Reopening

List of 7 items.

• Mar 4 - Lawrenceville Testing Schedule for Day Students

  Dear Day Student Families,
  
  I was pleased to see so many of you at the spring re-opening webinar in February, and we look forward to welcoming students back to campus soon.
  
  This email outlines the testing dates for day students during the quarantine period from March 14-25. For the arrival test on Sunday, March 14, day students will report to the Field House between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM for testing, bringing with them proof the their negative pre-arrival PCR test and their POM Reader to return (if they did not return it at the the end of the fall). Vehicles should enter campus on the Service Drive from Lewisville Road. If the student is being driven, the driver will remain in the car in the Field House parking lot.
  
  All future testing will be done at the testing tent on the Flagpole Green (near Bunn Library) between 8:30 AM and 6:00 PM on their designated testing days. If the student is being driven to campus, the driver will stay in the vehicle and can park on the Circle, around the Bowl, or behind the Crescent. While day students are welcome to come any time within the posted hours, in an effort to reduce waiting time, 3:30-6:00 PM is designated for only for day students. Testing is anticipated to take 10-15 minutes, including wait times.
  
  For your convenience, here is the schedule in list form for day student testing:
  Sunday, March 14 - 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Testing will take place in the Field House.
  Note: students must arrive with a negative PCR test, obtained within the past 10 days.
  Thursday, March 18 - 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM
  Monday, March 22 - 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM
  
  Testing all members of the community multiple times during the quarantine period, during which all are expected to practice COVID-cautious behaviors, will allow us to resume in-person activities on Friday, March 26. Any decision to shorten the quarantine period will be dependent upon the prevalence of the virus in our region, guidelines from state and local health authorities, and results of the first three on-campus tests. We will communicate with you about any adjustments or earlier release for in-person activities. Please reach out with any questions to deanofstudents@lawrenceville.org.
  
  Sincerely,
  Blake Eldridge '96 H'12
  Dean of Students

• Feb 26 - Details Regarding Lawrenceville Athletics

  Dear Lawrenceville Parents,
  
  With the spring term drawing near, we remain optimistic about our plans for interscholastic competition and are committed to providing an enriching and fulfilling experience for our students.
  
  On February 23, we held a Spring Reopening Q&A Session dedicated to athletics; you can view the recording at www.lawrenceville.org/reopening. Since the Q&A Session, we have several updates I would like to share with you:
  
  Limited fall and winter team training
  We realize the integral role that athletics plays in a student’s experience, and understand the disappointment that many of our teams experienced in losing their seasons due to the pandemic. To that end, the School has made adjustments to accommodate limited fall and winter team training this spring.

  • The spring interscholastic athletic schedule will follow a 6-2 training model
    • 6 days (M-Sat) = spring interscholastic training sessions
    • 2 days (W/Th and Sun) = fall/winter interscholastic training sessions

  • The fall/winter interscholastic training block will run 6-8 p.m. Wednesday/Thursday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday. Training sessions will be limited to 90 minutes in length.
  • Participation in the fall/winter training program will be optional for students. All athletic protocols (symptom tracking app, temperature check, mask, and POM Reader) remain applicable during training sessions. 

  
  Team Schedules
  The full athletic schedule is now available on the parent portal (click “Athletic Calendar”). Team-specific schedules are under development and will be available soon on the Athletics section of the website, under Teams and Schedules. Please note that all dates are subject to change; we encourage you to check back frequently for updates.
  
  Activity
  Mental health, physical fitness, and wellbeing are cornerstones to the Lawrenceville School athletic programming philosophy, and there will be supervised activities throughout the term to provide an outlet for our students to utilize outdoor facilities for open play and student engagement.
  
  Key dates (subject to change)
  

  • Spring interscholastic tryouts start date: March 26
  • Co-curriculars start date: March 29
  • Off-season training start date: March 31
  • Co-curriculars and off-season training end date: May 27
  • Spring interscholastic competition end date: May 29

  
  Please know we are working hard to deliver an athletic program that will support and enhance each student’s experience, while also adhering to our Best for All Agreement and local and state guidelines and regulations. The School will continue to provide updates as they become available, and I welcome your questions at any time.
  
  Go Big Red!
  
  S.A. Tripp Welborne III, H'58 P'21 P’24
  Dean of Athletics and Co-Curricular Education
  Allan P. Kirby '13 Chair for the Athletic Director

• Feb 19 - Lawrenceville Pre-Arrival Testing Requirement

  Dear Lawrenceville Parents,
  
  As we approach our spring reopening, I am writing to clarify the pre-arrival testing process, including the requirement that families obtain their own PCR test.
  
