CANYONVILLE ACADEMY

Greetings from Canyonville Academy,
We survived our first day of school today September 21, 2020! As we are adjusting to new changes and a new way of doing things, we made sure to start moving into new habits and guess
what? We succeeded and made it through the day! Mrs. Esparza has been working hard preparing student schedules, teachers schedules and classes. Mrs. Bates ran many
errands and kept us going! This year, we are excited about our changes both academically and educationally!

Block Schedules
We are doing an A-B-C Block schedule. Students will have 4 classes each day. On Monday and Wednesdays, students will have 4 classes. These are A days. Tuesday and Thursday are B days with 4 different classes, then Friday will be a C schedule, where all classes are shorter with early release for students on Friday.

Lunch Change
We are brown bagging it for Lunch! Students eat their lunch in the auditorium or outside in front of the PXC. Socially distanced to be sure. Today’s lunch was a turkey sandwich, with lettuce, then fruit or yogurt, snack and a can of ice tea.
YUM!

Today’s schedule
Students arrived at the school office by 8:20 to get their temperature checked and to sign in via QR Code. Then, students went to the auditorium for our Student Orientation where Mrs. Esparza our Principal and Miss Johns lead students through the following:
 Prayer
 Staff introductions (students met our new teachers)
 Student Government and Elections
 Online classes discussion time
 Student schedules handed out
 Torch Announcement
 Plagiarism
 Travel and excused Absences
 Placement testing for all NEW students took place this morning and English test for all returning students.
 Locker assignment & new Locker Policy handed out
 Lunch was at 12:05 – with brown bagged lunches!

Additional items happening on Monday
Seniors Completed their Registration – they met with Mrs. Esparza and with Mrs. Bates.
Returning Juniors, complete registration, meet with Mrs. Esparza, then Mrs. Bates.
Sophomores and Freshmen complete registration. Meet with Mrs. Bates.
Ice Cream sandwiches were served at 3:00pm today outside while we enjoyed some sunshine. YAY!

Tomorrow’s items – Review Student Handbook. Zoom info will be sent out.

Hope you are as excited as we are to start this adventure!
Corinne Burkhert
Head of School – Canyonville Academy

Greetings from Canyonville Academy,

Here we are, ready to begin on Monday September 21, 2020! Can you believe that it is our first day of school!

I hope you have all enjoyed a looooong summer break and are ready to start classes! This year, has been a year like no other on record and we have been super busy planning this out. Our campus has many adjustments, making sure that you will be safe, including daily temperature checks, touchless sign in/sign outs, marked entrances and exits along with marked lines for keeping socially distanced. We are excited by our new changes this year, both academically and educationally. We look forward to seeing you on Monday to share more about the changes.

We’ll begin with our first change for day students: You will need to bring a sack lunch from home! Another change: You will be eating your lunch in the auditorium or outside in front of the PXC. Socially distanced to be sure. Also, don’t forget to bring your mask.

Here is a sample of what Monday’s schedule will look like:
Arrive at the school office no later than 8:20 to get your temperature check in and sign in via QR Code. Then, you will go to the auditorium for our Student Orientation where Mrs. Esparza our Principal and Miss Johns will lead you through the following:
 Prayer
 Staff introductions
 Student Government and Elections
 online classes discussion time
 student schedules handed out
 Torch Announcement
 Plagiarism
 Travel and excused Absences
Placement testing for all NEW students
Locker assignment
Lunch at 12:05 (bring your sack lunch!)
Additional items happening on Monday

During the afternoon:
Registration – meet with Mrs. Bates starting with Seniors.
Returning Juniors, complete registration, meet with Mrs. Esparza, then Mrs. Bates.
Sophomores and Freshmen complete registration. Meet with Mrs. Bates.
Hope you are as excited as we are to start this adventure!

Corinne Burkhert
Head of School – Canyonville Academy

Greetings from Canyonville Academy,
It is with joy that we bring you good news:

Covid – 19 may have changed our world as we knew it, but it did not change our mission.

We are reminded in God’s word: Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT
He has shown Himself faithful in the past, so we are confident that He will continue to direct and provide for us so we can continue serving you this year.

HOW WE GOT HERE – Remembering God’s Goodness

March 12th , 2020 after hearing concerns from students and parents, we made a decision to offer a voluntary Spring Break here on campus. We had 100% participation from our student body. Thus, we began our journey learning and preparing for our hybrid model.

As of March 30th we started a hybrid model of teaching with virtual and an in class model of 10 or less students for social distancing and A/B schedule for larger classes.

May 1st , 2020 our Governor has issued a mandate that required “no in school classes for private schools” and all schools to be virtual. We complied with those orders and boarding students stayed in the dormitory for online schooling, day students stayed home and did virtual classes.

