Taskforce Update Regarding Governor’s Executive Order

We are grateful that COVID-19 cases continue to decline and that based on predefined criteria Gov. Ron DeSantis moved the State of Florida into Phase 3 on Friday. Phase 3 allows restaurants and other establishments to operate at full capacity unless local ordinances can be justified to limit them to 50%. Additionally, fines and penalties resulting from local ordinances are suspended.

At this time, Orange and Seminole County face-covering mandates remain in effect until further notice. The Governor’s Executive Order does not rescind local face-covering mandates.

Circle Christian School will continue with its campus procedures at this time.

Face-coverings and temperature checks on campus are still required.

We continue to pray and believe that we will soon return to normal activities! 

Important COVID-19 Update

Thank you sincerely for the robust partnership we have experienced as a school community these first two weeks. In every situation related to COVID-19 protocols or responses, we have seen cooperation and mutual understanding with unity of spirit that in every way points to the grace of God working in our midst. Our students have been consistent with face coverings, families have been gracious with necessary changes, communication has been charitable, and our school has come together in a way that is an example to others in the wider community of how people of faith can respond to such a threat as the Coronavirus. Indeed, thank you for glorifying the Name of the High King in so many ways! We are most honored to partner with you this year.
We are sending this message to update you about a few changes to our policies and inform you about what to expect should there be a positive case in your home. As always, if you have any concerns or questions, please direct them to taskforce@circlechristianschool.org.

First, some good news.

The Florida Education Commissioner and the Florida Department of Education are encouraging responses to positive cases that are “surgical, not sweeping” in order to limit the impact of cases on educational progress. This means that Circle’s efforts to continue with campus classes as much as possible throughout the semester is in line with the FDOE and the Orange County Health Department. Our goals are aligned, and that should help us to achieve our objective of maintaining in-person classes whenever possible. 

As you may be aware from an earlier communication sent after a Circle student tested positive, we worked with the Department of Health to devise a plan that would only affect the class of that student and the teacher. Our facility partner required a broader response, however, as detailed in that communication:

The Orange County Health Department recommended that only students and teacher(s) with direct contact be moved off campus to remote online instruction until Monday, August 24, 2020. 

The Winter Garden facility, however, directed that all students, teachers, and staff be moved off campus to remote online instruction until Monday, August 24, 2020.

Circle is presently working with our facility partners in accordance with the FDOE’s surgical approach and the improving situation with regard to community spread (see also “Orange County” under “Health Metrics” here) to devise plans that will allow unexposed students and staff to continue on-campus classes when positive cases occur. 

We are very thankful to report that all individuals affected by COVID-19 in that instance are doing well at this time.

Updates to Circle’s Reopening Plan

  1. Negative Test Results and Returning to Campus:

In the section titled “If a Case Is Reported at Circle Christian School,” the document stated the following about a student’s return to campus if he or she tests negative for COVID-19:

A negative test result and the absence of symptoms for 24 hours are sufficient for the student or staff member to return to campus.

This procedure has changed. The Florida Department of Health indicates that the incubation period for the virus is 14 days such that a person could test negative early in that period and still carry the virus and see symptoms emerge later in that time-frame. Therefore, a student or staff member can only return to campus once the self-isolation or quarantine periods have concluded. 

  1. Self-isolation and Quarantine Periods:

In the section titled “If a Case Is Reported at Circle Christian School,” the document stated the following about the self-isolation period for students that test positive for COVID-19:

The Florida Department of Health requires all persons that test positive for COVID-19 to self-isolate for 14 days.

This section has been amended to clarify self-isolation of individuals who test positive and quarantining of those who have been exposed. Our understanding of current CDC guidelines (reflected in FDOH recommendations) is that a person who tests positive needs to self-isolate for ten days from symptom onset, and can return to interaction with others at that time so long as he or she is fever-free (without using fever-reducing medication) and other symptoms are improving. 

The requirement for individuals who have been exposed is different, however. Once a person tests positive for COVID-19, anyone exposed to that person should be quarantined for 14 days from the time of the last exposure before returning to interaction with others. (See below for a definition of exposure). 

Circle will be following these guidelines with respect to students and staff that test positive and their family members or others who are exposed to someone who contracted the virus. We will continue to work with the Florida Department of Health to determine the best course of action in each case. 

  1. Definitions: exposure, isolation and quarantine:

Exposure is defined as: 

Close contact to COVID-19 occurs when you are within six feet of someone who is showing symptoms of COVID-19, for at least 15 minutes, when neither person is wearing a mask, and the infected person later tests positive for the coronavirus.

