COVID-19 Information

FAQs

Updates

Update 10/4

October 4, 2020

Update 9/22

September 22, 2020

Update 9/21

September 21, 2020

Updates 9/16

September 16, 2020

Update 9/8: Residential Students

September 8, 2020

Update 9/3

September 3, 2020

We Are The Knight

Chapter One: Social Distance

Chapter Two: Academic Transitions

Chapter Three: Campus Access

Chapter Four: Traffic Flow

Fall 2020 Plan

Marianapolis is preparing to reopen campus in Fall 2020. Constituent safety is our top priority. We are planning – daily and exhaustively – for a return to living and studying together on site. Every aspect of the Marianapolis experience is being reviewed and restructured to ensure a healthy and safe 2020-21 school year. We will continue to refine contingency protocols, should a change in COVID-19 conditions – or federal and state guidelines – occur. We fully anticipate the use of hybrid community models, so that both virtual and face-to-face learning can meet the needs of every single student, especially those who may not be able to join us immediately come fall.

Boarding Student Protocol

Philosophy

Decision-Making Process
Considerations for Reopening

Decision-Making Process

Independent schools serve an important role in educating students throughout Connecticut, the U.S., and the world. They play an important role in the state’s economy and are extremely diverse.

In response to the public health concerns created by COVID-19, public schools were closed throughout the State of CT effective March 17, 2020; all private and non-public schools were encouraged to do the same.

To re-open campuses, independent schools will be guided by applicable law, Executive Orders, as well as state and federal public health guidelines. These will be consistent with applicable components of guidelines established for the State of Connecticut Higher Education (with residential considerations), public K-12 schools, and the Office of Early Childhood.

The diversity of independent schools means, similar to higher education, that “one size does not fit all.” Individual schools will create plans to guide reopening using applicable state and federal public health guidelines, fit to each school’s unique structural circumstances in governance, enrollment, facility, and program.

All independent school plans must meet applicable state public health recommendations to reopen.

Because many independent schools have smaller enrollment than public school counterparts, they have lower population density as well as flexibility within their physical plant; they can pivot to new guidelines as the state reopens and innovate in such areas as hybrid learning models, facility, schedule, and calendars to meet the needs of their students, faculty, and families.

Considerations for Reopening

There are considerations for the opening of schools outlined in the Higher Education Report that are applicable and adaptable to independent schools. These considerations, as modified for independent schools are as follows:

• The prevalence of the disease must be low enough to safely resume campus operations.

• The State provides, when possible, consulting and support for schools to conduct contact tracing.

• The State provides public health guidelines for K-12 schools, covering the wearing of face masks, physical distancing, group size, transportation, and the density of dormitories, dining halls, bathrooms, locker rooms, and classrooms.

• An adequate supply is available of tests for all boarding and day school populations, if testing of these populations is recommended by public health guidance.

• An adequate supply is available of appropriate PPE equipment, including masks.

• An adequate supply of cleaners is available such as hand sanitizer, wipes, cleaning materials needed to protect the public health.

• Coordination exists regarding shared transportation with public school students.

• Adequate surge capacity is available in nearby healthcare facilities and hospitals.

• Reporting protocols are in place for informing health officials about known COVID-19 cases.

• Recommendations are subject to change based upon further guidance, evolving public health recommendations and/or changes in circumstances that may occur prior to the commencement of the school year.

2020-21 Calendar

Traditional fall/spring semester model will evolve to a three-term trimester academic year.

Trimester One: September 1 - November 25
Trimester Two: November 30 - March 12
Trimester Three: March 30 - June 3

The evolution from semesters to trimesters will allow for:
-More and varied campus entry times at the start of terms
-Flexibility in term course scheduling, allowing additional free time for online learning, time zone constraints, and/or wellness
-Moderated campus population density with limited one-trimester courses during any one term

Marianapolis is currently reviewing options in support of our students around Thanksgiving break, and time period between Thanksgiving and Winter break. More details to follow this summer.

The Student Orientation Schedule can be found here.

Before You Arrive

A travel advisory is currently in effect for anyone entering Connecticut from states with high community spread of COVID-19. The School will follow the Connecticut Travel Advisory Executive Order 7BBB, issued by Governor Lamont. Faculty, staff, and students who travel to a state listed on the state’s advisory must report such travel to the Assistant Head or Director of HR and self-quarantine for 14 days upon their return. To ensure your availability for on campus obligations, please keep this in mind when making travel plans. Please monitor the states advisory website for updates made to the travel advisory list. Please also review the School's Travel Policy for Students.

So much of our campus routine has changed for this fall in support of community health and safety. In addition to information posted online, Marianapolis has designed orientation materials specifically geared around this, in addition to our usual orientation information. Boarding students on campus this fall will complete orientation before they quarantine, during quarantine, and then on campus in socially distanced groups in September. Day students, both new and returning, will have online orientation the week of August 24-28, with certain activities and meetings held live. Times and dates for orientation will be published soon. Students leaders will start hearing from the school and their program facilitators shortly with details about their online orientation. We look forward to their participation August 24-28.

