School Year 2020-21
Covid-19 Response
10/12/20 Remote and Travel Information
Thursday, October 22
Good morning everyone,
As you know, we have been providing a weekly Health-Safety update in the Mainsheet. We send this separate message because it is a little lengthier and is responsive to a couple of items that have come to our attention of late: out of state travel and remote learning access. We appreciate your reviewing it carefully.
Out of State Travel
The holidays are approaching, and we understand that there will be some families who have plans to travel out of state. We do urge you to take all necessary precautions in order to sustain the health and safety of your family and of our school community. Please note that most states are currently considered high-risk states, whereby you must follow the Massachusetts Travel Restrictions outlined below.
If you are traveling to a designated high-risk state: You need to have a COVID-19 test administered up to 72-hours prior to your arrival back in MA. (If the test result is not available upon your return, you must quarantine at home until you receive the results.) OR if you choose not to have a COVID-19 test done prior to your return to MA, you are required to quarantine for 14 days upon your return.
At present the above does NOT apply if visiting the current lower-risk states:
Connecticut, District of Columbia, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont.
Remote Access to Classes
As you know, our classrooms are equipped with technology that enables students to attend class from remote locations. Seven weeks into the year and with all students now expected to be on campus every day, it is the right time to remind/inform you of the circumstances this option is (and is not) intended to address:
Please access class remotely if:
- You have communicated to Dr. Ehrenbrink, the Academic Dean, your student’s intention to study remotely for a prolonged period (2 weeks or more) because your student is or lives with someone who is immunocompromised, you or your student is not comfortable with health and safety conditions at school, you are an international student, or for another reason you have discussed with the Dean.
- Your student or someone in the household is sick. In such cases, please do not send your student to school out of fear he/she will fall behind, but as soon as you know that your student will be staying home and accessing classes remotely, please inform Dr. Ehrenbrink so that she can inform the teachers. We will strive to make access possible quickly, we cannot guarantee immediate access on short notice. Students should not expect to simply show up unannounced on Zoom. Getting class up and running for our Zoomers requires a number of additional steps, and teachers sometimes have activities planned for class that may need to be adapted to account for a student’s remote presence.
- The school has required your student to quarantine, either because your student is sick and awaiting a test result, has tested positive, has been identified as a close contact, or has traveled to a restricted area. In such cases, Mr. Charles Jodoin, the Covid Response Coordinator, will inform Dr. Ehrenbrink and classroom teachers of your student’s intention to access classes remotely.
Please note, we do not as a matter of daily practice, record every class. This step must be arranged in advance and is intended for our international students in different time zones and for students on extended medical leaves.
Remote access is NOT intended for the following circu mstances:
- Your student is not sick but perhaps has overslept or is otherwise indicating a preference not to come to school that day. As mentioned above, teaching students who are in the classroom and in the bedroom is very challenging for all involved. Teacher attention is divided, the structure and pace of the lesson sometimes need to be adapted, and we believe your student will not learn as efficiently. Moreover, absenteeism often signals a need for proactive intervention or support.
- Your student or your family has other plans, wishes to extend a weekend or a vacation, or for some other convenience. The reasons for this are much the same as above. There are of course special circumstances in any student or family’s calendar year; family weddings or seniors on college visits may be two such examples. In such cases, we ask you to follow the same protocol as in previous years: contact Ms. Riddiford, the Academic Dean, or Assistant Head for Student Life well in advance. That person will direct you as to how such an absence will be managed, which may include accessing class remotely.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation and thank y0u for sending your student to Falmouth Academy.
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