Dear Hilton Head Prep Community,

I would like to provide an update on our plans for the 20-21 school year. It is important to remember that we have to abide by DHEC guidelines, local regulations, and our governing body as we make decisions designed to minimize exposure and infection rates. At this stage of the pandemic, most families know of a friend or relative who has contracted COVID 19. Most have also experienced an "exposure scare" that is eye-opening when the reality of contact tracing and life ramifications become personal.

As you may know, South Carolina is currently considered a hot spot for COVID 19. Recently the SC Public School Superintendent and the SC Governor have expressed concerns about public schools opening in August simply because infection rates are increasing by 900% among school-age children and more specifically high school-age children. There is a very real frustration and concern about students being permitted to socialize in groups where they not only contract COVID 19 but also spread it to the community at large.

As a school community, we are asking that all of our families do their best to self-isolate two weeks prior to school opening. It is everyone's responsibility to minimize the risk of exposure which will ultimately allow us to have uninterrupted classes in a way that everyone would like.

Our current intentions are to open for school in August as planned. We have been working very hard to re-invent what school at Hilton Head Prep will look like under our new circumstances. We recognize that it will be different, in some situations things might not be ideal, and we will all be expected to do a little more as we adapt. As I mentioned before, we intend to offer a hybrid solution of education primarily designed to protect our school community in a way that will allow us to have students on campus as much as possible by minimizing class sizes and "close contact".

Option One: Families may elect to keep their children at home and receive daily live-feed online instruction.

•Live feed online instruction is also available for students who are unable to attend "in-person" classes for any reason.

Option Two : Families may elect to send their children to school with the following guidelines.

oJK-6th grade will come to school every day.

o7-12th grade will operate on an A/B schedule and come to school on alternating days. When at home, students will receive simultaneous live feed online instruction (with attendance)

• In developing the roster of students for the A/B schedule we have accounted for siblings, teammates, and academy students to follow the same schedule when possible.

Attached you will find our Return to School Plan for parents that is much more detailed.

Each division will be communicating more detailed information for parents and students with regard to orientation and what "a day in the life" of a Hilton Head Prep student will look like next year. Please know that we would like all of our students back on campus as soon a possible and operating as we did before COVID 19 made such an impact on our world. I am confident that we will adapt and things will be better.

Stay safe and thank you for your support.

Jon Hopman

COVID-19 PLAN - HILTON HEAD PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Congratulations to Prep's Rising 9th Graders

Endowed, Faculty Merit, and 4D's Award and Scholarship Winners

From the Head of Upper School Mrs. Tina Webb-Browning

As you all know, social distancing regulations have been ever-changing since the Covid-19 virus changed our lives in early March. We have been working diligently with local officials to gain permission to move forward with graduation activities on our campus. We are very excited to let you know that we just received the long awaited approval. We are now focusing on plans for on-campus events that will adhere to the most recent social distancing guidelines.

Monday, June 1st - Senior Rehearsal (SENIORS ONLY)

The hours for this event have changed. We will begin at 9 AM and hope to finish by 12:30 PM. Events will include:

• Graduation Practice (attendance mandatory - if there are extenuating circumstances please contact Tina Webb-Browning)
• Breakfast provided by Chef Browning
• Alumni Presentation
• College T-Shirt Picture (be sure to wear your college T-Shirt)
• College Banner Signing
• Baccalaureate Practice

Monday, June 1st at 1:00 PM - Senior Spring Sports Recognition (similar to Senior Night)

• On the Football Field
• Parents and siblings welcome

Wednesday, June 3rd - Certificate of Excellence/Diploma of Distinction Presentations

(Details TBD)

Thursday, June 4th - Lifer Dinner (tentative date, arranged by Lifer Senior Parents)

Friday, June 5th:

• Release Senior Showcase Video
• Baccalaureate @ 10:00 AM - Field House
  • Members of the senior class (each student will be allotted TWO tickets based on social distancing limitations)
  • Masks must be worn by all attendees
  • Event will be recorded

Monday, June 8th at 9 AM - GRADUATION! (Held on Prep's Football Field)

• Attendance will be limited. Families will be allotted a marked area on the football field that may be able to accommodate up to ten individuals. Please keep in mind your "family space" will not be in accordance with social distancing guidelines. However, each "Family Spaces" will be separated according to current social distancing guidelines.
• Senior Academic Award Recognition will be included.
• If we experience inclement weather - graduation will move to the Field House and each graduate will only be allowed two guests.

Please keep in mind - as we move forward - we will continue to adhere to social distancing recommendations.

