COVID-19 Information & Updates

Annapolis Area Christian School campuses will remain closed for the balance of the 2019-2020 school year to all faculty, staff, students, and visitors. Academic operations continue during this time through distance teaching and learning. There will be no co-curricular or extra-curricular school-sponsored activities, including all athletic games and practices during the closure. Additionally, we have canceled all rentals of our facilities through May 15. Frequently asked questions, tips for helping your student cope with anxiety about COVID-19, and all current and previous communications that pertain to COVID-19 and related changes to the AACS Eagle experience are conveniently located here. We invite you to check back often for the latest information and updates .

Questions?
Please review the AACS Reopening Plan.

K-12 FACILITIES CLEANING & 9-12 SAGE DINING
Bill Schuman at bschuman@aacsonline.org

EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT
ALS Carolyn Beall, cbeall@aacsonline.org
SLS, Charlotte Hudlow, chudlow@aacsonline.org
MS (Grades 6 and 8) Susan Liga, sliga@aacsonline.org
MS (Grade 7) Lauren Eberle, leberle@aacsonline.org
US, Megan Lamb, mlamb@aaccsonline.org

ATHLETICS
Josiah Wolf, jwolf@aacsonline.org

TRANSPORTATION
Andrea Fador, afador@aacsonline.org

All other questions...
PRINCIPALS
US, Jason Burrell, jburrell@aacsonline.org
MS, Ben Peddicord, bpeddicord@aacsonline.org
ALS, Elizabeth Williams, ewilliams@aacsonline.org
SLS, Karl Graustein, kgraustein@aacsonline.org

ALL AACS K-12 COVID-19 emails are in chronological order in the Communications Archive at the bottom of this page.

What is Coronavirus (COVID-19) and where can I find the most current information?

What can I do to slow the spread of viruses such as flu and COVID-19?

Will AACS close school for an extended period of time?

Our decision to move to distance/off-campus learning was made by AACS with input from local and national public health authorities. Notification occurred through normal AACS communication channels. This is a good time to ensure that your contact information (home, mobile phones, and email addresses) is updated on Veracross. NOTE: In order for you to receive mobile text alerts from AACS, your mobile phone number must be in the Veracross field designated as "mobile." If your mobile phone is also your home phone, you may list your number in both fields on Veracross.

Please see the "Communication Archives" on this page for more details.

Should I cancel travel plans?

The Centers for Disease Control's Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Information for Travelers page provides the most current information. Please consult the CDC's travelers page before making any decisions.

Since COVID-19 is a rapidly progressing public health crisis, if you or family members choose to travel internationally or domestically, you may be required to self-quarantine for a minimum of fourteen days upon returning home.

Has AACS canceled any student overnight trips or classroom field trips?

The school is tracking information from the Centers for Disease Control and the Maryland Department of Health. Based on the most current information available, families whose children are part of a school-sanctioned trip will be notified as soon as possible of any changes or cancelations. Our priority is the health and safety of all students, faculty, and staff. If you still have questions, please contact your child's campus-specific principal. Campus email addresses are listed on this webpage's footer.

Can I minimize the spread of illnesses like the common cold, the flu, and COVID-19?

According to the CDC, "There is no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. So, it is important to take everyday preventive steps that are always recommended to slow the spread of respiratory illnesses like colds, flu and COVID-19. Our 2020-2021 Reopening Plan has more information on mask wearing and physical distancing. Please review our health guidelines below that outline virus spread prevention. Take normal, everyday preventive steps that are always recommended to slow the spread of respiratory illnesses like colds and flu (information from the Maryland Department of Health):

Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available.
Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, your sleeve or your elbow.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using standard cleaning practices.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
If you are sick, stay home, except when seeking medical care.

When should I keep my child home from school?

What should I do if I think that I am sick or have been exposed to COVID-19?

If you have recently traveled internationally or were in contact with someone with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19, and you have a fever, cough or difficulty breathing, seek medical care right away. Follow these steps:

Call your doctor or emergency room before you go.
Tell them about your recent travel and close contacts (such as people in your household).
Wear a mask if one is available. An ear loop mask or simple surgical mask would be appropriate
(Information from the Anne Arundel County Department of Health)

If anyone in your immediate family is exposed or has a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19, please contact your child's campus main office. AACS will follow CDC, as well as state and county department of health recommendations in partnership with the family or families involved.

Does AACS have trained health professionals on campus?