The school will publish a form each family will complete attesting to the fact they have reviewed the COVID-19 portion of the website, the 2020-2021 Handbook (to be published shortly), and other listed materials/forms in preparation for the 2020-2021 school year.

Boarders on campus are required, in addition to filing their travel plans with the school, to share with the school details of their guardian, based in the United States, in case they are required to depart campus. This individual needs to be able to reach the campus within 24 hours.

We will have rigorous procedures in place for testing, contact tracing, and quarantining in advance of students returning to campus for residential and academic commitments.

All students, faculty, and staff, are required to wear masks and socially distance when possible. Signage throughout campus will help the community navigate these expectations.

Transportation from the airport will not be provided by the school. Transportation resources can be found here.

All campus visitors must check-in at the designated location(s).

Anyone experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19 is instructed to stay home. Those symptoms include:
•Fever greater than 100.4 degrees (F)
•Fatigue/tiredness
•Chills
•Muscle pain
•Loss of taste or smell
•Cough
•Difficulty breathing
•Headache
•Sore throat
•Vomiting
•Diarrhea

Self-screening will be required of students before and after our return to campus for a period of time as recommended by the State of Connecticut. Self-screening form and protocol will be provided over the summer.

The Student Handbook will be discussed with students as part of orientation. General Health and Safety protocol will be covered during orientation as well. Each student and their family is asked to review these prior to September 1, 2020.

Academics

Considerations

In addition to facilities cleaning by our professional staff, community members will support keeping spaces healthy and clean after use. At the end of each class or activity, students will wipe down their workspace (including but not limited to desk, table, chair, etc). Wipes in these spaces are provided by the school. The transitional period after each class or activity will be supervised by an adult. Upon arriving in a new space, community members are permitted to wipe down surfaces again if they wish. Classroom tools (white board markers, lab instruments, etc.) will be cleaned between use during class and between classes.

Certain classes or activities, such as an instrumental music classes, will have protocol specific to that activity (eg: additional social distancing).

Teachers are working to remove the exchange of paper from the routine in each class, and reduce paper usage overall. Textbooks are digital and, unless specified by the teacher, paper-based resources will not be permitted in class.

The Daily Schedule for 2020-21 is being created with safety and flexibility in mind as our community navigates the COVID-19 situation.

Guiding principles:
1. Facilitate mission-driven education of all matriculated students, on-campus and/or remotely
2. Include optimal times of day for all learners within an anticipated variety of time zones
3. Maintain social distancing and create contact tracing avenues
4. Preserve in-person instruction, with enhanced blended learning design to provide optimal face-to-face instruction for on-campus and online learners
5. Unite the community on campus whenever possible
6. Provide smooth transition to online learning if necessary for all/any members of our community
7. Include remotely any peers who cannot join on site courses due to health or travel restrictions

Class locations and cohort-based scheduling will support effective contact tracing. This re-envisioning of our day will include use of non-traditional classroom spaces (eg: student lounge) and look to minimize overlap of students for whom no classes are in common.

Significant upgrades to campus technology and infrastructure are ongoing.

Safety considerations under review include, but are not limited to: one-way hallway access, cohorting by classroom location and grade level, four lunch periods for density control, study halls assigned in small groups and led by members of the faculty.

Course presentations will be recorded for those who can not attend in person due to personal health concerns, time zone constraints, or travel restrictions.

Seniors in good academic standing who have study hall first period may be excused from that commitment. Families will need to email the school each day that their student is excused from their first period study hall commitment. Students are then expected to be on time and present for the second period. This privilege is extended to all members of the Class of 2021 effective September 1. Stay tuned for future updates for the class of 2021.

Use this form if you plan on attending any optional daily Masses at 7:30am this week, or if you wish to receive Holy Communion at 7:45 am on Friday, given that we will not be distributing Holy Communion during the Live Streaming of our First Friday Mass.

Non-EST online learners are not required to attend Office Hours or if they have a study hall during the academic day. Non-EST online learners are required to attend advisory on Tuesday and Thursdays at either 1:30 p.m. or 7:00 p.m. EST.

In all activities (including lunches, clubs, etc), we should be 6’ apart. Find a creative way of playing and staying safe such as moving toward a board, card, etc. and then moving back. It may seem silly but this is how we will stay safe and healthy as a community. As a reminder, shared items should be treated like a door knob. Clean your hands after you touch it.

Students are asked to depart campus after their last commitment. Please see below about when the earliest time that you may depart daily.

The plan below reflects the schedule for Trimester 1. Marianapolis reserves the right to change the schedule below as needed and will formally share the plan for Trimester 2 and 3 at a later date. Please refer to the Google Daily Schedule Calendar for required special events such as Mass, etc. that are not covered below. If you participate in an extracurricular activity, please remain on campus until your extracurricular activity is complete.

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday:

Afternoon Gathering (Monday)/Advisory (Tuesday & Thursday): All on campus learners attend with their advisory.

Office Hours 2:00-2:30:

2024: Class of 2024 students will attend Office Hours with their advisory.