May 30th , 2020 We celebrated our seniors graduation in chapel using all social distancing protocols of 25 or less in a room at one time. (Our safe environment in Douglas County permitted us to move to Level 2)

SOME OF OUR KEY HIGHLIGHTS DURING THIS TIME:
 Live classes
 Attendance expectations
 Ongoing technical support
 Testing standards
 Ongoing access to teachers, counselors and administrators
 Integrity standards
 Chapel and small group opportunities
 Socially distanced celebrations – Academic
Awards, Baccalaureate and MayFest
 Academic Support
 Live Graduation Ceremony
Although it was an adjustment for all, the Canyonville Academy faculty, staff, and student community rose to the challenge and persevered, relying on the God’s strength, wisdom and guidance. This time of challenge also taught us to be resourceful, creative and focused on the priorities of student growth, social life and spiritual growth while maintaining excellence.

WHERE WE ARE GOING – Looking Ahead

Canyonville Academy will continue to monitor government and health guidelines and mandates for the remainder of the summer and communicate any changes with you. Our primary goal in the fall is for you to send your child to school with confidence knowing that they are happy and safe while being provided an excellent, enriching, and developmentally appropriate educational experience.

Our ultimate desire is for families to feel confident and comfortable with the educational delivery method that serves them best during this unique time in history.

We have taken every precaution to ensure that our students and staff who are learning and working on campus are doing so in a safe and secure environment. The various safeguards and protocols that have been implemented will allow Canyonville Academy to continue carrying out its mission of Building Character Engaging Cultures and Promoting Excellence.

KEEPING OUR STUDENTS SAFE – Worldwide

Our plan for this fall is to open our campus as normal following all state mandates and with more cleaning, more sanitizing, ongoing monitoring, strategic containment and contingency plans. We have prepared multiple academic models for maximum flexibility including an online only option. But, our mission will remain the same: Educate tomorrow’s global leaders with excellence.

We are offering synchronous and asynchronous learning giving Parents worldwide the option of selecting full-time mobile learning for their children until they are comfortable with returning back to campus. Our class schedule has moved to block schedules giving students opportunity for deeper learning of concepts and application of those concepts. This gives students 4 classes per day providing less classroom movement keeping them safer.

OUR PRIMARY GOAL MOVING FORWARD
We will continue to monitor government and state guidelines and mandates for the remainder of the summer. We will communicate any changes with you. Our primary goal for this academic year is for you to send your child to school with confidence and knowing that they are happy and safe while being provided an excellent, enriching and developmentally sound educational experience.

We look forward to serving your family,

Corinne Burkhert
Chief Executive Officer
Canyonville Academy
Email – cburkhert@canyonville.net

Greetings from Canyonville Academy!

What a summer it has been! Canyonville Academy has dedicated hundreds of hours of research, planning, and deliberation toward developing the best and safest reopening plan for its students. Over the summer, Canyonville Academy’s leadership team has consulted professional organizations including the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), Oregon State Childcare Licensing, DHS, the CDC, our county commissioners and countless others.

Here is what we have found: On July 23, 2020, the CDC published a paper that addressed the importance of REOPENING OF AMERICA’S SCHOOLS this fall. Some of its key points entailed:

COVID-19’s impact on children. Read on:

According to the CDC’s report:
“The United States reported that children and adolescents under 18 years old account for under 7 percent of COVID-19 cases and less than 0.1 percent of COVID-19-related deaths. So far in this pandemic, deaths of children are less than in each of the last five flu seasons.” The CDC also states that “children are unlikely to be major drivers of the spread of the virus.”

Negative effects of extended school closures
The CDC reported that:
“Following the wave of school closures in March 2020 due to COVID-19, academic learning slowed for most children and stopped for some” also adding that “school closure disrupts the delivery of in-person instruction and critical services to children and families, which has negative individual and societal ramifications.”

Importance of in-person school environment
The CDC concluded that:
“Schools provide critical services that help meet the needs of children and families . . . through supporting the development of social and emotional skills, creating a safe environment for learning . . . and facilitating physical activity.” Canyonville Academy stands in agreement with these professional institutions and acknowledges that in-person learning will not only give students the opportunity to thrive academically, but mentally, socially, and spiritually as well. Our holistic educational approach ultimately prepares our students to grow into confident leaders and world changers. When students are on campus, we have the opportunity to disciple them well.

In order to best care for our students, we have developed a plan that includes multiple layers of safeguards for on-campus learning such as heightened cleaning and sanitizing procedures, daily temperature checks and screening questionnaires, and signage around campus that promotes proper hygiene habits and social distancing. Parents have the option to have their child learn from Canyonville Academy’s campus or through its full-time mobile learning program, which has been made possible by the high- definition cameras that have be installed in each classroom.

