Sept. 11, 2020 

Dear Chatham Hall Community Members,
 
It has been a full week of classes here at Chatham Hall, and truly one of the most memorable starts to a school year in recent history. Students, faculty, and staff have all learned very quickly about some new COVID-related protocols and habits – walking down one side of the hallway and back on the other, classmates joining in via Zoom, hand washing constantly, masks on everywhere, and social distancing in all locations. We have taken to these new guidelines with a commitment that makes me proud, and optimistic that we can rise to each new COVID-19 challenge.

Now that it has been two weeks since our community testing, our public health department has advised that we are in a new phase of community safety. I am delighted to report that effective immediately we will be implementing some easements to our COVID-19 restrictions meaning that our students are now able to:

  • Move between dorms and dorm levels;
  • Cross the upper level of the arcade;
  • Move freely on dorm levels as all foot traffic pattern requirements are lifted;
  • Use stairs in both directions on dorm levels with the exception of Senior Stairs which will become effective tonight! 

Masks are still required at all times, including on dorm, and, for now, only room residents continue to be allowed in each room. Traffic patterns below dorm must still be followed. 
 
Despite all that feels different, not everything has changed on campus. Assembly, Chapel, Advisory, and Cookie Break all brought our community together this week. Students returned to classes, afternoon activities, and study hall - and of course found time to catch up on their dorm hallways and outdoors. We are encouraging the use of the outdoors as much as possible and students are gladly obliging! As always, we formally opened the year with Convocation. Our Purple & Gold rivalry is as strong as ever, as I have no doubt will be evidenced by the passion with which each team welcomes their New Girls tonight.
 
Beyond our scheduled activities were those small moments that make Chatham Hall so special. My heart was happy this week to see seniors chatting in the Niche, to see riders walking back from the barn for dinner, and to watch students carefully arrange themselves in the Viewing Room to watch an old favorite. Just days ago, many of these students were strangers, and now they are classmates, teammates, dormmates, and friends.
 
We could not have completed such a successful first week without the diligent work of our faculty and staff, and the cooperation of all of our students and families. Nor could we have invested as much in fighting COVID-19 and bringing a sense of normalcy to our community without the support of our alumnae and friends. I thank you all for this extraordinary dedication to Chatham Hall.

Esto Perpetua,
Rachel Connell
Rector