More Students Start In-Person Schooling In New Canaan Next Week

NEW CANAAN, CT — More New Canaan Public School students will return to in-person schooling next week, and the district's entire K-12 population will be back to in-person instruction before the end of the month, according to Schools Superintendent Bryan Luizzi.

Connecticut school districts have taken varying routes to in-person schooling during the coronavirus pandemic in order to mitigate the further spread of the virus. In a message to parents Thursday, Luizzi laid out the upcoming plan, which calls for the following schedule:

• Monday, 10/12 – 7th grade return to full in-person learning, 8-12 remain in hybrid
• Tuesday, 10/13 – 12th grade (seniors) return to full in-person learning, 8-11 remain in hybrid
• Thursday, 10/15 – 8th grade return to full in-person learning; 9-11 remain in hybrid
• Monday, 10/19 – 11th grade (juniors) return to full in-person learning; 9-10 remain in hybrid
• Tuesday, 10/20 – 10th grade (sophomores) return to full in-person learning; 9th grade remains in hybrid
• Thursday, 10/22 – 9th grade (freshmen) return to full in-person learning; K-12 fully returned.

The district began in-person schooling with elementary students early in the school year, and have phased in other grades, such as some middle schoolers at the end of September and beginning of October.

In recent weeks, New Canaan Public Schools has had a few people infected with the virus, which led to some quarantined students and staff. But Luizzi said the district is able to continue the move to in-person schooling because of the successful efforts of students, staff and the community.

"Throughout the district, we have had great success transitioning our students back to full in-person learning, and I'm confident that we'll have the same success as we continue forward," Luizzi said in a statement. "The mitigation strategies we've implemented are working as designed, our school community has learned how to apply them, and we are ready for this next, important milestone in our school year."

While the in-person plan is moving forward, Luizzi was quick to add that those efforts are being closely monitored by school, town and health officials, and should transmission rates increase or other problems arise, the district will re-evaluate the plan.

"If the environment changes, we will quickly reassess and adjust as warranted," Luizzi said. "Our system is responsive and flexible, and we're fully committed to doing the right things for our students, staff, and community, each and every day."