April 21, 2020 --
Dear Parents,
Earlier today, Governor Charlie Baker closed all schools in Massachusetts for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. This means the Medfield Public Schools will continue with remote learning until June 16th. Although the decision to close all schools is what is best for the Commonwealth, it certainly set off a flood of emotions for all of us. We are all extremely disappointed that we will not be back to normalcy this school year. As educators, we thrive in the day to day interactions with our students and colleagues. The current situation heightens the importance of our staying connected through remote learning.
We are continuing to assess and make refinements to our remote learning plan. Later this week, I will be sending all of you a Thoughtexchange survey link to give us feedback. The survey feedback, feedback from our educators, and the anticipated guidance from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will be very helpful as remote learning continues for the remainder of the year.
As you can imagine, today's news is extremely disappointing to our Class of 2020. The spring of senior year is a special time for our kids and I know they are discouraged by today's announcement. Please know that we are working hard to provide ways to honor their senior year traditions even if they happen in a very nontraditional way. More information will be shared in the coming weeks.
We know that remote learning is a challenge for everyone. Trying to do your own job from home and managing your children's work is extremely challenging. Remote learning is never going to be perfect, but the support you have given your children has been amazing. Please watch for my survey email later this week.
Sincerely,
Jeff Marsden