Riya Mukherjee ’23 | Alex Groban ‘23
As FDA approved vaccines roll out and cases start decreasing, Episcopal is deciding what guidelines will be implemented in response to COVID-19 for the upcoming academic year. Michael Letts, Head of Upper School, says, “We’re tentatively planning…that we’re really kind of back to normal. We may still have some restrictions where you might still need to wear a mask, perhaps. We might still have some distance issues, like distancing policies, but I think that would be reduced.”
Photo courtesy of Ashley Kennedy ’22.
EA’s Director of Health Services, Laura Hurst, believes predicting the changes on restrictions will be difficult since “so much changes on a weekly, even daily basis.”
For all decisions regarding COVID restrictions, EA consults Chester County Health Department (CCHD), PA State, and CDC recommendations. As these recommendations change, Episcopal evolves its own COVID policies on campus to best ensure the safety of the community. Tanuja Murray, freshmen form dean, affirms that EA will be “safe, cautious, and continue to follow guidelines whatever the situation may be.”
Hurst adds, “Distancing may be reduced from 6 feet to 3 feet depending on virus activity.” Regarding sanitary measures, Hursts predicts that “we will continue to be diligent in our hand washing and cleaning protocols.”
In addition to restrictions potentially being lightened, the EA community can expect changes with scheduling and protocols for meetings. Letts expects that the rules will be “the same as they were [before the pandemic]. In other words [students] are not scheduled for a 10:30 lunch, and lunches in the field house are also in the dining hall. You guys [would be] back in your normal lounges, and activity period, and domino, and being able to see teachers, and departmental offices, and things like that would all go back to the way it was.”
Murray also comments on the peculiarity of the current lounge situation and summarizes hopes of students and teachers alike when noting, “The freshmen this year have no idea what ‘normal’ is. I told a few kids to come and meet me in my office, and they were shocked by how small and crowded their regular lounge would be. So, hopefully they will get to experience some sense of normalcy next year – not only with things like their lounges but, if all goes well, we expect that there will be more class events that the student council would typically organize for them to participate in.”
Like Murray, many students hope that COVID restrictions are not as strict during the upcoming year. Ashley Kim ‘23, a member of EA’s student band, comments, “I am really hoping that band will be back to some sense of normal by next year. Unlike orchestra, band hasn’t really had the chance to play in person this year since woodwinds and brass can’t be masked while playing. We all miss the camaraderie of making music together.”
Kathryn Lynn ‘22 adds, “It’s difficult to tell what next year is going to be like, but hopefully, if all goes well, we have something that resembles normal… especially with it being my senior year. It would be great if I got the full experience and senior privileges. Also, as a runner, masks make it super difficult to run, so if mask requirements during sports were lifted that would be great. Obviously, no matter the circumstances, Episcopal should do whatever is in the best interest of the community.”
Alyson Kurz, sophomore form dean, is optimistic moving forward into the next school year: “It sounds like we have not had any student-to-student spread. I would say that everything we are doing is protecting [the students] which is great… I think a lot of it is just remembering that we are supposed to keep that distance. It’s hard for adults, it’s hard for kids, we’re just social beings to begin with so I think it’s hard to remain [and] maintain that distance.”