2023: Class of 2023 students will attend Office Hours with their advisory.

2022: Class of 2022 students who are not participating in an extracurricular program may depart with parent permission to the school at 2:00 p.m. Students need to either depart campus or be with their advisory from 2:00-2:30. In support of student success, a junior may be required to attend office hours on campus.

2021: Class of 2021 students who are not participating in an extracurricular program may depart with parent permission to the school at 2:00 p.m. Students need to either depart campus or be with their advisory from 2:00-2:30. In support of student success, a senior may be required to attend office hours on campus.

Wednesday:

Lunch: 12:30-1:30

Peer Leadership/Wellness/Office Hours: 1:30-2:00

Office Hours/Clubs 2:00-2:30:

2024: Class of 2024 students will attend Office Hours with their advisory after Peer Leadership.

2023: Class of 2023 students will attend Office Hours with their advisory after Wellness.

2022: Class of 2022 students who are not participating in an extracurricular program may depart with parent permission to the school at 12:20 p.m. Students need to either depart campus or be with their advisory from 1:30-2:30. In support of student success, a junior may be required to attend office hours on campus.

2021: Class of 2021 students who are not participating in an extracurricular program may depart with parent permission to the school at 12:20 p.m. Students need to either depart campus or be with their advisory from 1:30-2:30. In support of student success, a senior may be required to attend office hours on campus.

Seniors with Study Hall last period of a Wednesday, who do not have an extracurricular and with parent permission, are permitted to leave campus for the day at 11:30 a.m.

Seniors on campus must follow the published guidelines and schedule. If you are here, please attend your commitments on campus.

Friday:

Students with commitments on campus must attend.

Lunch: 12:30-1:30

Schola Choir: 1:30-2:30

Office Hours 1:30 - 2:00

2024: Class of 2024 students will attend Office Hours with their advisory.

2023: Class of 2023 students will attend Office Hours with their advisory.

2022: Class of 2022 students who are not participating in an extracurricular program may depart with parent permission to the school at 12:20 p.m. Students need to either depart campus or be with their advisory from 1:30-2:00. In support of student success, a junior may be required to attend office hours on campus.

2021: Class of 2021 students who are not participating in an extracurricular program may depart with parent permission to the school at 12:20 p.m. Students need to either depart campus or be with their advisory from 1:30-2:00. In support of student success, a senior may be required to attend office hours on campus.

Seniors with Study Hall last period of a Friday, who do not have an extracurricular and with parent permission, are permitted to leave campus for the day at 11:30 a.m.

Seniors on campus must follow the published guidelines and schedule. If you are here, please attend your commitments on campus.

*Families with departure questions are encouraged to contact the Deans’ Office (Laurel Brown).

In-person office hours can be provided before first period classes and after virtual office hours in the afternoon. It is conducted in the grade-level cohort locations, by appointment. All safety and cleaning procedures must be followed. Attendance records will be kept by the teacher and may be requested if contact tracing is initiated. Maximum classroom capacity will be adhered to at all times. Utilizing a common free period is also allowed by appointment, following the same procedures as outlined above. To serve our students well, this time is for extra assistance when in-person is necessary (eg: after an attempt at virtual OH requiring further clarification) and is not meant to replace the virtual OH sessions provided.

Daily Schedule

While our goal is for this schedule to be comprehensive, it is subject to change based on evolving needs to meet standards for the COVID-19 crisis.

The daily schedule represents face-to-face, synchronous learning for all matriculated students, whether attending Marianapolis on campus or virtually. Our school gatherings, advisory meetings, office hours, peer leadership, wellness and extracurricular programming are all included to maximize student learning and community engagement. In every area, we continue to strive to minimize health risks while providing the very best educational experience inside and outside the traditional classroom.

In support of our international students learning virtually from various time zones, the daily schedule offers a distinct synchronous English Language course period during a more conducive time of day. This 6:30-8:10 am time provides concurrent EL courses for English Language Learners off campus.

Included here is the projected First Trimester schedule (September 1- November 25). The times represent Eastern Daylight Time. Of note:

-Students will rotate through 50 minute periods A-D on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

-Tuesdays and Thursdays include lengthened class times for periods E-G.

-This schedule allows classroom time per class to increase beyond Spring 2020 (virtual), striving back towards in-person “norms.”

-Students will rotate through their day adhering to safety guidelines (including, but not limited to, staggered dismissals, one-way hallways, and classroom distancing).

-Evening Virtual Advisory and Office Hours will be offered in support of virtual learners in various time zones, while on-campus learners will attend advisory and office hours during the 1:30-2:30pm timeframe.

-The designated one-hour lunch period will allow the full on-campus community to enjoy a meal in multiple locations.

-Classes ending by 12:20 each day allows for:

-All students together in one class, across various time-zone
-Class attendance on-campus during the morning hours with support allocated in every afternoon

-All classes will continue to be recorded to support those who cannot attend due to time-zone or health concerns.

-The plan outlined here provides flexibility to adjust to any necessary changes according to the global and local COVID-19 situations and any evolving protocols.

