Great River Christian back in session after classes canceled last week for 'health break'
Great River Christian School is back in session after classes were canceled last week due to a number of extended family vacations and illness-related absences.
Due to a number of families away on extended vacations and others battling colds, the flu and COVID-19, the school decided to take a "health break" last week, with students and staff staying home Tuesday through Friday.
"With lower numbers in-house last week, we felt it was an appropriate time to take a break and would allow everyone to be back together this week," Great River Principal Laura Francisco told The Hawk Eye on Tuesday. "Our numbers were never above the threshold of closing for health reasons, but this was simply a precautionary measure for the well-being of everyone."
The school counted a combined total of eight students and staff who were out last week with either a cold, COVID-19 or infections requiring antibiotics.
But Francisco noted that six families with students at that school were away last week either for extended vacations, family funerals or because they were quarantining.
While classes were halted, Francisco said the school's custodial crew used the time off to do an extensive deep cleaning of the building and that other faculty used the school's built-in snow day plans as a spring board for student learning.
No online classes were held last week, but students had access to their online homework assignments, the school's online supplemental math program, reading materials and other activities to keep students and staff busy.
"The idea of kids 'having off' is never really something our students think about," Francisco said. "They are taught that even when you leave the building, schooling is still taking place. They are encouraged to see opportunities for learning in everyday life, reflect on how God in his goodness allows us to see the world and interact with his people. Our students are being trained up academically, socially and spiritually — something that we are fortunate to be able to do at GRCS."
This article originally appeared on The Hawk Eye: Classes resume at Great River Christian after week-long 'health break'
