Although some aspects of the school day will feel different for our students, we are committed to providing a fulfilling experience at STE. Our goal is to start the school year with all students and teachers in classes on campus while carefully adhering to health and safety protocols.
As we shifted quickly to remote learning last spring, we received valuable input from parents and students about the experience. We are using this feedback to help us as we reopen in the fall. We are committed to on-campus, in-person instruction, but we are also planning for teaching/learning scenarios in which some students and/or staff may be unable to attend class, as well as the possibility of mandated school closure.
For more information on procedures for students streaming classes from home, view the Lower School COVID plan and the Lower School Streaming Portal.
School Hours for Lower School
Kindergarten & 1st Grade: 7:45 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
2nd – 5th Grade: 7:45 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
After School Care will be available until 6:00 p.m.
Schedule
We will follow our regular rotation schedule with alternating specialists’ classes, as well as regular PE class.
Technology
Students in 4th and 5th grades will have their own Chromebooks for school use. These will stay in the classrooms. Chromebooks will be sanitized before each use.
There will be no checking out Chromebooks this year unless a specific situation warrants it.
Specialty Classes
PE will be offered regularly and will follow social distancing guidelines. We will take advantage of our outdoor spaces. Specialty classes (foreign language, music) will also be offered, and teachers for many of these classes will rotate into each Lower School homeroom. For more information, view the Lower School COVID plan.
Chapel
Although we will not be able to convene in the church for Chapel, we are committed to providing this important component of our program. Students will participate in their classrooms.
Athletics
Unfortunately, we will not be able to offer our Youth Sports programs this fall. In consultation with the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS), our Athletics Department has established start dates for winter youth sports. Social distancing (six feet at a minimum) will be encouraged at all times.
Fine Arts
We plan to continue offering fine arts during the school day while taking precautions and practicing social distancing.
No extracurricular after school activities will be offered outside of select after school dance practices and After School Care for the fall semester. Please note that students who stream classes from home will not be able to participate in any on-campus activity.
Lower School strings will be conducted online through small group lessons on Zoom.