Second Semester Campus Reopening
January 15, 2021
Graded Community,
Happy New Year! I hope your holiday is and continues to be relaxing and rejuvenating. Colleen and I have had the pleasure of spending quality time in Seattle with our two boys (ages 24 and 20). It has been a much more quiet holiday break than previous travels home, as the United States, too, is dealing with significant increases in COVID cases and deaths. Nonetheless, the time to connect with family, recharge batteries, and pause has been a real treat.
The second semester is around the corner, and I am very much looking forward to returning to Graded and seeing our students on campus. In this regard, we are pleased that this week both São Paulo Mayor Bruno Covas and São Paulo Governor João Doria have issued guidelines for the reopening of school campuses beginning February 1. This week, Graded’s Leadership Team met to finalize our second semester plan for on-campus learning, built in accordance with the government mandates.
Graded’s campus will reopen at a 35% occupancy rate beginning on February 1. January 27-29 will be distance learning days for all students. In-person academic content restrictions have been lifted by both the state and city, and on-campus learners in grades Pre-primary through 12 will now have access to all subject matter.
It is important to note that Mayor Covas has announced that on-campus attendance during in-person school weeks is not mandatory. However, at Graded it is strongly preferred. If a student makes the decision to not attend in-person classes during the week they are scheduled to be on campus, that decision will be binding for the entire week. In other words, students may not come to campus one day and learn from home the next.
In our most recent survey on distance and in-person learning, Graded teachers, students, and parents indicated an overwhelming preference for in-person instruction. As I shared in my holiday video message, in-person learning at Graded, due to the comprehensive protective measures we have implemented, is a safe experience for your child. It also offers them an optimal learning opportunity. If your child has not yet attended in-person learning, and there are no high-risk members in your household, I encourage you to consider having them join us on campus.
Graded will operate in-person learning in the same fashion that we did in November and December. Convo groupings will remain, as they have proven very successful in limiting the number of class closures when COVID cases do arise.
Additionally, mandatory saliva-based PCR testing will continue. The schedule for testing is included below in our semester at-a-glance. Beginning in February, parents will be responsible for the cost of these tests. Graded will bill families R$95 per test.
The schedule we have designed maximizes on-campus learning for all students. If conditions improve, and we are allowed to increase student occupancy in the coming weeks or months, we will update everyone with a new schedule. For your convenience, we have built a 35% student occupancy model for the entire semester. It is, of course, subject to change.
We look forward to seeing the energetic and happy faces of your children on campus as we return for the second semester. We are also excited to welcome many new Graded Eagles to our community. Joining us for the second semester are sixty new students: 19 Pre-primary, 29 Lower School (1-5), 6 Middle School, and 6 High School. They hail from countries including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Italy, Lebanon, South Korea, Spain, and the United States.
I wish you all continued health and enjoyment as we enter the last few weeks of summer vacation.
