School News Archives - Community School

New Face Mask Policy Makes Masking Optional

We have been carefully watching the risk level metrics for our region, as well as considering our school level of transmission over the last month. Due to the continuing decline in cases and hospitalizations, the COVID Working Group recommended, and the Board of Trustees approved optional mask wearing both outside and inside. This will go into effect at the start of the school day on March 28 for all students and staff on campus. We appreciate all you have done to support our health and safety protocols over the last two years and hope that we will not have to return to mandatory masking. Under these revised protocols, we respect everyone’s choice on whether they want to wear masks at school.
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Alumni Update: Conner Hunt

Congratulations to CS Alumnus Conner Hunt on his submission to the Mill Mountain Theater’s Sixth Annual Write Stuff Festival! Connor’s original work was performed on the Waldron Stage in February. It is his second submission to be selected for this festival in as many years. Conner graduated from Community School middle school in 2020 and […]

CS Students Honor Local Hero

The students honored nominees Sunni Purviance and Susan Mayhew, and winner Jonathan Pait during a student-created and led event. […]

Another Fall Festival in the Books

Fall Festival week was wonderful! The weather was perfect and allowed our students at all levels to take full advantage of the many outdoor happenings on and off campus. Our youngest students enjoyed the petting zoo from a local farm and seeing the more exotic animals that visited from Mill Mountain Zoo. Most exciting was the […]

Our Theme for 2021-2022

Our staff met together in June to reflect on our year and decide on a theme for the upcoming year. We use the theme to focus our instruction on shared topics and find new ways to collaborate with other teachers. This year’s theme is To the Stars. […]

CS Board Chair Looks Back on Life Lessons Learned in a Pandemic School Year

As we speak to friends across the country whose children have lost focus, who have stalled or even reversed in their academic progress, who have become more anxious, we see our own children thriving. This was no lost year for Community School students, thanks to the tremendous work done by our teachers and staff. They have been compassionate, patient, wise, and strong, creative and nurturing . They have redesigned classrooms, changed curriculum on the fly, adjusted to teaching some kids in the room and some on a screen simultaneously, and done hundreds of other things that we can’t see. They have done a remarkable job individually and collectively to lift up one another and our families and, most importantly out students. And they have done it with grace and love. […]

Celebration Reflections

Our theme for 2020 and 2021 was Stay Rooted, Branch Out. This year required that we trust our traditions to guide us through the uncertain days ahead. We looked to our roots to sustain us, hold us in place and to remind us of where we came from. We kept our students at the center of the learning process and focused on the whole child. We created a safe space for them. […]

CDC Updates and School Policy

While recent CDC updates have relaxed mask regulations for people who are vaccinated for many settings, it is recommended that schools continue to use the current COVID-19 prevention strategies for the 2020-2021 school year. All schools should implement and layer prevention strategies and should prioritize universal and correct use of masks and physical distancing. Community […]

Oh What a Year it Has Been!

COVID-19 upended our routines and forced us to make so many changes and adjustments to stay safe and healthy. We took them all in stride and found ways to stay open and modify the way we teach but not give up on our ideals. Rather than cancel our Strawberry Festival again this year, we decided to […]

Community School’s Annual Strawberry Festival Returns Reimagined as a Drive-Through and Socially Distant Experience

Community School’s Annual Strawberry Festival takes on a new format this year as it’s reimagined for 2021. The event will take place in the expansive parking lot of Roanoke’s Berglund Center where a drive-through format will accommodate a socially distant atmosphere that still offers many of the festival’s familiar traditions including its signature homemade strawberry shortcakes. […]