12-30-2020 update

On behalf of the Maranatha Community, I hope you had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends (physically distanced!) and pray a blessed New Year for us all! As December comes to an end, the COVID-19 surge continues with extremely high numbers of new cases and area hospitals near or at capacity in caring for the sick. There are no new changes in the health orders that impact schools. In light of this ever-changing situation, it is very important to continue to practice safe health protocols individually, within our families, with friends, and within our school community.

As we prepare to eventually welcome students back to campus for in-person learning, the first step will be to have two weeks of online learning to allow everyone to adjust to the new schedule that will enable us to implement hybrid learning on campus. During this time, it is important that we stay within our immediate family bubbles, especially if any of us traveled or were around large groups of people over the holidays. We will be testing all faculty and staff for COVID-19 in preparation for them to begin working full time on campus after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. This is an important final step in preparing to open our campus once we are given permission to do so.

As far as athletics are concerned, we are awaiting the formal decision by CIF, which is scheduled to be announced on Monday, January 4. Conditioning practices will resume on Tuesday, 1/5, unless otherwise communicated. Once the school has had time to evaluate the decisions CIF has made, we will announce our plans for moving forward with athletics.

In beginning the Spring Semester next week, it is critical that all members of our community continue to follow the directives and recommendations of the current health order. These include wearing a mask, physical distancing, washing your hands throughout the day, and staying home whenever possible – only interacting with those who live in your home. I also want to take this time to praise the families who have experienced COVID-19 related events and thank them for following the school protocols to ensure the safety and health of our campus. As a result of their timely communications and actions, our school has not had a case of COVID-19 contracted on campus. THANK YOU! I encourage us all to be vigilant in maintaining safe personal health and hygiene practices. This is something that is required of each and every one of us in the Maranatha Community.

As we begin a new year, it is my great hope that we will continue to grow closer to each other and our Lord Jesus Christ, as we experience this pandemic together. Jesus shared, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another”. Let us continue to grow in our love for one another as we care for and support one another. And in doing so, demonstrate to each other and the greater San Gabriel Valley Community that Maranatha is a unique place where students, families, faculty, coaches, and staff experience high school life together.

If you have specific questions about our school's plans or response to this pandemic, please email them to covidinfo@mhs-hs.org. We will be providing another update on Wednesday, 1/6, with any further information or announcements. We look forward to seeing our students in classes on Zoom this coming Tuesday, January 5, as we begin the Spring Semester!

Happy New Year!

John Rouse

Head of School

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