Campus Response to COVID-19

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This page will continue to be updated; please check back frequently.

June 1, 2020

Like you, we are navigating the uncertainty caused by this virus and its spread; our goal is to prioritize the health and safety of our community by making decisions guided by medical experts and good judgment. As we continually monitor the situation and scale of COVID-19, we want to not only emphasize the importance of keeping our community safe and healthy but informed as well. To that end, Canterbury has adopted CDC guidelines to create travel and health protocols for our community. Please see our FAQ below for more information.

Update on July 1, 2020: Knowing that each week will bring greater clarity and improve our ability to plan, we will proceed toward September under the expectation that both our boarding and day students will return for classes as originally planned the week of September 7th. Certainly this timeline assumes that the medical landscape continues to improve and that Canterbury can meet the public health expectations established by the CDC and the State of Connecticut in order to take excellent care of our community. Along the way, we will provide updates as possible when we reliably and transparently can.

Please read our most recent communication (July 1, 2020) to families for more information.

April 14, 2020 Message from Rachel Stone

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Health & Travel Guidelines for Our Community and Campus Visitors

Health & Travel Guidelines for Our Community and Campus Visitors

Updated March 17, 2020

The CDC has an alert system that provides critical guidelines around travel. Those warning levels are: Warning Level 3 (avoid nonessential travel); Alert Level 2 (practice enhanced precautions); and Watch Level 1 (practice usual precautions).

Any person — including all students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and visitors to Canterbury’s campus — who has recently traveled to a country which is listed as Warning Level 3 will be required to remain off campus for 14 days before coming to Canterbury’s campus or attending a Canterbury-sponsored event; Canterbury School reserves the right to require proof of recent travel.

Similarly, if a student or member of the Canterbury community has had contact with a person who has traveled to a Warning Level 3 or someone that has tested positive or been exposed to a suspected case of COVID-19, that student or person should not come to Canterbury’s campus or attend a Canterbury-sponsored event for 14 days.

The CDC is continually evaluating these ratings, and countries could change ratings without notice. Furthermore, new countries and regions could be added, including parts of the United States. Warning levels are updated by the CDC on its website. We encourage you to stay current on the status of locations where you live, work, and visit.

For the well being of the entire Canterbury community, we expect transparency from all members of the community, all visitors to campus, and all attendees at Canterbury-sponsored events about the following:

Potential exposure to COVID-19
Travel to Warning Level 3 countries or regions
Contact with any person who has traveled to Warning Level 3
Domestic travel locations and dates, especially travel to areas with wide-spread community transmission, ex. Seattle, WA; New Rochelle, NY
Contact with anyone that has tested Positive for COVID-19 or is under investigation

Thank you for your help to keep the Canterbury community safe and in good health.

Sincerely,

Rachel Stone Ken Marici, MD Colleen Cook, RN
Head of School School Physician Director of Health Center

Frequently Asked Questions

The information in our FAQ is our most current thinking. We will update the information as quickly as it becomes available. Please understand that the current COVID-19 pandemic is fluid and changing by the hour. We will do our best to be as responsive as possible.

Is Canterbury's campus closed?
On-campus visits have resumed as of Monday, June 15, 2020. So that we can follow all health and safety precautions, tours are offered by appointment only and limited to one family at a time. To schedule your tour, simply give us a call at (860) 210-3832 or send us an email at admissions@cbury.org.

When will students return to campus?
On April 14, 2020, we made the difficult decision to extend the closure of campus through the end of the 2019-20 school year in accordance with the state of Connecticut's "state-at-home" order (issued on April 9), and distance learning began on March 30.

What steps is the School taking to keep coronavirus from campus?

Monitoring Reliable Sources
Canterbury continues to monitor health updates and travel advisories from the CDC, WHO, CT Department of Health, and Homeland Security. The School is also in regular contact with peer schools, institutions of higher learning, and the local health department.
Following Travel Guidelines & Tracking Travel
Canterbury has suspended all domestic and international trips. Please see our Health and Travel Guidelines above for our up-to-date protocol.