New safeguards

and protocols on campus and in classrooms to prevent the spread of COVID-19
Here is what we have put in place on our Canyonville Campus
 Increased frequency cleaning and sanitizing by our staff,
 stricter cleaning protocols
 Opening up new spaces for students to allow for greater social distancing
 daily temperature
 face covering checks
 face covering and social distancing requirements,
 new handwashing signs and reminders
 hand sanitizer stations at entry points and all classrooms
 staff training,
 limiting of on-campus visitors,
 campus signage promoting proper hygiene, one-way traffic flow, and social distancing,
 great spacing between secondary desks for 35 cubit feet space around each student
 food services are adhering to CDC guidelines for service, including individual wrapped service wear and condiments, closed
containers for food
 touchless sign in/sign out
 contact tracing logs
 marked traffic flows
As a private 9th –12th high school located on the 14-acre campus in Canyonville, Canyonville Academy is able to provide on-campus learning spaces in addition to our regular classroom space. This helps more students to be able maintain greater social distance space throughout the school day. Canyonville Academy’s rural campus, is also blessed with additional space that the school can use
to help students maintain greater social distance. In addition, all staff and students in 9th through 12th grade will be part of a cohort, and also required to wear a face covering when moving about the campus; while learning in the classroom, they may wear a face shield instead.

Canyonville’s campus has adopted a hybrid schedule for its high school students who have to physically rotate to different classrooms along with virtual classes with remote learning spaces available for day students. This model has reduced on-campus classroom occupancy for a season until it is safe to return to 100% capacity five days a week. Canyonville Academy also has a remote learning experience for international students who are unable to come to the USA located here.

Through the hundreds of thousands of dollars that are being invested into training, staffing, and acquiring additional technology, coupled with the new policies, procedures and cleaning protocols, we look forward to beginning the 2020-21 school year on campus on September 21st in a learning environment that challenges students to reach their full potential. In every circumstance, both planned and unforeseen, our faculty and staff are wholeheartedly devoted to seeing their students succeed.

Recent COVID news:
We are glad to hear that the percentage of COVID tests coming back positive continues to fall. As of the week of August 9-14 Douglas county testing results were 1.4% which is very, very low. One of the lowest in America. NO reported cases in Canyonville, Oregon. We are so very thankful and blessed!
Respectfully,
Corinne Burkhert
Chief Executive Officer

July 15, 2020
Greetings from Canyonville Academy,
Recent changes for international students studying in the USA have led many students, parents and agents to call, or email asking us what is allowed and what is not allowed. Here is what we know:
July 6th , 2020 a news release from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) informed schools and students that they have modified temporary exemptions for non-immigrant students taking online courses due to the pandemic for the fall 2020 semester.

These changes on July 6, 2020 notified us that ICE modified temporary exemptions by not allowing F-1 and M-1 visa holding foreign national students from being physically present in the US if they take more than 1 online course resulting in more than 3 credits as part of the educational program for the fall 2020 semester. This change created a lot of confusion for students as they scrambled to prepare for fall 2020 entry.

In March, 2020, SEVP authorized a temporary exemption regarding online courses for the spring and summer semesters. This gave F-1 student visa holders permission to take more online courses than normally allowed for a student holding an F-1 or M-1 visa. This assisted these students in maintaining a full course load to the end of the 2019-2020 school year successfully.

Yesterday, the July 6th ruling changed back to the temporary March exemption allowing F-1 and M-1 student visas for those who will be studying in the US this fall and have to start with online only courses. Many students are very relieved about this change as it helps them to finish their education, keeping them from a lot of extra fees, and for those who went home, the ability to return to the United States and take online classes if needed while their school of choice works to reopen safely. Thus, giving the students opportunity to continue their overseas education while following their hopes and dreams.

Throughout this time, Canyonville Academy continues to stay steady. We are preparing a hybrid model of courses for both online and in class sessions. We continue to stay open. We continue to prepare. Canyonville Academy is working hard planning for our fall 2020 semester start schedule. Our student safety first preparations along with our students well-being is of utmost importance as we prepare for this 2020 school year start.

We continue to keep you informed,

Corinne Burkhert
Chief Executive Officer
Canyonville Academy
Email: cburkhert@canyonville.net

Dear Friends and colleagues,

Greetings from Canyonville Academy.

As a private boarding school, we have been on the front lines of education undergoing drastic changes over these past 6 months. We’ve witnessed an array of uncertainty, unknowns, and in some places fear.  These common adversaries are what people around the globe are now facing every day.  The question we’re left with is this:  How will educators all over the world overcome a pandemic that has branded people of all races, religions and social statuses?

