Important Start of School Information

Dear Families,

We are only 2 days away from the start of school. Everyone has been working extremely hard to prepare to receive students both on campus and online. We are looking forward to seeing everyone very soon.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our school-wide orientation on Thursday and classroom sessions on Friday. If you attended both sessions, you should be prepared with all the information you need for Monday.

Many participants mentioned that they had not received the revised school calendar. It is linked here along with the Family Handbook and COVID-19 Mitigation Policies:

• 2020-21 School Calendar
• Family Handbook
• COVID-19 Mitigation Policies

I will do my best to summarize some of the most important points presented on Thursday:

Morning Drop-Off

Students can begin to be received at 7:50 a.m. until 8:00 a.m. We are temporarily extending drop off until 8:15 as we all acclimate to the new sign-in and health check process. Ultimately, we intend on becoming familiar enough with the process to complete all student check-ins at 8:00 a.m, so please don’t arrive past 8:00 a.m.

Daily Student Health Screening

As part of our COVID-19 mitigation strategy, all students are required to complete a daily health screening before entering their classrooms. This is done via an electronic sign-in process using Procare Connect (formerly Kinderlime).

Account setup instructions have already been sent to everyone along with information on how to setup and use “contact-less” sign-in. Contact the school office if you did not receive or cannot setup your account.

Each morning at drop-off, you must sign-in your child(ren) regardless of grade level before they head to their classrooms. At sign-in you will be prompted:

Please confirm your child has not been in contact with someone who has had a COVID-19 exposure and has been free of the following symptoms for the last 72 hours:

• Fever of 100.4 or higher
• Chills
• Cough
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Congestion, or runny nose that is not allergy related.

If your child(ren) have been exposed or have any of the above symptoms they cannot be at school until the symptoms have resolved for at least 72 hours.

Classroom Access

Each classroom has a designated route for access:

• Bhakti Bhavan - back porch
• Audarya Bhavan - back porch
• Madhurya Bhavan - up the main deck to the front door of the classroom
• Krishna Sharanam - back porch

The routes are shown on the the campus access map.Students should only go to and from their classroom using their specific route.

Campus Access

For the time being, the school campus is only open to students, teachers, and parents. No visitors are allowed on campus during school hours.

Only students and teachers may go to classrooms. If you have to drop off an items, such as lunch, please bring it to the school office.

Playgrounds and other common areas are only open to students at their classroom’s designated times and are closed otherwise.

Office Access

The school office is open to all our families, though we must restrict occupancy to 1 family at a time. If a family is already in the office, please wait at the outdoor waiting area until they come out of the office.

Face Coverings

The other important part of our COVID-19 mitigation is the use of face coverings for everyone on campus. This means that all students, teachers, and families must have a face covering during arrival and departure from the school if you are outside your car.

Face shields are only allowed for pre-k/kindergarten students. Bandanas, wraps, or masks with a ventilator (commonly used in workshops) are not considered protective. The school office has a supply of disposable masks in case you need one.

Daily Schedule

School begins at 8:00 a.m. daily. Dismissal is at

• 12:00 p.m. Bhakti Bhavan half-day students.
• 2:00 p.m. Bhakti Bhavan full-day students
• 3:00 p.m. Audarya Bhavan, Madhurya Bhavan, and Krishna Sharanam

Our early dismissal day for elementary and middle/high school has been moved to Wednesday. On Wednesday students are dismissed at:

• 1:00 p.m. Krishna Sharanam
• 2:00 p.m. Audarya and Madhurya Bhavan

Aftercare

Due to COVID-19 mitigation, we are only offering aftercare to full-day students in Bhakti Bhavan who have siblings in other classes until their dismissal time (3:00 p.m.). We cannot offer aftercare services for any other students at this time.

The transition to on-campus schooling with COVID-19 mitigation or distance learning will be an adjustment for everyone. We are committed to make this as easy and friendly as possible but know there is a lot to get used to. We will all work together through this with patience and care.

