Letters to the Community

March 6, 2021 from Blythe Everett P'14, '16

March 6, 2021

Dear Marvelwood Students and Families,

First, let me wish you all a Happy New Year! I hope you enjoyed the holidays responsibly, and that our students are all now being mindful of The Marvelwood Compact and have actively committed to living a “quiet life” at home during this two-week period before our return to campus. Just like in the beginning of the school year, safe behaviors at home to ensure each individual’s ability to return to campus healthy is a vital first step towards a successful winter term together and in person on Skiff Mountain.

This lengthy letter contains very important information for families and students. Please read it carefully and reach out to our COVID Planning & Compliance (CPC) team at responseteam@marvelwood.org with any questions. To start, let’s review the schedule and the COVID testing requirements for each student’s return.

Return Dates and Times:

Residents of Lake and Sterling dormitories return to campus between 1:00-3:00pm on Saturday, January 16.
Residents of Summit and Star dormitories return between 1:00-3:00pm on Sunday, January 17. It should be noted that Star Dorm residents should come to campus only for the purposes of COVID testing, and should not plan to remain on campus following that process or overnight.
All New Students arrive on campus between 1:00-3:00pm on Sunday, January 17.
Contact responseteam@marvelwood.org as soon as possible if you are unable to conform to this schedule.

COVID Testing Requirements for Return:

All students must arrive with negative PCR results obtained through testing administered before next Wednesday, January 13. These test results should be emailed or faxed to the Health Office prior to arrival next weekend (nurses@marvelwood.org/fax: 860-927-2133). Boarding students will not be permitted to stay on campus without negative PCR test results on file.
Testing sites in the State of Connecticut can be found here. Free testing is being offered in Kent on Mondays from 3-7pm. More information about testing in Kent is available here.
A second, rapid COVID test will be administered to all students on their assigned arrival day. Upon arrival to campus, all vehicles will be directed to the Performing Arts Center where a test will be administered in the car. Students should prepare to wait in the car on the PAC circle for results which will be texted to them. Then, families may proceed to the dorm, where students must show that text to the faculty member on duty in order to be able to enter.
Only parents of new students who have completed the same testing regimen will be permitted into the dorms to help their student move-in. No other parents or family members will be permitted to enter campus buildings.
Schedules will be posted to indicate where students may go, and during what times, once they’re on campus. As in the fall, students are not permitted to enter dorms other than their own.
The entire school community will be re-tested within approximately 5-7 days after our return, and then regularly throughout the term.

Our health personnel have received the first dose of the vaccine and will get the second dose soon after the students return. It was announced yesterday that educators will be able to participate in the next round of vaccinations in our state.

________________________________

The remainder of this letter reviews the continuing work of our CPC task force, which has met regularly since the end of the fall term. As we have carefully watched the continued spread and spikes in coronavirus across the country, we have evaluated many scenarios and made thoughtful, informed decisions about how to reconvene as a community and stay as safe as possible this winter, understanding that the winter weather and the new, more contagious COVID variant present additional challenges for us over the course of this eight-week term.

In order to do our very best to ensure campus-wide health, some additional precautionary restrictions will be in place for a period of time, commencing upon students’ return to school. The duration of this more restrictive quarantine-type scenario will be determined following consultation with our school medical personnel and local Department of Public Health; it may last as few as seven days, but possibly as many as 14. We are currently planning for 10 days, but will need to be flexible as conditions warrant. All students must be prepared for the reality that, for about the first two weeks, life on campus will look different than it did in the fall term.

The academic day will run as it did in the fall term, with a slightly shorter period between classes. Community Service will start later this winter, but otherwise remain largely unchanged, occurring in small, teacher-led groups on Saturday mornings. It is possible that students in some activities may be grouped by dorm for the first week or two. These activities are considered safe because student compliance with health protocols can be closely monitored and enforced.

Morning health protocols will also continue. Day students must make the Health Office their first stop of the day, before entering Star Dorm or any other campus buildings. Boarders must complete the morning health check from their dorm rooms. Don’t forget to bring your thermometer! If you need a new one, please ask the Health Office. The student dress code has been relaxed, allowing us all to focus on ensuring, and helping students remember, what matters most: wearing masks and socially distancing. For the winter term, students may wear what they choose, including hoodies, but the overall look must be ‘neat and tidy’: no loose sweatpants, ripped clothing, hats, or pajamas.

The biggest changes during this restrictive period are detailed below and involve dining, the dorms, and some added restrictions for day students.

Dining Hall:

Breakfast check-in remains mandatory for all students. In addition to two staggered lunch periods as we had in the fall, we have created two dinner shifts for the winter in order to reduce density in the dining hall. Plexiglass dividers are being installed on all tables, and for at least the first week or two, the room will be sectioned off by dorm. Boarding students have two options for dining: eating their meal in the dining hall with members of their own dorm, or selecting a grab-and-go option and eating it in their own dorm room. Because masks cannot be worn while eating, no eating will be permitted in the common rooms or other common spaces (hallways, classrooms, foyers) at any time.

Grab-and-go is the ONLY option for day students during this period. It is also the only option for employees who live off-campus or who have a member of their household who regularly interacts in person with others outside of the school community. These adults and all day students are not permitted to consume food in the dining hall during this quarantine period.

For at least the first week of school (Saturday 1/16 - Sunday 1/24), students will be assigned a dinner slot based on their after-school activity. We will be closely monitoring dining hall density and hope to be able to relax this policy after the first week.

Dormitories:

As in the fall, students are not permitted to visit dorms other than their own. Students may congregate in small groups in common areas within their own dorms; these include the common room, the front foyer, stair landings, and hallways. Maximum capacity limits will be posted and enforced. No visitation to each other’s rooms is allowed. Food may only be consumed in each individual’s own room. Windows and outside doors should remain slightly open whenever possible; additional fans with filters will be stationed throughout each dorm, and we continue to encourage the combination of slightly-open windows and a fan in dorm rooms.

The use of large spaces like the gymnasium, theatre, and dining hall as “hang-out spots” will be limited to small supervised groups during this restrictive period.

After-School Activities:

Sports and other after-school activities will be “cohorted” by dorm hallways for about the first two weeks. Residents of each individual hallway will rotate through the various spaces and daily options as a “class” group. Coaches will offer a creative and engaging combination of fitness and recreational sport activities, yoga and wellness, board games, art, and other activities. As always, attendance is required.

Day Students:

Day students should remain on campus for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day activities after classes on Monday, 1/19, but otherwise are asked to leave campus right after classes (3:35) but no later than 6:00 pm each day during the 7-14 day quarantine period at the start of the term. Students who must remain on campus in the afternoon will be required to attend a dorm-specific activity, and are welcome to select a grab-and-go dinner during the first dinner shift if they will be on campus at that time. Attendance at sports and/or completion of athletic requirements from home will be waived for day students leaving before sports during this period. We will communicate with day families promptly as soon as we are able to lift this restriction.