AACS's delegating nurse visits each campus regularly, ensures our practices remain in compliance with state and local laws, oversees student health records, and supervises health protocols and procedures on our four campuses. She is a constant source of support and guidance with regard to best health practices for K-12 schools.

Additionally, we have faculty and staff on all four campuses who are CMTs (certified medical technician), hold current certifications from the American Red Cross in CPR/First Aid, and are Automated External Defibrillator (AED) operators. Our Annapolis Lower School, Severn Lower School, and Middle School each have one AED. The Upper School has three. All athletic coaches hold current certifications from the American Red Cross in CPR/First Aid and are trained AED operators.

AACS has a school psychologist on campus and trained counselors who are available to assist should an immediate need arise at any of our four campuses.

*Please see the 2020-2021 AACS Reopening Plan for more detail.

Immunization and Measles

A new type of coronavirus, abbreviated COVID-19, is causing an outbreak of respiratory (lung) disease. It was first detected in China in December 2019. The World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020.

Concern over this new virus can make children and families anxious. While we don’t know where and to what extent the disease may spread here in the United States, we do know that it is contagious, that the severity of illness can vary from individual to individual, and that there are steps we can take to prevent the spread of infection. Acknowledging some level of concern, without panicking, is appropriate and can result in taking actions that reduce the risk of illness. Helping children cope with anxiety requires providing accurate prevention information and facts without causing undue alarm.

It is very important to remember that children look to adults for guidance on how to react to stressful events. If parents seem overly worried, children’s anxiety may rise. Parents should reassure children that health and school officials are working hard to ensure that people throughout the country stay healthy. However, children also need factual, age-appropriate information about the potential seriousness of disease risk and concrete instruction about how to avoid infection and spread of disease. Teaching children positive preventive measures, talking with them about their fears, and giving them a sense of some control over their risk of infection can help reduce anxiety.

Find the complete resource from the National Association of School Psychologists and the National Association of School Nurses here.

COVID-19 RESPONSE: EMAILS/TEXTS TO K-12 FAMILIES

May 8: Campuses Closed for Balance of School Year

Dear Eagle Families,
The inevitable news that Maryland's public school buildings would not reopen this school year was officially announced during Governor Hogan's press conference Wednesday afternoon. AACS will continue remote teaching and learning for the balance of the school year. Additionally, to protect our community and support the state's efforts to reopen as soon as possible, our campuses remain closed until with no access until further notice. This decision follows countless hours of deliberation and discernment among school leaders, taking into account the impact of this decision on our community and balancing that with guidelines and data provided by public health experts and government officials. Continue reading Mr. Kempton's Letter.

April 29: AACS Update

Dear AACS Eagle Families,
By God’s good grace, we are all adjusting to a new normal, and while soon our state will begin to reopen, we are keenly aware that masks and distancing in public areas will remain part of daily life for the foreseeable future. I want to thank you for your support and active involvement as our community adjusts to the remote and virtual learning environment. You, the teachers, and the students do not labor in vain; our God has promised to hold our feet firm so we may remain steadfast. Continue reading Mr. Kempton's email.
Email Content includes: enrollment, budget, spring calendar, parenting resource invitation, and online auction annoucement to benefit Galatians 6:10 Fund, which provides tuition relief to AACS families in need.

April 17: AACS Campuses Closed through May 15

Dear AACS Eagle Community,
Annapolis Area Christian School campuses will remain closed to faculty, staff, students, and families through Friday, May 15, 2020. As many of you know, Dr. Karen Salmon, the State Superintendent of Maryland PublicSchools, announced earlier today that public schools in the state will remain closed through May 15. The AACS community's safety is not negotiable. To that end, AACS K-12 leaders continue to follow public health expert advice while applying state and federal government guidance as we work together to support teachers, staff, students, and families during this unprecedented time in our nation's history. (Continue reading Mr. Kempton's letter.)

