Sept. 23, 2020 

Dear Parents,

With the leaves beginning to change colors and the temperatures dropping a bit here in Chatham, it’s truly beginning to feel like fall. For me, fall has always been back-to-school season regardless of where I was or what I was doing, and I’m thrilled that as the weeks have gone by here at Chatham Hall we have been able to move our campus life, little by little, back towards what we all know as “normal.”
 
In the past few weeks, due to the diligence of your families and students, we have been able to put in place several easements to our initial COVID-19 precautions. We have been able to remove foot traffic patterns on dorm, which allowed for seniors to take the Senior Stairs in Pruden Hall, and we’ve been able to allow visits between dorms and dorm rooms. We have also been able to welcome food deliveries to campus once again, with the help of a contactless delivery table for drop off, and offer weekend “visits” to off campus establishments such as Dairy Queen – by way of a faculty member being the only person to enter the establishment. Now we are thrilled that beginning Saturday, Oct. 3 and Sunday, Oct. 4 parents will be able to visit campus on weekends to spend time outdoors with their students!
 
Just as in the past, parents will need to give Dean of Students Marin Miller at least 24 hours’ notice prior to arrival and fill out a brief survey. In addition, this fall’s visits will:
  • Be between the hours of 12:00 – 5:00 p.m.
  • Be open only to members of the student’s immediate household.
  • Offer families the opportunity for seating in outdoor tents on a first come, first served basis.
  • Welcome families bringing lunch and/or other items to deliver to their daughters (make a picnic of it!).
  • Ensure greater safety for all by requiring all family members to first report to the Security desk in Pruden Hall, have their temperatures taken and IDs checked in our Raptor system, answer questions related to possible COVID exposure and symptoms, and then notify their children to meet them outside.
  • Provide the restrooms in the hallway leading into the Yardley Dining Hall for family needs.
  • Require that family members refrain from entering any building other than Pruden Hall, which would be solely for check in and restrooms. 
  • Continue to require masks and social distancing for everyone, at all times, while on campus. Unfortunately, hugging and other physical contact would result in a student needing to quarantine off campus.
 
And for more good news, as of Monday, Oct. 5 parents and immediate household members will be able to attend intramural athletic events on campus. To make these events as safe as possible, we ask that visitors:
  • Park near the gym/courts/field.
  • Ensure greater safety for all by reporting to the table near the gym, have their temperatures taken, and then proceed to the athletic event.
  • Bring their own sideline chairs to outdoor sports and distance 10 feet from members of other households. 
  • Place their seats 15 - 20 feet back from playing fields and courts.
  • Observe a maximum of 50 total spectators for indoor events, and adhere to bleacher seating limits in the gym with 10 feet of distance between members of other households. 
  • Remain 10 feet or more back from athletes at all times, including their daughters.
  • Refrain from delivering items to the possession of their student(s) at this time, and instead use the contactless delivery table in front of Pruden Hall.
  • Refrain from entering any building other than the gym for volleyball games or to use the restrooms.
  • Leave campus within 10 minutes of the conclusion of the event. 

I am so excited that the potential for parents and immediate household members to visit campus very nearly coincides with when Chatham Hall would normally “open” to family visits in a non-COVID year, and know that we have dorms full of students who can’t wait to see you and tell you about their year so far. 

Two final updates. First, By providing this opportunity for on-campus visits for immediate family, it does mean that mask-wearing will continue to be required for your daughter at all times through November except when she is on her own in her room with only her roommate. Masks remain a primary way of limiting exposure to COVID-19 and we are determined to keep this campus as safe as it can be. We hope we will have your support and understanding in the weeks ahead. 

Second, a reminder that our fall long weekend begins this Friday, Sept. 25 and continues through Tuesday, Sept. 29. Your daughter will not have classes on Monday and Tuesday of next week, and we have a number of fun activities planned over the four days and we hope everyone will catch up on sleep and have time to recharge. Our faculty will also be using this time to recharge and staff will be able to be on flex schedules or working from home, so we ask you to keep that in mind with any communications to Chatham Hall and response time expectations. This year of COVID-19 is really a marathon and we want to make sure we are all able to be at our best under these unusual circumstances. Thank you for your understanding here as well. 

We all look forward to seeing you soon!

Esto Perpetua,
Rachel Connell
Rector