For the first full weekend of the term (1/23-24), day students will not be permitted to participate in weekend activities. They may choose to opt in to their in-person Community Service on Saturday morning 1/23 but should plan to leave campus afterward. Those who choose not to come to campus for Community Service that day will be required to participate in a virtual service activity that morning. We hope to be able to lift this restriction before the second weekend so that all day students may pitch in on campus.

Additional dining hall restrictions apply to day students during this period. Please review the “Dining Hall” section, above.

Because we pride ourselves on giving day students as many opportunities as possible to interact with friends and faculty on campus throughout the day and over weekends, we regret the impact of these temporary restrictions on our day students and families, and look forward to our earliest opportunity to safely lift them and welcome students back to a more normal routine. Director of Residential Life Misty Jordan will be reaching out to all day student families in the next few days to answer questions and provide clarification as desired.

________________________________

We understand this will be uncomfortable for some, but are convinced that a brief period of discomfort is the most responsible course in terms of ensuring the health of the entire school community before we can resume “normal” operations on campus, such as we had in the fall term. The most important thing each of us can do is to return to campus healthy, and then be extra vigilant about avoiding being a "close contact" to anyone else. The prescription for that remains the same: wear a mask properly and reliably, keep social distance of at least 6 feet, practice good hygiene, help others remember the “right” things to do, and avoid situations that appear to have potential to compromise your own health. Above all else, adopt and maintain a positive, “can do” attitude. Enduring adversity makes us stronger, and resilience is a life skill. I know I can count on all members of our community to help each other through.

Last, a word about the upheaval in Washington, DC on January 6. This has already been a school year filled with stress and trauma. The president of my alma mater, Trinity College, wrote on Thursday: “The days ahead are consequential for us as a nation, for future generations, for the world, and for history. How we respond—in demanding accountability, in repairing the breach in our society, in learning from this dark chapter and from the history that preceded it—matters. Education has the power to shine a light on truth, to inform a citizenry, and to advance understanding.” We here at Marvelwood remain committed to our responsibility to help our students make sense of the events, talk about issues in a civil manner, and express stress and frustration productively. By providing hope, reassurance, and a sense of stability and community amid chaos, we will help to empower our young people and encourage them to take an active role in building a healthier, more just future.

With best wishes,

Blythe Everett P’14, ‘16
Head of School

January 29, 2021 Update for Day Students

January 29, 2021

Dear Day Parents and Students,

I’m writing with a few reminders, clarifications, and updates now that campus-wide cohorting has been relaxed.

If day students stay for study hall, they must attend SESH in the library and should be picked up by 10:00 pm. Pick up on Friday is by 8:00pm
Day Students are expected to attend both Community Service and their assigned afternoon activity in person on Saturdays;
Day students may stay for weekend activities on Saturdays and should be picked up by 10:00 pm;
Day students are welcome to participate in Sunday activities on campus. They must check-in at the Health Office between 9:00 and 10:00am. There are no exceptions to this! Departure is by 6:00pm.
Grab-and-go meals may be picked up at either Dinner 1 or Dinner 2;
Meals may be eaten in the Common Room or foyer of Star Dorm with other day students, as long as proper distancing is maintained. Student may also sit on the steps to eat if they like. Some tables and appropriate distancing markers will be provided. We ask that day students not eat together in groups in their dorm rooms.
It is not an option for day students to choose to attend classes or Community Service virtually during the winter term unless they are actively sick or quarantining with COVID.
Please remember to check out on Boardingware when leaving campus.

With another COVID-free week under our belts, we appreciate everyone’s commitment to a healthy and safe winter term for our community. Day families are welcome to reach out to our Coronavirus Task Force coordinator, Heather Hastings (860-927-0047, ext.1048), with questions, concerns, and/or suggestions. Thank you for your continued patience and cooperation.

Sincerely,

Caitlin Lynch P’13

January 28, 2021 Update on Cohorting

January 28, 2021

Dear Marvelwood Parents,

I’m happy to share with you that all of the rapid antigen tests performed on campus since our return have been negative. As a result, news was shared with students last night that we are lifting cohorting, along the following guidelines:

What students can do:

Boarders may eat together in the dining hall with boarding students from other dorms.
Sports will resume effective Thursday, January 28.
Open gym can include all dorms.
Students may visit each other’s hallways within their own dorms.
Students may visit each other’s rooms within their dorms, but masks are required and there is a strict limit of four persons in any dorm room at one time. Open windows and ventilation continue to be encouraged.
Day students may remain on campus for sports, study hall/SESH, and Saturday evening activities.

What will not change at this time:

Anyone who lives off-campus or has anyone in their household who works or attends school elsewhere may NOT unmask or eat in the dining hall at any mealtime. This applies to all community members. Grab-and-go options remain available.
Students may not eat meals in rooms other than their own.
Dividers will remain in place in the dining hall.
Day students may not spend the night on campus.

Our rollback of the cohorting restrictions is, of course, subject to change. If we have a positive case or suspected exposure on campus, or the rules are not being followed, we may need to put dorm cohorting back into effect.

We know that cohorting has been especially difficult for day students and are actively looking at ways to make them feel more integrated into the daily life of the community without jeopardizing our protocols. We appreciate day families’ continued patience and commitment to making this work. Day families are welcome to reach out to our Coronavirus Task Force coordinator, Heather Hastings (860-927-0047 ext. 1048) with questions, concerns, and/or suggestions.

Sincerely,

Caitlin Lynch P’13
Assistant Head of School

January 8, 2021 from Blythe Everett P'14, '16: Returning to Campus

January 8, 2021

Dear Marvelwood Students and Families,

Return Dates and Times:

Residents of Lake and Sterling dormitories return to campus between 1:00-3:00pm on Saturday, January 16.

Residents of Summit and Star dormitories return between 1:00-3:00pm on Sunday, January 17. It should be noted that Star Dorm residents should come to campus only for the purposes of COVID testing, and should not plan to remain on campus following that process or overnight.

All New Students arrive on campus between 1:00-3:00pm on Sunday, January 17.

Contact responseteam@marvelwood.org as soon as possible if you are unable to conform to this schedule.

COVID Testing Requirements for Return:

All students must arrive with negative PCR results obtained through testing administered before next Wednesday, January 13. These test results should be emailed or faxed to the Health Office prior to arrival next weekend (nurses@marvelwood.org/fax: 860-927-2133). Boarding students will not be permitted to stay on campus without negative PCR test results on file.

Testing sites in the State of Connecticut can be found here. Free testing is being offered in Kent on Mondays from 3-7pm. More information about testing in Kent is available here.

A second, rapid COVID test will be administered to all students on their assigned arrival day. Upon arrival to campus, all vehicles will be directed to the Performing Arts Center where a test will be administered in the car. Students should prepare to wait in the car on the PAC circle for results which will be texted to them. Then, families may proceed to the dorm, where students must show that text to the faculty member on duty in order to be able to enter.