Whenever possible, the School will keep students in cohort-based learning groups that allow for minimal overlap and maximum contact tracing capabilities. These cohorts are largely (though not exclusively) based on grade level and course load. To that end, in-person learners may be asked in select cases to ‘virtually attend’ class on campus. These circumstances would arise when a course includes a wide range of grade levels (eg: peer leadership, wellness, an upper level foreign language study, etc). In these instances, students will attend class virtually from a designated classroom on site, collaborating in real time with peer learners and their instructor. All online options will continue to be re-evaluated as community health and safety protocols dictate.

Standardized Testing

To both serve our current students and limit the number of guests on campus, we will be offering a "school day administration" of the SAT on Wednesday, October 14 for seniors.
- Seniors will be allowed to register through the Marianapolis website for the SAT. Not required, but any senior who wants to test on that day, can.
  - At the moment, the plan is to have testing take place in the gym on the morning of the 14th.
  - If students choose to exercise their option not to test, the expectation will be that they follow their academic schedule for the day. Students who do test will be able to review the material they missed in class via the recorded version.
  - More information, including the link to register, has been emailed to all seniors and posted to the student's portal accounts. Students MUST register using the link on the portal, not through their College Board account. The deadline to register is September 14.
  - This will be the only school day administration offered for the fall.
- Students can only take a SAT school day administration once, but they can supplement those scores with other weekend administrations if they choose.
- Students may still, if they choose to, register and sit for a weekend test if they're able to secure a seat at another test center. For off-site tests, please register through your College Board account; only registrations for the school day administration October 14 happen through the school's website.
  - Individual test centers may still close, causing some students to be moved to other test centers or to have their test registrations cancelled. Be sure to keep an eye on your College Board portal for updates.
Sophomores and Juniors will take the PSAT on October 29. Changes will be made to the academic schedule for this day, and students will be proctored by faculty and staff in classrooms throughout the school.
Freshmen will not take the PSAT this fall.

Dining

The lunch location or "zone" for each student will be assigned. Each zone will have assigned pickup hubs for food; all meals will be prepared by dining services, but pickup locations may vary beyond the dining room.

There will be a variety of options available at each lunch, with choices honoring dietary restrictions included. Students will indicate meal preferences in advance of food service. Meals will be made to "grab-and-go," in order to ensure all students can collect their meals and migrate to their assigned eating zone.

Sample menu examples will be published later this summer. The plan designating zone assignments, meal acquisition hubs, and flow will also be published later this summer. As always, lunch service is provided to students free of charge.

Meal times will be staggered to decrease density. Multiple lunch periods will provide safety with a much lower density.

Seating will be arranged to accommodate social distancing guidelines.

Enhanced cleaning and sanitizing protocols will be completed between each meal.

Breakfast and dinner options will be available to residential staff and students only.

Breakfast and dinner may include a combination of sit-down meals, grab & go options, and choices delivered to each residence hall.

If a community member has a water bottle, it is preferred that they use it outside of buildings, or more than 6’ from others, outside classrooms. Students can leave the room as needed to get a drink/use bathroom. Water bottle filling stations are installed, or being installed in the Main Building, St. John’s, and the Athletic Complex.

If a community member has a snack, it is preferred that they eat it outside of buildings, or more than 6’ from others, outside of classrooms. No nut products, please. Marianapolis reserves the right to add to this list. With no breakfast or dinner being served, lunch is the only meal being provided on campus. Outside of lunch time, the dining hall functions as academic space. Given this, and to reduce points of contact during the day, snacks are not being put out, nor are drink machines available.

Please keep 6’ apart when eating or socializing. Wearing a mask does not replace social distancing.

Extracurricular Activities

Marianapolis is actively planning for a return to competitive athletics in the fall as well as non-competitive activities for students on campus.

However, with the health and safety of our athletes in mind, the fall competitive sports season has been postponed at least through Friday, October 9, 2020. During the postponement, our competitive sports teams will not compete against other schools. However, they will be training on campus as safely as can be facilitated. This hybrid-training model will be intentional to each sport or activity and will be geared towards multifaceted skill development, dynamic technical exercises, and strategic team preparation for if and/or when games are safe to be played.

Although we have set October 9th as the end of the postponement, there are no guarantees that there will be interscholastic competition during the fall season. Of note, effective July 30th, New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) shared “the Board has determined that it would be prudent at this time to cancel all NEPSAC Championship events for the fall of 2020.”

The athletics department will also continue the work that has been done over the summer with our fall athletes who are aspiring to play collegiate athletics.

For the 2020-21 school year, the extracurricular activities requirement of participating in two out of three seasons has been suspended. Participation is optional in all extracurricular activities this year. Although many students have signed up for extracurriculars already, everyone will have the opportunity to review their choices in August and through the first week of school in light of these new guidelines .

Given health and safety, not all extracurricular programs will be offered this fall and those offered may feel and look different from how we have known them in the past. The updated offerings will include information about health and safety measures as well. Offerings could evolve once the school year begins (again, based on safety protocols).

Campus continues to be closed; this includes the athletic complex as well as our fields, courts, and track. If this changes, before 9/1, the Athletic department will notify students.

