COVID-19 Update 7/17/2020

Dear Benjamin Families,

We hope you and your loved ones are staying healthy during this unprecedented time. As we look towards the beginning of the new school year I want to assure you that we are dedicated to providing the best educational opportunities for children while taking an abundance of caution in how we welcome all Benjamin students and faculty back to campus. We provided our families with a choice between our On-Campus and Remote Learning programs, and we believe both modes of instruction will be of the highest caliber.

Despite the recent decision by the Palm Beach County School Board with regard to on-campus operations, our intention remains to open on August 18 with both our On-Campus and Remote Learning programs.

As the School’s Re-Entry Committee continues to work to refine our plans, I want to share our most recent version with you. You will notice some changes from the previous version, the most notable being a modification to our face covering policy. With continued guidance from the CDC and our medical directors, we are now requiring face coverings at all times in the classroom for students in Grades K-12. Students in WOW and Pre-Kindergarten will be encouraged but not required to wear a face covering while seated at their desks and physically distanced from each other.

I understand that a change like this is unanticipated, but please know that our ultimate goal is to keep our students and faculty safe and healthy on campus. As the government and Department of Health refine their suggestions, we will continue to update our plan accordingly.

We highly recommend that parents of young children begin practicing mask wearing at home. Our Student Services Counselors are available to all families seeking additional guidance on how to speak to children about mask wearing.

Another change you will notice in this version is a Family Acknowledgment Form. A digital version of this form will require each family’s signature before returning to campus. The digital form and a specific deadline will be emailed to all families in early August.

An additional update will be provided at the beginning of August. We appreciate your patience as we plan for our reopening in these uncertain times. The last few weeks have been challenging as we try to better understand the course of this pandemic in light of staggering statistics in Palm Beach County and to the south. We will remain nimble and are committed to making decisions that keep our community safe.

With my best wishes - be well,

David C. Faus
Head of School

COVID-19 Update 7/17/2020

Main Address & Lower/Middle School

Upper School