COVID-19 Information

FAQs

Updates

Boarding Student Arrival Form (opens in new window/tab)

July 22, 2020

Update: Daily Schedule

July 17, 2020

Residential Update: Health Insurance Coverage

July 16, 2020

Community Update 7/9

July 9, 2020

Community Update 6/22

June 22, 2020

College Athletics Update

June 10, 2020

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.

Before You Arrive

New students and families will receive details in the coming weeks about Orientation. Orientation programs will be conducted virtually as we prepare campus for re-opening.

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.

Academics

Considerations
Daily Schedule

Considerations

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.

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.

Dining

All students will have access to our hot and cold lunch options in the Dining and Community Room.

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.

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.

The fall interscholastic season may proceed in full; it may be abridged.

If competitive athletics are not possible, the school will offer alternative activities during the afternoons for students. These will include non-competitive on site activities (i.e. drama) as well as intramural sports.

In the event that competitive sports are not possible, many on-campus activities will focus on skill development in support of athletes' growth, in addition to strength and conditioning. Coaches of each sport will continue to work with athletes in support of their targeted goals.

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.

Recommended practices, from CDC and state guidelines, will be adopted as part of our plan to safely return to campus.

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

Training will be provided to all staff and students on health and safety guidance protocols.

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 are revising guidelines for our school’s “sickness policy," as well as how a student/adult is assessed and triaged if not feeling well. More detailed information will follow as we move closer to opening of school.

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

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 testing methods for COVID-19 are rapidly changing. We will provide information on the specific required COVID-19 test and timing of testing by August 1, 2020.

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

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.

Residential Life

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 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.

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.

Visa Status

Financial Information

Day Student Protocol

Philosophy

Decision-Making Process
Considerations for Reopening