Academy Considers Delayed Winter Return

By Andy Horrigan, Nina Kellogg, Andrea Luo and Hansi Zhu

Due to a recent rise in Rockingham County COVID cases, administrators considered changes to the on-campus arrival date after winter break. The current schedule involves students studying remotely after Thanksgiving break, through the month of December until January 4, when students are scheduled to move back onto campus. 

“We anticipate announcing a plan for the winter term, and a tentative plan for the spring term, sometime between November 1 and November 15,” Principal William Rawson said.

Rawson elaborated on the specific changes in an email to parents on Oct. 16. “We are re-examining whether it will be prudent and feasible to invite students back to campus in January and may consider delaying the return of some or all students until late January or early February,” he wrote. We also are re-evaluating the feasibility of sending students home for a two-week spring break.”

“We are looking at a number of scheduling models to address our concerns,” Rawson continued. “These include possibly inserting a one week break halfway through winter term and using that time to bring students to campus for the second half of winter term and keeping students on campus for a one-week spring vacation and offering special programming during that week.”

Some students raised the idea of an upperclassmen-only winter term, referencing greater adherence to social distancing guidelines and reduced crowding in September.

Other community members raised concerns specific to certain demographics. In an opinion in The Exonian, the Association for Low-Income Exonians argued for accommodations to be provided to such students. 

“Learning from home was catastrophic to the mental health of low-income students and their families. The Academy did what was right in keeping us at home when we had so little information. The entire world needed to halt. This time is different,” ALIE wrote. “It is unsustainable to continue to ask students to spend long periods of time schooling (especially graded schooling) at home, where everyone begins with such unequal footing. The plan to return to campus needs to be supportive of youth from every quarter—and must not expect those with less means to ‘push through it.’ ALIE urges the school to at the very least provide an option for students to come back to campus in early January or, better yet, stay over the break.

Additionally, International Student Coordinator Jennifer Smith noted the challenges surrounding travel for international students. “I think if we are able to lessen the amount of times that international students need to travel in and out of the United States in a global pandemic, that makes it easier for them,” she said. 

“However, we also can’t have students remaining on campus past the times we’ve stated on the calendar, as testing, distancing and supervision require a great deal of support,” Smith continued. “I have so much respect for my colleagues that have worked tirelessly to implement a plan that allowed students to be here safely.”

International students urged the Academy to come to a timely decision. Upper Elizabeth Handte, from Japan, emphasized the importance of an earlier announcement due to negative travel experiences last spring. “I still haven’t gotten a ticket to come back because I expected that they’d make this decision very late,” she said.

“[Last March,] I was extremely frustrated because they told us three days beforehand that school was cancelled… I had to wait two weeks in the U.S. because we already planned all our hotels and car services and everything, so it was a waste of money and time for us when I could’ve just gone straight to Japan instead of having all my family come to the U.S.,” Handte said. 

“It was that experience back in March, because [the Academy was] so last minute about it, that we didn’t want to make a mistake [this time], so we’re waiting until they have a final decision to do anything,” Handte added.

Lower Rodrigo Spinola e Castro from Brazil added that international travel restrictions made it difficult for students to make last-minute plans. “[To come back,] I would have to travel probably to either Mexico or Canada, do a two week quarantine there and then move into the U.S., so it’s actually very important that I get a date, a specific date with like at least a two, three week, a one month warning, because I’m going to be traveling two weeks earlier to make the requirements,” he said. 

Upper Emma Chen, who elected to stay in China and study remotely this term, was ambivalent about returning due to safety concerns. “I don’t feel very strongly about the subject,” she said. “Of course, I want to return to campus as early as possible, but I understand and agree with the priority of making sure everyone is safe.”

Upper Emma Liu, a new student learning remotely from Taiwan, added that safety concerns will ultimately inform her decision on returning. “Since countries in Asia—including Taiwan —are doing better than the US (on average), if things get too bad over the next month I’m probably going to have to rethink whether or not I’ll be going back in the winter,” she said. 

Liu noted that the uncertainties brought on by the pandemic are inevitable. “I’m used to the schedule by this point, so going back later is not really an issue. I’m actually quite relieved that the Academy is contemplating a later return date/returning in groups (like they did this fall) because COVID-19 is not getting better nationwide and being flexible with arrivals is the best thing Exeter can do,” she said. “At the end of the day, I’m honestly just excited there’s even a possibility of going back.”

Prep Stellan Aalto emphasized the importance of the experience that being on campus offers. “As it is my first time at Phillips Exeter, I would like to spend as much time on campus as possible,” Aalto said. “I would like to return [as soon as possible]... After settling in and starting to feel part of this community, not being able to return would be a slap in the face. The way we get to interact with both teachers and students makes this school so great.”

Lower and day student Gavin Pate said that the expectation of an on-campus winter term informed his decision to study remotely this fall. “When I chose to do remote learning this fall, I had hoped that we would be returning to campus again in the winter, even if it was at the beginning of January,” Pate said. 

In the email’s closing, Rawson underscored the Academy’s priorities when making a final decision about the term. “Without question, we are eager to have our students on campus as much as possible,” he said. “As has been the case from the beginning of this pandemic, our decisions will be guided by our concern for the health and safety of our community, our desire to provide the best experience possible for your children, and a need to remain flexible to adapt to changing conditions.”