Only parents of new students who have completed the same testing regimen will be permitted into the dorms to help their student move-in. No other parents or family members will be permitted to enter campus buildings.

Schedules will be posted to indicate where students may go, and during what times, once they’re on campus. As in the fall, students are not permitted to enter dorms other than their own.

The entire school community will be re-tested within approximately 5-7 days after our return, and then regularly throughout the term.

________________________________

In order to do our very best to ensure campus-wide health, some additional precautionary restrictions will be in place for a period of time, commencing upon students’ return to school. The duration of this more restrictive quarantine-type scenario will be determined following consultation with our school medical personnel and local Department of Public Health; it may last as few as seven days, but possibly as many as 14. We are currently planning for 10 days, but will need to be flexible as conditions warrant. All students must be prepared for the reality that, for about the first two weeks, life on campus will look different than it did in the fall term.

The academic day will run as it did in the fall term, with a slightly shorter period between classes. Community Service will start later this winter, but otherwise remain largely unchanged, occurring in small, teacher-led groups on Saturday mornings. It is possible that students in some activities may be grouped by dorm for the first week or two. These activities are considered safe because student compliance with health protocols can be closely monitored and enforced.

Morning health protocols will also continue. Day students must make the Health Office their first stop of the day, before entering Star Dorm or any other campus buildings. Boarders must complete the morning health check from their dorm rooms. Don’t forget to bring your thermometer! If you need a new one, please ask the Health Office. The student dress code has been relaxed, allowing us all to focus on ensuring, and helping students remember, what matters most: wearing masks and socially distancing. For the winter term, students may wear what they choose, including hoodies, but the overall look must be ‘neat and tidy’: no loose sweatpants, ripped clothing, hats, or pajamas.

The biggest changes during this restrictive period are detailed below and involve dining, the dorms, and some added restrictions for day students.

Dining Hall:

Breakfast check-in remains mandatory for all students. In addition to two staggered lunch periods as we had in the fall, we have created two dinner shifts for the winter in order to reduce density in the dining hall. Plexiglass dividers are being installed on all tables, and for at least the first week or two, the room will be sectioned off by dorm. Boarding students have two options for dining: eating their meal in the dining hall with members of their own dorm, or selecting a grab-and-go option and eating it in their own dorm room. Because masks cannot be worn while eating, no eating will be permitted in the common rooms or other common spaces (hallways, classrooms, foyers) at any time.

Grab-and-go is the ONLY option for day students during this period. It is also the only option for employees who live off-campus or who have a member of their household who regularly interacts in person with others outside of the school community. These adults and all day students are not permitted to consume food in the dining hall during this quarantine period.

For at least the first week of school (Saturday 1/16 - Sunday 1/24), students will be assigned a dinner slot based on their after-school activity. We will be closely monitoring dining hall density and hope to be able to relax this policy after the first week.

Dormitories:

As in the fall, students are not permitted to visit dorms other than their own. Students may congregate in small groups in common areas within their own dorms; these include the common room, the front foyer, stair landings, and hallways. Maximum capacity limits will be posted and enforced. No visitation to each other’s rooms is allowed. Food may only be consumed in each individual’s own room. Windows and outside doors should remain slightly open whenever possible; additional fans with filters will be stationed throughout each dorm, and we continue to encourage the combination of slightly-open windows and a fan in dorm rooms.

The use of large spaces like the gymnasium, theatre, and dining hall as “hang-out spots” will be limited to small supervised groups during this restrictive period.

After-School Activities:

Sports and other after-school activities will be “cohorted” by dorm hallways for about the first two weeks. Residents of each individual hallway will rotate through the various spaces and daily options as a “class” group. Coaches will offer a creative and engaging combination of fitness and recreational sport activities, yoga and wellness, board games, art, and other activities. As always, attendance is required.

Day Students:

Day students should remain on campus for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day activities after classes on Monday, 1/19, but otherwise are asked to leave campus right after classes (3:35) but no later than 6:00 pm each day during the 7-14 day quarantine period at the start of the term. Students who must remain on campus in the afternoon will be required to attend a dorm-specific activity, and are welcome to select a grab-and-go dinner during the first dinner shift if they will be on campus at that time. Attendance at sports and/or completion of athletic requirements from home will be waived for day students leaving before sports during this period. We will communicate with day families promptly as soon as we are able to lift this restriction.

For the first full weekend of the term (1/23-24), day students will not be permitted to participate in weekend activities. They may choose to opt in to their in-person Community Service on Saturday morning 1/23 but should plan to leave campus afterward. Those who choose not to come to campus for Community Service that day will be required to participate in a virtual service activity that morning. We hope to be able to lift this restriction before the second weekend so that all day students may pitch in on campus.

Additional dining hall restrictions apply to day students during this period. Please review the “Dining Hall” section, above.

________________________________

We understand this will be uncomfortable for some, but are convinced that a brief period of discomfort is the most responsible course in terms of ensuring the health of the entire school community before we can resume “normal” operations on campus, such as we had in the fall term. The most important thing each of us can do is to return to campus healthy, and then be extra vigilant about avoiding being a "close contact" to anyone else. The prescription for that remains the same: wear a mask properly and reliably, keep social distance of at least 6 feet, practice good hygiene, help others remember the “right” things to do, and avoid situations that appear to have potential to compromise your own health. Above all else, adopt and maintain a positive, “can do” attitude. Enduring adversity makes us stronger, and resilience is a life skill. I know I can count on all members of our community to help each other through.

With best wishes,

Blythe Everett P’14, ‘16
Head of School

The Marvelwood Compact and updates to our reopening plans outlined in this letter can be found on the website.

December 18, 2020 from Blythe Everett P'14, '16: Reopening for Winter Term

12/ 18/20

Dear Marvelwood students and families,

Planning is well underway for our return to campus for the winter term in January, and we are already excited to welcome you back! I am so proud of our community and how everyone worked together to remain healthy and protect each other this fall. We expect that the winter weather will present new challenges, but I know that we are all motivated to have another healthy and successful term.

Please read this email carefully, as it includes very important information for both students and parents in advance of the start of the winter term.

Important Dates:

January 4 Self-quarantine at home begins for all community members. On-campus quarantine begins and is available to pre-approved students.

January 8-12 PCR COVID-19 test obtained at home.

January 11-15 Remote instruction for all students. Schedule will be forthcoming.

January 15 PCR test results due to Health Services.

January 16 Residents of Lake and Sterling dorms return to campus.

January 17 Residents of Summit and Star* dorms return to campus.

*Day students (Star Dorm residents) return for COVID testing only; no overnights permitted.

January 18 In-person instruction resumes for all students.

Community Quarantine Expectations:

All community members are expected to begin their self-quarantine on January 4. This specifically means that we all agree to avoid any unnecessary exposure or direct contact with others outside of our immediate families. Shopping, friend visits, family gatherings, etc. should all be avoided beginning on January 4 in order to protect the Marvelwood community. Any indication that this quarantine is not being followed may result in the School disallowing a campus return.