After 9/1, access to the Athletic Complex including the weight room and gym will be limited to specific times and reflective of health and safety recommendations and guidelines. Beyond wearing a mask, this may include specific numbers of individuals permitted in spaces at a time, in addition to specific cleaning routines for spaces after use. These health and safety measures will apply to all community members.

Traditionally, we have seen levels of teams (Varsity , JV, IIIs). This season, athletes will train as a program. If competition becomes possible at a later date, programs will be organized around skill levels accordingly.

Varsity letters will be awarded based on participation in the program with specific criteria to follow. We are evaluating seasonal awards in light of these changes and will update student-athletes and their families at a later date.

Health & Safety

Best Practices

The COVID Task Force is monitoring closely the recommendations related to health and safety for all of our community members. We review daily the state regulations as well as recommendations and guidelines from the CDC, Department of Higher Education, other pertinent resources and organizations.

All persons will be expected to wear a protective face covering (mask) that completely covers the nose and mouth. Masks must be worn in school buildings unless a zone is designated mask-free (eg: Dining Room). We ask that all students be respectfully dressed. Items with text or images deemed inappropriate or distracting (at the sole discretion of the school) are not permitted. As part of the dress code, this includes masks. When masks are required to be worn, they should be plain, single color, and absent of text or distracting images. Given CDC guidance, we are not permitting masks with valves or vents. These types of masks can allow exhaled respiratory droplets to reach others and potentially spread the virus.

All students must submit the annual required student health forms for review prior to arrival for approval to access campus.

We ask each community member to carry their own hand sanitizer for personal use, especially following contact with high-traffic surfaces (doors, etc.). Please see the CDC website for more information about hand sanitizers; hand sanitation stations will also be in place in high traffic areas.

Marianapolis has restructured its Health Office in support of community health and safety for the 2020-2021 school year. Historically located in the Main Academic Building, it has been relocated to the first floor of Villa St. Joseph, which provides more and flexible use of space. There will continue to be space in the Main Academic Building designated, as needed, for community health.

As with other health care providers, community members will be screened before entering the Health Office for symptoms. Based on the initial screening, Health Office staff will direct where the individual should go to seek treatment. The screening will take place over WebEx with dedicated spaces on campus to provide privacy if needed.

In accordance with CDC guidelines, an individual with specific symptoms should not be in school or workplace environments; an individual may be released to family or asked to return to their room on campus based on screening. In the case of boarding students, the Health Office will monitor and support their symptoms as needed.

If there is a concern a student is symptomatic for COVID-19, and/or tests positive for COVID-19, or based on contact tracing needs to self-quarantine, they will leave campus with their family or guardian for a period of time, based on guidelines and their specific situation. Students in a period of quarantine or isolation during the school year, if their health allows, are expected to attend online classes. If a student resides in the same living space as an individual who needs to self-quarantine or isolate, it is expected they will do so as well.

COVID Protocol for symptoms of COVID: isolation for 10 days after the first showing of symptoms. Isolation may end after 10 days only if symptoms improve, individual has not had a fever for the last 24 hours, has received a negative COVID Test Result, and has completed the Self-Certification form for approval.

COVID Protocol if experiencing no symptoms, but exposed to a positive COVID individual or individual with symptoms of COVID: self-quarantine for 14 days after the last contact day with said individual. Self-quarantine ends after 14 days only if individual is still not showing symptoms, has not had a fever for the last 24 hours, and has completed a Self-Certification form for approval. (May also be required to have a negative COVID Test Result.)

COVID PCR Antigen Testing must be completed 7 to 14 days prior to arrival. Results must be scanned and emailed to healthoffice@ marianapolis.org. You will not be allowed on campus unless you have a negative result. Once on campus, you will be quarantined for 14 days on campus unless another arrangement has been approved by the dean's office. You will then be retested again at the school 7 to 10 days after the first test. The cost of testing will be the family's responsibility.

There will be random COVID Testing of 5% to 10% of the residential population per the CDC and CT Department of Health Guidelines throughout the school year which will also be the financial responsibility of the student.

A Quantiferon Gold Blood Test is required for all international boarding students 7 to 14 days prior to arrival as well. Please scan and email the results of this required testing as well. A PPD skin test or chest x-ray will no longer be accepted.

It is highly recommended all boarding students get a flu shot for seasonal influenza prior to arrival. Flu shots will not be provided by the school this year. All health form requirements and testing must be completed and approved before arrival to school.

The Student Handbook will be discussed with students as part of orientation. General Health and Safety protocol, including Social Distancing, Hand Washing, Face Covering, and Reporting Illnesses will be covered during orientation as well. Each student and their family is asked to review these prior to September 1, 2020.

In a time where decreasing the spread of disease is at the forefront of everyone's mind, individuals may be asked by medical professionals or school administration to isolate or quarantine with little to no warning. In order to maintain confidentiality, each of these situations will be treated on an individual basis. Community members may also be out of the classroom working or attending classes remotely due to logistical issues and/or other reasons as well. We ask everyone to respect the privacy of others. It is not the school or the individual's responsibility to confirm or deny the reasoning of their absence from school commitments.

