With great anticipation and a touch of nervousness, teachers and staff greeted students back to campus this week. This was the first time we have had students in the Upper School since early December. Many adults stood outside the building to welcome the students, especially our Senior class of 2021, which was fully united once again. The Rockies and Mustangs cohorts were now a thing of the past for our Seniors, and they were excited to be together at last. We treated everyone to Jamba Juice and chatted about how nice it was to be having school in person.

And then . . . students went to class and we carried on with the school day. Yes, we were still wearing masks and keeping our appropriate distance. Yes, there were still students tuning in remotely, and therefore, the usual juggling of OWL cameras, Zoom links and occasionally glitchy connections. But other than that, everything felt more like, well, normal. It was a great step in the right direction. Every teacher I talked to remarked that it was great to have the energy and vitality of students back. And while everyone has been making the best of remote learning, school is inherently social, and person-to-person direct contact really matters.

We were also pleased to have winter athletics officially begin after a long hiatus from organized sports. Basketball and ice hockey players, as well as swimmers and rock climbers, were able to begin their seasons. Certainly there were restrictions and guidelines unlike in the past, but at least the students were playing again. Similarly, an excited group of actors began rehearsing the school's next production (a play called Rabbit Hole) in person, and the Mock Trial A team was able to practice in person, as well. 

Later in the week, more of our teachers and staff members received their first vaccines. Employees who deal with students on the "front lines," including our amazing administrative assistants, as well any person over 70 were able to get shots. Other teachers hope to receive theirs within the next few weeks. Johnson & Johnson predicts their vaccine will be ready soon, making it the third product on the market. Overall transmission numbers are lower. Even as word of a more contagious strain of the virus made the news, scientists expressed confidence that the current vaccines would be effective against it. Testing continues at Colorado Academy, bringing another level of reassurance. So, all in all, things are looking up. We have a long way to go, but at last there seems to be more good news than bad, more signs of hope than fear.

Back in school, we look forward to welcoming all the Freshmen next week. Many of the students in the 9th Grade have never interacted with each other in person, only through Zoom. While they have been able to forge some new friendships, it has been much harder and slower than usual. The opportunity to all be together will be a huge boost to this group of our youngest students, many of whom are new to CA this year. After that, on February 1, all the Juniors and Sophomores will return full time, and at last we will be 418 strong. After nearly a year of disruptions and false starts, it will feel great to be at full strength.

Obviously, we need to remain cautious and prudent. Masks must still be worn at all times, and cleaning protocols must be followed. We will have to admonish students periodically not to gather so close together. High school students are drawn together like magnets, so of course they will forget, and we will need to remind them. There is always a chance that the pandemic numbers could get worse. We can take nothing for granted, and we will stay up to date with all guidelines on the local and national level.  

The prevailing moods of the week are cautious optimism and general enthusiasm for more in-person learning. Let's keep it going!