February 16, 2021
Dear Parents,
Planning for Spring Term 1 (March 11-April 13) has begun, and we need to know your child's plans for the term. The Academic Office will use that information to adjust schedules to meet the needs of our students. Accurate and current information on each student's plan for the entire Spring Term 1 is necessary to balance class sizes and schedule enough online classes at times appropriate to students' time zones.
If your child plans to board on campus for Spring Term 1 but is not currently on campus for Winter Term 2, we will require them to complete a two-week modified quarantine prior to move-in on March 9. During this two-week period, students will engage in COVID-19 prevention best practices, including remaining at home unless absolutely necessary (such as a visit to a medical professional); monitoring their health via the REACH app and informing the Loomis Chaffee Health Center of any symptoms; wearing a mask around those outside the family unit if that interaction is unavoidable; not participating in group gatherings including sports practices, games, tournaments, etc.; social distancing; and washing hands frequently.
In the second week of their modified quarantine, seven days before arrival on campus, students may not take public transportation. That means that those who generally travel to Loomis by plane or train will need to be within driving distance of campus beginning on March 2. Most likely, we also will require a negative PCR test administered no more than five days before arrival on campus. Students will be retested upon arrival and will complete a brief in-dorm quarantine for 24 to 48 hours until their test results become available.
Day students who were not in person for Winter Term 2 but plan to be here for Spring Term I will also have to complete a two-week modified quarantine at home before the first day of classes with a negative PCR test administered no more than five days before arrival on campus.
More details about arrival protocols and testing requirements for all students will be sent to families in the coming weeks.
Students who are considering a switch from in-person to online classes for Spring Term 1 should be aware that while we would anticipate a similar intake and quarantine process at the beginning of Spring Term 2, we cannot predict the path of the virus, especially in light of the new variants and so cannot guarantee that option wholly or without certain restrictions.
Any athlete who wants to participate on a Loomis Chaffee spring interscholastic athletics team must commit to being on campus during both Spring Term 1 and Spring Term 2. Tryouts for teams will begin on March 22 and teams will be set by March 29. We are planning to schedule athletic contests this spring and the reentry requirements will make it prohibitive for a student to return to play in the latter half of the season.
For international students who are currently online but plan to board during Spring Term 1, be sure to answer the survey questions related to the I-20 and your travel plans, keeping in mind the quarantine requirements above.
We ask that all parents please respond to the Spring Term 1 Planning Survey by Friday, February 19 so that we can plan for your child's schedule of classes. The Academic Office will proceed using your child's Winter Term 2 status if we do not hear from you by the end of the week. If your plans change after you submit the form, please email your child's academic dean with the new information.
LC Communications
The Loomis Chaffee School • 4 Batchelder Road • Windsor, CT 06095 • 860.687.6000
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