Please keep 6’ apart when eating or socializing. Wearing a mask does not replace social distancing.

Testing Requirements

Testing for the COVID-19 virus will be required prior to arrival to campus for our boarding/residential staff population. Based on State of Connecticut recommendations, all boarding students must submit a negative COVID-19 test conducted 14 days (or less) before arriving on campus. The test results must be emailed to the school before the student will be permitted to move in. A second negative test, 7-10 days after the first, is also required.

The school reserves the right to require testing of any community member. If COVID-19 testing is required of a community member, please note: Marianapolis will accept antigen tests (PCR COVID-19 SAR 2, Antigen COVID-19-SARS 2, COVID-19 PCR-SAR 2 Nasopharyngeal Swab, nasal swab testing, antigen saliva tests which are FDA approved as well as Sofia 2 SARS Antigen FIA). COVID-19 Antibody Testing will not be accepted, as this only reflects a previous infection and does not detect an active current infection. Marianapolis may conduct tests for boarding students on-campus as needed. The cost of required testing for any student is the responsibility of their family.

Please note the COVID antigen assay blood test will not be accepted.

Student Health Insurance

The following details were provided by our student insurance company, United Healthcare Student Services:

STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN COVERAGE CONCERNING CORONAVIRUS

The safety and well-being of your student is of primary importance to us. In that spirit, below please find valuable information concerning the student health insurance plan coverage as it relates to COVID-19. Please note this is not intended to be a comprehensive summary of the benefits/exclusions in the plan. Please refer to the plan summary and brochure/certificate of coverage for additional details.

IS COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS) COVERED?

Treatment

Yes. This is covered under the plan and treated as “any other sickness” – no separate limits, co-pays, etc. This will help ensure that your student has access to care and the insurance will help offset any expenses incurred.

COVID-19 Testing

Symptomatic – Yes. If your student is displaying symptoms, the testing will be covered. The testing needs to be ordered by a physician (or appropriately licensed health care professional) and administered by a qualified provider.
Asymptomatic/Screening – A specific determination is still under review. At this point, we need to plan with you to cover these costs outside of the student insurance policy.

WHERE IS MY STUDENT COVERED?

Your student does not need to be at school to be covered – Your student’s coverage is in force and covered expenses are eligible for reimbursement anywhere in the world. This includes the student’s home country (through 12/31/20).

As you know, the situation is constantly evolving. Please visit United Healthcare Student Resources (for guidelines, FAQ’s, etc.) These links are updated on a frequent basis in order to address changing dynamics and questions as they arise.

Campus Access

Unless specific permission is granted in advance, access to buildings on campus is limited to employees and those students permitted to enter. Day students are not permitted to enter any House/Hall; only boarding students who reside in a given House/Hall should enter it.

A family member needing to talk with an employee should call or email to set up a conversation on the phone or via WebEx. If an in-person meeting in required, the school will specify the space and guidelines for that meeting in advance.

Students will not be able to access academic spaces until specific times each morning. If they arrive on campus prior to those times, designated spaces will be available to them to wait. After their last activity, day students are asked to depart campus. Specific spaces will be identified on campus for day students to wait until they are able to depart. Specifics will be announced prior the start of classes this fall.

If a student forgets an item, and a family member must bring it to them, the student or a designated faculty member will meet the family member outside of a school building to collect the item.

All visitors will need to schedule an appointment before coming to campus.

Adults pre-registered to come to campus may help the student move belongings from a vehicle to the exterior door of the dormitory; only students will be allowed in campus buildings.

All faculty, staff, students, and visitors who come onto campus must follow the health and safety measures put in place by the school.

Arriving on campus, at any time, will be a highly scripted experience:
•  Marianapolis is not able to provide transportation from the airport to campus.
•  No one should come to campus with any COVID-19 related symptoms.
• Upon arrival on campus, a student will check in at a designated location with the school.
•  The student, and everyone with them, should be wearing a mask.
• Non-Marianapolis adults can help unload a vehicle, but they are not permitted to enter any residential or school space.
• Marianapolis adults will be on hand to help arriving students move items into their room.

Facilities

To help prevent the introduction and spread of COVID-19, routine cleaning and disinfection protocols have been established.

Classrooms and other spaces have been reconfigured to create more distance between students, faculty, and staff.

Modified layouts of all spaces are based on the maximum capacity consistent with health and safety guidelines.

Signage and equipment will be present to enable safe health practices. A facilities map, showing directional steps to follow, will be provided to students, faulty, and staff.

All faculty, staff, students, and visitors who come onto campus must follow the health and safety measures put in place by the school.

Marianapolis has restructured its Health Office. For more details, please see “Health and Safety”.

Members of the Class of 2021 in good academic standing may now check out of their study hall to set locations on campus. If a senior is required to be in the study hall, this will be privately messaged to the individual student, their family, and the study hall proctor by either their advisor or the school. Please note, for community health and safety, it is important and required that we maintain social distancing in all environments and, unless specified, wear masks inside and out. For contact tracing purposes, it is important and required that we understand where community members are during the day.