  PCR Test
  The School requires a negative PCR test, performed within 10 days prior to arrival, in order to be admitted to campus.
  
  In accordance with CDC/NJDOH guidelines, a test is NOT required for students who have had a documented COVID-19 infection within 90 days of the arrival date.
  
  Obtaining the Test
  We ask that families secure the pre-arrival test on their own, which should be feasible at local testing sites or through consultation with your family physician or pediatrician’s office. PCR testing is now more widely available, and can often be obtained without cost. Many states offer resources on how and where to obtain tests; please click here to view the free testing locations for New Jersey residents.
  
  For those who are having difficulty arranging pre-arrival testing on their own or through their physician’s office, please email healthcenter@lawrenceville.org no later than Friday, February 26 and we will work to find available testing for your student.
  
  Thank you for your support. We look forward to seeing your student on campus this spring!
  
  Bruce Kraut, MD
  Medical Director

• Feb 16 - Welcome, Remote Learning Families

  Dear Lawrenceville Remote Learning Option Families,
  
  Welcome! We look forward to the spring term together, and making your experience as a remote learner a positive one.
  
  Whether you participated in remote learning during the fall or have newly elected to do so for the spring, we want to provide a few details and also assure you that we are here to help you stay connected and engaged.
  
  Remote Learning Option Q&A Session: February 18
  Join Dean of Students Blake Eldridge, Associate Dean of Students Emilie Kosoff, and Remote Learning Option Liaison Dana Brown on Thursday, February 18 at 9:30 a.m. ET. Part of our Spring Reopening Q&A Sessions, this event will provide families with an opportunity to connect and ask questions about the spring experience.
  Register >
  
  Remote Learning Option Liaison Team
  Yangyang Daniell and Dana Brown are the School’s Remote Learning Option (RLO) liaisons. Yangyang Daniell is our Chinese Language Coordinator, International Student Advisor, and an Admission Faculty Interviewer. She may be reached at ydaniell@lawrenceville.org. Dana Brown is our Senior Associate Dean of Admission and Coordinator of International Recruitment. She may be reached at debrown@lawrenceville.org. Please feel free to be in touch with them directly for RLO-specific questions or requests.
  
  School Expectations
  RLO students are expected to participate in all standard School events, including the first two weeks of remote classes, House Zooms, Zoom School meetings, and advisor meetings. They are exempt from sports or anything requiring in-person participation. All current School policies as outlined in the Student Handbook apply to RLO students, especially those rules pertaining to academic integrity and respect, and including dress code for classes. The same level of academic obligations must be met; students will be supported throughout the spring term by their advisor, their Head of House, the Dean of Students Office, and the RLO Liaison Team.
  
  Technology
  In addition to reliable internet access, we recommend that RLO students have access to a graphics tablet and a calculator. In order to facilitate working on virtual whiteboards, we ask that they have some way to write or draw with a stylus, either on a tablet or their computer. One option is to purchase a graphics pad that can be plugged into a computer. Two examples of such graphics tablets that we have successfully tested are the XP-Pen Star G640 ($40 on Amazon) or the Wacom CTL4100 ($80 on Amazon).
  
  RLO/In-Person Enrollment
  Families may only switch from RLO to in-person learning if entering into the United States was delayed. Those families should be in touch with our RLO Liaison Team regarding their arrival. If V Form RLO students would like to participate in-person in graduation events scheduled for June 3-6, they will begin quarantine at the Hilton Garden Inn on Saturday, May 22 in order to be eligible.
  
  College Counseling
  College counseling assignments, meetings, and communication will proceed as normal for IV and V Form students. Remote students will conduct their individual appointments via Zoom, and group programming will be recorded and shared whenever possible. As always, students should watch for emails from their individual counselors and the College Counseling Office, and utilize the resources and attend to details regarding their college processes via SCOIR and Haiku/PowerSchool. The CCO is in regular contact with college admission offices, so remains up-to-date with the policies and practices that will best support Lawrentians. Our counselors are poised to bridge the technology gap and are confident they can support our seniors in their application plans.
  
  Community
  Finally, we wish to express our support of all our RLO families as you begin spring term. We realize this year has presented exceptional challenges; please remember that our full counseling staff is available and eager to help if your child would like to have personal or emotional help. We are in this together.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  Dean of Students Office

• Feb 5 - Lawrenceville's Spring 2021 Reopening Plans

  February 5, 2021
  
  Dear Lawrenceville Community,
  
  We remain hard at work and focused on our preparations to welcome Lawrentians back to campus this spring -- a time for growth, renewal, and reconnection. I am writing with several updates regarding the spring term, including an overview of our newly formed COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force, key enhancements we’ve made after evaluating our community’s experience this fall, health and wellness protocols, and a summary of our COVID-19 reporting dashboard. As in the fall, a key aspect driving our efforts to reopen campus is the recognition of the enormous benefit to the health and wellbeing of our students, who simply need to be together.
  