On-campus quarantine is available to international students or students traveling back to school via airplane. These students may move into the quarantine wing in lower Star Dorm (not into their assigned dormitory room) on or after January 4 by advance arrangement. Duration in on-campus quarantine is expected to be 14 days per current guidelines, but may be subject to change. There is no charge for this option, and meals will be provided. Daily health self-checks will be required and an adult will check in on students in quarantine daily. There are two adult faculty members who live in the building.

A valid reason for this on-campus quarantine option is required, as is approval in advance. Requests for on-campus quarantine arrangements must be submitted to responseteam@marvelwood.org for review and approval by December 31st, 2020.

COVID-19 Testing Requirement for Re-Entry to Campus:

A PCR test is required for all community members -- students, faculty and staff -- in advance of our return to campus. The “sweet spot” for this test is several days into our self-quarantine, but with enough time for the results to be on file at Health Services no later than Friday, January 15. There will be no exceptions to this requirement. Please check with your local testing provider, as results may take several days to obtain. Rapid antigen or antibody tests will not be accepted as a substitute for the PCR test.

A rapid antigen test will be administered to all students on their assigned arrival day before entry to dorms or other buildings is allowed. This will be a drive-up test, similar to the way we conducted testing during September campus arrival (only quicker, because we’ve gotten pretty good at these now). Students will not be permitted to enter any campus buildings without both the PCR test on file in advance and the negative rapid test on arrival day.

We have a number of new students joining us in January and, as was the process in the fall, one parent may help with the move-in process as long as they, too, have followed this same testing protocol. Otherwise, parents and family members of returning students will not be permitted inside any campus building, including dorms and bathrooms.

Ongoing Efforts to Maintain Community Health:

A second community-wide PCR test will be administered at an interval not yet determined, but within the first two weeks of our return to campus, followed by random weekly testing throughout the term.

All students and families should be reassured that our COVID Planning & Compliance (CPC) team continues to meet on a weekly basis to review new information, discuss options, and imagine and plan realistically and proactively for the challenging scenarios that we will face in the winter term. It is worth mentioning here that, due to the resurgence of the virus in recent weeks as well as the cold weather that will restrict our ability to be out-of-doors, our on-campus protocols will be tighter than they were in the fall, and routines will be different in all areas -- academics, athletics, dining, and residential -- for at least the first several weeks of the winter term. We’ll release more details of these changes in January.

The Marvelwood Compact is a critical component of our ability to gather and remain together on campus. We request that all community members -- students, parents, faculty, staff, and families -- review the Compact and renew your commitment to follow it. We remain immensely grateful for your cooperation and support.

Please re-read this email carefully, review it with your student(s), and reach out to responseteam@marvelwood.org or nurses@marvelwood.org with any questions.

In this holiday season, I would once again like to express my gratitude to Marvelwood’s faculty and staff for their excellent, tireless work in ensuring the best possible education for our students, to our students and families for their dedication and partnership, and to everyone in the Marvelwood community for their optimism and support for our school during this particularly challenging year. On behalf of all of us here on snowy Skiff Mountain, I warmly extend to you all our very best wishes for good health, happiness, and peace in the New Year.

Yours sincerely,

Blythe Everett P’14 ‘16
Head of School

September 9, 2020: Important Information from the Health Office

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM THE MARVELWOOD HEALTH OFFICE

September 9, 2020

Dear Parents, Students, and Employees,

As part of our ongoing commitment to keep you informed throughout the COVID pandemic, we write this evening, as we will on future occasions, to let you know that we have identified one positive case of coronavirus (COVID-19) on campus.

This afternoon during our scheduled follow-up testing of all members of our school community, one of our non-residential staff produced a positive result. The individual was tested in the mid-afternoon and was away from the main campus when the results came in. This individual was asymptomatic, has been directed to seek appropriate medical care as needed, and will remain off campus for a period of at least 14 days for quarantine. A negative COVID test result will be required before their return to campus.

Marvelwood has developed comprehensive COVID-19 protocols to safeguard the health and well-being of all students, faculty, and staff, and we have executed those protocols. Our contact tracers have identified all close contacts of this employee; these contacts are now quarantining for 5 days and will then be re-tested.

TESTING PROTOCOLS WORK

Every member of our student body currently on campus arrived this past weekend with negative COVID tests. All employees were screened twice prior to today’s follow-up test, and all of those tests produced negative results. Today’s re-screening produced only one positive result. Our policy will continue to require weekly testing for all community members. This re-testing is our safety net, and today, it worked.

CLOSE CONTACTS

In terms of our contract tracing, a “close contact” is defined as a person who was within six feet of the positive case for at least 15 minutes, regardless of face covering use. We have identified only a small number of our population who are close contacts to this individual; all are in the process of leaving or have already left campus and will quarantine off campus for the next 5 days and then be re-tested. No students have been identified as close contacts.

FOLLOWING SAFETY GUIDELINES AND DISINFECTING SPACES

All students and employees are required to wear a face mask, indoors and out, except in the privacy of their own dorm room or office, and to maintain at least 6 feet of distance. Masks may also be removed outside if greater than 6 feet of distance can be achieved and maintained. All of the spaces on campus, including hard surfaces, have been and will continue to be thoroughly disinfected according to our safety protocol. Additionally, tonight our cleaning contractors will be spraying a mist-based sanitizer in all affected areas. Treated surfaces are safe to touch within minutes of spraying. Please contact us if you have questions about this product.

KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE

We will continue to work in close partnership with the Connecticut Department of Health and local health officials as we strive to keep every member of our community safe and well. We remain ready to implement stricter short- or long-term campus protocols as we move forward and as we complete additional screening tests. For now, please know that we are following important safety routines, and we will be in touch with further updates as they become available.

Sincerely,

Heather Hastings Jayne Janecek P '06, '10, '13, '16
COVID Preparedness & Compliance Coordinator Director of Health Services

August 31, 2020 from CPC Task Force Coordinator and Dean of Students Heather Hastings

August 31, 2020

Good afternoon, students and families,

I write to you today with what I am referring to as my “we mean business” letter.

As registration days and student arrivals are almost upon us, the realities and excitement of joining together on our beautiful campus are keeping us all very busy. We have waited six months for this upcoming week and are looking very forward to greeting and meeting all of you.

We are also sobered by the number of schools that are struggling with their reopenings. Spikes in COVID positive cases, quarantines due to exposures, and disciplinary actions are featured in the news. It doesn’t take much to undo months of painstaking planning and precaution.

You’ve received many communications over the summer from us; all can be found in the Forms and Information sections of our website for your review. One of the most important documents requiring your signature is The Marvelwood Compact. Adherence to this Compact is a pledge among all community members. Please read it carefully before you sign and submit it. Honesty and responsibility are among our most important core values, and are the ethical basis for how we commit to protecting and caring for each other with this Compact.