Black folding chairs have been placed in certain locations on campus for use outside. These can be used by specific groups at designated times. Set aside for seniors is a stack of chairs near the lost and found; you may use during Study Hall. Please email your study hall teachers if you plan to head outside during that time. You will be marked absent (meaning not actually present) and the faculty member will enter a note reflecting where you stated you would be during this time (chart has been emailed to students). You may move these chairs outside and set up a pop up lounge on the grass between the Main Building and stairs to the Athletic Complex. Please return your chair to the stack at the end of the period. Please be respectful of classes going on in the Main Building when outside. Cars, and other spaces on campus, are not available during this time.

In the case of inclement weather, indoor locations will be available for use during study hall too. These are based on study hall period and what spaces on campus are available.

Please note that individuals who struggle with health and safety guidelines, or communication, may find this choice is not available to them moving forward.

In support of social distancing and community health and safety, the Knight Lounge will be closed from 12:20-1:30 (during lunch). Seniors: Please enjoy lunch in the dining hall/community room. Juniors: Please use the student lounge and library as your lunch space. The Knight Lounge remains open to seniors during study hall periods. As a reminder, the Knight Lounge has a capacity of 10 students. Please reach out with any questions.

Residential Life

General Information

Residential Update: September 8, 2020:

Marianapolis is excited to welcome boarding students back to campus!

We invite boarding students to move onto campus on October 5,2020, to self-quarantine for two weeks before joining classes on campus on October 19.

Boarding students also have the option of self-quarantining off-campus, under adult supervision, beginning October 5, 2020, and moving onto campus October 19.

A detailed letter and arrivals form will be emailed to all boarding families on September 8. We appreciate hearing your plans as soon as possible. Please reach out with any questions to Assistant Head of School David DiCicco after reviewing the form.

Requested testing requirements, and other health and safety protocols, are detailed on our COVID-19 website and will be referenced in the letter.

Head of School Update: August 10, 2020.

Houses and Halls continue to be the heart of the Marianapolis boarding experience. Communication around arrival and travel this year is more critical than ever to ensure student and community health and safety. Boarding families will be required to file their arrival plans with the school by August 1, 2020, using this form.

Our goal is to support boarding students joining day students in class on campus on September 1, 2020. Orientation activities will take place online prior to September 1. We understand there are travel and visa challenges facing many families. We will work with you one on one to ensure that we support your path to campus. If a student cannot reach campus by September 1, they will engage in online learning until they can reach campus. It is essential that students and their families schedule all travel around school guidelines and confirm plans before purchasing tickets, etc.

Over the summer, each boarding family must designate an adult guardian who is based in the United States and can reach campus within 24 hours. This role includes the ability to provide supervision and care, off campus, if a student needs to quarantine during the school year. Resources, for those who do not have someone who can provide this support, can be found here or here. This information must be on file by August 1, 2020, and verified before a student is permitted to return to campus.

Based on State of Connecticut recommendations, all boarding students must undergo a 14 day self-quarantine period before joining classes beginning on September 1st. This can be achieved in several different ways based on the following:

• If a student is coming from a location within the United States, and the State of Connecticut has not issued any travel advisory about that location, they may self-quarantine in their home for 14 days prior to arrival on campus. The school will send the student and their family an agreement form detailing this process and require it be submitted detailing the protocol was adhered to successfully. In this case, the student will move in on AUGUST 31. Please see below for arrival details.

• If a student is coming from a location within the United States, and the State of Connecticut has issued a travel advisory for that location, the student must follow that advisory. The 14 day self-quarantine may be completed off campus with appropriate supervision (and appropriate documentation, self-screening reported, and form submitted). OR, the student may move in on AUGUST 18 and spend that self-quarantine on campus. Please see below for on campus self-quarantine and arrival details.

• If a student is traveling from a country outside the United States, the 14 day self-quarantine may be completed off campus with appropriate supervision (with appropriate documentation, self-screening reported, and form attesting to this submitted). OR the student may move in on AUGUST 18 and spend that self-quarantine on campus. Please see below for arrival details.

For students in self-quarantine on campus, Marianapolis will provide meals and adult supervision. A student will remain in their assigned space during that time and submit daily self-screening. The school will select the student's self-quarantine living space. They may be assigned to their room for the year, or another room, or a space designated as transition housing before they move into their room on August 31. Returning students on campus are not able to access summer storage until their self-quarantine is complete.

Boarding students who arrive after August 18th, and only on a date/time scheduled by the school, will move into designated transition housing until such time (see above) they can move into their house/hall and attend class in person.

This year, we are asking students to bring only essential items in the case a student tests positive and items must be removed for treatment.

Orientation to Marianapolis, and important updates about community health and safety guidelines will take place online for students in late August (date TBA), prior to the start of classes on September 1.

Boarding students will remain on campus during the week/weekend unless otherwise determined by the school. Return to campus procedures (post-vacations) are currently under review and will reflect future recommendations. The school will offer full support online, and as appropriate synchronous, for any student who cannot be on campus /in class for approved reason (health concern/travel).