  Additional spring reopening details are available in Dean Eldridge's January 22 email and Dr. Kraut's February 4 email, and more information will be shared during our February 11 webinar. The webinar will be recorded and posted to our spring reopening webpage (www.lawrenceville.org/reopening).
  
  COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force
  The School has implemented a COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force to identify and respond to related community questions and concerns, and to develop vaccine-related policies. At this time, the School is strongly encouraging all employees to pre-register for the vaccine; the NJDOH will inform individuals when they are eligible to be vaccinated. It is important to note that at this time, vaccination status does not appreciably alter the policies for testing and isolation of individuals, per CDC and NJDOH guidelines. Preventative measures are as important as ever, irrespective of vaccination status. While the School is looking into making the vaccine available on campus, there are no plans to do so at this time. We will keep our community apprised if this changes.
  
  Adjustments from the Fall
  We have spent the past several weeks reviewing feedback from our community regarding the fall reopening experience and are planning to implement several key enhancements. Please note that these plans are all subject to change, as they are contingent upon the COVID-19 situation as campus arrival approaches.
  
  Residential Life: All boarding students on campus; roommates

  • In an effort to foster community and help ensure that our students feel a connection to Lawrenceville’s all-important House structure, we are currently planning to accommodate all boarding students on campus. The Hilton Garden Inn remains available to us as a potential quarantine site for non-positive cases (close contacts).
  • We plan to accommodate all students on campus by returning to a House system with roommates. In consultation with the NJDOH, it has been deemed that our Best for All practices and infrastructure enhancements, including new MERV-13 air filters in all student rooms, help create the conditions under which this is viable. Additionally, data from our experience in the fall, along with the lack of discernible spread at peer schools who adopted similar practices, gives us confidence in this approach for the spring. Importantly, this decision allows the School to quarantine close contacts off campus in a dedicated and secure space, further reducing possible spread of the virus.

  
  Athletics: Interscholastic competition
  

  • Our goal is to have interscholastic competition in all of the traditional spring sports. Currently, competition is limited to the state of New Jersey, given restrictions from the governor’s office. We continue to monitor the situation regularly and will keep our community apprised of changes as the spring term nears.
  • As in the fall, students electing to participate in club sports during the spring will not be permitted to attend on-campus activities (e.g. in-person classes, athletic practices/games, House activities, etc.). These students must contact rlo@lawrenceville.org to enroll in our Remote Learning Option.

  
  Community Building: Day students
  

  • We will strive to create a more inclusive community for our day students, and are currently examining ways to do this thoughtfully and prudently. Current commitments include welcoming day students to campus on Sundays, extending Bunn Library hours on Saturdays, and providing additional assigned restrooms. Further plans will be communicated as they evolve.

  
  Best for All Agreement
  

  • The Best for All Agreement will be amended to allow for greater transparency in terms of the discipline measures for community members who do not adhere to our community health and wellness expectations. Please note that the “three strikes” discipline system will reset in the spring from the fall.

  
  COVID-19 Dashboard Summary
  We will continue to report COVID-19 testing numbers daily at www.lawrenceville.org/dashboard. Below is a summary of our testing results to date.
  

  • The Lawrenceville School tested all employees, including auxiliary program staff, between August 20 and November 27. 8,955 tests were administered to 405 employees, with 19 positive results (.19% positivity rate).
  • The Lawrenceville School tested all on-campus boarding and day students between September 10 and November 20. 12,494 tests were administered to 775 students, with eight positive results (.06% positivity rate).
  • A total of three employees tested positive during the remote turkey term and winter term.
  • All community members have recovered, and there are no active cases.

  
  COVID-19 Notification Process
  In an effort to be fully transparent, the School will follow the same notification protocol from the fall.
  

  • Parents will be notified directly if their child tests positive or is identified as a contact of someone who has tested positive.
  • Parents will also be notified if someone in their child's House tests positive, or if one of their teachers tests positive, even if their child has not come into close contact with this individual.
  • Please note that we cannot reveal the identity of any individual who tests positive, or of those who were in contact with the individual.
  • As in the fall, students will receive a weekly email to confirm that we have received the latest COVID-19 test results from the prior week’s test dates.