Other important highlights for you to review as a family:

There will be no inter-dorm visitation at all. You may only go inside the dorm that you live in. This includes the foyer. No exceptions.
Indoors, masks are to be worn at all times. The only exceptions are your own room with no guests, or in the dining hall when you are seated and distanced. Outdoors, masks are to be worn if a six-foot distance is not achievable.
Daily breakfast check-in for all students -- day or boarding -- is mandatory during the following times: Monday - Friday 7:45 - 8:30 am / Saturday 8:15 - 9 am / Sunday 10:30 am - 12 pm.

All students, staff and faculty will be required to submit a daily health and temperature check digitally each morning via Boardingware.. Day students and off-campus employees are required to check in at Health Services as their first stop on campus in the morning, before entering any campus buildings. Boarding students and on-campus faculty may perform their own temp check and submit it from their room or home before starting their day.

Do not test the resolve of the administration to take swift action to prioritize the health and well-being of our community.

We have one shot to get this right. We must all commit to keeping each other safe as a community. Many of the precautions we have implemented may feel frustrating, chafing, or unnecessary. We are all tired of living this way. We understand all of those elements. However, if we are to succeed in our endeavors and ensure that we can stay together here on campus, it is imperative that we think, choose, and act responsibly, maturely, and with an understanding of the consequences if we let down our guard or become complacent about the weight of responsibility that each of us bears in these challenging times.

Best,

Heather Hastings
CPC Task Force Coordinator
Dean for Parents
Dean of Students

August 14, 2020: Registration

August 14, 2020

Dear Marvelwood Students and Parents,

We’re in the final phases of planning and are excited that we’ll be welcoming our students back in just three weeks. The registration schedule appears below and on the School calendar. Families may now sign up for a registration time slot (forms below). It is critical that you arrive on time for your scheduled 30-minute registration window.

Friday, September 4, 1:00-3:00pm: Prefects only
No sign-up necessary

Saturday, September 5, 12:30-3:30: All New Students
New Student Registration Sign Up

Sunday, September 6, 12:30-4:30pm: All Returning Students
Returning Student Registration Sign Up

Registration Process and Schedule (New and Returning Families)

Immediately upon arrival to campus during your scheduled registration window, all students and families should report directly to the Health Services office.
Students are required to present proof of a negative COVID-PCR test administered 7 to 10 days prior to arrival on campus. One parent may accompany their student into registration and/or the dorm, and must also present a negative test result and will be administered a rapid test on campus.
All students and any parent planning to accompany their child into the registration hall and/or into the dorm will be given a rapid COVID test at the Health Office.
While waiting for rapid test results, our Health Office staff will confirm that all required health-related paperwork has been received.
Once students/parents are cleared via the rapid COVID test, they will be issued a color- coded pass to proceed to the registration hall in the Anne Davidson Scott Athletic Center.
At the end of the registration process, students will be given their room key and a color-coded pass which will allow them into their dormitory.

Registration Process and Schedule (Prefects Only)

Immediately upon arrival to campus during your scheduled registration window, all students and families should report directly to the Health Services office.
Students are required to present proof of a negative COVID-PCR test administered 7 to 10 days prior to arrival on campus. One parent may accompany their student into the dorm, and must also present a negative test result and will be administered a rapid test on campus.
All students and any parent planning to accompany their child into the dorm will be given a rapid COVID test at the Health Office.
While waiting for rapid test results, our Health Office staff will confirm that all required health-related paperwork has been received.
Once students/parents are cleared via the rapid COVID test, they will be issued a color- coded pass which will allow them into their dormitory. Please note that there is no formal table registration process for prefects this year.

Important Reminders about Preparing for Your Registration Appointment:

The Student-Parent Handbook has been updated with a COVID Addendum and the Marvelwood Compact and is available on the Forms & Information page of the website, along with all registration forms. Students and parents should review the handbook, addendum, and Compact, sign the Handbook Acknowledgement Form and Compact agreement, and return them to School. You’ll also find a checklist to help you organize your registration form submission.
Families are urged to submit all paperwork via email, fax, or mail prior to arrival on campus. A checklist is on the Forms & Information page. Registration will be a much shorter process this year.
All students are asked to submit a headshot of themselves, which will be part of their nametag. Returning students can use last year’s student ID photo. With everyone wearing face coverings, getting to know each other will be different this year, but we’re doing everything we can to make the adjustment to campus life as comfortable as possible. Photos should be submitted by Monday, August 31st and can be texted to the AOD phone (203-788-4985) or emailed to the Director of Communications: communications@marvelwood.org.

Important Health-Related Guidelines about Your Return to Campus:

The safety of our campus depends on disciplined individual adherence to a set of shared guidelines designed to mitigate risk. An essential part of our reopening plan is that Marvelwood will ask all students, faculty, and staff to follow “safer at home” protocols for two weeks before arrival on campus:

Self-isolating within a reasonable driving distance of campus;
Taking every precaution for reducing coronavirus exposure for two weeks prior to returning to campus;
Returning to school without using any public transportation;
Students who typically fly to school are encouraged to self-quarantine with a friend, relative or other contact nearby.

All students and faculty will be required to provide proof of a negative PCR test for COVID-19, performed after August 23rd.

Students traveling from certain designated states are required to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in the State of Connecticut. The list of ‘red states’ is updated frequently. It is our expectation that families will check the State of Connecticut Travel Advisory website and make their plans accordingly. In addition, The State of Connecticut requires people entering the state and staying for more than 24 hours to complete an online Travel Health Form, if they have been in a state on the Travel Advisory list for more than 24 hours. Failure to do so may result in a fine of up to $1000. We strongly advise families living at a distance to make arrangements for their students to quarantine inside Connecticut if at all possible.

Do not come to campus for registration if:

You are not feeling well
You suspect or know that you have been exposed to someone with a positive COVID diagnosis within the past two weeks
Your at-home COVID PCR test did not produce a negative result

Please consult the COVID-19 page of our website for up-to-date information and helpful resources, including the Frequently Asked Questions page and the Ask a Question form. As always, if you have any specific questions about the registration process or the information provided in this letter, please reach out and ask.

We look forward to welcoming you back to campus in September, and to a safe and rewarding school year!

July 24, 2020 from Head of School Blythe Everett P'14, '16

July 24, 2020

Dear Marvelwood Families,

Since March, Marvelwood’s board of trustees, faculty, staff, and administration have been planning the ways we will return to campus for the 2020-2021 school year. In fact, we have been preparing to open school with its full residential component since the very first day we were not permitted to have students on campus. While plotting our direction forward, we created a planning task force and deputized several subcommittees, including representatives from the faculty, staff, and trustees, to gather the best current data to help us open safely and in compliance with federal, state and local regulations.

