Academy Permits Family Visits to Campus

By: Jett Goetz, Minseo Kim, and David Chen

After more than 13 weeks away from home, boarding students have finally been able to see their families for brief reunions, sports games, theater events and socially distant campus activities on the weekends, per new Academy guidelines. Students’ families were given permission to enter campus starting May 1.

In an email sent out by Dean Moriarty on April 28, Moriarty described the guidelines to family visits. “On Saturdays only, we will allow up to two family members (maximum) to be spectators at outdoor athletic events. All family spectators must: only visit the contest in which their student is participating and cannot move from game to game, arrive at the field no sooner than 10 minutes before the start of the game, sit or stand in designated family-spectator areas only,” the email read. “Upon completion of a game, no tailgates/parking lot gatherings permitted.” 

“On Sundays only, we will allow up to two family members (maximum) to visit with their student(s) south of Court Street, near the gym, fields, [and] campus trails. All family visitors must: Stay south of Court Street during the visit [and] [f]amilies may take walks on campus trails or gather in designated areas,” Moriarty continued.

“[All visiting families must] [re]emain masked at all times with mask[s] fully covering mouth and nose regardless of vaccination status, [a]bide by the Academy’s physical distancing guidelines with non-family members at all times, and [r]emain outside at all times and may not enter any buildings,” Moriarty wrote.

“The guidelines below will help minimize risk of transmission or close contacts for the students of visitors, family members, and  other students and adults on campus. As we approach the end of the school year, we want all of our students to be able to participate fully in the life of the school,” Moriarty wrote.

Additionally, families may visit campus for specified theater or musical performances, such as the upcoming mainstage performance “Our Town,” organized by the Theater Department and Office of Multicultural Affairs. “Our Town” participants are allowed to invite two family members to the outdoor show on Friday, May 14 and Saturday, May 15. 

Many boarding students have met with their parents in-person now that rules have shifted, including lower Sami Smith. “Saturday, my parents came to my [lacrosse] game with my dog, so I got to hang out with them for a bit after and they brought me some food which was awesome. On Sunday, my dad and little sister brought me dinner, so we sat outside and ate together,” Smith said, “This visit helped me sort of re-ground myself a bit. It was a nice break and was overall beneficial for my mental health.”

Lower Lara Muyombwe supported the Academy’s decision to allow family visits. “Now that people are getting vaccinated—like if the whole school is vaccinated and most of these parents are vaccinated—I think there shouldn't be a problem because we won't get as severely sick and there's no risk of passing anything to our family,” Muyombwe said.

Prep Esme Shields agreed. “My family came to watch my lacrosse game and it was lots of fun,” Shields said. “They stayed a little while afterwards and it was very relaxing to be able to talk to them face-to-face, instead of over the phone. Seeing my parents made me very happy and made me less stressed about schoolwork, and from being away from home.”

Senior Katie Moon shared how special family visits are during COVID, especially in her last year. “This year more than ever because of COVID, it’s so nice to spend time with family in person, even if it is only for a little bit at a time,” Moon said. “I am especially excited about family visits because now my parents can come to my softball games, which means a lot to me as it is my final season here at Exeter.” 

Senior Phil Horrigan explained how the news surrounding family visits improved his parents’ mental health as well. “It was great to see my parents. It's nice, every once in a while, to get an in-person update on their lives,” Horrigan said. “It was perhaps even more beneficial for their mental health, though. Mom and Dad are empty-nesting now with [my brother] Andy and me both at PEA.”

Students shared their thoughts on the rules and guidelines for parent visits. “I don’t see the difference between a boarder's parents coming to visit who may not be in our testing pool and a day student going home to a parent who isn’t in the pool either,” upper and day student Kate Mautz said. “I think especially as a day student I found it unfair that I got to go home to my family every night but a boarder wasn’t allowed to see their parents.”

Upper Amelia Tardy commented on the guidelines for family visits to campus. “The rules seem pretty strict, but I guess that’s just the overall strategy Exeter has had all year,” Tardy said. “I think I remembered reading something about how ‘one brief hug is allowed,’ but other than that family members have to be at least six feet distanced. I just remember laughing at that and hearing people joke about it, god forbid someone hugs their child twice in one visit.” 

Despite the restrictions, students enjoyed reconnecting with their families in-person. Muyombwe appreciated spending time with her family over the weekend. “[After] just being here and not doing anything rather than just school and homework, seeing my parents… really helped my mental health,” Muyombwe said. “It did make me feel a little homesick, but in the long run, I feel like I just [had] a little piece of home… my brother was just talking about a school play… that he's going to be in, the Odyssey, the Greek myth. It was just really nice to catch up.”