COVID-19 RESPONSE at SFYSA
Friday, March 27, 2020
Dear Families and SFYSA students,
As of today, the New Mexico Public Education Department has announced they will keep schools closed for the duration of the school year to continue in the fight to stop the spread of COVID-19.
https://www.koat.com/article/ped-says-theyll-extend-school-closure/31945896?fbclid=IwAR1DIXu5-YQKqI5tQVZW5McSZSiacKgKWplp-N5aBClyJjBi_T7QGuiLpC4#
The Santa Fe Youth Symphony Association will continue to offer online education, practice challenges, projects, ensemble meetings, etc. through the end of the school year. This extended school closing does mean the cancelation of our concerts the first weekend in May. It will also mean that we conduct auditions on line in late May instead of having them in person. In the next couple of weeks our conductors and teachers will be talking with you about how our sessions will continue to unfold and letting you know the details of audition preparation and submission.
Please continue to stay safe. If at all possible, please bring any outstanding tuition payments up to date. This is a difficult time for us to continue operations and sustain ourselves as it is for so many people, small businesses and non-profits. We are committed to continued programming and paying our staff through the end of the year. Please play whatever part in that you can. If you are in a position to make a donation, please join us here: https://www.sfysa.org/donate.html
my best wishes to you,
Andrea Cassutt, Executive Director
Dear Families and SFYSA students,
As of today, the New Mexico Public Education Department has announced they will keep schools closed for the duration of the school year to continue in the fight to stop the spread of COVID-19.
https://www.koat.com/article/ped-says-theyll-extend-school-closure/31945896?fbclid=IwAR1DIXu5-YQKqI5tQVZW5McSZSiacKgKWplp-N5aBClyJjBi_T7QGuiLpC4#
The Santa Fe Youth Symphony Association will continue to offer online education, practice challenges, projects, ensemble meetings, etc. through the end of the school year. This extended school closing does mean the cancelation of our concerts the first weekend in May. It will also mean that we conduct auditions on line in late May instead of having them in person. In the next couple of weeks our conductors and teachers will be talking with you about how our sessions will continue to unfold and letting you know the details of audition preparation and submission.
Please continue to stay safe. If at all possible, please bring any outstanding tuition payments up to date. This is a difficult time for us to continue operations and sustain ourselves as it is for so many people, small businesses and non-profits. We are committed to continued programming and paying our staff through the end of the year. Please play whatever part in that you can. If you are in a position to make a donation, please join us here: https://www.sfysa.org/donate.html
my best wishes to you,
Andrea Cassutt, Executive Director
Friday, March 20, 2020
Dear Families and SFYSA students,
I hope all of you are doing well during the many challenges of these times. All of us at SFYSA are thinking of you as we ourselves engage in social distancing and make choices to support our community, flatten the curve, and keep us all safe. We will miss you in the coming weeks as in-person rehearsals and classes are suspended. In the last week, we have been working together to design our online programming during this time. We will be using Google Meets, compatible with your Chromebooks, and you will meet with your conductor and your ensemble at the normal rehearsal time! There will be educational talks, shared listening, practice challenges, sectionals and projects. We invite you to send in stories, photos, videos about what you are up to for sharing in our Newsletter or on our FB page - please send me an email ([email protected]). Below my message is a note from your conductor or director giving you more specific information about your meetings.
Parents, we thank you for all you are doing for your family and your kids. Please let us know if there are any ways we can support you in supporting them with practicing, participating in these online activities, and connecting with their musical peers. It is important for us to stay connected with all of you--sharing music--during this experience. We are continuing to educate and will be paying all of our expenses and staff during this time. Please bring your account current and finish your payments at your earliest opportunity. If tuition payments are a hardship, please get in touch with me right away ([email protected]).
We are thinking of you,
Andrea Cassutt, Executive Director
Dear Families and SFYSA students,
I hope all of you are doing well during the many challenges of these times. All of us at SFYSA are thinking of you as we ourselves engage in social distancing and make choices to support our community, flatten the curve, and keep us all safe. We will miss you in the coming weeks as in-person rehearsals and classes are suspended. In the last week, we have been working together to design our online programming during this time. We will be using Google Meets, compatible with your Chromebooks, and you will meet with your conductor and your ensemble at the normal rehearsal time! There will be educational talks, shared listening, practice challenges, sectionals and projects. We invite you to send in stories, photos, videos about what you are up to for sharing in our Newsletter or on our FB page - please send me an email ([email protected]). Below my message is a note from your conductor or director giving you more specific information about your meetings.
Parents, we thank you for all you are doing for your family and your kids. Please let us know if there are any ways we can support you in supporting them with practicing, participating in these online activities, and connecting with their musical peers. It is important for us to stay connected with all of you--sharing music--during this experience. We are continuing to educate and will be paying all of our expenses and staff during this time. Please bring your account current and finish your payments at your earliest opportunity. If tuition payments are a hardship, please get in touch with me right away ([email protected]).
