Dear ACS Community,
Now that students will be returning to campus for bio-security training, our community's thoughts are naturally turning to the possibilities of hybrid instruction. As you are probably aware, ACS has long had detailed plans for hybrid instruction. The plans were shared last December, but I have provided a link to an updated presentation for your convenience. The first step in our plan to transition to hybrid instruction has always been student bio-security training. Once that step is completed this week, we will be well prepared to move forward with hybrid instruction as soon as we receive authorization to begin.
With regard to authorization, the Ministry of Education stipulates that the decision to authorize one of the three modes of instruction: on-campus (presencial), hybrid (semipresencial), and virtual (a distancia) is up to the district in coordination with the Ministry of Health. In our case, that decision is made by district number two in La Paz. As you know, we have applied for and received permission from our district to hold biosecurity training, but we have also applied to offer hybrid (semipresencial) education. Personnel from the district visited us last year and were very impressed with our biosecurity measures. They have also confirmed that they will visit the school on Thursday, August 19th during our biosecurity training. It is our hope that they will be willing to approve our application for hybrid (semipresencial) instruction after the visit. We recognize other international schools in district two are also in the process of applying to start hybrid instruction, but we are not aware of any school being ahead of ACS in this regard.
Another common question amongst our community concerns PCR/Antigen testing. Our main purpose in testing students before starting biosecurity training is to eliminate the possibility that students contracted COVID-19 on their travels during the break or have been subsequently exposed. Going forward, we will ask that parents have their children tested any time they travel. In addition, we ask that students be tested if they engage in any activities which bring them into contact with groups or individuals from areas of higher COVID incidence. Finally, we will require COVID testing of anyone who exhibits symptoms. We will rely on integrity being a core value of our community trusting everyone to take this precautionary step seriously as we all have a responsibility to protect the health of one another. In the future, we may require additional COVID testing in response to changes in the pandemic locally or internationally.
While we do not yet have permission to begin hybrid instruction, please know that our board, our faculty, and our staff all want to bring students back to campus for classes as soon as possible. Let's hope it is very soon.
Yours,
Andrew
Estimados Padres de Familia:
El personal y los profesores de ACS estamos muy emocionados en dar la bienvenida a los alumnos del colegio para la capacitación en bioseguridad. La semana pasada todos entrenaron y practicaron cuidadosamente las medidas de bioseguridad para recibir a los alumnos de una manera segura. Usted podrá ver algunos de los procedimientos mas destacados en el afiche adjunto.
Cuando los alumnos regresen al colegio para recibir la capacitación en bioseguridad, la intención de toda nuestra comunidad se dirige naturalmente a la posibilidad de una instrucción semipresencial. Como ustedes saben, hace ya tiempo que ACS tiene protocolos desarrollados al detalle para la instrucción semipresencial. Estos planes se compartieron en diciembre pasado, les comparto un enlace de la presentación para su conveniencia. Uno de los primeros pasos en nuestro plan para la transición a la instrucción semipresencial siempre fue la capacitación de los alumnos en bioseguridad. Una vez que sea completado este paso durante esta semana, estaremos preparados para seguir adelante con la ense
nanza tan pronto como recibamos la autorización para comenzar clases.
Con respeto a dicha autorización, el Ministerio de Educación estipula que la decisión para abrir el colegio corresponde al distrito en coordinacieon con el Ministerio de salud y se basa en una de las tres modalidades de instrucción: presencial (presencial), hibrida (semipresencial) y virtual (a distancia). En nuestro caso, esta decisión la toma el Distrito 2 de La Paz. Como saben hemos soliciatdo y recibido el permiso