There are a few more curves in the road that we are traveling on during this 2020-2021 school year. If you are a parent who has been at CA for a while, these changes will feel unusual, compared to previous years. If you are a new CA parent, you won’t have a point of comparison, but I should note that this will be the one and only year where we will make these changes to our usual end-of-year schedule.

 

1. Most of our Advanced Placement exams will occur during the time period between May 17-28. However, because the College Board has extended multiple options to schools and test-takers, some students will be taking their exams during an alternate session from May 3-14. To further complicate matters, some of the exams will be offered in person, at school, while others will be at home, requiring internet access. Because of potential confusion, my advice for every parent is to have conversations with your students if they are in an AP class. Ask them what the plan is for their specific course or courses. If any of that information seems problematic or confusing, please reach out to the teacher and/or Stephanie Turner, who is our AP testing coordinator.

 

2. We are still sorting out how we might handle final tests and assessments for our other academic courses. We know the last academic day for Seniors will be Friday, May 21, and the last academic day for the three other grades will be Thursday, May 27. Normally, we have a final exam period of some sort during the last academic week, but this year, because AP exams and sports (see below) will also be happening at the same time, the format will likely be different. Teachers may just opt to have a final assessment due sometime during their last week of classes with their students, and the more traditional culminating exam may be set aside for this year. That will be discussed in the weeks ahead, and I will announce the outcome of those discussions.

 

3. As many of you know, the adjusted Colorado high school sports schedule also creates a new dynamic for the end of the year. Usually by the end of May, most spring sports have completed their schedules or are deep into the playoffs. This year, however, the spring sports schedule (which CHSAA is calling “Season D”) takes place in May and June. Thus, sports such as Boys and Girls Lacrosse, Girls Golf, Tennis, and Soccer, as well as Baseball and Track & Field, will all still be in mid-season at the end of May, when school is winding down. The championships for these sports will occur post-Commencement.

 

4. As we announced earlier, unfortunately, we cannot do Interim again this year. There are still too many pandemic-related restrictions for us to safely and effectively manage these experiences. We eagerly anticipate the return of this signature CA program in 2021-22.

 

5. Senior Launch Week, which traditionally occurs during the week between the end of AP exams and the start of Interim, will now take place in between certain AP exams during the week of May 25. Not ideal, but it’s the only choice we have this year. Senior Dean Gabe Bernstein is working hard to bring great programs to the Seniors all throughout the week; there will definitely be a culminating activity between Seniors and their Kindergarten Buddies, for instance. As the full picture of Senior Launch Week comes into view, you will hear from Mr. Bernstein and the Senior Class Parent Association leads.

 

6. We are close to finalizing the date for our annual Upper School Awards Assembly. That announcement should be out next week. The assembly will be on Zoom, but all proceedings will be live (not a webinar).