by Joyce Handran, Messiah Preschool Director | 

Hello Messiah Preschool Families,

We hope the summer is treating you well and you are enjoying the beautiful weather we have been experiencing these last few weeks.

On July 22, Messiah Preschool released its plan to open in September with in-person preschool. Since then, eight Clark County school district superintendents, including Vancouver's, have recommended to their respective school boards that they start the school year in a remote learning model. Their recommendation is consistent with new DOH metrics which indicate that Clark County is on the high end of the moderate COVID activity category and should begin the school year in remote learning. News release about the state health guidelines and Clark County school districts.

The Vancouver School District's school board is scheduled to vote whether or not to approve the superintendent's recommendation at their meeting on August 11. Given this new information, Messiah's Church Leadership Team has decided that, pending ratification by the school board of the superintendent's recommendation to open fully-remote, the preschool is to follow the school district's example and not begin the school year with in-person learning. We will be re-evaluating right alongside the school district as conditions change and hope that we are able to resume in-person learning sooner than later.

We understand that this news will be disappointing for some and perhaps a sense of relief for others. As a preschool community, you have been flexible, understanding and patient through this whole planning process. For this, we are truly grateful. While our ultimate desire is to return to traditional in-person learning, the safety of our students, their families, and our staff is our number one priority.

With in-person learning suspended for now, we wonder what your interest may be in a structured, virtual learning experience for your child. I will be sending out another email later today containing a link to a survey regarding this topic; if you don't see it, please check your junk/spam folder. We appreciate your feedback!

Should you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Thank you and be well, Joyce Handran