Warmly,
Richard Boerner
Superintendent
Graded - The American School of São Paulo
Second Semester Campus Reopening Schedule - 35% Student Occupancy
February 1 - February 5: Saliva PCR Testing Schedule Take Home Testing Drive-through Testing - Graded Parking Garage |
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Dates |
Grade Level LS |
Grade Level MS |
Grade Level HS |
February 1 |
3A, 3C, 4A, 4C, 5A, 5C |
7, 8 |
|
February 2 |
3A, 3C, 4A, 4C, 5A, 5C |
7, 8 |
|
February 3 |
3A, 3C, 4A, 4C, 5A, 5C |
Extension Wednesday |
|
February 4 |
3A, 3C, 4A, 4C, 5A, 5C |
7, 8 |
|
February 5 |
3A, 3C, 4A, 4C, 5A, 5C |
7, 8 |
|
February 8 - February 12: Saliva PCR Testing Schedule Take-home Testing Drive-through Testing - Graded Parking Garage |
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Dates |
Grade Level LS |
Grade Level MS |
Grade Level HS |
February 8 |
PPA, PPB, PPC |
6 |
9, 10 |
February 9 |
PPA, PPB, PPC |
6 |
9, 10 |
February 10 |
PPA, PPB, PPC |
Extension Wednesday |
Extension Wednesday |
February 11 |
PPA, PPB, PPC |
6 |
9, 10 |
February 12 |
PPA, PPB, PPC |
6 |
9, 10 |
Dates |
Grade Level LS |
Grade Level MS |
Grade Level HS |
February 15 |
No School Carnaval Break |
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February 16 |
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February 17 |
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February 18 |
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February 19 |
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February 22 - February 26 February 5: Saliva PCR Testing Schedule Take-home Testing Drive-through Testing - Graded Parking Garage |
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Dates |
Grade Level LS |
Grade Level MS |
Grade Level HS |
February 22 |
PPD, PPE, PPF, PPG |
11, 12 |
|
February 23 |
PPD, PPE, PPF, PPG |
11, 12 |
|
February 24 |
PPD, PPE, PPF, PPG |
Extension Wednesday |
|
February 25 |
PPD, PPE, PPF, PPG |
11, 12 |
|
February 26 |
PPD, PPE, PPF, PPG |
11, 12 |
|
March 1 - March 5: Saliva PCR Testing Schedule Take-home Testing Drive-through Testing - Graded Parking Garage |
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Dates |
Grade Level LS |
Grade Level MS |
Grade Level HS |
March 1 |
3B, 3D, 4B, 4D, 5B, 5D, 5E |
7, 8 |
|
March 2 |
3B, 3D, 4B, 4D, 5B, 5D, 5E |
7, 8 |
|
March 3 |
3B, 3D, 4B, 4D, 5B, 5D, 5E |
Extension Wednesday |
|
March 4 |
3B, 3D, 4B, 4D, 5B, 5D, 5E |
7, 8 |
|
March 5 |
3B, 3D, 4B, 4D, 5B, 5D, 5E |
7, 8 |
|
March 8 - March 12: Saliva PCR Testing Schedule Take-home Testing Drive-through Testing - Graded Parking Garage |
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Dates |
Grade Level LS |
Grade Level MS |
Grade Level HS |
March 8 |
3A, 3C, 4A, 4C, 5A, 5C |
11, 12 |
|
March 9 |
3A, 3C, 4A, 4C, 5A, 5C |
11, 12 |
|
March 10 |
3A, 3C, 4A, 4C, 5A, 5C |
Extension Wednesday |
|
March 11 |
3A, 3C, 4A, 4C, 5A, 5C |
11, 12 |
|
March 12 |
3A, 3C, 4A, 4C, 5A, 5C |
11, 12 |
|
March 15 - March 19: Saliva PCR Testing Schedule Take-home Testing Drive-through Testing - Graded Parking Garage |
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Dates |
Grade Level LS |
Grade Level MS |
Grade Level HS |
March 15 |
PPA, PPB, PPC |
6 |
9, 10 |
March 16 |
PPA, PPB, PPC |
6 |
9, 10 |
March 17 |
PPA, PPB, PPC |
Extension Wednesday |
Extension Wednesday |
March 18 |
PPA, PPB, PPC |
6 |
9, 10 |
March 19 |
PPA, PPB, PPC |
6 |
9, 10 |
March 22 - March 26: Saliva PCR Testing Schedule Take-home Testing Drive-through Testing - Graded Parking Garage |
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Dates |