April 12: Easter Message from Superintendent Kempton

April 3: COVID-19 Financial Relief Response

Dear AACS K-12 Families,
"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." This twelfth verse in Romans 12 offers direction and encouragement from our Lord and Savior. Our daily routines, household finances, job obligations, children’s educations, and time with family forge ahead in unchartered waters. And yet, we are not alone. Our buildings are closed, but the heart of our school couldn’t be stronger. Thanks to the Lord’s provision, which included herculean efforts from teachers, staff, students, and families, the first week of virtual school was nothing short of impressive. We are all adapting to 24/7 homelife, and I am in awe of the stories of grace, perseverance, and reliance on the Lord. Thank you.
TUITION DEFERMENT OPTION
I know and recognize that there are many challenges in these stressful times, finances being one of them. As a first step to address this, parents on the monthly FACTS payment schedule have the option to defer the April (2019-2020) and May (2020-2021) tuition payments. Annual and semiannual payment plan holders for 2020-2021 have the option to change their payment plan to monthly, which alleviates a larger payment in June and allows them to take advantage of deferring the May payment if needed. Our website has a dedicated page with more details on your payment options in light of COVID-19. (Continue reading Mr. Kempton's email.)

March 25: AACS closed through April 27

Dear AACS Eagle Community,
Annapolis Area Christian School campuses will remain closed to faculty, staff, students, and families through Sunday, April 26. As many of you know, Dr. Karen Salmon, the State Superintendent of Maryland Schools, announced earlier today that public schools in the state will remain closed through Friday, April 24. The AACS community's safety is not negotiable. (Continue reading Mr. Kempton's message.)

March 15: National Day of Prayer

March 13: (1:50 p.m.) Important AACS Schedule Update

Dear AACS Eagle Community,
First and foremost, thank you for your patience as we gather all pertinent information from many different sources. AACS campuses will remain closed through Sunday, April 5, to all faculty, staff, students, and visitors. There will be no co-curricular or extra-curricular school-sponsored activities, including all athletic games and practices during the closure. Additionally, we have canceled all rentals of our facilities through April 5. Although this is one week longer than the public school's announcement yesterday afternoon, it is in line with the expert advice we are receiving from professionals at all levels of the COVID-10 response. Read Mr. Kempton's Letter.

March 12: (1:12 p.m.) No School on March 13 (text/email)

March 12: (2:26 p.m.) No School March 13 Details

Dear AACS Eagle Community,
As I am sure you have heard, the World Health Organization officially named COVID-19 a pandemic, the first of the coronaviruses, which include MERS (2012) and SARS (2003), to reach this level. As a result, I want to share some significant changes to our schedule and more details about plans in place that prepare us for what may come while we hope for the best and pray for the Lord's protection over our community, our nation, and our world. Psalm 46:1 reminds, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." Read Mr. Kempton's letter.

March 6: COVID-19 Update

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

AACS continues to monitor updates and encourages families to view the following webpages from the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control. the Maryland Department of Health, and the Anne Arundel County Department of Health. The latest information and background on COVID-19, as well as health topics trending locally, nationally, and worldwide, are covered. You can find these links and FAQs specific to you and your family's daily practices as part of the AACS K-12 community. If you want to know what the school's plans are concerning COVID-19, please use the link before or after this section to view our Health and Information Updates webpage, which is located in the Campus Life section on the AACS website.

There are no plans to close schools at this time. Any decision in that regard, should it become necessary, will be made jointly by AACS and county and state health officials. In the unlikely event that a closing becomes necessary, notifications will be made through normal AACS communication channels. Now is an excellent time to ensure that your contact information (home, mobile phones, and email addresses) is updated on Veracross. NOTE: In order for you to receive mobile text alerts from AACS, your mobile phone number must be in the Veracross field designated as "mobile." If your mobile phone is also your home phone, you may list your number in both fields on Veracross.

In the event of an extended school closure, teachers will leverage digital and online options to deliver age- and grade-appropriate content that supports the current classroom curriculum. If you have questions, please contact your child's campus principal.

February 28: Friday Family Update COVID-19 Post

February 4: COVID-19 Information and Updates

Dear AACS Eagle Families,
While I have your attention, I want to direct you to the AACS Parent Portal where you will find information about cold and flu prevention along with links to best practices, the CDC's coronavirus webpage, and the AACS handbooks that have details about illness and student absences. (Since this email was written, a COVID-19 Information & Updates webpage was created.) If your student is sick, please keep them home. Reassure that teachers will work with them to make up missed work when they are feeling well enough to return to class AND they are fever-free (not higher than 99.9) and symptom-free without medication for at least 24 hours.

Lastly, for those of you who haven't taken advantage of our parenting resources page, I strongly encourage you to spend a few minutes familiarizing yourself with the vast resources available to you as a member of the AACS community. There is an excellent video from Axis Ministries about the culture fallout from social media and how Christian parents are called to respond. Another link on the page takes you to an article on civility. And RightNow media, which is free to all parents, has more than 6,000 biblically sound videos and articles from which to choose on everything from parenting a spirited child to talking to your teen about drugs, alcohol, and sex.

