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Dear Hotchkiss Families,
We are very much looking forward to welcoming you back to snowy Lakeville next week. Below please find some final reminders and details to help you prepare for your return to campus.
PRIOR TO ARRIVAL
We realize that you have not been on campus for a while and ask that you spend time looking for the following items: -
Student ID card: Your student ID serves as primary access to your dorm and other buildings around campus and enables you to purchase items in the Campus Store, etc., so it is essential to have it when you arrive in Lakeville. If you are unable to locate your card, please contact Nancy Hiller in the Student Bank no later than Wednesday, February 17. If you are coming to campus for the first time, your card will be waiting for you at registration.
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Masks - Hotchkiss and non-Hotchkiss-issued: Please make sure you bring your Hotchkiss-provided masks or a good supply of other appropriate masks. If this is your first time to campus, we will provide you with a set of high-quality, washable, multilayer cloth masks. Hotchkiss-provided masks, including those distributed in the fall, comply with the new CDC guidance on masking released on February 10. A friendly reminder that masks must be at least two-layer and well-fitting; gaiters and masks with vents or valves are not permitted.
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Winter clothes: Winter will be in full force when you arrive. Please bring ample layers and warm accessories (e.g., hats, gloves, warm socks, and boots) as outdoor activities and gatherings will play a big role in social activities!
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Headphones/earbuds: We strongly recommend having headphones or earbuds to help maintain focus during times of virtual learning. This may be especially helpful to those students who have a roommate.
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Additional items: For more information about what to bring, please click here (remember, this year less is more!)
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COVID-19 Pre-Arrival Testing:
All campus community members and students will be tested before we start the term. All students must bring documentation of a negative PCR test for COVID-19 that was administered within 72 hours of their arrival on campus. If testing turn-around times exceed 72 hours, PCR tests administered within 5 days of arrival may be accepted. Please confirm with your testing facility that they are performing a molecular or PCR test and not a rapid antigen test. Please contact Danielle Shippey, director of health services, if you encounter difficulties obtaining an appropriate test or if you have had a COVID diagnosis within 90 days of arriving on campus.
Important Note for Students Traveling from Outside the U.S.A.:
As of January 26, the CDC is expanding the requirement for a negative COVID-19 test to all air passengers entering the United States. "Air passengers are required to get a viral test (a test for current infection) within the 3 days before their flight to the U.S. departs, and provide written documentation of their laboratory test result (paper or electronic copy) to the airline or provide documentation of having recovered from COVID-19." For further information, click here.
Mandatory Connecticut Travel Form:
The State of Connecticut requires registration and quarantine of those arriving from most locations outside the state. "Anyone traveling into Connecticut from a state or territory, other than New York, New Jersey, or Rhode Island, or from a country other than the United States, is directed to self-quarantine for a 10-day period from the time of last contact within the identified state or country." The Hotchkiss arrival quarantine will satisfy this requirement. Travelers are additionally required to submit a "Connecticut Travel Health Form." Anyone failing to comply with quarantine or submit the form is subject to a fine from the state. We recommend that students fill out this form with their parents on arrival.
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UPON ARRIVAL
Registration at the MAC: As in the fall, students should arrive at the Mars Athletic Center (GPS address: 22 Lime Rock Road) at their designated date and time. If you have yet to sign up for an arrival slot or will be delayed beyond the time frames below, please contact Amber Jordan in the Deans' Office at (860) 435-3739.
For all questions about School-provided transportation, please click here or contact Laurie Grusauski. Please note that transportation options have changed; if you have not made a reservation, contact Laurie Grusauski to confirm availability. -
Sunday, February 21: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Day students arrival day)
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Monday, February 22: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
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Tuesday, February 23: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
During registration, students will go through a brief check-in process followed by a meeting with a member of our health services team. At that time, you will be asked to provide documentation of a negative PCR test for COVID-19 and complete a saliva test. Please remember to finish your snacks, drinks, and stop chewing gum 30 minutes before your arrival so you are ready to provide your test sample. Those arriving on campus for the first time this year will also receive a letter outlining their dorm assignments and pick up their Hotchkiss COVID Kit containing eight (8) reusable masks. All students will also receive a special gift from the community life team!
NOTE: While we are not restricting the number of family members permitted on campus to see their student off, there will be a limit of one (1) family member plus the student during the check-in process. This family member will also be given a brief symptoms screening.
Students with Visas and Other Travel Documents: Passports and I-20 forms will also be collected at registration from students with F-1 visas. Mr. Thompson will provide a travel signature on the I-20s and register the students. Students may choose either to have their documents stored in the Deans' Wing or to have them returned directly. Arrivals Outside the Designated Windows: If your arrival will not fall within the designated arrival windows at the MAC, please go directly to the Health Center when you arrive on campus (GPS address: 11 Interlaken Road). The health center team will welcome you, perform necessary health screenings, and will then help you get to your dorm. If you encounter travel complications or your arrival is delayed after February 23, please contact Amber Jordan immediately. Students arriving after February 25 will miss our initial rounds of COVID-19 testing and will, therefore, be unable to fulfill their arrival quarantine in their dorm rooms. Students in this situation may be asked to wait one to two weeks if possible before coming to campus in order to assure adequate quarantine space to accommodate them. Please note that we allow late arrivals only in very limited circumstances and on a case-by-case basis.
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AFTER ARRIVAL
After you complete registration, you will move back into your room. As a reminder, family members will not be permitted in the dorms or main buildings and should depart campus after unloading your student. Snacks and restrooms will be available in the MAC and in the area adjacent to the Library on Main Campus.
Quarantine and Beyond:
All students will enter into a campus-wide quarantine period after moving into the dorm. During this time, you will be busy with remote classes, which begin on Wednesday, February 24, and other organized activities. Meals will be available via assigned grab & go pick-ups from the Dining Hall and Ford Tennis courts each day. During the lunch and dinner pick-up times, you will also be able to get packages from the Post Office and any orders placed at the Campus Store. Additional schedule details about outdoor activities, club meetings, and other events will be shared on a daily basis.
We anticipate that we will be able to emerge from quarantine after 10 days, but it will depend on the levels of infection that we see on campus. As a student, you have real agency here: your full participation in the safe transition period, and encouraging your friends and peers to do the same, will help us make quarantine is as short as possible.
As always, please continue to check the website frequently for updated information.
Safe travels!
Steve McKibben P'22
Dean of Community Life
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