FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — The School of Hope is reverting to virtual learning for one week after its winter break as an extra precaution against COVID-19.
As we learn more about the COVID-19 omicron variant, educators across the country are considering reverting back to online classes
The School of Hope is reverting to online learning for one week after its winter break
Principal Amy Sparks says she put this into place last year after students went on breaks during Thanksgiving, Christmas and spring break
The School of Hope serves students with autism from kindergarten through 12th grade. Principal and co-founder Amy Sparks opened the school in 2017 in memory of her son Jarred, who died in 2011. He had autism.
"I tell parents all the time ... this is not just me as an administrator. This is me, momma to momma, talking to you about what you can do to help your child and how to be an advocate," Sparks said."I tell parents all the time ... this is not just me as an administrator. This is me, momma to momma, talking to you about what you can do to help your child and how to be an advocate," Sparks said.
She says the school only had to close three times during the 2020-21 school year because of COVID-19 outbreaks. She decided last year to implement a schedule where students revert to virtual learning for one week after every major holiday.
"We don't know where people have gone. We don't know if they have gone out of the country. We don't know if they may have gone to a different state that may have high numbers with COVID," Sparks said. "It gives us that extra time in case anybody were to be infected with COVID or any other type of illness. We would have that other time period where it may show," she said.
Sparks says if she can avoid going back to virtual learning full-time, she wants to. She plans on having students learn for one week virtually after spring break as well.