Health Office spaces on campus are being expanded to support community health and safety.

Given current social distancing requirements, breakfast and dinner will be offered for boarding students only. The academic schedule provides times for all community members to access the Dining and Community Room for lunch.

Based on recommendations from the State of Connecticut, residential spaces - Marianapolis’ Houses and Halls - fall under different guidelines than our academic spaces such as the Main Building. The guidelines and expectations detailed below, and any that follow, will be covered as part of residential orientation for all boarding students.

All boarders will participate in an online orientation. Orientation will take place in stages; specific information will be shared prior to arrival. Students will participate in group activities during the 18th-August 30th period of quarantine, and then socially distanced activities after August 31st on campus. Additional details on this will follow.

Once moved onto campus, boarding students are not permitted to leave site. Marianapolis will evaluate this on a month-by-month basis and we anticipate this expectation being in place through the first trimester, if not longer. This protocol includes leaving campus with family, day students, etc. The only exception will be made for health-related reasons or as directed by the school.

For the period of time covered by this policy, 5-day-boarders who usually are required to depart campus after their last commitment on Friday will not be permitted to leave campus on weekends.

Boarding students, with prior permission, may have a guest (family member or friend) visit them on campus. These visits will take place outside of school buildings and follow social distancing guidelines, mask wearing, and other applicable guidelines.

As offered earlier in the summer, a boarding student may opt to enroll online for part or all of the 2020-2021 school year. For boarders not wanting to remain on campus upon moving in, we encourage their families to reach out to David DiCicco and JD Rogers as soon as possible to discuss this further.

The school will share more information about Thanksgiving Break, and residential spaces, before September 1, 2020.

There will be activities offered on weekends for boarding students. Off campus trips (Putnam shuttle, trips to Boston, etc.) will not take place. Boarding students in need of supplies will be able to purchase items in the school store or place orders online for delivery to the Main Building (or other locations designated by the school) on campus. House/Hall Parents, and indeed all adults, will be working closely with boarding students to ensure the most positive experience on campus. Food delivery to campus in the evenings, before or after study hall, will be suspended as well.

Marianapolis has restructured its Health Office. For more details, please see “Health and Safety”.

Inside Houses and Halls

During a period of quarantine, students will not be able to access summer storage. Meals will be delivered to their assigned room and, other than bathroom/shower access, they will remain in their room for the specified time. Details about self-screening during and after quarantine will be provided prior to students arriving on campus.

Marianapolis has suspended bedbug screening for campus arrivals after the summer and vacations, until further notice.

Only boarders who reside in a House/Hall are permitted to enter it. Day students are not permitted into residential spaces nor will they be permitted to stay overnight on campus. The Day Student Boarding Program has been suspended for the 2020-2021 school year. Moreover, boarding students are not permitted to visit each other’s rooms in their House/Hall. Masks will be worn by boarding students outside of their room in hallways and other common spaces.

Bathroom/shower space will have clear guidelines around use, including but not limited to set shower times for residents. This is especially true where typically more than one student might have been able to access the shower facility at the same time.

To maintain social distancing, and for everyone’s health and safety, routines will evolve (ex. nightly check-ins between adults, room inspection, etc.)

Use of the Athletic Complex during the evening (“Open Gym”), as with other spaces on campus, is under review and guidelines will be published prior to September 1.

As applicable, students will keep their passport/I-20 in their safe in their room. Students will submit digital copies to the school upon arrival.

Testing

Based on State of Connecticut recommendations, all boarding students must submit a negative COVID-19 test conducted 14 days (or less) before arriving on campus. The test results must be emailed to the school before the student will be permitted to move in. A second negative test, 7-10 days after the first, is also required. For students quarantining off campus (see below) the family must arrange for and submit the test. For students quarantining on campus (see below) the school will collect a sample and submit it for testing off campus. Families are responsible for costs associated with all testing. Accepted forms of testing will be posted online for families by August 1, 2020. The school must have all other required health forms too before a student is permitted to return to campus.

Marianapolis will accept antigen tests (PCR COVID-19 SAR 2, Antigen COVID-19-SARS 2, COVID-19 PCR-SAR 2 Nasopharyngeal Swab, nasal swab testing, antigen saliva tests which are FDA approved as well as Sofia 2 SARS Antigen FIA). COVID-19 Antibody Testing will not be accepted, as this only reflects a previous infection and does not detect an active current infection.

As recommended by the State of Connecticut, our residential community will undergo random weekly COVID-19 testing until further notice. "Residential community" includes boarding students on campus and those adults who work in support of residential life. Marianapolis’ Director of Human Resources will manage the process of randomly selecting residential community members for testing. Students will be notified by the Director of Health Services as to the need for testing. Testing will be facilitated by the school, at the expense of the family. The cost of testing will be shared prior to September 1. Families will be notified if their student is, for any reason, to be tested.

Visa Status

Financial Information

Inside Houses and Halls

Day Student Protocol

Philosophy

Decision-Making Process
Considerations for Reopening