Grade Level LS |
Grade Level MS |
Grade Level HS |
March 22 |
PPD, PPE, PPF, PPG |
11, 12 |
|
March 23 |
PPD, PPE, PPF, PPG |
11, 12 |
|
March 24 |
PPD, PPE, PPF, PPG |
Extension Wednesday |
|
March 25 |
PPD, PPE, PPF, PPG |
11, 12 |
|
March 26 |
PPD, PPE, PPF, PPG |
11, 12 |
|
March 29 - April 2: Saliva PCR Testing Schedule Take-home Testing Drive-through Testing - Graded Parking Garage |
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Dates |
Grade Level LS |
Grade Level MS |
Grade Level HS |
March 29 |
3A, 3C, 4A, 4C, 5A, 5C |
6 |
|
March 30 |
3A, 3C, 4A, 4C, 5A, 5C |
6 |
|
March 31 |
3A, 3C, 4A, 4C, 5A, 5C |
Extension Wednesday |
|
April 1 |
NO SCHOOL |
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April 2 |
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April 5 - April 9: Saliva PCR Testing Schedule Take-home Testing Drive-through Testing - Graded Parking Garage |
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Dates |
Grade Level LS |
Grade Level MS |
Grade Level HS |
April 5 |
3B, 3D, 4B, 4D, 5B, 5D, 5E |
7, 8 |
|
April 6 |
3B, 3D, 4B, 4D, 5B, 5D, 5E |
7, 8 |
|
April 7 |
3B, 3D, 4B, 4D, 5B, 5D, 5E |
Extension Wednesday |
|
April 8 |
3B, 3D, 4B, 4D, 5B, 5D, 5E |
7, 8 |
|
April 9 |
3B, 3D, 4B, 4D, 5B, 5D, 5E |
7, 8 |
|
April 12 - April 16: Saliva PCR Testing Schedule Take-home Testing Drive-through Testing - Graded Parking Garage |
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Dates |
Grade Level LS |
Grade Level MS |
Grade Level HS |
April 12 |
PPA, PPB, PPC |
6 |
9, 10 |
April 13 |
Parent/Teacher Conferences |
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April 14 |
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April 15 |
PPA, PPB, PPC |
MS Parent/Teacher Conferences |
|
April 16 |
PPA, PPB, PPC |
6 |
9, 10 |
April 19 - April 23: Saliva PCR Testing Schedule Take-home Testing Drive-through Testing - Graded Parking Garage |
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Dates |
Grade Level LS |
Grade Level MS |
Grade Level HS |
April 19 |
PPD, PPE, PPF, PPG |
11, 12 |
|
April 20 |
PPD, PPE, PPF, PPG |
11, 12 |
|
April 21 |
NO SCHOOL |
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April 22 |
PPD, PPE, PPF, PPG - 1B, 1D, 2B, 2D |
11, 12 |
|
April 23 |
PPD, PPE, PPF, PPG |
11, 12 |
|
April 26 - April 30: Saliva PCR Testing Schedule Take-home Testing Drive-through Testing - Graded Parking Garage |
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Dates |
Grade Level LS |
Grade Level MS |
Grade Level HS |
April 26 |
3B, 3D, 4B, 4D, 5B, 5D, 5E |
7, 8 |
|
April 27 |
3B, 3D, 4B, 4D, 5B, 5D, 5E |
7, 8 |
|
April 28 |
3B, 3D, 4B, 4D, 5B, 5D, 5E |
Extension Wednesday |
|
April 29 |
3B, 3D, 4B, 4D, 5B, 5D, 5E |
7, 8 |
|
April 30 |
3B, 3D, 4B, 4D, 5B, 5D, 5E |
7, 8 |
|
May 3 - May 7: Saliva PCR Testing Schedule Take-home Testing Drive-through Testing - Graded Parking Garage |
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Dates |
Grade Level LS |
Grade Level MS |
Grade Level HS |
May 3 |
3A, 3C, 4A, 4C, 5A, 5C |
11, 12 |
|
May 4 |
3A, 3C, 4A, 4C, 5A, 5C |
11, 12 |
|
May 5 |
3A, 3C, 4A, 4C, 5A, 5C |
Extension Wednesday |
|
May 6 |
3A, 3C, 4A, 4C, 5A, 5C |
11, 12 |
|
May 7 |
3A, 3C, 4A, 4C, 5A, 5C |
11, 12 |
|
May 10 - May 14: Saliva PCR Testing Schedule Take-home Testing Drive-through Testing - Graded Parking Garage |
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Dates |
Grade Level LS |
Grade Level MS |
Grade Level HS |
May 10 |
PPA, PPB, PPC |
6 |
9, 10 |
May 11 |
PPA, PPB, PPC |
6 |
9, 10 |
May 12 |
PPA, PPB, PPC |
Extension Wednesday |