Please reach out to the school office with any questions - office@bhaktischool.org or 386-462-2886. We are happy to help clarify anything.

Yours in service,

Visvambhara Dasa
Head of School

Revised Calendar and Beginning of School Event Updates

Dear Families,

As the start of school draws near, we have been hard at work preparing both for our on campus and distance learning students. We are looking forward to seeing everyone very soon.

Linked to this message is our updated school calendar based on an August 24 start date. Until yesterday this update aligned with the recently published Alachua County Public Schools calendar. The county has since opted to push the start of school to August 31. After evaluating the reasons for the change and the unique logistical circumstances that prompted it, we have opted to stay with an August 24 start date.

We will have a series of events next week in the lead up to the start of school:

Fri., Aug 14 - 19  On-Campus
Bhakti Bhavan Classroom Visits
Please come at your scheduled time to acquaint your child with the Bhakti Bhavan classroom and teachers.

Thu., Aug 20 @ 6 p.m. Virtual - https://meet.google.com/tng-akxs-bdg
Family Welcome Meeting and Orientation
This is an important meeting for all families to attend. Although much is the same there are several new routines and policies to discuss that will be new to everyone.

Fri., Aug 21 @ 12 p.m. - 3 p.m.  On-Campus
School Supply Drop-Off & Uniform and Device Pick-up
Between the hours of 12 - 3, families of on campus students can come to the school to drop school supplies at the back deck of your child’s classroom and pick up uniforms. Families of distance learning students can also pick up their child’s computing devices and materials at this time.

If you have any paperwork remaining to be provided to the school, please bring it with you.

We ask that all families observe school COVID-19 protocols: 

• Face covering required for everyone.

• Maintain 6’ distance while in line.

• One person at a time in the office.

Fri., Aug 21 Virtual (links below)
Classroom Orientation Meetings
Each class will hold orientation meetings that are relevant to both on campus and distance learning families. Students (grade 1 and higher) and parents are all encouraged to attend.

5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

• Bhakti Bhavan - https://meet.google.com/ixj-mgof-bop

• Krishna Sharanam - https://meet.google.com/sst-qwjb-qwm

6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

• Audarya Bhavan - https://meet.google.com/osm-tsxx-hau

• Madhurya Bhavan - https://meet.google.com/pmh-hhfc-bod

If you have any questions please contact the office at (386) 462-2886 or office@bhaktischool.org

Yours in service,

Visvambhara Das
Head of School

Krishna Sharanam Fall 2020 Distance Learning Plan

Dear Families,

Thank you for your patience as we have worked to clarify details on how schooling will take place in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our core competency as a school is in-person learning and based on our experience we feel it is the best option for all our students under normal circumstances. We are also aware of the unique situation we find ourselves in and are providing for a distance learning program for families who prefer it.

Our Distance Learning Program is not a direct replacement for the experience students would have if they were on campus but our plan attempts to approximate it to the best of our ability given that we are also supporting students in the classroom simultaneously.

Our approach is based on a synchronous model by which Distance Learning students’ expectations and daily activities will be closely aligned with their on-campus classmates. This helps to ensure a connection with their class and alignment with academic requirements while they are learning from home. We also aim to provide for a consistency of daily habits that will ease the transition back to class when the time comes.

To be part of the Distance Learning Program students and families will need to meet the expectations of the program outlined in the plan. This will require a careful evaluation of your ability to support your child as they take part in daily scheduled activities and class requirements.

Please note: At present we are only authorized to provide an alternative to on-campus learning for the first semester of the school year (Aug. - Jan.). If you are intending to have your child remain off-campus for the entire year, we may not be able to support them. Please get in touch with us so we can discuss your options.

Plans for your child's class are linked below:

Krishna Sharanam Distance Learning Plan Fall 2020

After reviewing the plans and evaluating your ability to support your child’s participation, please make your schooling option selection by completing the form linked below. Although you have previously stated your preference on an earlier form, this form serves as your final commitment and the selection you make on this form will be how your child starts school on August 24.