I would truly like to thank you for remaining patient as we worked through (and continue to work through) the logistics associated with these events. I will be sending you additional information mid-week.

Sincerely,

Tina Webb-Browning

Head of Upper School

Your Smart Tuition account is available to you for review by clicking HERE or you may call 888.868.8828. Please inform the school by Friday, May 22, if you have Covid-19 related issues that will make this a hardship for you. Contact: Jennifer Cody Murphy at jcodymurphy@hhprep.org.

Dear Hilton Head Prep Community,

I would like to begin by saying how proud I am of our school community. Our staff, students, and parents have come together to make the best of a difficult situation. I truly believe that together we are stronger and the past weeks have proven our resolve in overcoming these unprecedented times.

Our President, the Governor, and our governing association have directed that schools continue distance learning for the remainder of the school year. Hilton Head Prep will follow those instructions. We have found our stride with our "new normal" and we will continue to work together to finish the school year well.

The school calendar has been adjusted based on the circumstances and the new AP exam schedule:

• May 11th - 22nd AP exams
• May 18th - 22nd Year-end assessments (as outlined by division)
• May 22nd Last day of school

The conclusion of the school year is a time to celebrate our students and their accomplishments throughout the year. Our graduating seniors are rightly and deservingly the most celebrated part of the year-end festivities. We are filled with pride over the accomplishments of our graduating seniors and want to recognize them with the pomp and circumstance they deserve.

Because the future is uncertain, we have developed creative ways to recognize our students, especially those reaching specific milestones. Where possible, we intend to recognize underclassman at the start of the 2020-21 school year. The following are divisional plans for the year-end events that typically take place:

Lower School:

• End-of-year transitions - Our intention is to have a transition day at the beginning of the 2020-21 school year for Lower School students to be welcomed into their new rooms by their new teachers.

• 5th Grade - We will close out the 2019-20 school year with a video tribute. In the video tribute, we will include the 5th grade awards and the 6th grade tradition of handing down their lockers. On the first day of the 2020-21 school year, we will have a celebration to welcome the new 6th graders into Middle School!

• Lower School Field Day will take place at the beginning of the 2020-21 school year.

Middle School:

• 8th grade - We will close out the year with a video tribute and announce the Faculty Award Winner who will give his/her recorded speech. The "I am Prep" Award will also be announced at this time. The Middle School teachers intend to hand deliver (with proper social distancing) the 8th grade certificates including an outline of all individual honors and accomplishments.

• Middle School basketball awards will be announced through a Zoom presentation.
• Middle School Field Day will take place at the beginning of the 2020-21 school year.

Upper School:

• Field Day - Possibly rescheduled for later in the summer, provided students are willing to participate and social distancing rules allow for such a gathering.

• Prom - Possibly rescheduled for later in the summer, provided students are willing to participate and social distancing rules allow for such a gathering.

• Academic Awards - Senior award winners will be recognized as part of the graduation ceremonies. Underclassman awards will be announced in person at the start of the 2020-21 school year.

• Athletic Awards - May 6th The Athletic Department will recognize our winter sports teams through a personalized video presentation by our coaches. We will announce underclassman awards in person at the start of the 2020-2021 school year.

• Senior Showcase - We are in the process of creating a digital showcase of the Senior artwork that has traditionally been displayed at Honey Horn. Additionally, we will display the artwork in the newly renovated US art hallway.
• Graduation - Senior Honoring - Faculty and Administration will provide personalized mementos to be presented to our seniors at graduation. Baccalaureate - Will be presented digitally Graduation - The May 23rd date has been postponed. Based on social distancing guidelines we are looking at options that are flexible enough to meet group-gathering requirements and still be as personal as possible. We are looking at dates and will send confirmation as soon as possible.

At a time when we seem to be consumed with uncertainty, fear, and a general sense of angst, I would like to remind everyone that we have a great deal to celebrate when we look into the eyes of our children.

I encourage you to make the most of this time so that we can look back and remember the good things; remember the extra books we read together, the walks we took around the neighborhood, the backyard games we played, the special movie nights (or days ), the Zoom calls to everyone, making meals together, the quiet talks, the coloring books, and simply the gift of time to be together.

We all get to choose how we will respond to this adversity. Please make the most of this time with your family.

Sincerely,

Jon Hopman

Hilton Head Preparatory School is closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. All athletics, events, etc. have been cancelled. We will continue online instruction and all school employees can be reached by email. Please be safe and follow all CDC guidelines.

Headmaster communications:

March 27, 2020

March 24, 2020

March 16, 2020

March 12, 2020

April 15, 2020