Here is what we discovered as we worked through the last 3 months of our school year:

Embrace change – As change approaches, as it always will, look for the opportunities that help define you, and help you and others to succeed.
Find opportunity – Educational moments are all around us.  As you find the opportunities, help those around you lean in and learn from these opportunities, these educational moments.
Become adaptable – As you embrace the change, work with it, realize that you are facilitating others to see defining moments which will help them become adaptable, encouraged and to succeed.

For the start of the 2020 school year, we are preparing a Restart Team, and will work to keep you informed about distance learning, teachers changing rooms instead of students, etc. We are also ordering more disinfecting equipment and additional PPE (Personal Protection Equipment), such as masks, gloves and sanitizers to have on hand for distribution. Upon entering and exiting buildings, students and staff will have their temperatures taken, and be given hand sanitizer.

Additionally, we are working on our Operational Blueprint for Reentry.  This is a state mandate for public and private schools, and will outline how we will be able to open for the fall of 2020. This will be submitted to our board of directors, then to our local Public Health Authority.

Lastly, we are developing a Communicable Disease Management Plan, which will be updated as the situation progresses. Canyonville continues to be a very safe place. In Douglas county as a whole, we have only seen 54 cases since lockdown started in February. Even with these numbers, we will continue to remain cautious and strategize the best possible solutions
in safety and success for your students.

We continue to keep you informed.

Corinne Burkhert – CEO
Canyonville Academy
Email – cburkhert@canyonville.net

Greetings from Canyonville Academy,

It is with a grateful heart that I write to you, telling you how thankful we are that we were able to finish our school year strong! Holding a small, formal, yet in-person graduation has aided tremendously with keeping student spirits high in this hard time. It has served as a beacon of hope for their future, and we believe it will strengthen their transition into their next phase of life.

15 days have now passed since we graduated the class of 2020, and the staff here at Canyonville Academy have been slowly finding our new normal. As all of us around the globe adjust to a new way of life, we rest in the joy and satisfaction of having finished another successful school year.

As the campus has emptied and life has slowed down a bit, I find myself pondering the last 9 months, and what they have taught me. What I have learned is that going through hard times has the potential to bring out the best and worst of humanity. We can’t change the hand we’re given, but I am proud to say that the staff at Canyonville Academy have been exemplary with their resourcefulness and creativity during the Covid-19 crisis. Our priority has always been the health, safety, and success of your children. While no doubt a challenge, we are delighted to have accomplished this goal!

If I try to describe or summarize this 2019-20 school year, I think it would summarize as follows:

The beginning of the 2019-2020 school year felt like a calm before a storm. Things fell into place, and soon we were in a rhythm of classes, sports and campus life. Little did we know, a virus that would challenge everyone globally was on the horizon. This led us to preparing and strategizing on how to protect our students. It was in this time we realized that embracing change as it occurred was a worthy choice.

While change is usually hard to adjust to, walking our students through change and challenges would be an educational moment that might not replicate itself in their lifetime. These valuable lessons were priceless. and one opportunity after another showed us that our student body was learning from something none of us have ever walked through. What a pivotal defining moment in history and in their lives!

As we all adjusted, our faculty and staff worked together to present the best possible outcomes for our students health and safety, and education while keeping all government mandates. We communicated all our moves and strategies to parents worldwide, helping to ease their fears.

As we continued forward through the year, we felt it important to lean in and to finish strong. We had run the race, and as we approached the end of the year, we had to finish well, and so we began to plan graduation. We spent countless hours brainstorming, reviewing and coordinating. This monumental moment in our students’ lives was of utmost importance. This was their story to tell. It was their graduation. It is this, that we celebrate.

This defining moment: Class of 2020 – We celebrate your success. Congratulations!!

Corinne Burkhert – CEO
Canyonville Academy

Greetings from Canyonville Academy,

I hope this letter finds you doing well and staying safe. This update is to keep you informed of how we are doing here at the school.

Good News! The Coronavirus cases in Oregon remain extremely low. Especially here in southern Oregon. For fifteen days in a row, there have been no new cases in our county.

Rural Oregon counties are slowly starting to reopen. As of today, our Douglas County Board of Commissioners announced that our County Parks are reopening to the public on a limited basis. This is part 1 of a 3 step reopening process. If everything goes well, step 2 will take place in 2 weeks. We will continue to keep you informed.

Other news this week, our Governor has issued a mandate that required “no in school classes for private schools” and all schools to be virtual. We have complied with those orders and all students are staying in the dormitory for online schooling.

During these last few days we have noticed that students feel they can play online video games during the school day if they have a study hall. This is not an option. Students have to use their time wisely during the school day as others are in class.