With Marvelwood’s mission front and center, we adopted these three guiding principles:

Preserve Community: Health and safety is our top priority as we keep our community together. Community is the bedrock of our mission and our greatest strength.
Confront Reality: Become as well informed as possible about the myriad challenges posed to our community by COVID-19. Develop a frank and accurate assessment of Marvelwood’s circumstances. Examine the advantages and disadvantages of our location and resources. What must we face? What can we change? Make decisions responsibly in the face of uncertainty and while acknowledging that decisions and plans may need to change.
Collaborate and Communicate: This is the most important component of maintaining and preserving community. In addressing the unknown, we must always be available to, and honest with, each other.

I would like to take a moment to thank the 30 or so families who joined us for our parent webinar (which you can watch here) on Tuesday evening, as well as the students who joined the residential life Zoom meetings last night. During these presentations, we attempted to answer questions we had anticipated – and some we hadn’t – that were on your minds as back-to-school approaches. We hope you gained reassurance from these unfiltered conversations and the opportunity to see firsthand how closely and genuinely our administration works with students and families. By the end of this weekend, we will complete a significant update to the Reopening Campus page of our website, adding a great deal of new information based on our most recent decision-making. We encourage all families to bookmark the page, review it carefully and often, and reach out with questions, concerns, or requests for clarification via email to an administrator or by using the “Ask a Question” button on the Reopening page.

Please be reminded that, in the interest of preserving community health, Marvelwood’s plan is to adopt a very conservative, cautious stance at least for the opening weeks of the school year. All of us will need to adapt and do things that are uncomfortable to us, for the safety of the community and to have a shot at establishing a sustainable congregate living scenario. We ask all members to understand that every piece of our reopening plan is a moving target and subject to change as guidance and requirements continue to evolve.

Marvelwood’s core values – honesty, respect, responsibility, and service to others – could never have more meaning or a better forum for practice in our daily lives than when we gather and work to remain together on campus this school year. We will serve the other members of our school community most appreciably during this time by accepting the need for an increased measure of personal responsibility in our choices, actions, and behaviors. We will demonstrate highest possible respect for each other by complying willingly and thoughtfully with the school’s expectations and rules about hygiene and health monitoring, social distancing, and travel. Honest communication about symptoms of illness or instances of possible exposure will be of paramount importance.

Marvelwood has devoted an immense amount of time, effort, and resources to preparing a sustainable and safe reopening of school. It is our expectation that all members of the Marvelwood family will join us in our determination to keep our campus safe and to protect the collective health of our school community by signing The Marvelwood Compact. This Compact represents a promise on the part of all of us – students, parents, employees and their families – to do our best to comply with measures, guidelines and expectations established for our protection, and to support each other in meeting this goal. Marvelwood will go to great lengths to teach, model, and encourage thoughtful commitment to this Compact in recognition of the important role and responsibility all members of our community share to safeguard both ourselves and each other. You can find the Compact on our website here; please print it, discuss it together, and return signed copies to the school (barbara.diorio@marvelwood.org) before registration.

Many families are being forced to make difficult decisions about where and how to educate their children this year. We believe Marvelwood School is one of the safest choices available. As always, but perhaps now more than ever, we are grateful for your partnership.

Be well,

Blythe Everett P’14, ‘16
Head of School

July 3, 2020 from Head of School Blythe Everett P'14, '16

July 3, 2020

Dear Marvelwood Student and Parents,

I hope you’ve had time to review the material from my last letter so that you are following where Marvelwood is in terms of our COVID planning for reopening the school in the fall. On June 24, the governors of Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey jointly announced a travel advisory, which requires a 14-day quarantine for visitors from U.S. states whose COVID infection rates meet certain thresholds indicating significant community spread. As outlined in my previous letter, ALL students are being asked to self-quarantine for 14 days prior to arrival on campus, limiting public exposure, and having close contact with family members only. Ideally, those traveling from outside the tri-state region will quarantine within the state/driving distance, but if that is not possible, they may self-quarantine at home before traveling to Marvelwood and limit contact with others during travel, wearing masks and practicing physical distancing and hand hygiene. A two-week on-campus quarantine option is available for those who are unable to make other arrangements; families should contact the Dean’s Office to discuss these concerns.

Marvelwood will require proof of a negative PCR test from all students (and from any parent or guardian who may wish to accompany their student through registration and/or into the dormitory), regardless of point of origin, in addition to a negative antigen test administered at registration. Our medical guidance will be monitoring updates to national and international hotspots cross-referenced with our enrollment and may make updated quarantining guidelines as needed.

To expand our regular communications with families, highlight new initiatives, and keep you informed of our COVID preparedness planning as we move through the summer, Marvelwood will host a series of virtual Town Hall-type sessions, including an informational session for international parents on July 10th, a session for parents (new and returning) on July 21st, residential life meetings for students on July 23rd, and an orientation for new families on August 4th. Students will receive login information via email on July 20th. Parents should register via the links at the end of this letter.

If your family is interested in learning more about the new Marvelwood/Mount Snow Academy Partnership Program, we’re hosting an information session on July 22nd, with representatives and a current student from Mount Snow Academy. In addition, the Office of Admission is hosting a ‘Mountain Talk’ Info session on July 29th. Please feel free to invite anyone who may be interested in learning more about Marvelwood. Registration links are below.

Meanwhile, we’re already getting excited about the new school year, and we’re directing a lot of attention to our facilities and a variety of summer projects in preparation to welcome students back to campus in September. All of the classrooms in the schoolhouse have been freshly painted, bringing an end to a project we’ve chipped away at during vacation periods over the past year. The Strategies department has moved from their outbuilding to the schoolhouse, into the large office suite that was vacated when the Admission and Advancement offices relocated across the street to their new home in the Sundt House. The new space, which will be christened the Clark Center for Learning Support, comprises four tutorial rooms, a large conference room, a spacious central meeting area, and a small resource library. The Clark Center will offer a warm and welcoming environment and is sure to become an active hub during the school year.

Our first set of weeklong “Summer Sessions” classes concludes today, with over 40 students (many from outside the Marvelwood community) learning about music recording and mixing, gardening, statistics, the history of space, and the art of war. These online sessions continue through the week of August 3; if you haven’t already signed up, hurry -- while most classes are full, a few spaces are still available. The registration link is below.

Our biggest summer project involves the Performing Arts Center. A long-awaited major “refresh” of this building has been underway since the spring and will conclude before students return to school in September. Plans for the renovation were developed under the guidance of Stephen Forneris '86, a member of Marvelwood’s Board of Trustees and a partner at Perkins Eastman Architects, a highly-acclaimed international architecture firm. The work will include dynamic improvements and upgrades to the inside of the building as well as to the façade. Our excitement at having students back on campus is heightened by the promise of our community-wide enjoyment of this beautifully refurbished building!

