St. Stephen's Coronavirus Information

Dear St. Stephen’s Community,

 

Since we have returned from Winter Break, I am so grateful for the patience and support of parents, the flexibility and commitment of employees, and the resilience and hard work of students. As faculty and staff have strived to provide the richest educational experience possible under the circumstances, and while the last few weeks have had some frustrations and challenges, we have also witnessed some truly amazing accomplishments. 

Dear St. Stephen’s Community, 

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we shifted to remote learning this week. I hope you and your loved ones are well and staying healthy. This email provides an update on the current state of our school community as well as additional requirements and protocols we will implement as we resume in-person classes and activities on campus beginning Wednesday, Jan. 19.

Dear St. Stephen's Families,

While it has been wonderful to see students back on campus this week, we have decided to transition to remote learning for all classes next week. Despite our best efforts to minimize the spread of COVID-19 in our community since returning from Winter Break, we have seen a significant number of confirmed cases among students and faculty this week, including 29 new student cases and two new employee cases from Wednesday’s testing. 

We made this decision with guidance from Medical Advisory Board members, and our primary objective is to preserve the health, safety and well-being of our students and employees. 

Dear St. Stephen’s Community,

As we prepare for some much-needed rest and relaxation over Winter Break, I want to express my deep appreciation to all of you for the amazing fall we have enjoyed together. After the delta variant surge late this summer, we came together in true Spartan fashion as a joyful living and learning community committed to caring for one another.

Dear St. Stephen's Community,

I am grateful for the successful start of the new school year and reinvigorated by the energy and activity on The Hill. We have been fully operational for the first six weeks of class, welcoming nearly 700 students to campus, including a residential program with more than 160 students from 25 Texas cities, 13 states and 17 countries. While we suspended overnight grade-level retreats for this fall and decided to reschedule a dance, I am proud of the full slate of academic, athletic, fine arts and other extracurricular activities we’ve been able to offer. 

Dear St. Stephen’s Community,

As we settle into the familiar rhythms of a new school year, I want to update you on the City of Austin’s (City) plans to construct a Fire/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) station on our campus. Since I initially communicated to you on this subject last year, planning for the station has progressed. The current plan calls for construction to begin this fall.

Dear St. Stephen’s Families,

Throughout the summer, St. Stephen’s faculty and staff have eagerly anticipated the start of the 2021-22 school year, longing for a return to the daily interactions and normal rhythms of life on The Hill. I am pleased to say that the new school year will include our customary in-person activities: a five day-a-week academic schedule, a full slate of athletic/fitness and fine arts activities, daily chapel services and dining hall service, service learning, and outdoor education and adventures. We do not have plans at this time to support remote-learning or hybrid-learning models.

Just as important as what we will be doing this school year is how we will be doing it—joyful for the chance to see each other again, grateful to be back on our beautiful campus and mindful of the continued commitment we have to keep each other safe.