As an alternative, students are able to work out and exercise in the weight room during their study hall (during school hours) if they come to the office and sign in and out of the weight room. After school, the students enjoy the outdoors and even others enjoy bicycle rides or walks on our beautiful east campus.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner is served as usual in the cafeteria and students are using social distancing while waiting in line.

Oregon is enjoying a beautiful spring, and everything is blooming! We are closely monitoring the students emotional health ensuring that they are engaged in school, and getting fresh air after school. As we carefully monitor student engagement and emotional health, we are continuously monitoring all Oregon updates on Covid-19 as we work to plan the end of the school year and graduation. We will inform you of more detailed plans as we work through each phase of Oregon opening back up.

Canyonville Academy is committed to the health and success of its students.

Respectfully,

Corinne Burkhert
Chief Executive Officer
Canyonville Academy

April 13, 2020

Greeting from Canyonville Academy,

I hope and trust you are doing well. Here is an update of how things are progressing in Douglas County, Oregon.

This past week the students seem relaxed and in step with the teaching adjustments of in class and virtual. Here in southern Oregon, as of yesterday April 12, 2020, out of 14 cases of Covid-19, four people have completely recovered.

Our Interim principal Dawn Shepherd held the academic awards on Friday, towards the end of the school day. We have recorded it and put a condensed version on YouTube so you can watch. Click here.

This past weekend it was a beautiful sunny weekend. Students enjoyed a ping-pong competition Saturday evening, hanging out with their friends, riding bikes and enjoying the sunshine.

This week we are having additional dress up days. Today, Monday is bathrobe day. Friday is Bug Mania day. Each dress up day, the best dressed students (1 boy and 1 girl) can win a $10 prize to one of our local food take outs or our Dollar General store.

We will continue to keep you informed of what is happening here on campus each week.

Many blessings to you,

Corinne Burkhert – CEO
Canyonville Academy
Email – cburkhert@canyonville.net

April 7, 2020

Dear Parents, students and family,

We pray this letter finds you well! There is a huge question right now about current and future events regarding students, education and health safety for all.

As parents, I completely understand your concerns. Please rest assured, we are in a rural area. It is considered a sparsely populated area or countryside which is considered much safer than heavily populated urban areas. The statistics included here are to keep you well informed about Oregon. Oregon has a population of 4,236,400 million
people. As of today, Oregon has a total of 1,139 cases of the coronavirus. This is 0.00026886035313 percent of Oregon’s population. The majority of the coronavirus cases are on the United States East Coast which is approximately 3,000 miles away from Canyonville Academy. These areas are population dense areas.

Canyonville Academy has been complying with the guidelines of our President and our Governor of Oregon. In our last letter, Mrs. Shepherd and myself have informed you about our adjusted schedules for virtual school and 10 or less per classroom.

On campus we are using all possible precautions to be safe. One of the important factors we have in our favor is that we are in a sparsely populated area in the countryside which is considered much safer. Even our students feel safer. We have stocked up on facial masks and we have gloves should the students desire or need. We have plans to teach the students how to make their own special masks if they would like.

CANYONVILLE ACADEMY SUMMER PLANS
To assist and serve you and your students, Canyonville Academy has been preparing a way for continuous education in a safe, comfortable campus while getting a head start on their college and fall semester. This program will help students and families navigate through the churning waters of anxiousness and stress, and help them to rest and focus on their next steps in preparation for their future hopes and dreams.

Please be watching for Foundations For Students Success Special Summer Program tomorrow. We are excited to offer this to our wonderful students.

May you be blessed with peace,

Corinne Burkhert
Chief Executive Officer
Canyonville Academy

March 30, 2020

Dear Parents,

As of Monday morning March 30th we are running classes virtually at Canyonville Academy. Some teachers will be on campus teaching classes that contain less than ten students while other teachers have chosen to teach from home with their whole class going virtual. Larger classes have been broken up into two groups and will be in the classroom every other day as noted on a student’s schedule.

Our teachers are using an app called “Zoom” to provide a video feed while teaching. Each teachers zoom IP address is provided for the students to login to their lecture during their regularly scheduled time. Students will stay in their dormitory for all virtual classes. Teachers will be taking attendance so we have asked your student to use their name when logging in. Your child has downloaded the application to a device of their choice. Teachers will provide necessary documents through google classroom accounts, email, or have hard copies available on campus. Please directly contact teachers regarding questions your child has with classes. All teacher emails are provided next to the class they teach on PowerSchool. I will send a weekly update on any changes that might occur.

Sincerely,
Dawn Shepherd
Principal

Coronavirus Update

Cases in Oregon remain low.  Canyonville Academy is diligently watching and following the guidelines of our governor Kate Brown.