On the eve of the July 4 holiday, a time for remembering and celebrating the history of America, I have exciting historical news to share! Over the past year, Marvelwood has become associated with several local historical groups, including the Kent Historical Society and an organization called Connecticut House Histories, in an effort to identify the origins of the large red barn structure that sits opposite the playing fields at the entrance to campus. For many years, this structure has served the school as a warehouse of sorts -- largely as a processing plant for campus recycling and then a storage facility for athletic equipment. After shoring up the roof last year, we reached out to these local organizations for help in identifying whether the barn was old enough to be of historical significance. Following several visits to the site, experts have concluded that the “barn” is, in fact, the original circa 1806 residence of the Goodsell family, who constructed not only the dwelling itself but a complete homestead comprised of the original house, a smokehouse, a general store and barn, an ice house, a well house and a forge -- and later (around 1850) the adjacent large white farmhouse, their fancy Victorian replacement dwelling.

The fact that the gateway to The Marvelwood School is an intact 19th-century farm where one family across three generations struggled and succeeded and lived and died would seem to set it apart. Certainly, the possibilities for future study and student engagement abound. In an email to me, one of the historical experts imagined half a dozen topics right off the bat, including how to date a building by careful observation of the tiniest details. “The Goodsell barn complex is a thing of wonder; more of an agricultural cathedral, really,” he wrote with obvious enthusiasm. “How was it used? How did it evolve? In what order? And why? What explains the eccentric support structure in the ‘west barn’? It's highly probable that there are important below-ground resources on the site which a student-led archaeological survey, assisted by the Office of the State Archaeologist, might document. An examination of women's legal status in the early 19th century could be in order; they couldn't really own property, yet they were accorded very specific rights under the law upon the death of their husbands. Cornelia [Goodsell] had a whole roster of dower rights, including which buildings she was entitled to use and, of course, which bedroom was hers.” Needless to say, Marvelwood is pursuing the process of having the entire homestead listed on the Connecticut State Historic Register. Certainly, the Goodsell farm is a unique resource that has so much more to give, including the ability to further foster intellectual curiosity and critical thinking among Marvelwood's students and faculty.

In closing, Independence Day sounds the call both to appreciate and celebrate the generational fortitude of families like the Goodsells, but also to pause and reflect upon the fact that we as a nation still have far to go in order to ensure that the fundamental values and hopes upon which this country was founded -- the guarantees of life, liberty, the opportunity to achieve security in our individual and collective happiness, and that ‘all men’ are created equal -- extend, indeed, to all.

Best wishes,

Blythe Everett P’14, ‘16
Head of School

Town Hall Informational Session for International Parents (Friday, July 10, 9:30am EST)
Town Hall Informational Session for All Parents (Tuesday, July 21, 6pm EST)
Marvelwood/Mount Snow Academy Partnership Program Info Session for anyone interested in this unique opportunity (Wednesday, July 22, 6pm EST)
Mountain Talk Info Session for Prospective Families (Wednesday, July 29, 6pm EST)
Orientation for New Families (Tuesday, August 4, 6pm EST)
Summer Sessions

June 24, 2020 from Blythe Everett P'14, '16 and CPC Task Force REOPENING PLANS

June 24, 2020

Dear Marvelwood Families,

As communicated to you in last Friday’s update letter, Marvelwood’s COVID Planning & Compliance (CPC) task force and other back-to-school planning teams have been actively working to outline how school can safely re-open in person this fall. Guidance and plans from the State of Connecticut and other schools and professional organizations have helped to set out a framework for repopulation of boarding school campuses. These plans offer excellent guidance, but also allow for the fact that different schools should set forth protocols uniquely suited to their needs for the safe resumption of in-person classes and activities.

In some ways, our intentionally small size, expansive campus and remote location work to our great advantage in terms of COVID planning. But like many schools and colleges, Marvelwood is taking a number of strategic measures to allow for the maximum in-person experience for students, while also building in the flexibility to adjust our plans, if necessary, to accommodate new information about the virus, testing, vaccines, and other factors. These measures will include adjustments to our school calendar, new health protocols, increases or adjustments in residential and classroom space to reduce density, changes to our dining procedures, the ability to offer simultaneous in-person and online learning and/or to switch between these as needed, and many more. While there are still many specifics to work out, we want to share some of Marvelwood’s preliminary plans and fall dates with you as early as possible to help in your family’s planning.

Return to Campus: It should be understood that the safety of our campus depends on disciplined individual adherence to a set of shared guidelines designed to mitigate risk. In terms of our process for reopening the school, one essential part of our plan is that Marvelwood will ask all students, faculty, and staff to follow “safer at home” protocols for two weeks before arrival on campus. We will send more detailed guidelines on these protocols at a later time, but in broad strokes, this means self-isolating within a reasonable driving distance of campus, taking every precaution for reducing coronavirus exposure for two weeks prior to returning to campus, and then returning to school without using any public transportation. (Students who typically fly to school are encouraged to self-quarantine with a friend, relative or other contact nearby; see below.)

Additionally, all students and faculty will be required to provide proof of a negative test for COVID-19, taken up to four (4) days prior to arriving on campus. This measure will help pave the way for us to reassemble as a community as safely as possible, regardless of the availability of reliable viral or antibody testing, a subject which the medical community continues to debate. Certainly, if there is reliable testing available, we plan to use that as part of our reopening and ongoing school program, in addition to other kinds of screening and safety measures, like mask wearing and social distancing.

International and domestic boarding students who typically travel by airplane to school are strongly encouraged to identify a “local” contact -- a friend, family member, or other resource in the nearby area -- and to spend the two weeks prior to the opening of school self-quarantining locally. The school can work with you to help identify potential contacts. In cases where this is not possible, these students will be given the option of arriving early on campus to complete a two-week self-isolation in one of our dorm rooms. While meals and supervision will be provided, there will not be organized programming during this time. We offer this as a service only to families whose students do not have options for quarantining at other nearby locations for this two-week period. If you think you might need this option, please contact Heather Hastings in the Deans’ Office as soon as possible to review your concerns. There will be a separate charge for this service.

In addition, students who need to do so will be able to petition to remain on campus through all school breaks and/or for the winter interim period for travel limitations/restrictions and safety considerations. This opportunity is being offered free of charge.

Registration & Orientation: Families will sign up for a registration time “reservation” that will allow us to decrease density throughout the process and manage traffic on campus. Where possible, we will ask that only one family member accompany each student to registration. Students will need to present proof of a negative COVID-19 test (administered within four days of arrival) in order to register. Our current expectation is that all students will also be re-tested for COVID at registration. Faculty and student leaders will assist with move-in and room set-up for boarding students, as parent access to dormitories will be restricted. Parent meetings with advisors will take place virtually, prior to arrival. Depending on the conditions and recommendations in place at that time, a parent orientation for new families will either take place on campus or virtually in the days following students’ arrival.

In many ways, orientation this fall will be more important than ever as we focus on the operational behaviors necessary to protect our community. In August, students and parents will receive and be asked to review and sign a Marvelwood Compact, which will outline safe habits and expectations for hygiene protocols, movement around campus, travel, and communication. Faculty, faculty families, and staff will also follow these expectations. It is incumbent upon each member of our school community to work together, understand the need for these accentuated protocols, and take personal responsibility to do what they can to minimize risk and exposure and to safeguard the health of all. We will be communicating with students about this throughout the summer.

