Isabel Rozes ‘24
The Episcopal Academy reopened for in-person learning in mid-September with new restrictions, policies, and infrastructure to accommodate COVID-19 guidelines. Administrators including T.J. Locke, the Greville Haslam Head of School and the form deans, have held return-to-campus updates to provide the latest details on welcoming students and faculty back to campus in person. With an adaptable administrative approach, Episcopal has continued to update health and safety protocols over the past few weeks as students and faculty members test these new procedures.
EA’s administration reached the decision to return to in-person learning by analyzing data and guidance from local and state authorities and working closely with medical and health experts, such as CHOP PolicyLab and CovidActNow.org.
A great challenge to reopening safely was “the sheer number of logistics,” according to Locke. He explained that the school and facilities were built “to build community by bringing us together” and “every part of the day had to be completely rethought, from arrival and dismissal, to Chapel, to lunch and the hallways.”
In response to COVID-19 guidelines, EA’s facilities team has adapted school buildings for safety. Classrooms have been reconfigured to provide six feet of distance between individual desks. Where six feet of distance is not possible, the facilities team installed plexiglass dividers. EA also re-engineered its HVAC system to improve airflow.
Other visible changes to the building include signage, outdoor tents, touchless sanitizer dispensers, touchless faucets and bottle filling stations. Before arriving on campus, all students and staff must complete the AUXS safety app daily screening and show their green clearance screen at designated checkpoints.
Locke encourages students to promote each other’s academic and athletic achievements, and he hopes this community value can extend into safety procedures. “We need it to be cool to be safe, and we need people to wear their masks,” Locke said. Face coverings are required for all students, faculty, staff and visitors. Masks must meet certain criteria, some of which include having a minimum of two layers, no valves, and must be able to fully cover one’s nose and mouth. “Wearing masks is a small sacrifice for being able to go back to school,” said Kaleigh Criville ‘24.
EA relaxed the dress code as well, so items like ties, striped sweaters, and blazers, which students can’t wash regularly, are no longer required. The academic schedule has also changed. As Emma Lunn ‘23 said, “The new schedule will be challenging from going to 45 minute blocks [during virtual learning] to a 70 minute block [in person], but together we will get through it.”
The administration will continue to monitor the viability of holding in-person school events such as EA/Haverford/AIS day, theatre productions, athletic competitions and senior events like prom and graduation, while complying with health guidelines.
Whatever may happen with these events, Michael Letts, Head of Upper School, emphasized that, “it is not the events that make things special, it’s the people.” Specifically for the seniors, “being able to be back together is going to be a really important part of helping them feel like this is a normal senior year for them,” said Letts.
Despite the restrictions, many members of the EA community recognize the value of being back in-person. Letts said, “being able to have [students] back on campus, even though we are going to have some restrictions, is what’s most exciting . . . to share the time together in the community is certainly what I’m most excited for; we all are.” “The life of a school is what . . . fills up our hearts,” said Locke. For the collective safety and health of our community, we will overcome the challenges and emerge stronger together by following and respecting the rules.
For detailed health and safety protocols, updates and frequently asked questions visit the 2020-21 Health and Safety Plan Page on the Episcopal Academy website.
https://www.episcopalacademy.org/academics/planning-for-our-new-school-year.