  
  Communication
  We are committed to providing our families with helpful information as our community re-engages this spring.
  

  • All communications and planning updates can be accessed at www.lawrenceville.org/reopening.
  • You will continue to hear from the Dean of Students Office biweekly in the Big Red Bulletin, and we will communicate regularly as our spring reopening plans take shape.
  • If you have questions regarding our spring reopening plans in advance of the February 11 parent webinar, please email communication@lawrenceville.org.
  • Additional Q&A sessions around key elements of our reopening plans will be announced shortly.

  
  Looking Ahead
  Our community showed tremendous commitment, selflessness, patience, and discipline throughout the fall term, truly helping Lawrenceville achieve the best for all. The Lawrentian spirit has remained evident through the remote terms, and I know we are all ready to stand together once again this spring. Thank you for your continued support of one another and of our School through these uncertain times -- it has been an incredible gift.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  Stephen S. Murray H’54 ’55 ’65 ’16 P’16 ’21
  The Shelby Cullom Davis ’26 Head of School

• Feb 4 - Reopening Update from the Health Center

  
  February 4, 2021
  
  Dear Lawrenceville Parents,
  
  We are delighted to welcome students back to campus in five weeks! Following up the instructions you have received from Dean of Students Blake Eldridge, we would like to take this opportunity to draw your attention to several important details and reminders as we approach the reopening of our campus.
  
  Health Update Forms and Information:
  In the coming days, all families will be expected to fill out a Health Update that is required by the State of New Jersey. In addition to this form, we will be collecting information from all families on whether students have been diagnosed with COVID-19 within the past 90 days. Please watch your inbox for these forms and surveys from the Health & Wellness Center.
  
  Students who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 90 days will also be required to provide clearance documentation from their physician for a return to sports in the spring. This clearance follows the current guidance of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
  
  For students whose Pre-Participation Physical forms for this school year have expired, we will require that a current physical exam be performed and forms signed by their physician prior to arrival. If you receive an email from the Health Center indicating that your student’s physical forms have or will soon expire, please address this immediately. Per New Jersey guidelines, your student may not participate in any school sports or activities without a current physical clearance on file. (NJ Preparticipation Physical Exam Form)
  
  Pre-Arrival Testing Requirement:
  As indicated in the instructions from Dean Eldridge, we will require a negative PCR test for COVID-19, performed within the week prior to arrival, in order to be admitted to campus. Please note: In accordance with CDC/NJDOH guidelines, a test is NOT required for students who have documented COVID-19 infection within 90 days of the arrival date. Testing does still apply, however, to those who may have received the vaccine. We ask that you coordinate this testing through your pediatrician’s office and try to have the test performed as closely as possible to your arrival date (ideally within 5 days of arrival, but absolutely no earlier than 10 days before arrival). It is important to have results in-hand by the time of arrival. For those who are having difficulty arranging pre-arrival testing through their physician’s office, please email healthcenter@lawrenceville.org by Friday, February 26 for further guidance.
  
  Campus Onboarding and Screening:
  Arrival testing, initial quarantine for all students, and twice-weekly surveillance testing will proceed in the spring term using the same protocols that worked to keep our community healthy in the fall term. Those with documented COVID-19 infection will not be included in testing during the 90-day period from the date of diagnosis, however they are still subject to following all other protocols and procedures, including all preventive measures outlined in the Best for All agreement.
  
  We expect all students, irrespective of prior COVID-19 infection or vaccination status, to comply with strict COVID-cautious behaviors--as outlined in the Dean of Students letter--in the 14-day period prior to arrival. The current prevalence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in our region and across the globe is high, and, therefore, strict adherence to best preventive practices is more important than ever. If you are unsure whether your student is able to maintain the pre-arrival COVID-cautious measures during the 14 days prior to arrival to campus, please contact the Dean of Students Office for further guidance.
  
  Thank you for your attention to these items. A letter with additional details regarding our spring reopening plans will arrive in the next few days from Head of School Steve Murray, and you are invited to learn more at our parent webinar on February 11.
  
  Dr. Bruce Kraut
  Medical Director

• Jan 22 - Important Spring Planning Details

  From Blake Eldridge '96 H'12, Dean of Students
  
  January 22, 2021 
  
  Dear Lawrenceville Parents and Students,
  
  I trust this finds you well in the midst of a tumultuous time. To our families here and abroad, please know that Lawrenceville strives to remain a beacon of critical thinking and civil discourse, of hope and resilience. It is with this spirit that we continue to engage our students through the winter term, and also share our plans for coming together on campus once again this spring. Please read on for updates and details, as well as a registration link for our February 11 spring reopening webinar.
  
