Important Letter of Concern to School Without Walls Community

In the midst of a Covid surge at School Without Walls High School, we as LSAT and HSA parent representatives are writing to you out of concern for our entire school community. 

While only 7 positive Covid cases have been communicated publicly via formal notification letters, teachers and students are reporting mass absences and positive cases to the HSA Board. We believe there are upwards of 30 positive cases at School Without Walls that are currently under investigation via DCPS Covid response protocols and worry the communications lag risks the health and safety of our school community and families. 

Our community is closely following DCPS’ Covid measures and protocols and following the ‘Stronger and Safer Together Pledge’. School Without Walls has suspended sports practices and events, our Holiday Concert has been canceled, and all club activities have ceased. Measures have been taken by our principals to promote and ensure on-site Covid testing, but it is not enough to combat the current surge and demand for testing. 

We are aware of calls for DCPS to move our school to remote learning through Winter Break, but have no indication of whether or when this decision would be made. As such, out of an abundance of caution, we (parent-to-parent) are reaching out to remind our families of our rights and responsibilities in keeping our students, teachers, and all our families safe. 

• If your student has Covid symptoms, please have them test, stay home, and isolate while waiting for results. Report absence to Ms. Jones-Hinnant, the school attendance coordinator.

• If you believe your student has been exposed, please have them test, stay home, and isolate while waiting for results. Report absence to Ms. Jones-Hinnant, the school attendance coordinator.

  • Note that while DCPS protocols say that fully vaccinated students can continue attend school, families are reporting students infected in this outbreak are fully vaccinated.

• If your student is staying home, please have them contact all of their teachers to receive assignments. Teacher contact information is available here (note some substitute teachers may not be).

  • While this is an exceptional situation, we assume work and deadlines will still be enforced and look to the faculty to keep Canvas up to date with instruction and assignments

• Looking forward, please consider testing before returning to school (including after the holidays).

This pandemic is too big for any one entity to handle alone. By reaching out to you personally, we hope to share the responsibility to keep our community safe, whole, and intact.

The HSA Executive Board
LSAT Parent Representatives