weather-related plumbing issues, including one connected to the fire safety system. Our team is hard at work addressing these concerns, and we are hopeful that, coupled with improved road conditions, we will be ready to welcome teachers and students back to campus on Monday. Please look for an update on Friday afternoon.

Using the Prayer for Protection from the Book of Common Prayer, let us pray together that all in the community are able to endure this latest challenge:

Assist us mercifully, O Lord, in these our prayers, and dispose the way of your servants towards the attainment of everlasting salvation; that, among all the changes and chances of this mortal life, they may ever be defended by your gracious and ready help; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Onward and Upward,

Dave Baad
Head of School
 

POSTED 2/15:

In an email earlier today, Head of School David L. Baad said:

We hope that all of you are staying warm and safe during these extreme weather conditions. This week’s intention was to conduct remote learning, teaching, and administration as long as travel was unsafe. Now, due to the city’s power grid’s unexpected issues, we will not hold virtual classes until we are confident that teachers and students can participate in a productive way. Currently, close to 30 percent of our faculty are without power making remote teaching problematic. 

Here is what we know now: 

• Campus and school will be closed tomorrow (Tuesday). There will be no class instruction.
• Remote learning will begin Wednesday for all divisions. Learning may be synchronous or asynchronous, depending on power outages. 
• Each division will communicate specific details with you tomorrow, Tuesday.
• Our return to campus will be based on the weather and power situation. 
• On Wednesday, we will let you know what to expect for the balance of the week.

We hope to safely return to campus as soon as possible; however, we realize a return to in-person learning this week is fairly unlikely.