A further description of exposure can be found here. This understanding of exposure helps to explain Circle’s current policy regarding face coverings on campus. Because face coverings can limit exposure to the Coronavirus, especially in instances where a person is asymptomatic or not yet presenting symptoms, this approach is important as part of our overall effort to remain on campus as much as possible. 

Isolation is defined as: 

Isolation is used to separate people infected with COVID-19 from people who are not infected. People who are in isolation should stay home until it’s safe for them to be around others. In the home, anyone sick or infected should separate themselves from others by staying in a specific “sick room” or area and using a separate bathroom (if available).

Isolation is distinct from quarantine, which “is used to keep someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others.” When isolating, please make certain to monitor your health or the health of the individual carefully. Additional information can be found here

Anyone who tests positive with COVID-19 should isolate themselves from family members. Family members will then need to quarantine for 14 days from the time of last exposure before returning to interaction with others. 

Lastly, what to expect if your family has a positive case.

Circle is making every effort to follow up with every instance of sickness among our students and staff whenever someone presents symptoms on campus, at home, or at the temperature check stations at our entrances. If one of your children gets sick in any way, please have them stay home from campus classes, have them join through a remote option, and communicate with the school about the illness. Siblings should also remain home until the situation is more fully understood. 

Someone from the school will follow up with you to understand more about the symptoms presenting, whether those symptoms can be attributed to a cause other than COVID-19, and if you are aware of any exposures to a person that has tested positive for the Coronavirus. Collaboration with healthcare providers, the Department of Health, your family and the school will help to guide us as to the most prudent path forward in view of the unique circumstances presenting. 

Your partnership in communicating with the school is paramount in our unified effort to navigate this school year well. Thank you for helping us in this regard as a way of caring for one another.

Please continue to monitor your students’ health before coming to campus, encourage them to wash hands regularly and wear face coverings as directed, and reach out with any questions. We are here to help as always!

Thank you once again for your diligence in love and grace at the start of this school year! We are ever grateful for you and are honored to partner together. 

Jim Werner for the Circle Christian School Administration

Opening Plans Continue

While some schools recently announced that they may delay their first on campus day due to difficulty in their preparation process, we are planning to begin classes as scheduled the week of August 10, 2020.

Typically, we follow Orange County schools for emergency closures and such but in this case, and perhaps in other cases, we will make the decisions that we believe are in the best interest of our families. Please be sure you are receiving our updates and check the website for COVID information.

We will continue to monitor the situation and will update you in the event of any changes. We are grateful to be on this journey with you as we join our prayers together for God’s favor in this season of change.

Campus COVID-19 Exceptions

Circle Gear | Covid-19 Changes for 2020-21 Year

All Circle students are required to wear plain royal, navy or black polos on all campus locations in keeping with Circle Dress Code but are not required to wear Circle Gear. See below for the changes in our 2020-21 Codes and Covenants.

COVID-19 Exception – POLO SHIRTS/TOPS: Due to order availability and pick up issues related to COVID-19, for the 2020-21 academic year, students may wear a plain royal, navy or black polo with sleeves, a plain blue or black sweatshirt or jacket, or a CCS polo, sweatshirt, or jacket.

COVID-19 Exception – HATS/CAPS: Appropriate hats connected to face shields or masks are allowed for the 2020-21 academic year.

COVID-19 Exception – FACE COVERINGS: Face coverings are allowed for the personal protection against COVID-19 and include any appropriate colored or patterned cloth or paper masks and appropriate clear face shields for the 2020-21 academic year.

COVID-19 Exception – Absences: Absences related to COVID-19 are documented but are not counted as attendance policy related absences for the 2020-21 academic year.

CCS 2020-2021 Reopening Plans

We are excited to present the 2020-2021 Circle Christian School Reopening documents for your review. Our COVID-19 Task Force has worked diligently to ensure safety measures are in place for our community, while remaining committed to Christ-centered education.

These documents detail the health and safety measures Circle Christian School will take for the 2020-2021 school year, and the educational options available to Circle families.

Please read through the documents carefully and know that we join with you in prayer as you make decisions for the upcoming school year. Our commitment is to walk in faith with you throughout this season!

Circle Christian School Reopening Plan

Lower School Education Options

Upper School Education Options

Please be mindful that after reviewing the administrative plans, there may be important action items that must be completed by Friday, July 10.

