Letter from Head of School Charley Stillwell with update on preparations for 2020-21
June 28, 2020

Dear Parents,
 
I write to invite you to a virtual meeting on Wednesday, July 1, at 7:30 p.m. EST, that will provide an update on our continuing preparations related to Covid-19 for the 2020-21 academic year as well as announce some early decisions we have made regarding next year’s school calendar.
 
A task force of more than 20 EHS faculty and staff members began in early May to prepare for the students’ return to the Hill. You can see a list of the task force members here. That group, along with a special task force of trustees, is crafting our reopening plan based on the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and other government agencies but also in consultation with colleges, peer schools, and experts in public health.
 
We have two overarching goals: to resume the residential education program and community life that are Episcopal’s hallmarks while also minimizing and managing the risk of Covid-19.
 
At Wednesday’s meeting, Dr. Adrianna Bravo, our medical director, will outline the measures being planned for the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff, including initial decisions regarding testing and screening. Along with her Health Center team, Dr. Bravo is spearheading our work and aligning our plans for all elements of school life with science-based, best-practice protocols and recommendations.
 
Because it is important that you know how Episcopal will maintain community and advance its educational mission when campus reopens, we will talk about preparations focused on individual elements of campus life, including academics and housing and student life.
 
While we may not yet have answers to all your questions, we want to give you an update on our progress and plan to present the formal outline of our plan in mid-July, with additional communications in August and leading up to the start of the year. It is important that we share our work to date, seek your input, and build on the partnership with you that will be critical in the fall. If you would like, click here to suggest topics you would like addressed in Wednesday’s session.
 
If you cannot join us, please know that we will make a recording of the discussion available in the Resources section of the parent portal on the Virtual Meetings page. Families that are new to Episcopal can also find the recording here.
 
Please find here the instructions to log in and phone in to the meeting. I look forward to our time together on Wednesday.
 
Sincerely,

 

Charles M. Stillwell
Head of School