Two private schools have decided to continue with online teaching through to the end of the current academic year this month, rather than have a general reopening of classrooms.

A number of other private schools are assessing what they will do when Bermuda enters Phase 3 of the island’s reopening on June 11.

Saltus Grammar School and Bermuda High School for Girls will continue with online learning until the end of the current school year. Both are providing supervision and care for children of essential and mandated workers, and will extend this offering when Phase 3 starts.

Deryn Lavell, head of school at Saltus, in a letter to parents, wrote: “We are proud of the how enthusiastically our community has embraced virtual learning technologies and with just a few weeks left in the school year we continue to be here to ensure our children thrive.”

When Phase 3 begins, Saltus will extend the offer of supervision and care for primary children whose parents “have no other recourse but to return to the workplace”. However, only a limited number of spaces are available.

The school will send a letter to primary parents today.

In addition, it said the Saltus summer camps can run, and more details will be announced this week.

Saltus plans to welcome staff and students back to its campuses in September.

Linda Parker, head of school at BHS, in a letter to parents, wrote: “We are very pleased with the success of our virtual learning platforms and the way that the students and teachers have adapted to this new method of learning. Thus, BHS has decided that we will continue to offer the remote teaching and learning model to all of our students, from EYP to IB1, for the remaining nine days of school.”

The school has received approval to provide supervisory care for children of parents who are essential workers and mandated to return to work.

As of June 11, it will offer further supervision for primary, secondary and IB students whose parents have no other recourse but to return to the workplace.

The last day of school for primary students will be June 23, and for secondary/IB students will be June 24.

BHS will offer a virtual summer camp for its primary students. The school is planning for the physical return of students to its campus in September.

Meanwhile, Somersfield Academy has advised parents that when Phase 3 commences, families with students in Children’s House and lower primary will have an optional return “while distance learning will continue for UP/MYP/DP, with the exception of those students requiring supervisory care”.

It has also said that the timing of the school’s reopening in Phase 3 will be guided by what is in the best interest of students, overall public health considerations, parent feedback and an assessment of the associated benefits and risks.

And starting today, Mount Saint Agnes Academy will be opening as a pilot school for its elementary students to provide supervision and care for children of essential workers and those who have returned to work.

Children will be continuing their remote learning under the supervision of a teacher. When Phase 3 begins, MSA will expand and provide supervision and care for any children in elementary whose parents wish to have their children return to school. Remote learning will also continue.

Sue Moench, principal at MSA, said: “For any of our middle school students who are having difficulty completing assignments, we will invite them to return to receive assistance. The last day of school for our elementary students will be June 26.

“The last day of school for our middle and high school students is June 19. We plan on having our middle and high school students come into the school during the week of June 22 to return their textbooks, collect their yearbooks and any items they may have left in the school prior to school programme transitioning to remote learning.”

MSA plans to open for the new school year on September 3.

Warwick Academy expected to inform parents today about its decision regarding Phase 3.