Fall Schooling Selection

We request all families to make their schooling selection by Tuesday, August 11.

As always, feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns. We are always happy to assist in any way we can.

Yours in service,

Visvambhara Das
Head of School

Madhurya Bhavan Fall 2020 Distance Learning Plan

Dear Families,

Thank you for your patience as we have worked to clarify details on how schooling will take place in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our core competency as a school is in-person learning and based on our experience we feel it is the best option for all our students under normal circumstances. We are also aware of the unique situation we find ourselves in and are providing for a distance learning program for families who prefer it.

Our Distance Learning Program is not a direct replacement for the experience students would have if they were on campus but our plan attempts to approximate it to the best of our ability given that we are also supporting students in the classroom simultaneously.

Our approach is based on a synchronous model by which Distance Learning students’ expectations and daily activities will be closely aligned with their on-campus classmates. This helps to ensure a connection with their class and alignment with academic requirements while they are learning from home. We also aim to provide for a consistency of daily habits that will ease the transition back to class when the time comes.

To be part of the Distance Learning Program students and families will need to meet the expectations of the program outlined in the plan. This will require a careful evaluation of your ability to support your child as they take part in daily scheduled activities and class requirements.

Please note: At present we are only authorized to provide an alternative to on-campus learning for the first semester of the school year (Aug. - Jan.). If you are intending to have your child remain off-campus for the entire year, we may not be able to support them. Please get in touch with us so we can discuss your options.

Plans for your child's class are linked below:

Madhurya Bhavan Distance Learning Plan Fall 2020

After reviewing the plans and evaluating your ability to support your child’s participation, please make your schooling option selection by completing the form linked below. Although you have previously stated your preference on an earlier form, this form serves as your final commitment and the selection you make on this form will be how your child starts school on August 24.

Fall Schooling Selection

We request all families to make their schooling selection by Tuesday, August 11.

As always, feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns. We are always happy to assist in any way we can.

Yours in service,

Visvambhara Das
Head of School

Audarya Bhavan Fall 2020 Distance Learning Plan

Dear Families,

Thank you for your patience as we have worked to clarify details on how schooling will take place in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our core competency as a school is in-person learning and based on our experience we feel it is the best option for all our students under normal circumstances. We are also aware of the unique situation we find ourselves in and are providing for a distance learning program for families who prefer it.

Our Distance Learning Program is not a direct replacement for the experience students would have if they were on campus but our plan attempts to approximate it to the best of our ability given that we are also supporting students in the classroom simultaneously.

Our approach is based on a synchronous model by which Distance Learning students’ expectations and daily activities will be closely aligned with their on-campus classmates. This helps to ensure a connection with their class and alignment with academic requirements while they are learning from home. We also aim to provide for a consistency of daily habits that will ease the transition back to class when the time comes.

To be part of the Distance Learning Program students and families will need to meet the expectations of the program outlined in the plan. This will require a careful evaluation of your ability to support your child as they take part in daily scheduled activities and class requirements.

Please note: At present we are only authorized to provide an alternative to on-campus learning for the first semester of the school year (Aug. - Jan.). If you are intending to have your child remain off-campus for the entire year, we may not be able to support them. Please get in touch with us so we can discuss your options.

Plans for your child's class are linked below:

Audarya Bhavan Distance Learning Plan Fall 2020

After reviewing the plans and evaluating your ability to support your child’s participation, please make your schooling option selection by completing the form linked below. Although you have previously stated your preference on an earlier form, this form serves as your final commitment and the selection you make on this form will be how your child starts school on August 24.

Fall Schooling Selection

We request all families to make their schooling selection by Tuesday, August 11.

As always, feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns. We are always happy to assist in any way we can.

Yours in service,

Visvambhara Das
Head of School