  COVID-Cautious Behaviors
  As in the fall, we will rely principally on social modifications and COVID-cautious practices to ensure the health and safety of all. Community members will use masks, social distancing, and enhanced hygiene for personal and community health, and we will continue with robust surveillance testing and contact tracing to monitor effectiveness and quickly identify asymptomatic cases to interrupt and mitigate the spread of infection. Lawrenceville is strongly encouraging its faculty and staff to pre-register for a COVID-19 vaccine, which is being distributed by the state in a phased approach over the next six months.
  
  Remote Learning Option
  We will continue to offer our Remote Learning Option (RLO) for students who cannot travel or who choose to continue their Lawrenceville experience remotely this spring. RLO students will:
  

  • participate in all aspects of academic and campus life entirely remotely.
  • follow the class schedule, which is based on the U.S. Eastern time zone.

  
  We ask families to notify us by February 15 if they would like to exercise the Remote Learning Option; families who elected RLO in the fall and would like to remain remote need to re-elect for the spring. Please send an email to rlo@lawrenceville.org if your student will be remote. We will assume your student will be in person on campus unless you confirm your RLO request in writing. All tuition rates remain the same as reflected in the enrollment agreement for the 2020-2021 school year.
  
  Return to Campus
  Here is some important information to consider in your planning, though please remember that these plans are still subject to change based upon CDC and NJ State guidelines and requirements and the conditions on campus:
  
  1. Return schedule
  
  All boarding studentswill return to campus on March 12 or 13 to complete an on-campus quarantine. Our quarantine and reopening plans require that all students be tested and clear from quarantine to begin in-person activities on March 25. As a result, we will host all boarding students, including those from NJ, PA, NY, and CT on campus for quarantine. Students will not be permitted to quarantine at home before returning to campus for in-person activities. Students must have a negative COVID-19 test performed no earlier than 10 days prior to their arrival to campus. It is the family’s responsibility to secure the test.
  
  All day students are required to quarantine at home beginning on March 12 and will begin testing on campus on March 14 so they can be cleared for in-person activities on the 25th. Students must have a negative COVID-19 test performed no earlier than 10 days prior to their campus arrival. It is the family’s responsibility to secure the test.
  
  2. Hybrid Classes
  
  As we did in the fall, we will continue to use our hybrid teaching model this spring, with some students present in the classroom and some students participating in real time via Zoom using the same academic daily schedule.
  
  3. Roommates
  
  We plan to fully repopulate campus, reserving the Hilton Garden Inn (HGI) for quarantine use only. As a result, we will open doubles, triples, and quads in the Houses so boarding students will be residing in their affiliated House. Additional infrastructure enhancements for the spring include MERV-13 air filters (which will continue to be used in the classrooms) in all doubles, triples, and quads. All boarding students should be prepared for the possibility of having a roommate(s), and we will make room placements based upon House architecture and the roommate preferences from last year’s Housing cards (from returning students). We cannot guarantee a single room for any student.
  
  4. Best for All Agreement
  
  Our success in the fall was due in large part to the community’s collective commitment to our Best for All Agreement, which will remain in effect. Community members will reaffirm their commitment to the health and wellbeing of all.
  
  5. Testing/Community Health
  
  We will continue to test all community members on campus, and we will continue to use our isolation rooms and HGI for illness or contact quarantine, separating confirmed, suspected, and possible cases from the rest of the campus community.
  
  6. Interscholastic Athletics and Co-Curriculars
  
  Lawrenceville will continue to follow guidance and protocols from the relevant athletic governing bodies, NJDOH, and Executive Orders from Governor Murphy. Our goal is to compete in interscholastic sports this spring. At this point, we expect the traditional spring sports (girls’/boys’ track and field, boys’ tennis, softball, baseball, girls’/boys’ lacrosse, girls’/boys’ golf, girls’/boys’ crew) to field teams, and we will make adjustments for fall and winter team training if spring interscholastic competition is not a viable option. All other co-curriculars, performing arts, and community service will operate as they did during the fall term.
  
  Parent Q&A Session
  Please join us on Thursday, February 11 at 5 p.m. ET for a Q&A session regarding our spring reopening plans. This session will be recorded and shared in theBig Red Bulletin. Please click here to register.
  
  Thank you for your trust in and support of Lawrenceville. Together, we can create a memorable and inspiring spring term.
  
  Sincerely,
  Blake Eldridge '96 H'12
  Dean of Students