Covid-19

Silver Linings

Dear Students and Families,

The weeks are taking on a new shape. It’s Monday, of course, but the calendar looks different than usual. We are working, but it feels different, either because of glitches with technology or because we are still establishing new routines, or because we are tending to the needs of our families and friends all at the same time. We are keenly aware of how much work is getting done, how much is being created out of good will, expertise, and the usual Sonoma Academy magic… and for some folks all of this  while managing home school for children of multiple ages in multiple schools. The days go by quickly and the evenings are more quiet than usual. Amidst the chaos, there is a certain kind of hush on the world.

Though these times are challenging and uncertain, we have found ourselves moving from a state of high alert/crisis mode to a more “normal” mode of daily existence. Some regular features of what our weeks will look like are coming into focus. Starting this Sunday, March 30, we will return to a streamlined Need to Know Weekly Digest. On Friday, April 3 we will send a weekly Coyote Courier where we will highlight what’s going on in classes and ways our community is pulling together. And, we will return to a semi-regular social media posting schedule (if you don’t please follow us on Facebook or Instagram) where you can see snippets of our day-to-day life.

Silver Linings
As part of this, we are finding ourselves surprised, delighted, grateful, and excited by the ways our staffulty is responding to and preparing for our distance learning plan next week, as well as by the ways we and you all continue to connect and find solace in our relationships with one another. 

Here are some of our silver linings from the past week.

Last Friday Night Staff “Quarantini” with Story Hour with Brandon
Brandon regaled us with one of his amazing stories last Friday night. We had so much fun that we’ve prevailed upon him to share a story with our entire community. That means you!

Story Hour with Brandon For Students & Parents Next Week!
Next Monday evening you’ll be invited to join Brandon for the kind of story experience we’ve all come to know and love. We will send details, including time and how to participate, later this week.
 
Successful BNO Allows Us to Utilize Some Funds Immediately for Staffulty Tech Needs
It may have gotten lost in the unfolding chaos of the week before spring break, but we had an amazingly fun and successful Big Night Out. We feel lucky that we were able to enjoy this night together in what now feels like a simpler time. We are so deeply grateful to all who came, who volunteered, who bid, who participated. Had we known it was going to be our last gathering for a while I probably would have convinced the DJ to stay for one more song.  
 
 
As we look to roll out our continued online education platform we realize that many of our faculty require improved connections and systems in their new classrooms (e.g., living room, kitchen table, laundry area, garage.) Fortunately, we are able to allocate some of the funds raised at BNO immediately to help retrofit the workspaces of our faculty so that they can continue to support our students efficiently, effectively, comfortably, and with little interruption.
 
The Rink Family Moved Into Their Rebuilt Home Last Week
Within days of losing their home during the Tubbs Fire Florence began the arduous process of sorting through the rubble and making plans to rebuild. Last week, they finally moved into their new home and Alex ‘18, was home from Santa Clara to enjoy the moment en famille.
 
 
 
Your Silver Linings
We’d love to hear about your silver linings and include some of them in the weekly Courier. Email Lily or me (lily.thompson@sonomaacademy.orgjanet.durgin@sonomaacademy.org) with what you are seeing and experiencing; send pix, too!

Take care of yourselves and each other. 

Warmly,

Janet







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Santa Rosa, CA 95404 
(707) 545-1770 
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Sonoma Academy Is...

...the only private, independent, college preparatory high school in Sonoma County. On our beautiful campus nestled at the base of Taylor Mountain in Southeastern Santa Rosa, our students are able to explore their interests and passions in a rigorous and inspiring environment that develops a lifelong love of learning and prepares them for college and beyond.

Sonoma Academy admits students of any race, color, religion, ethnicity or national origin, citizenship, gender or gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, or disability, to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnicity or national origin, citizenship, gender or gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and tuition assistance programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.