Dear Ranney Families,
I am hopeful that you and your children are enjoying the summer so far. The Leadership Team on campus is actively planning for our Fall return, and we will update you regularly as our plans progress. First, we are proud to announce the new faculty and staff hires for the 2021-2022 school year. Please read the release here.
As it relates to COVID-19, with close to two-thirds of New Jersey having received at least one dose of the vaccine and mask requirements easing in most places, our collective concerns about COVID-19 are easing to a large extent. At the same time, concerns about COVID-19 variants and transmission among vaccinated individuals highlight that the pandemic is not yet behind us.
I know many are wondering about mask requirements in the fall. As we finalize our policy, we are weighing many factors. We are continuing to evaluate emerging information and will discuss this policy and refine our approach in the coming weeks. On a related note, we will keep in place the daily AUXS Safety Health Certification for students. We believe the AUXS app has become a valuable tool to keep our campus free of all illnesses, to the extent possible. Please read this for information about how to access and use the app.
The most important change we are putting into place is that we will expect students to learn in person. We believe deeply that Ranney School’s educational philosophy is at its best when we are able to deliver a collaborative, experiential in-person foundation. Understanding that the pandemic is not yet behind us, we will continue to offer a virtual option; however, students who would like to remain virtual must document their reason and must commit to remain virtual for a minimum of one month. Students will no longer be allowed to elect to learn virtually on a day-to-day basis. If students elect to be virtual, they will not be allowed to participate in on-campus activities including athletics, arts, extra-curricular, and similar activities. We will share details related to how to apply to learn virtually in future communications. Of course, should a student need to quarantine due to COVID-19 exposure while unvaccinated, they will learn virtually for the period of their quarantine. Finally, if students are ill, we will ask that they rest and recuperate. They will not be allowed to learn virtually as they recover.
Tomorrow, you will hear more from the divisions about plans for the fall, but in the Middle and Upper School we will be retaining the block schedule (70 minute classes) with some adjustments. In particular, blocks will rotate and Upper School will have increased activity/club time during the day. Dress code will also return to “normal” with minor adjustments. Lockers will be available again and locker rooms will be available for sports after school, as well as for swim classes during the day. Our dining hall will return to buffet-style lunch delivery. Again, the divisions will be communicating these policies shortly and we will continue to send details and updates as the new school year approaches. Please be sure to visit the backpacks in myRanney for the latest information.
Our COVID Response Team will continue to meet over the summer as we refine our policies for the fall. We are proud of what we accomplished last year and are excited for what this new year will bring.
As always please feel free to reach out to leadership with any questions or concerns. I hope that you and your family are having a wonderful summer.
Best,
John Griffith
Head of School