As I prepare to leave the office for the second day in a row in 60-plus degree weather, I cannot help but smile. Just as a warm day in winter gives us hope for sunny spring days, the Lord's faithfulness during the past three weeks gives us hope that we are making progress.In His Service and Yours,

Rick Kempton
AACS Superintendent/Head of School

March 9: US Principal Resignation Annoucement

COVID-19 RESPONSE: EMAILS TO UPPER SCHOOL FAMILIES

May 1: US Yearend Celebrations & Ceremonies

Dear Upper School Parents,
As we enter the month of May, I want to share some important information with you. In this email, you’ll find:

Academic updates about grading, final exams, and Senior Practicum,
Initial plans regarding graduation for the Class of 2020,
Parent survey request, and
Important dates for the remainder of the school year.

Read Principal Burrell's letter.

April 9: US Interim Principal Introduction

March 18: US Virtual Instruction Introduction

Dear Upper School Parents and Students,
Greetings to you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ! These are indeed trying times in the world but we know that we have a Rock on which we can stand even in the face of uncertainty. Praise God! On Monday, March 30, AACS will begin providing virtual teaching and learning. Just like most everything that is happening around us, these are unchartered waters for AACS but we have been preparing in earnest since March 13th. While we acknowledge that this mode of schooling is not a perfect substitute for school, it is the best option under these circumstances. As someone who has taken and taught online classes, I (Dr. McCollum) understand this will be an adjustment for our students but I also know that virtual teaching and learning can be quite effective. May the Lord be with all of us in all of this!

As previously communicated by Superintendent Rick Kempton, virtual schooling with AACS teacher instruction and guidance will begin Monday, March 30, and run at least through Friday, April 3. (AP classes have already begun online teaching and learning this week to keep pace in preparing for the May exams.) Today we want to communicate some of the expectations, guidelines, suggestions, and a framework for this process for Upper School students. There is a lot to cover, so please bear with the length of this letter and keep it for future reference. continue reading

COVID-19 RESPONSE: EMAILS TO MIDDLE SCHOOL FAMILIES
March 18 Email: MS Virtual Instruction Introduction

COVID-19 RESPONSE: EMAILS TO MIDDLE SCHOOL FAMILIES

March 18 Email: MS Virtual Instruction Introduction

Dear Middle School Families,
I pray you are staying healthy and doing well during our time away. My goal in this email is to give some clarity to how we will be operating in the near future. Starting Monday, March 30, we will begin providing virtual teaching and learning. While this is no replacement for in-person learning, we are aiming to still engage our students to the best of our ability.

As previously communicated by Superintendent Rick Kempton, virtual schooling with AACS teacher instruction and guidance will begin Monday, March 30, and run at least through Friday, April 3. Today we want to communicate some of the expectations, guidelines, suggestions, and a framework for this process for Middle School students. I apologize for the length of this email but I will do my best to give you a clear picture of expectations.
continue reading

COVID-19 RESPONSE: EMAILS TO ANNAPOLIS LOWER SCHOOL FAMILIES

March 18: ALS VIrtual Instruction Introduction

Dear Annapolis Lower School Family,
II Timothy 1:7 states, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” I am praying this verse for your family and our school community, as we face unprecedented challenges and changes due to Covid-19.

As Mr. Kempton communicated, this week we are off, using our unused snow days, and next week is our regularly scheduled spring break. We will begin remote learning on Monday, March 30. Our goal, K-12, is to make these meaningful and productive days, although they will look different than a normal school day.
continue reading

LS At-Home Free Technology (attachment in 3.18.20 email)

COVID-19 RESPONSE: EMAILS TO SEVERN LOWER SCHOOL FAMILIES

March 18: SLS VIrtual Instruction Introduction

Dear Severn Lower School Family,
II Timothy 1:7 states, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” I am praying this verse for your family and our school community, as we face unprecedented challenges and changes due to Covid-19.

As Mr. Kempton communicated, this week we are off, using our unused snow days, and next week is our regularly scheduled spring break. We will begin remote learning on Monday, March 30. Our goal, K-12, is to make these meaningful and productive days, although they will look different than a normal school day. Continue reading Principal Graustein's email.

COVID-19 Information & Updates

Questions? Please review the AACS Reopening Plan.

Questions?
Please review the AACS Reopening Plan.