Dear Members of the Hotchkiss Community,
I hope this finds you and your families safe and well. The on-campus Hotchkiss community is doing our best to stay healthy while keeping focused on the important work of teaching and managing the operations of the School.
The question on everyone's mind is, "How long will this phase of staying at home and practicing social distancing continue?" It is not possible to say with confidence or credibility how long it will be. While the residents of Wuhan, China, have emerged from lock-down and are beginning to re-engage in (new) normal life, and other countries such as South Korea are planning to return to school this month (adapting social-distancing practices in schools), the United States and other nations continue to battle the initial wave of infections. In Connecticut, this first wave is expected to peak on April 30 (see:
https://covid19.healthdata.org/united-states-of-america/connecticut
). We also know that pandemics come in waves, and we do not want to fool ourselves into expecting that life will return to its old, familiar pattern or misjudge the conditions under which a more open "new normal" will be possible.
We have all hoped that it would be possible to return to campus this spring. It is now quite obvious that the individual and public-health risks of bringing groups of people together on campus will remain too great. Indeed, the State of Connecticut on Friday announced an extension of the stay-at-home requirements through May 20; among other things, these prohibit public gatherings of more than five people (see:
https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus
).
As I have written and as you have heard me say, our first priority is the safety and wellbeing of our students and the adults living and working on campus in Lakeville. In light of that, and with a very heavy heart, I must announce the following:
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We will not return to campus this academic year. Distance learning will continue through the end of the semester. Please review the FAQs below for additional information and answers to a number of questions, including guidance on collecting student belongings. We will continue adding questions and answers to the FAQs over the coming weeks; they are also posted on the School's
COVID-19 page
.
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As I said in the
video message last week
, as one who also joined the Hotchkiss community in the summer of 2016, I feel a particular affinity for the great Class of 2020. It is therefore especially painful to announce that we will not be able to host Graduation on campus as scheduled. Having said that, my commitment to the seniors, which I expressed to them during their Class Meeting earlier today, is that we will host an in-person, on-campus celebration for the Class of 2020 when that is possible and practicable.
On May 28 and 29, there will be online events to celebrate the Class of 2020, including
a virtual "Diploma Day." More details about those events will follow in the coming weeks. Graduation represents the culmination of hard work and significant achievement. We remain committed to making sure that the Class of 2020 and their families have the opportunity to celebrate this important milestone.
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Reunion activities planned for this summer will be postponed. Alumni will receive additional information from the Alumni and Development Office.
I realize that many of you will have anticipated these decisions, knowing that we must do all we can to assure the safety and wellbeing of the broader population and the effective and sustainable functioning of our healthcare system.
I remain deeply grateful for and impressed by the excellent hard work, mutual support, and good will I observe as students, parents, alumni, faculty, and staff adapt to this global pandemic, something no one currently living on the planet has experienced before. Distance learning is going well, and a growing number of virtual community activities are happening. I invite you to read about some of the good deeds of members of the community
here
. The adaptability and generosity of spirit of the Hotchkiss community is heartening, and I am confident that we will rise to this challenge successfully and emerge stronger than ever.
Please r
efer to the additional resources below for more information, and continue to check the
COVID-19 web page
for the School's continuing response to the pandemic.
Please take care and stay well.
All good wishes,
Craig W. Bradley
Head of School
Additional resources
-
-
-
Hotchkiss Heroes
- Article featuring actions being taken across the Hotchkiss community to respond to the virus
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The following FAQs are intended to answer questions you may have about the decisions outlined in this letter. Please see the contact information posted here.
How do I get my belongings from my dorm room?
Please look for a separate communication with additional details in the coming days. General information is provided below.
In most cases, we will ask that families return to campus by early summer to collect their things, assuming this is made possible by relaxed social distancing requirements and your family's location.
Students returning to Hotchkiss next year who are unable to come to campus to collect their belongings will be able to store these items on campus until next year.
Seniors who are unable to come to campus to retrieve their belongings will work with UPS to pack and ship their items to them. Families can also opt for storage with UPS until the appropriate time for shipping their items directly to their upcoming college or university.
Due to planned improvement projects, please note that students who live on the first floor of Beuhler will receive a separate communication shortly.
The School will work with students to arrange shipping of some essential items needed in the interim. Shipping costs will be billed to the student's account. Details will be included in a communication at the end of the week.
Will families receive reimbursement for costs of spring and summer travel programs?
Yes. We will fully reimburse the costs families incurred for spring break and summer travel programs.
Will families receive reimbursement for room and board?
Families may request reimbursement for room and board. We are offering reimbursement in the amount of $2,500 for families of boarding students and $750 for families of day students. These amounts will be prorated proportionally for families receiving financial aid.
Across the globe there has been an unprecedented increase in the rate of unemployment. This is true in the northwest corner of Connecticut, and unemployment has hit a number of employee families. We have made a commitment to maintain regularly scheduled wages for all full-time employees of Hotchkiss through the end of the fiscal year.
In consideration of this, we are asking families to consider forgoing reimbursement for room and board. If you choose to support the School in this way, no action is required. Alternatively, you may convert these funds into a tax-deductible gift to the School. Either of these decisions will be deeply appreciated.
To make a donation or request reimbursement, please
complete this form by June 1.
Will the economic downturn affect my financial aid package for the coming academic year?
No. Hotchkiss will honor all financial aid commitments made to current students for the 2020-21 year.
Will I still be considered a Hotchkiss graduate if I don't participate in the traditional Graduation ceremony?
Yes. Seniors who fulfill their diploma requirements will graduate at the end of the semester, and diplomas will be mailed home. This important milestone will be celebrated through online events on May 28 and 29, including a virtual "Diploma Day." More details will follow in the coming weeks. We will celebrate in person and on campus as soon as that is possible and practicable.
Will classes resume as scheduled in the fall?
It is our sincere hope and intention to resume classes on campus in the fall. Like all institutions, we are continuing to monitor the evolving COVID-19 situation, including levels and rates of infection, CDC and Connecticut Department of Public Health guidance, progress towards the development of effective testing and its broad distribution, and progress towards effective treatments for the virus. School leadership and the Board of Trustees will continue to focus time and attention on analyzing what is happening and thinking through the steps we will need to put in place to assure the safety of the community while continuing to educate Hotchkiss students. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates.
Is the College Advising Office still operating?
Yes. College advisors continue to work closely with seniors and upper mids in both one-on-one and group sessions. Colleges and universities are communicating updates regarding standardized testing and other important matters. This information will be provided on this
update page
. Students should email
Ms. Lakin
to set up a Zoom appointment with their college advisor.
I am a spring varsity athlete hoping to compete in college. I am concerned that this situation will impact recruiting. What should I do?
Stay in touch with your Hotchkiss coach and club or travel coaches, and seek their advice about summer tournaments and other recruiting events. You should also discuss your athletic goals with your college advisor, if you have not done so already. After that discussion, reach out to college coaches to seek their advice about the best steps to follow.
What will happen with AP testing this May?
All 2020 AP exams will be administered online, May 11 - 22. Visit AP Central
for the most current information. AP students may also contact
Laurie Grusauski
for assistance.
What about SAT/ACT testing scheduled for June?
Currently, these tests are still scheduled; however, the College Board is monitoring the situation and exploring the possibility of offering online versions of the SAT (as they have done with the APs) in the event the June SAT and other dates are canceled.
Will the Hotchkiss Summer Portals program still convene?
Due to current circumstances, the School will be unable to conduct on-campus summer programming. Some new options for online courses will be offered. The Summer Portals Office will communicate with Portals applicants in the coming week.