We are thinking of you,
Andrea Cassutt, Executive Director
Friday, March 13, 2020
Dear SFYSA Parents and Families,
Effective today, March 13, we are temporarily suspending all SFYSA activities including all rehearsals and after school elementary strings programs. As I have indicated in other communications, we follow the lead of the Santa Fe Public Schools regarding closure.
Yesterday the Public Education Department announced closure of all public schools statewide beginning this Monday for three weeks. It is vital we participate in the important work of delaying the spread of the COVID-19 virus, limiting contagion opportunities, and protecting the vulnerable with the intention that our healthcare systems will be able to provide care to those who need it. Though some of our ensembles are small groups and meet outside the school system for rehearsal, we will be discontinuing them as well. Your well-being and the health of our students and staff is our priority at this time. The office will be closed and we will be working from home. We can schedule an appointment if you need to come in and meet with me.
If schools reopen as intended in three weeks, we will resume all rehearsals and classes on April 6, 2020. If there is any change to that intention, we will let you know. We are discussing online learning possibilities and videos to continue the engagement between you and your conductor or teachers, and keeping you connected with your ensemble. You will hear about those possibilities directly from your conductor after the end of spring break.
Please keep in mind we will be working to continue supporting our teachers and conductors during this break, and will be continuing all of our important behind the scenes work regarding funding, management and creative programming.
We ask that you continue to follow this page for updates and information.
Wishing you health and safety,
Andrea S. Cassutt Executive Director
Dear SFYSA Parents and Families,
Effective today, March 13, we are temporarily suspending all SFYSA activities including all rehearsals and after school elementary strings programs. As I have indicated in other communications, we follow the lead of the Santa Fe Public Schools regarding closure.
Yesterday the Public Education Department announced closure of all public schools statewide beginning this Monday for three weeks. It is vital we participate in the important work of delaying the spread of the COVID-19 virus, limiting contagion opportunities, and protecting the vulnerable with the intention that our healthcare systems will be able to provide care to those who need it. Though some of our ensembles are small groups and meet outside the school system for rehearsal, we will be discontinuing them as well. Your well-being and the health of our students and staff is our priority at this time. The office will be closed and we will be working from home. We can schedule an appointment if you need to come in and meet with me.
If schools reopen as intended in three weeks, we will resume all rehearsals and classes on April 6, 2020. If there is any change to that intention, we will let you know. We are discussing online learning possibilities and videos to continue the engagement between you and your conductor or teachers, and keeping you connected with your ensemble. You will hear about those possibilities directly from your conductor after the end of spring break.
Please keep in mind we will be working to continue supporting our teachers and conductors during this break, and will be continuing all of our important behind the scenes work regarding funding, management and creative programming.
We ask that you continue to follow this page for updates and information.
Wishing you health and safety,
Andrea S. Cassutt Executive Director
March 12, 2020
All New Mexico Public Schools will be closed for three weeks starting Monday, March 16th. All SFYSA rehearsals, classes and performances will be suspended during that same period of time.
https://www.kob.com/news/all-nm-public-schools-canceled-for-three-weeks/5672931/
Lensic Event: Our Music For Everyone Showcase Benefit at the Lensic Theater on March 29th is canceled due to the Governor's health order.
If you have already purchased tickets, you will receive a letter within 24 hours notifying you of next steps.
You can see her press release here: https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/03/12/health-secretary-issues-public-health-order-suspending-mass-gatherings-in-new-mexico/
All New Mexico Public Schools will be closed for three weeks starting Monday, March 16th. All SFYSA rehearsals, classes and performances will be suspended during that same period of time.
https://www.kob.com/news/all-nm-public-schools-canceled-for-three-weeks/5672931/
Lensic Event: Our Music For Everyone Showcase Benefit at the Lensic Theater on March 29th is canceled due to the Governor's health order.
If you have already purchased tickets, you will receive a letter within 24 hours notifying you of next steps.
You can see her press release here: https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2020/03/12/health-secretary-issues-public-health-order-suspending-mass-gatherings-in-new-mexico/
Resources from the Centers for Disease ControL
Symptoms and what to do when sick:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/symptoms.html
Cough and sneeze protocol:
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygiene/etiquette/coughing_sneezing.html
Resources and situation updates from the CDC:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
For information on the International status of Coronavirus and additional scientific information, here is a link to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center:
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/?fbclid=IwAR29d-rWp02xPdA342boVNy8qCCZybcmG2qsk3nzofG1hJsK-s_UTQHBKqs
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/symptoms.html
Cough and sneeze protocol:
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygiene/etiquette/coughing_sneezing.html
Resources and situation updates from the CDC:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
For information on the International status of Coronavirus and additional scientific information, here is a link to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center:
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/?fbclid=IwAR29d-rWp02xPdA342boVNy8qCCZybcmG2qsk3nzofG1hJsK-s_UTQHBKqs