Dear Friends, On an early morning walk Wednesday, I realized I was walking six feet from Bruce, my partner. It was an odd realization of this new normal, albeit time-stamped, we're all living in. Undoubtedly, there will be good that comes from it. I've seen evidence of creativity, compassion, service, and care daily—from members of our community and beyond. Still, I wish we were all physically together on campus. In a time of social distancing, that is not to be. My colleagues and I are using these weeks of break to regroup, refine, revise, and plan after a month of ramping up and launching our remote learning platforms. Until recently, recommendations from various local, state, and federal authorities would have suggested that we should remain remote until at least Monday, May 4, and we have been planning accordingly. Governor Newsom's and Mayor Garcetti's press conferences on Wednesday called into question the viability of schools reopening physical campuses even then. I will continue to communicate our understanding of the recommendations and directives of the various authorities—as well as our response—as far in advance as is possible. My colleagues and I realize what a toll it is on both students and parents to be physically isolated from friends and extended family, while working and being schooled remotely. These are less-than-ideal circumstances for all of us, and we will continue to do our best to provide you with resources and information that might help. Links can always be found on the COVID-19 section of our website. Obviously, not all members of our community have the option of working remotely, including those involved in providing essential services as described by local and state authorities. That includes, of course, health care professionals. I want to thank and celebrate them all for the commitment to others they are displaying throughout this period of COVID-19. I know I speak for us all when I share gratitude and in offering to be of support. The Habits of Mind and Heart are central to Wildwood School's philosophy, and it has been heartening to see our Habits utilized during this unprecedented time. Habits of Collaboration and Service to the Common Good were front and center when Joe Wise, director of the Wildwood Institute for STEM Research and Development (WISRD), used his engineering skills and Wildwood's resources in joining the launch of a project to support those who are caring for others medically. Last Sunday, our CFO Alan Hunt and Joe sprang into action and transferred all of our 3D printers onto Joe's truck so that he could set them up in his garage to print plastic medical mask frames, as profiled on Wildwood's social media. I'd like to thank them both, and especially Joe for manning the printers daily. At this writing I am aware of two non-teaching staff members, one upper school student, and several members of an elementary family who've tested positive for COVID-19. We are well beyond the two-week recommended self-isolation period since we've been together on campus, but I share the information by way of encouraging us all to continue to practice social distancing until our mayor, governor, president, and/or the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) withdraw their recommendations and directives. CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield, in an NPR interview earlier this week, described social distancing as a "powerful weapon" in our attempts to flatten the curve and protect ourselves and each other from infection. The latest forecasting models predict these next few weeks will be particularly crucial in helping slow the transmission of this virus. As challenging as these past few weeks have been, it is even more crucial that we adhere strictly to these directives going forward. Even practicing as much social distancing as possible, it is inevitable that other members of our community will become sick in the coming weeks and months. Having teachers or other key colleagues too ill to work, even remotely, could impact our best-laid back-up plans. Thank you, in advance, for your continued patience and understanding should that be the case. Thank you, also—once again—for the continued messages of affirmation and support. They mean the world to my colleagues and me. With warm regards, Landis Wildwood School |