We look to the new year as a fresh start! We have had a lot of fresh snow to start the year, with more on the way. This has made for a rough start in educating our students and has limited collaboration on updating policies, planning for the rest of the year, and organizing events. COVID has managed to increase the difficulty, with a large number of our faculty/staff and students unable to return immediately following Christmas break.

We are in the process of updating our COVID policies with the information from the CDC. The challenges listed above have slowed our progress, but we hope to have the new policy published next week. Governor Youngkin signed Executive Order 2 that gives parents the choice on their children wearing masks. This EO goes into effect on Monday, Jan. 24. Students will no longer be required to wear masks. Wearing a mask will remain a parent's choice. A medical or religious exemption will no longer be required to not wear a mask. 

On snow and ice days, if you believe that the risk is too high for your student to make it safely to school, please call the school and let us know. It will be considered an excused absence. With the cold days ahead of us, please make sure that your student is dressed appropriately and brings a winter jacket to school with them. We have been able to make weather calls early, so far, this year. We hope to be able to continue this trend, but please realize that sometimes these calls can’t be made until morning. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through each snow day or delayed start.

I pray that 2022 will be a great year for GCS as we move forward. We have exciting times ahead of us with the auction, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Grandparents’ Day, and Easter break. Rough starts usually transition into a great year. May God continue to bless each of you, your families, and Grace Christian School.