Newark Charter will be closing its doors for two weeks starting Monday according to a letter from the school’s director Dr. Frank Newton.
Dear NCS families:
I write to offer important information to our NCS community to update you on our approach to the COVID-19 crisis and steps we are taking to ensure the well-being of our community.
A lot has occurred since I last wrote to you. We have all watched closely as the community has made attempts to stem the spread of COVID-19, and I have encouraged reasonable precaution and measured approaches to this public health crisis.
To that end, beginning Monday, March 16, 2020, we will be closing school for at least two weeks (through 3/27), perhaps longer. No school, instruction or other activities will take place during that time. We will continue to monitor the situation and reassess over the next few weeks to observe and respond to the shifting landscape and watch how conditions change with the hope of re-opening. Should conditions improve to the level when school is able to open and resume, we will do so. Should conditions be such that reopening school is not prudent, we will inform you of that also and what the hybrid plan may be as we continue.
We hope that this decisions will relieve stress on and safeguard our students, families and staff, expected stress on our medical resources and local hospitals, and protect the greater Newark community by slowing the spread of this virus. To make the mitigation of this situation most successful, it is imperative that you and your families self-sequester to minimize contact with others. This is a step between social distancing and self-quarantine. You should make choices that minimize interaction in the community to limit the virus’s ability to spread. It will be ineffective as a strategy to close schools if people do not make the decision to self-sequester.
The decision to close was not made easily or without deliberation. I am aware that the change in schedule and routine may prove challenging for many of us.
We will be contact and provide further details about the situation and status as it evolves. We know that you have questions. We will attempt to answer them as the state of affairs unfolds.
Please check our webpage www.newarkcharterschool.org for updates and information. I will also send information as appropriate.
Thank you for your continued patience and flexibility. I am aware that this has been a stressful time for our community and I appreciate that caring you all have shown for our Patriot family. Please make every effort to stay safe
With Patriot Pride,
Dr. Newton