Fall Calendar: Our first day of classes will be Monday, September 7 (Labor Day). Below are details about our staggered, safe arrival, and other fall dates.

August 22,23: International and domestic boarding students with specific travel restrictions or an inability to self-isolate within driving distance of school can return to campus to allow for a two-week period of self-quarantine.
September 4: Student leaders arrive (afternoon); staggered registration 1-3:30pm
September 5: Staggered arrival (by appointment) for all new boarding and day students; registration times TBA
September 6: Staggered arrival (by appointment) for all returning boarding and day students; registration times TBA
September 6: Orientation activities for all new students (morning); back-to-school activities on campus (afternoon/evening)
September 7: Academic orientation activities; classes begin; all-school Labor Day picnic
October 9,10: Midterm & ”Virtual” Parent Conferences
October 12: No classes (all boarding students on campus)
November 14,15,16: Fall Term Exams; term ends November 16 after last exam
November 17: Travel Day
November 30: IDEAS Winterim begins (online from home for most; in person for any student with permission to remain on campus)
December 11: IDEAS Winterim ends, and Winter Break begins
January 2021: On-campus classes resume, at a date still to be determined

Academics and the Year’s Calendar: With the above dates in mind, and acknowledging that the IDEAS winterim will be conducted remotely, with most all students participating from home during that time, Marvelwood has adjusted the year’s calendar to reflect our commitment to delivering a full “traditional” year’s worth of on-campus teaching. During the fall term, we will be able to offer simultaneous in-person and online learning and/or to switch between these as needed. While our goal is to primarily teach in-person, this “hybrid” approach will allow us to be flexible and meet the needs of students who are unable to return to campus due to travel restrictions or health issues. Our academic leadership is also working on a revised daily schedule that will incorporate considerations for updated cleaning, passing time, and lunch protocols.

Campus Life: In an effort to reduce student density in residence halls, we are reimagining the use of our dorm spaces. At least to begin the year, we will create a day student-only dorm and three boarding student dorms: one for girls, one for boys in grades 9-10, and one for boys in grades 11-12. We are also expanding the square footage of the health office, and have identified two quarantine spaces on campus, for use if needed. The dining hall will also be reconfigured to minimize density and community members will follow new guidelines for all meals.

Athletics and Afternoon Programs: One of the hallmarks of Marvelwood's education is the breadth of opportunities students have in the afternoon. Although it is too soon to know what independent school fall competitions will look like (particularly since Marvelwood competes with schools in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York), our Director of Athletics is working with the league and other schools, actively pursuing ways to maintain competition with peer schools. They are planning for several possible scenarios, including resuming a full interscholastic athletics program, resuming a partial program, and the addition of sport-specific training, scrimmages, and/or intramurals on campus. In other afternoon activities like theatre, the hurdles for safely continuing school programs are less daunting, though again we will adhere to Center for Disease Control and local government guidelines.

Marvelwood is fortunate to be located in an isolated, rural, low-population density area of New England. We plan to capitalize on our open 86-acre campus, our outdoor facilities, and our immediate access to hiking trails, state parks, nature preserves, bike trails, ropes courses, lakes and ponds to provide a wealth of safe, engaging outdoor activities throughout the fall term and the school year.

Scheduled Breaks, Student Travel, and Visitation: All current medical recommendations, and the unique safety that our geographic location provides, suggest that keeping students on campus and in the local area will best serve our community. School-related student travel off campus (field trips, community service, weekend activities, athletics) will be restricted or canceled, and it is likely that we will similarly restrict or prohibit boarding students from traveling home for weekends, at least for the fall term. The traditional on-campus Fall Family Weekend will be replaced by virtual conferencing; we will also reduce the length of the mid-fall break and enjoy it on campus as a group instead of sending students home or off to more metropolitan areas.

Visitation to campus by family, friends, and other outsiders will also be limited, if not prohibited, for a period of time.

With much of the national conversation about COVID-19 focusing on a second wave, we are building a calendar that proactively addresses this topic while providing for needed flexibility. As such, we are planning to conclude our fall term at the Thanksgiving break, provide a co-curricular interim program for a few weeks in December, and reconvene on campus in early January. While some experts point to Connecticut’s cautious and careful re-opening as an indication that any second wave or resurgence of the virus may be “minor” in the state, we plan to maximize in-person class time during the fall term while being prepared to flip to distance learning if advisable at any point. As the weeks pass, we achieve increased clarity regarding the timeline and our ability to be in person this year, but uncertainty remains with respect to what will happen in the state or region, or what the CDC guidelines may be as we head into the winter months. It is likely we will shorten our March vacation to allow for a full two terms’ worth of in-person academics between January and the end of school. It’s also possible that we may need to adjust our planned return in January and/or extend the school year into early or mid-June.

We ask families to be flexible in planning travel for the second half of the year, as much could change between now and then. It is strongly recommended that you purchase refundable airline tickets in consideration of these possible changes. We pledge to provide any information about calendar changes in as timely a manner as possible, but reserve the right to make necessary adjustments up to two weeks before any previously-scheduled dates.

_________________

Marvelwood is confident that our blueprint for resuming traditional operations will give us the best chance of controlling our environment and being in person and on campus together. We recognize there is much we don’t know about the COVID-19 conditions that may exist just prior to and during the school year. We are outlining flexible planning possibilities to account for changes in conditions as we continue to discuss the upcoming year.

Since our announcement last March about moving to online learning for the remainder of the 2020 academic year, our faculty, administration, students and families have yearned for a return to the traditional school experience. The heart of our community lies in the relationships between teachers and students, coaches and players, roommates and peers who spring from different corners of the world and form lifelong friendships. We are all eager to welcome returning students back to campus, and to introduce new students and their families to what we believe to be a uniquely caring, nurturing, and inspiring community in which students grow and thrive.

Students’ return to campus is being designed with tremendous thought, care, and expert health advice. Marvelwood’s single highest priority is the physical and emotional health and safety of our students. As we continue to make decisions and refine our plans based on the latest health information, discussions with peer schools and experts, and the continued work of our administrative planning groups, we will provide you with updates as quickly as possible and throughout the summer. Please be on the lookout for our bi-weekly newsletters, and feel free to reach out to any of us with questions.

Sincerely,

The CPC Task Force

Blythe Everett P’14, ‘16, Head of School
Timothy Carpenter ‘71, Chair, Board of Trustees
Mark Esposito P’11, Vice Chair, Board of Trustees
Heather Hastings, Dean of Students/Dean for Parents (Task Force Coordinator)
Caitlin Lynch P’13, Assistant Head of School
David Fiorillo, CFO
Barbara D’Iorio P’10, Executive Assistant