This week has been very good so far here at Canyonville Academy.  Here is what our students have been doing:

Monday, we changed our trip to Crater Lake for a movie marathon day in the auditorium.  The students all mainly wanted to sleep in and watch movies or relax with their friends.

Tuesday, we started the Battle of the Teams.  They played basketball, volleyball and badminton.

Wednesday continued with the Battle of the Teams.  Small teams of students played soccer outside and enjoyed a beautiful day!

Thursday, we had signups to take students to Wildlife Safari, an animal reserve that people can drive through and see wild animals in their natural habitat.  It also was a beautiful day.  The students really enjoyed seeing lions, bears, zebras, elephants, emus, giraffes and a whole lot more.  The giraffes were especially fun as they walked close to the cars.  The students loved it!

Friday, students had opportunity to sign up and go hiking on a nearby mountain, and enjoy a bonfire with s’mores again.  Then later in the evening, the teams had a last competition to finish the Battle of the Teams.

Saturday – the Battle of the TEAMS Award Celebration where each team will be presented with a team award. We will announce winners that evening, followed by a line dance fun time! (All done in small groups)

Sunday, the students will go back to their normal deans and normal schedule.  And students will have a virtual chapel in the evening.

Monday, we are preparing a school schedule keeping in line with Governor Brown’s orders.  When the schedule is ready, we will also send it to you.

March 17, 2020

Greetings to all of you,

In light of these interesting times, Canyonville Academy is continuing to monitor and adjust its practices to best fit with Governor Kate Brown’s order of 25 or less in a gathering. Some changes we have made are:

⦁ Social distancing in the classrooms. This involves students sitting one empty desk apart from each other.
⦁ Staggering lunches and dinners. We have taken to staggering the times our students are taking lunches and separating the students to 3 different buildings. This would fall in line with Gov. Kate Brown’s orders of 25 or less in the lunch room.
⦁ We have installed sneeze guards on both sides of the serving area lines to assist in prevention.
⦁ PE classes. No transfer points of contact using balls, students will be doing calisthenics/exercises instead.
⦁ Chapel – virtual chapel on Wednesday with students staying in their 5th period bible class.
⦁ Teachers are sending school work home to day students who have high risk family members in their home.
⦁ Virtual classes live test will be happening on Friday.

We will continue to keep you updated as we move forward in step with local health departments and government imposed safety guidance.

Serving Him,

Corinne Burkhert
Chief Operating Officer
Canyonville Academy

Dear Canyonville Academy Students, Staff, Faculty and Families,

Like most of you, I have been intently following reports of this Coronavirus Covid-19 and considering the many ways in which this virus could affect my life and the lives of those closest to me.  These past few weeks have been a powerful reminder of just how interconnected we are and how our choices today can impact our options for tomorrow.

Here at Canyonville Academy, we are blessed to have a group of extremely dedicated people who have been working literally around the clock to respond to the multi-faceted challenges posed by this COVID-19.  As a team, they have been considering every possibility as they go about their important work on your behalf.  I write to you today updating you on a major adjustment that will limit exposure to the disease among our students and staff members.

Canyonville Academy is choosing to hold Spring Break here on campus for the safety of our students.  This is an answer to recent parental requests and hearing our own student voices as they voiced feeling safer here on campus.

During this time of uncertainty and using our best efforts to protect our students, faculty and staff, we are announcing that Canyonville Academy is NOT charging any fees for students choosing to stay on campus for Spring Break.

