The Academy and COVID Since Fall, 2020

By: Ariana Thornton, Catherine Wu

Spring 2020:

In Mar., the Academy sent an email regarding updates for the remainder of the term with the start of the COVID-19 outbreak. Students and teachers shifted to a remote learning program from home for the rest of the term. Spring term courses were graded on a pass/no-pass basis. Class attendance policies were updated to accommodate students living in different time zones. Boarding students’ belongings were either available for student pick up at designated times or shipped to students individually. The Academy offered various support systems to students during this time, including Counseling and Psychological Services and the Health Center. The Office of Multicultural Affairs, Student Activities, and Exeter Student Service Organization worked to help keep the community engaged and connected as well. 

Fall 2020:

Students returned to campus in a staggered schedule to reduce virus transmission and risk. All classes during the fall term were conducted online via Zoom. All students had the option to stay at home and study remotely. COVID-19 testing, six feet physical distancing, and protective masks were required of all students.

During Oct., with significant increases in cases locally, the Academy further enforced safety protocols, as well as placed emphasis on hand washing and sanitizers.

In-person instruction was implemented towards the end of fall term with plexiglass in classrooms, as well as close contact tracing.

Winter 2020-2021:

Remote learning was in session for the two weeks in December and the month of January. Prior to arrival, students quarantined at home and submitted COVID tests to the Academy from home. Students who tested positive at home and on campus were placed in quarantine.

Students arriving on campus in February underwent a week-long campus quarantine period. Indoor gatherings and visiting the town of Exeter were prohibited. EPAC and library hours were limited. Meals either to be eaten in boarding students’ dorm rooms and day students’ library carrels or outdoors with social distancing 6 feet apart. 

Post-quarantine for the duration of the term, bi-weekly COVID testing occurred for all students. Similar to the fall term, students were able to opt for remote learning. For students on campus, some classes took place outdoors or indoors with plexiglass barriers.

Social distancing and proper masking were required. Room visitations were allowed with the door propped halfway open. Athletics took place intramurally, and dance, theater, and music meetings adjusted to in-person practices and performances with ground rules. Weekend social opportunities including coffee houses, games in the field house, movie nights, and outdoor skating and snowshoeing were offered. An additional dining space in Grainger Auditorium of the Phelps Science Center was opened. Touchless food delivery was permitted to dormitories.

During the week-long break between winter and spring term in March, students remained on campus. Students arriving on campus for the spring term were quarantined during this period.

Spring 2021:

In April, the Academy held a COVID Pfizer vaccination clinic for all students above age 16. In March, after the FDA approval of 12-15 year-olds, another two-dose vaccination clinic was held for applicable students.

During the spring term, in-person classes were held at the Academy with plexiglass barriers at Harkness tables. Extracurriculars continued in-person with proper COVID safety guidelines, including masking and social distancing. For students at home learning remotely, Kandao cameras were implemented for hybrid learning.

Fall 2021:

All students and employees were required to be vaccinated, except those with approved medical or religious exemptions. On arrival, students were tested for COVID before proceeding to dormitories. Masks were required indoors.

For the first seven days, unvaccinated students adhered to a modified quarantine. During the first two weeks through September 22, students were not allowed off-campus or in town.

Classes were held in-person without Plexiglass shields. In dormitories, physical distancing was not required and was not monitored by dorm faculty. Increased ventilation such as air filters remained in both classrooms and dorms. 

In dining halls, grab-and-go options were maintained. Grill operations returned to normal business operations, with reduced capacity and modifications to inventory. Satellite serving options, such as the pizza shack, were available outside of the dining halls, and tents and chairs were available for outdoor dining.

Beginning September 27, 2021, mask protocols were loosened based on testing results over the previous two weeks. For vaccinated students, masks were optional indoors and outdoors; for unvaccinated students, masking was required indoors. Out-of-town travel and participation in off-campus programs were permitted. 

Due to increased numbers of colds and other ailments on campus, indoor masking was required for all members of the community beginning October 19, 2021. The beginning of fall term saw relatively few COVID cases and no evidence of transmission as a result of participating in school activities, but the high incidence of other illnesses, while still operating and responding to symptoms in a pandemic, created an excessive load on the health center and on students who had COVID-like symptoms and were required to be tested for COVID.

In November, Assistant Principal Karen Lassey shared the Academy’s decision to “continue to require everyone to wear masks in academic classrooms and indoor meetings through the end of fall term.” 

Winter 2021-2022:

Masking was required in classrooms, indoor meetings, dining halls, athletic facilities, and common spaces. Students engaged in twice-weekly COVID testing as well.

Due to the Omicron variant spreading rapidly over winter break, all students were required to provide a pre-arrival negative COVID test. All classes from January 4 to 12 were conducted over Zoom while students participated in two rounds of pooled saliva testing.

Beginning Jan. 5, masks were required outdoors as well as indoors due to several cases of the Omicron variant on campus. Close contacts were quarantined in Springhill Suites for five days each. Visitations were off-limits, and booster clinics became available on campus.

On Feb. 18, Principal William Rawson announced that masks would be optional indoors, including during classes, for fully vaccinated and boosted students. Masking would still be required in certain circumstances such as large gatherings or special assemblies.