Dear Day Student Families,
Over the past few weeks, we have made substantial progress in health and safety protocols and programming details to open school in our phased approach. We are excited about classes beginning on September 14, and we write to offer our planning updates specifically for day students.
As always, the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff are at the forefront of our planning and decision making for the 2020-2021 academic year. As boarding students are going through waves of quarantining on campus, day students will stay at home and take classes remotely. During the first two weeks of the fall term, day students will need to quarantine at home. Our opening of school schedule remains as previously announced:
- September 8 & 9—Online Orientation for All Students
- September 13—Matriculation ceremony for all new students
- September 14—First day of classes
- September 28—9th and 12/PG day students who test negative for COVID-19 may participate in afternoon/evening activities on campus
- October 24 & 25—Virtual Family Weekend
- October 26—10th and 11th day students (who test negative for COVID-19) join all students in online, hybrid, or in-person classes and afternoon/evening activities on campus.
We are working to accelerate our academic excellence, dynamic programs, and community-building while also remaining flexible enough to respond to the changing conditions. Given the unpredictable nature of the pandemic, we will continue to monitor the latest public health data and we will be prepared to modify plans at any time to protect the health of our campus community. We know that day students are eager to get back to campus and we are mindful of the desire to reconnect in meaningful ways.
Study Spaces
For the fall term, and for the time that day students are on campus, we are designing plans for day student study spaces on campus. Under consideration are study spaces in the Oliver Wendell Holmes Library, the Underwood Room, the Gelb Science Center, and several other potential areas. Necessary restrictions to spaces and buildings may require alternating schedules for day student study spaces. We will update you as our plans are confirmed.
Food
Lunch and dinner will be available for day students. The dining experience will look very different this fall; choices will be limited and food will be pre-packaged. Options in Paresky Commons will be grab and go with much of the expected dining taking place in tents to allow for appropriate social distancing. We will maintain allergen awareness in food preparation and handling, and offer options that accommodate restrictions for common food allergies, intolerances, and preferences.
Athletics/Afternoon Activities
As always, we will offer non-interscholastic athletic options—life/instructional sports, dance, Outdoor Pursuits—which will be redefined according to health and safety parameters. Knowing that we will have on-campus and off-campus learners, we will lean into innovative practices to bring students together for enrichment, artistic pursuits, and fun! These connections will offer invaluable opportunities to build relationships through shared pursuits and interests.
We look forward to communicating with all day student families again soon. We miss you, and we will see you as soon as our plans allow.
Warmest regards,
Mike Barker
Director of Academy Research, Information and Library Services
Clyfe Beckwith, P'15, '17
Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning
Jenny Karlen Elliott, ’94, P'22, '24
Assistant Head of School for Residential Life and Dean of Students
Linda C. Griffith
Associate Head of School for Equity, Inclusion, and Wellness
Raj Mundra, P'18, '20
Dean of Studies
Amy Patel, MD
Medical Director
Jim Ventre ‘79
Assistant Head of School for Admission and Financial Aid