CCS 2020-2021 Enrollment Action Items

COVID-19 Task Force Communication Regarding Face Coverings for Families attending Graduation and Circle Theatre Orientation

This is an important update from the CCS COVID-19 Task Force for all students and parents planning to attend our Circle Theatre Orientation on June 24th or the Graduation Ceremony on June 26th. This update only applies to these two events and not to any future events or campus classes. 

On June 18th, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings announced that face masks would be mandatory in public in the county beginning Saturday, June 20th. The announcement came in response to concerns about a rise in the number of cases of COVID-19 in Orange County.

Circle Christian School therefore requires all attendees to Graduation and CTC Orientation to wear face coverings while on the property. Information about face coverings can be found on the CDC website here. Please note that children under the age of two are exempt.

Circle’s COVID-19 Task Force is committed to continual evaluation of the circumstances related to the Coronavirus as they unfold. We have developed four principles to help guide our decisions related to school activities, as follows:

  1. Safety: we will develop a strategy for students, faculty and staff to work together in a safe environment with appropriate precautions.
  2. Compliance: we will comply with federal, state, and CDC guidelines for K-12 schools, in addition to guidelines from accrediting bodies. 
  3. Collaboration: we will develop communication channels for consistent and timely updates on all related matters and request feedback and input from stakeholders. 
  4. Agility: we will plan for, communicate and implement contingency measures as needed in accordance with official guidelines and stated response strategies. When needed, we will take decisive action.

Our focus remains to serve our families and students with excellence in education in the safest conditions possible. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we do our utmost for the sake of our community. Please feel free to communicate any concerns or questions you have to our Task Force. You can direct questions specifically related to COVID-19 to taskforce@circlechristianschool.org

COVID-19 Task Force Communication

Our COVID-19 Task Force has developed preliminary guidelines for our return to campus classes in the fall of this year. The document outlines our commitment to your safety and the partnership we will all depend on to accomplish another successful and healthy school year.

We highly recommend you read the guidelines and familiarize yourselves with Circle’s Financial Policy once more before the enrollment deadline of July 1st.

CCS COVID-19 Guidelines 2020-21

CCS Fee Summary & Financial Policy 2020-21

Our hope and confidence are in the Lord who is Sovereign over the Coronavirus and all the details related to our return to campus.

Thank you for partnering with us as a vital part of our school community! We are ever grateful for the opportunity to serve you and your family.

Response to COVID-19 Update

The Circle Administration has designed a task force to strategically formulate a comprehensive response to COVID-19 for the remainder of the summer and the return to school in the fall. The administration likewise continues to work toward an in-person graduation ceremony with its facility partners in order to provide our seniors with recognition for their achievements while maintaining proper compliance with official guidelines. We will communicate more details as they are solidified. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work on these objectives.

All Campus Classes Moved to Online Format

This week the Circle Leadership Team has been meeting to address concerns and a response to the growing issues surrounding COVID-19. As of today, we have approved a contingency plan for moving all campus class instruction to an online format for two weeks after Spring Break, during the period from March 23, 2020 to April 3, 2020. The remainder of the semester will be evaluated in the coming days and weeks.

Just to be clear, no on-site classes will be held at any of our campus locations March 23 – April 3, 2020.

Classroom instruction will be delivered through our Canvas/eLC learning environment or on other digital platforms as deemed most effective by program directors.

We realize that this is a challenging time for all families. We are confident that with your attention and partnership we are well-positioned to finish the semester well. Although the next few weeks will involve changes that none of us anticipated, we will journey through this together as a community of believers.

Please stay tuned for updated information. We will do our best to keep you informed as the situation unfolds. We realize that direction is still needed for arts and athletics programs, which will be forthcoming in the days ahead.

Let us stand together as a community and call upon our great God to give us peace as we place our trust in Him.

Psalm 25:1, 2a  “To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust.”

Enrollment Deadline Extended to July 1st

The Circle leadership team has been meeting regularly to evaluate the launch of the upcoming 2020-21 school year. With so much uncertainty about the timeline and impact of the COVID-19 virus, we have made the decision to extend the enrollment deadline from June 11th to July 1st. 

We are doing our best to operate as normally as possible, even in these extraordinary times, and we will continue to proactively communicate with you on topics directly related to your experience as a member of the Circle Christian School community.

Meals for Nurses

Across Central Florida medical professionals are waging war against COVID-19. These dedicated people are working long hours and often missing meals to serve those in need. A number of Circle staff members have expressed interest in playing an active role in providing meals for nurses. All proceeds will be used to provide food for nurses at a local Orlando hospital.

If you would like to join with us and make a contribution for this purpose, go here