At Sheridan, our long-time community rule is simple and clear: we respect ourselves, each other and our environment.

As we begin the 2022-2023 school year, together we have the power to give our children a challenging and joyful education, while keeping everyone in our community and in the world beyond as healthy and safe as possible. A collective commitment to our students and to each other will continue to carry us through and allow us to be what we are at our core—Sheridan Strong.

A deep and abiding commitment to these principles is essential to our success this year. Our individual actions and behaviors have a ripple effect and by working together, we can create the conditions that allow for learning in a manner that feels comfortable and safe for everyone. It is our expectation that each member of our community will commit to the principles below and abide by them. Doing so is imperative for creating the sacred trust that is so vital to our efforts. 

We will treat others with empathy and compassion. We will understand that COVID-19 may affect someone differently than it affects us or in ways that we cannot know. We will honor any differences between us and, with empathy and compassion, seek common ground.

We will abide by health and safety protocols established by the school. We commit to following any protocol put in place to keep our school and our local community healthy and safe. This includes, but is not limited to, protocols related to mask wearing, physical distancing, health screenings, and staying home if we are ill. We understand these protocols may change in response to new circumstances and pledge to honor them no matter their form.

We will obtain COVID-19 vaccinations as soon as they are available unless contraindicated for medical or religious reasons. We commit to seeking vaccinations for all in our home as soon as they become available to us, unless a certifiable medical condition or religious exemption precludes it. We will provide vaccination information to the school as requested.

We will use good judgment when taking part in activities outside of Sheridan that could put others in our community at risk. When engaging in recreational activities, attending family events, socializing with friends, and/or participating in gatherings, indoors or out, we pledge to follow recommended mitigation protocols such as masking, handwashing and physical distancing. We also pledge to limit non-essential travel to COVID-19 hotspots and to follow local and federal requirements for self-quarantine upon return.

We will report any possible exposure to COVID-19 to the school immediately. We understand reporting potential exposure is critical to mitigating the spread of COVID-19 within and outside of the Sheridan community. If we are exposed to COVID-19, we will contact Sheridan’s school nurse immediately and follow their instructions.

We will recognize that a successful learning year will require flexibility across our community. As teachers, we commit to working in partnership with families to provide an active, challenging, and joyful learning experience. As parents, we commit to being supportive and flexible and helping our children to be the same.

We will consider the impact of our individual actions on others. We understand that families may rely upon each other for care and social connection during the pandemic.  We will consider who is included and who may feel excluded from groups, how grouping by geographic location, gender, and friendship groups can be inherently exclusive and homogenous, and we will actively work toward inclusivity.