Per county health guidance, since Santa Barbara County is in the state’s red tier, Providence School last week reopened on the private school’s San Roque campus for middle and upper school classes, bringing the majority of the student body and faculty back in person for the first time in seven months.
Preschool classes on the San Roque campus opened in August, and lower school (grades K-6) returned in September, under a waiver.
The return to campus for grades 7-12 was staggered across three days to allow students, faculty and staff to get used to following new health and safety protocols, as listed in the Reopening Providence guide.
Seniors returned Oct. 14, as previously authorized, to write the SAT exam. Middle school (grades seven and eight) students were invited to return on Oct. 15, joined by the upper school (grades nine-12) on Oct. 6.
Students who for health reasons are unable to join their cohort on campus for in-person learning are continuing to participate in classes via video. Dedicated iPads with cameras are installed in every classroom.
In a message to families printed in the reopening guide, Soo Chang, head of school, wrote: “Some routines will undoubtedly be different from a ‘normal’ school year. But we are confident the mission and culture that led you to choose Providence in the first place will remain the same.”