October 1, 2020
Dear NPS Families,
Today, at a 4:00PM press conference, the Connecticut Department of Health, Uncas Health District and
the City of Norwich announced a surge of community spread of COVID-19 in the City of Norwich.
To date, the transmission of COVID-19 is not occurring in our schools.​ This is a community spread issue.
I am confident that we have a robust system in place in NPS to contact trace and identify symptomatic
persons. With fidelity, we quarantine students and staff with symptoms and/or COVID positive close
contact.
Out of an abundance of caution, and in an effort to partner with the City of Norwich to reduce the
avenues of transmission in Norwich, based on the current health metrics, I have decided to alter the
general instructional model of PK-8 and Adult Education into ​remote student learning for the next 2
weeks (Friday, October 2, 2020 to Friday, October 16, 2020).
We plan to welcome our NPS students back in hybrid learning on October 19, 2020, as long as the health
metrics improve. In order to safely return to school in two weeks we need your help. As an educational
community, please:
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Stay home if you are sick
Isolate in your home if you are quarantined (even if you are asymptomatic)
Wear your masks
Keep your distance from others not living in your household

During this time, please continue to call or email your principal if students or staff are symptomatic,
have close contact with a COVID positive person or test positive.
The Governor’s office and local health providers are setting up drive through community testing sites in
several school parking lots to support our families. Testing site information will be posted on our
website soon.
Your principal will follow up with you tomorrow to explain what remote learning will look like in your
school. If you have any questions please call or email your child’s school.
Be safe and be well,
Kristen E. Stringfellow 
Kristen E. Stringfellow, Ed.D.
Superintendent 
Contact Translations Services at 860.823.4211 x7795 or ​ts@norwichpublicschools.org​ for translations in Spanish, Haitian Creole or Chinese. Para servicios de traducción contáctenos al 860.823.4211 x7795 o
al correo ​ts@norwichpublicschools.org​ para traducciones en Español, Criollo Haitiano o Chino. 如果您需要翻译服务，请拨打 860.823.4211 x77955 或者 ​ts@norwichpublicschools.org​ 可翻译的语言有
西班牙语，海地/海地克里奥尔语，和中文。 Pou ayisyen ki pale kreol selman, si ou gen on dokiman ou bezwen tradwi, kontakte nou nan nimero sa 860.823.4211 x7795 ou byen sou entenet nan
ts@norwichpublicschools.org​ Nou tradwi tou an panyol ak chinwa. 

 Academy transitions to two weeks of remote learning
As a result of the recent spike in positive COVID-19 cases in the city of Norwich, Norwich Free Academy
will transition to a minimum of two weeks of remote learning beginning Friday, October 2. This is a
necessary pause for the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff.
Our decision was made in collaboration with our partners at Norwich Public Schools and with the
support from the Uncas Health District and local officials. This decision is not based on the factors we
have seen at school, but rather what is happening in our community. Together with Norwich Public
Schools, we hope this two-week pause in face-to-face learning will assist in lowering the potential
spread and therefore provide an opportunity for our students to return to the classroom Monday,
October 19. During this time, students will continue to follow the current hybrid schedule. That schedule
will only be modified if we need to make additional adjustments based on the positivity rates in our
community.
Another area impacted by this decision is our athletics programs. With this two-week move to remote
learning, all athletic events during this time, including practices and games, will be halted beginning
Friday, October 2.
Grab-and-go meals will be available for our students during this time. Meals can be picked up daily
between 12 and 1 pm in the Bradlaw lot, which is located at the East Gate off of Joseph Perkins Road.
Some of our students are scheduled to take the SAT and PSAT October 14. That date will be shifted, and
we will provide more information as soon as we finalize the new scheduled dates.
Our students and staff have done an exceptional job in this environment. The protocols we have put in
place at NFA have been effective. To date, we have had two positive cases, including one that we were
just notified about today involving a fully remote learner who has not been on campus at all this year.
I understand the weight of this moment, and this is not something to be taken lightly. The safety of our
students and staff is the focal point of every decision we make. It is my sincere hope that this decision,
combined with enhanced community awareness and a focus on mitigation efforts, will allow for our area
to stop the spread and provide an opportunity for our students to return to the classroom.
With continued appreciation for your cooperation and patience,
Dr. Brian M. Kelly
Head of School