SPRING BREAK SCHEDULE:  WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE
⦁ We purpose to have a full, fun schedule as follows:
⦁ Friday 3-20 Bon Fire on East Campus with hotdog and S’mores (weather permitting)
⦁ Saturday 3-21 Rest, online gaming and Karaoke night
⦁ Sunday 3-22 church service am – rest
⦁ Monday 3-23 Tubing – play in the SNOW day!  Diamond Lake Fun Pizza, S’mores and Hot Chocolate – Private Coach (weather permitting)
⦁ Tuesday 3-24 Battle of the TEAMS 2 Day Tournament – Intramurals, Badminton competition, Volleyball team competition, Basketball Tournament – (part of the rules use all your players in this tournament)
⦁ Wednesday 3-25 Continued Battle of the TEAMS – Tennis tournaments, Soccer teams tournaments, Chess tournaments, Trivia tournaments
⦁ Thursday 3-26 Rent out the Medford Theater – Movie and Popcorn day – Private Coach
⦁ Friday 3-27 Bandon Day at the Beach, Botanical Gardens and Clam Chowder – Private Coach (weather permitting)
⦁ Saturday 3-28 – Award Ceremony – Dance Party.
⦁ Sleep in, then back to your dorm day… Chapel in the evening.
NOTE:  All private coaches, busses used will be disinfected and wiped down by our own staff to ensure protection to our students.
A Food Service company will supply meals during this break.
⦁ To keep our students safe, if you still choose to have your student leave for their pre-scheduled Spring Break Trip, we are preparing a quarantine dorm for students who will be using public transportation such as airplanes, trains or buses.  All students who use public transportation will be placed in the quarantine dorm for 14 days when they return to campus.  They will be checked daily for any symptoms, and once the 14 day quarantine is complete, then they will be reintegrated into their dorm.
⦁ Students who choose to leave:  To protect our staff, and drivers, upon returning, student will have to use airport transportation automatically paid by the student his family.  Upon entering the campus, students will go directly to quarantine for the safety of you and your peers.
⦁ If the student is picked up by family in a private vehicle, we trust their family’s to care and be responsible for the students health and safety.
⦁ Staff who use public transportation during the break would be required to self-quarantine.  Private or rental vehicles are not part of public transportation.  (rentals should be wiped down with disinfectant as a precaution.)
⦁ Students who are quarantined will be required to attend virtual school and turn in all their work as required by the teachers.  Everything will be done digitally.
⦁ The quarantine also pertains to day students if day students use any public transportation while on break.  Day students will be required to quarantine at home and attend virtual school turning in all their work as required by teachers.  This is to protect you and other staff of our community here on campus who may be more susceptible to this disease than you are.
⦁ We have heard that Major Airlines carriers are waving cancellation fees and they are issuing a credit for up to 12 months.
This decision was not made lightly.  The goal of these adjustments are to minimize students to any public exposure outside of the school.

Our actions are consistent with the recommendations of leading health officials on how to limit the spread of this COVID-19.  This decision is also consistent with similar decisions made by peer secondary schools in Oregon.

We have setup a dedicated webpage for regular updates and additional information here – COVID.  You will also continue to receive School information via email.  If you have any questions about Spring Break please contact us at springbreak@canyonville.net.

To our students, I know it all sounds difficult to possibly be quarantined and separated from your friends.  We are doing this not just to protect you, but to also protect other members of our school community who may be more susceptible to this disease than you are.

To our faculty, I recognize that we are asking you midway through the semester to completely add a different dimension and rethink how you teach and score. We do this because we know that you want to avoid putting your students at risk.

To our staff, I understand that we are expecting you to go above and beyond in your efforts to support our important mission of teaching and mentoring.  We do this because we know we can rely on your creativity, your flexibility, and your sound judgment through these challenging days.

It is an honor to be a member of a community where people put the greater good above their own self-interest.  Thank you for your commitment, your patience and your resilience as we all learn to walk through this unforeseen circumstance, all the while sharing a deeper care for one another.

Wade Mumm James Davis Corinne Burkhert
President Executive Vice President Chief Executive Officer
Canyonville Academy Canyonville Academy Canyonville Academy

Dear parents of Canyonville Academy students,

Our first priority here at Canyonville Academy is the safety and good health of your child.

As you are well aware, the news has been abundant about the spread of the Coronavirus, now called Corvid-19.

At this moment in time, we have no reason to believe that the virus is a threat to our campus, yet we are prepared to respond should it be necessary.  With no cases on our campus, and 14 so far in the state of Oregon, we are on high alert and taking extra measures to ensure the safety of our students.

Here are our precautionary steps that we have taken:

1.  In January, we prepared by ordering dust proof/virus quality masks for every student.
2.  Students have been instructed to wash their hands well, (20 seconds using soap and water) and frequently.
3.  Students have also been instructed to distance themselves from sick people.
4.  With Spring Break approaching, students are concerned with everyone leaving the campus, then returning (they actually feel safer here on campus).  Students have expressed concerns of becoming exposed to the virus while on break.  To assist with these concerns, we are taking further steps such as:

⦁ Put together a task force that will assist with daily updates and direction on whatever steps we need to take to protect the students.
⦁ Evaluate our campus buildings for potential plans of deep cleaning and disinfecting before students return.
⦁ As students return we will:
⦁ take their temperature
⦁ monitor for any symptoms
⦁ ask questions such as
⦁ if they were exposed to anyone sick
⦁ if they went to any crowded places
⦁ how often they washed their hands
⦁ We have prepared with disinfectant wipes to use on all classroom and dorm room door handles daily.
⦁ disinfectant sprays for the bathrooms in all dorms and school bathrooms.
⦁ hand lotion to assist with dry hands due to frequent hand washing.
5.  Additionally, we are monitoring all available information from the Oregon State Department and all Oregon health agencies for up-to-date information and training to help us prepare and respond immediately if this Corvid-19 virus were to occur on our campus or in our community.

