Our mission: Dawson School is dedicated to excellence of mind, body, and character. We prepare students, through challenging and relevant learning, to become creative, resilient problem-solvers who bring their best to the world.
THE DAWSON PLAN FOR A SAFE SCHOOL YEAR

Dawson is dedicated to providing excellence in education while also prioritizing the safety of our community. Our smaller population, larger campus, and close-knit community combine to make Dawson uniquely suited to deliver on this commitment. While we cannot eliminate all risk, we are fully informed and prepared, and following public health and government guidelines. Dawson has developed four school plans that will allow us to adapt quickly if needed, while still ensuring our students are academically prepared for their future.

We all play a part in protecting the health and safety of the Dawson community. As we all move through the coronavirus pandemic, Dawson will strive to provide current information, clear protocols, and useful resources, and we appreciate your active partnership in making this year successful for all. Please check back to this section of the website regularly for updates.

Dawson COVID Community Expectations

  • DOWNLOAD: Dawson COVID Community Expectations
    Dawson’s top priorities are the safety of every member of our Dawson community and the excellence of our program. For the benefit of our community, we all -- faculty, staff, students, parents -- must share in the responsibility of mitigating the spread of the COVID-19 virus in our community, allowing Dawson to have on campus, in-person learning to the greatest extent possible. 
     
    As members of the Dawson community, we agree to:
     
    COMMUNITY CARE
    • Recognize the privilege we have to be part of Dawson, proactively comply with protocols, stay positive, and encourage one another’s good habits without shaming.
    • Be mindful of the consequences of our actions away from Dawson, refrain from non-essential travel, and minimize unsafe social activities.
    • Follow all posted signs and verbal directions.
    • Refrain from coming to campus for non-essential business.
     
    MASKS & DISTANCING
    • Wear a mask 100% of the time indoors unless eating.
    • Strive for at least 6 feet of physical distance at all times.
    • Wear face-coverings outside whenever 6 feet of physical distance cannot be maintained.
     
    HEALTH & HYGIENE
    • Complete the Health Screening form daily, before arrival on campus.
    • Stay home with symptoms of any illness.
    • Dress prepared for open windows/doors and outdoor learning.
    • Wash hands thoroughly and/or sanitize hands often throughout the day.
    • Use personal school supplies and clean shared equipment after using.
     

Dawson Plans for January 2021

  • January 2021 at Dawson
    After thorough consideration of myriad factors, including the most recent COVID trends in Boulder County and at Dawson, recommendations for in-person learning yesterday from the Governor's Task Force (Roadmap To In-Person Learning) and current school guidance from the Metro Denver Partnership for Health, we have made the decision to return to school in-person in all grades K-12 on Monday, January 4. (Click link above for full letter.)

Letter Confirming Fall Plans

  • August 5: Confirming Fall Plans
    Dawson is still starting the year on campus and in-person,... Dawson has made a different decision than our public school colleagues due to our unique situation: (1) our small community, (2) our large campus, (3) our ability to cohort, (4), the commitment of our faculty and staff (5) and the engagement of our families.  (Click link above to read full letter.)

Fall School and Family Plans: George Moore July 16 Letter

  • Fall School and Family Plans: George Moore July 16
    Head of School George Moore's letter to the community providing information on school plans, health and safety protocols. Families asked to provide information on their intent regarding in-person, on-campus learning this fall. Click link above to go to full letter.

George Moore Announces Four School Plans For 2020-21

COVID News & FAQs Newsletter

If required to be remote, Dawson is ready! Watch this short video to learn more (2:22m).

    • Dawson Remote Learning 2020

2020 SCHOOL PLANS FAQs

List of 4 frequently asked questions.

  • Q. What is Plan A - Typical Campus, pre-COVID?

    Plan A - Typical Campus, pre-COVID
    • Typical learning environment, 100% of activities without spacing protocols
    • Screening/Hygiene/Masks protocols would be continued if best-practice dictates.

  • Q. What is Plan B - On-Campus, Distanced?


    Plan B - On-Campus, Distanced (anticipated August guidelines)
    • Physical distancing within every classroom to health agency specifications; adjustments are being made to some class locations to accommodate.
    • K-12 classes meet daily.
    • K-5 specials in classrooms; these students will not travel to a separate location.
    • K-12 access for those electing not to attend in person.
    • Dawson will provide lunch. K-5 lunch in classrooms; 6-12 lunch in small groups.
    • No large, in-person group gatherings (division meetings/division lunch/etc.).
    • No overnight Upper School class trips. There will be class retreats Aug 24-27 during the school day that target the goals of each trip. More information to come.
    • Athletics as allowed by CHSAA; small-group co-curricular activities.
    • Screening/Hygiene/Masks protocols; details and directions to come.

  • Q. What is Plan C - Hybrid Campus?

    Plan C - Hybrid Campus
    • Physical distancing to health agency specifications; adjustments to locations as needed.
    • K-5 classes meet daily.
    • K-5 lunch and specials in classrooms. Dawson will provide lunch.
    • K-5 access for those electing not to attend in person
    • 6-12 classes divided in half; students come to campus with their cohort 2x a week for a regular block schedule of classes. All family members will be in the same cohort.
    • 6-12 classes continue via synchronous video access and some asynchronous learning for the half not on campus. Note: The number of class meetings, amount of class time, and specific learning objectives will change minimally in the hybrid model from the on-campus model. Teacher contact will be greater than spring’s remote learning.
    • 6-12 lunch in small groups. Dawson will provide lunch.
    • No large in-person group gatherings (division meetings/division lunch/etc.).
    • No overnight Upper School class trips. There will be class retreats Aug 24-27 during the school day that target the goals of each trip. More information to come.
    • Athletics as allowed by CHSAA; small-group co-curricular activities.
    • Screening/Hygiene/Masks protocols; details and directions to come.

  • Q. What is Plan D - Remote Learning?


    Plan D - Remote Learning
    Full-time remote learning will only occur if we are required to respond to an outbreak in the Dawson community or to a county-wide mandate. We are pleased to report high satisfaction from all constituents on Dawson's spring remote learning program, and we recognize that safe, in-person learning is the ideal.  If we are required to shift to all-remote learning for an extended period of time (weeks), we will have a program that builds on what we began in the spring but that is adjusted based on ongoing research regarding best practice, feedback from families, and the experiences of other schools. There will be more adjustments to our K-5 remote learning program, where we anticipate more structure and less direction by families.
     

Dawson School

10455 Dawson Drive | Lafayette, Boulder County, Colorado 80026
Map | Phone: (303) 665-6679
Voted Best Private School