Dear PA Parents and Guardians,
As the COVID-19 situation continues to develop, we write to update you with guidance for spring break travel and the opening of school following break. As we plan, we remain in close communication with peer schools and continue to closely monitor federal, state, and local public health guidelines. Because boarding schools represent a unique environment, composed predominantly of minors living in close residential communities where illness can spread quickly, guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires customization for our campus.
With the health and wellbeing of our campus community as our guiding principle, we have established the following protocols for all students and adults returning to campus from locations with travel warnings from the CDC and the U.S. Department of State:
- The prevalence of COVID-19 in the U.S. is small but changing rapidly. Please use caution and good judgment in planning your domestic travel. There are currently no restrictions on travel within the U.S.
- At this time, we discourage all non-essential international travel. If you decide to travel internationally, be aware of available health resources, and recognize that you may be subject to new government travel restrictions with little or no notice. Airlines may also adjust flights. You will be subject to any restrictions in place at the time of your return, not only at the time of departure.
- Anyone who travels to an area designated by the CDC and/or the U.S. Department of State with a travel advisory due to COVID-19 at any level (level 1, 2, 3, 4) must remain off campus for two weeks after leaving a location with a level 1, 2, 3, or 4 travel advisory. Our aim is to minimize risk of exposure to our campus community. (Based upon the information we have collected from students and families, we have no reason to believe that any students are traveling to locations with current level 3 or 4 travel advisories.)
We recognize that this decision will likely create significant challenges for our international students who may not have easy domestic options and hope you understand that our number one priority is the health and safety of all members of the community.
During these extraordinary times, if situations arise where students are unable to be present on campus, please know that we are working on options to support schoolwork remotely; we will share more information in the coming weeks.
Please continue to
reference the CDC for up to date information on the coronavirus.
As always, thank you for your ongoing partnership, patience, and support.
Sincerely,
Linda Carter Griffith
Associate Head of School for Equity, Inclusion, and Wellness
Jenny Elliott ’94, P’22
Assistant Head of School for Residential Life and Dean of Students
Amy Patel, M.D.
Medical Director