We want you to be assured that we are actively engaged in this issue here at Canyonville Academy.  We do not want our decisions to be driven by fear or misinformation, but we do want to be prudent and make decisions that if necessary, will benefit your child’s health and safety.  If you have any questions, please direct them to Corinne Burkhert at cburkhert@canyonville.net who is leading the task force and who communicates with me each step of the way.

Our hearts and our prayers are that our students continue to enjoy the peaceful environment here at Canyonville Academy, enjoy some time off for Spring Break, then return, refreshed and ready to finish their last quarter in preparation for summer.

Each student is very dear to us.  They are full of love, joy and life.  They are a gift, and a treasure.  We pray for them daily and are very blessed to call them our students.

We will be keeping you updated on a weekly basis.
May you continue to be blessed each and every day,

Wade Mumm
President
Canyonville Academy

Hello parents of Canyonville Academy Students:

I hope this letter finds you doing well. It’s hard to believe that we are already in March, and Spring Break is coming up soon! The news of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) has been dominating the news worldwide. Here at Canyonville Academy, our first priority is the safety and good health of your child. At this point, we have no reason to believe there is an immediate threat to our campus, but we are proactive and ready to respond. More on that in another letter to be sent soon.

OTHER NEWS
This month, our students have gone shopping at 3 different places in Roseburg, this weekend they will have a volleyball tournament on Saturday evening in the gymnasium. The following weekend, on March 14th at 1pm there is an Iron Chef competition (cooking contest), lastly, we are renting out the Roller Skating rink on March 15th and bringing pizza for them.

Spring Break starts March 20th at 3:30pm. This is also the end of our 3rd quarter for grades. This means that any extra time students miss by leaving early, it will affect their grades as it is considered lost time. Teachers will be teaching classes and handing out school work until 3:30pm Friday March 20th, 2020. Grades will be calculated and reported during Spring Break.

Canyonville Academy’s mission statement states the following:

Building Character • Engaging Cultures • Promoting Excellence

The rest of our mission statement follows through with:
Through academic and non-academic programs, we purpose to:
Promote the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to fully participate in human affairs, while encouraging the desire to work toward effecting change and solving problems, consequently helping to create a better future for us all.
Transmit a knowledge and appreciation of the highest values, ideas and ideals of our Judeo-Christian heritage, upon which Western Civilization is founded.
Cultivate critical thinking and problem-solving skills, while encouraging creativity and vision in all aspects of life.
Encourage an appreciation for God’s creation and promote a balanced stewardship of the resources entrusted to man.
Develop an awareness and knowledge of interpersonal relationships by learning communication skills, conflict resolution, social responsibility, and respect for authority.
Honor the sanctity of life and promote an understanding of various cultures and backgrounds.
Foster an awareness of the consequences of actions and a willingness to accept responsibility for individual behavior.
Provide positive, creative, and safe ways of having fun

We work hard to ensure that all of our students are taught well, learn values important for life, and learn to be respectful and diligent in their school work and in their afterschool time.

We ask for your assistance in helping the students stay focused till Spring Break begins as we continue to prepare them for the future in colleges, universities and then work.

Respectfully,

Corinne Burkhert
Chief Executive Officer

1st Semester is √ DONE.  Second Semester Has Now Started.

We have just completed our first semester, and have begun our second semester of the school year.

This past weekend, we held a campus Super Bowl Party on our large projector screen in the auditorium for our students and staff.  It was full of football excitement, fun and snacks.

This week is our Spirit Week and Homecoming Week!

This new semester also brings the news of the coronavirus that is affecting Wuhan, China and surrounding regions.  At this time, all our students are well, but this has raised our level of protection for all students.  As a boarding school, we provide face masks for any staff or student feeling ill.  Students are encouraged to wash hands, cover their mouths if they cough or sneeze, and we encourage students to avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu symptoms. 

In the next few days, we will be sending out a separate letter to our agent partners for our student’s parents.  This letter will be informing them that we are monitoring this situation closely as we are preparing for spring break activities and trips. We are also looking ahead towards summer vacation and if some of our students will need any special arrangements if this epidemic situation has not been alleviated.   We will be sure to keep you informed.

As of 3-11-2020 we have discontinued any self-serve areas in the cafeteria to minimize exposure.  This includes the following:

• Bread, bagels, muffins, cream cheese, peanut butter and jelly will be portioned out.
• Cereal will be available in individual serving packets
• Salad bar will be served from the serving line.

The Cafeteria is sanitized daily using the following means:

• all serving surfaces are washed and sanitized
• all tables are washed and sanitized
• all prep surfaces are sanitized ongoing throughout the day
• food servers wash their hands for 20 seconds before serving with soap and water according to the guidelines set out by government health agencies.