Dear Urban Parents/Guardians and Students,

If you have been staying abreast of the distressing public health trends in the Bay Area, the published directives from state and county officials, and/or announcements from other local schools, you may have been anticipating this update: Urban will start the school year virtually and remain in distance learning through the end of September. At that point, should the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) and the State of California allow an in-person return, we will initiate our "4-10" hybrid model 14 days later, allowing the community time to prepare for the transition.

I know this news will occasion a range of emotions – from frustration, to relief, to sadness – and that responses are only amplified by the troubled and turbulent world beyond Urban. I also know that there is a range of appetite for reading city or state health ordinances, our detailed health and safety plans, or the rationale behind our planning. As one parent said to me yesterday, "just tell me what, not why." For those with more interest in the "why," you can find a wealth of information on our Return to Urban page on the website, including a substantive FAQ section that we are continually updating. In the next few weeks, you can also expect more details on our virtual start to school from Charlotte, Geoff and the Grade Deans. I am always available as well if you have any further questions.

There is a hopeful wrinkle to our timeline: If the SFDPH shifts to allow limited, physically distanced gatherings outdoors, we will explore ways to convene small groups after the academic day – perhaps by advisor or affinity groups, club or team, depending on the city guidelines. As the weeks pass, the need for any sort of in-person experience is more poignant and urgent than ever. We will keep you posted as the school year gets underway.

With appreciation for your patience and good faith,

Dan

Dan Miller
Head of School