All community members traveling domestically and internationally have been asked to provide the School with travel destinations and dates so that we may best plan and prepare for return to campus.
Strict Health and Social protocols
While we do have people still on campus, we are currently limiting access and closing campus to those that do not need to be here in an effort to mitigate any spread of the disease. Faculty and staff are abiding by strict health and safety protocols.
Cleaning Campus
All dormitories, academic buildings and athletic areas are routinely undergo a series of deep cleaning and disinfecting using CDC registered antimicrobial products used against the Coronavirus-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19. Cleaning and disinfecting will continue to happen on a daily basis. All buildings on campus are equipped with hand sanitizing stations.

Where is Canterbury getting their guidance on the coronavirus and where do you suggest we look if we have questions?
Canterbury’s COVID-19 Crisis Management Team is consulting with medical professionals and staying current with updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the CT Department of Health, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for accurate and timely information. We suggest referring to these, and other reliable sources if you have further questions about the disease and its spread.

We are also in regular communication with state and local health departments, Connecticut Association of Independent Schools (CAIS), The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS), and peer institutions. Our employee health insurance provider ConnectiCare has a COVID-19 resource page here.

Who is Canterbury’s COVID-19 Crisis Management Team?
Head of School Rachel Stone
Director of Health Services Colleen Cook
School Physician Ken Marici
Associate Head of School for Operations Pete Cotier
Associate Head of School for Academics Sue Roberts
Assistant Head of School for Student Life Peter LaVigne
Business Manager Steve Carleton, CPA

What can international families expect in terms of maintaining or applying for their F1 Student Visas?
Our International Student Coordinator works closely with the Office of Admission, the Student Life Office, and the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to ensure the school has followed SEVIS guidelines. All required procedural adaptations to the delivery of our curriculum will be provided to SEVP for evaluation and approval. We will remain in contact with the students/families of our F1 Visa students to provide updates and answer questions as they arise. Both new and returning families can expect that we will work closely with them to remain up to date on any changes and ensure all procedures are followed in acquiring F1 Student Visas for the 2020-2021 Academic Year.

Where can incoming students find information for the 2020-21 school year?
We are excited to welcome and plan ahead for our newly-enrolling students. Accepted students can find more information here and inquiring students can visit our Admissions page to learn more.

Recent Communications

The following communications have been sent to families and guardians.

July 1 — Fall 2020 Reopening Update

July 1, 2020

To the Canterbury Community,

Warm summer greetings from New Milford. As we officially transition to the 2020-21 school year, we are writing with the latest updates regarding next year as the second of three official letters to the extended Canterbury family (June 1 State of the School linked here).

The most accurate description regarding the return of our students this fall remains cautiously optimistic. On the one hand, outlined below is a tentative calendar that aims for a school schedule that is as normal as possible in hopes of establishing a familiar, effective, and healthy routine for our students. From August training for our student leaders to new course offerings (and the fall opening of the Steers Center!), our goal is to retain the spirit and sense of belonging that are hallmarks of the Canterbury community. On the other hand, we acknowledge that the pace and pattern of our routines on campus will include necessary changes, from socially-distanced academic and dining spaces, to the importance of wearing masks and the role of COVID-19 antigen testing throughout the year. Along the way, our commitment to our students and to meeting their needs is unwavering, and we are intently focused on welcoming back our school community come September.

To that end, please find below a series of updates.

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I. Calendar Update
We will be offering a number of academic enrichment opportunities starting the week of July 6; please see a Donovan Center for Learning update from Associate Head of School for Academics, Sue Roberts, later today. This letter will also provide updates regarding your child’s courses for 2020-21.

Week of July 13: Letter from our Student Life Office regarding family forms and questionnaires, students’ Faculty Advisors, the Big Brother/Big Sister program, student dress code updates for the fall semester, and the timeline/process/option for boarding students to bring items to their dormitories prior to registration.

July 21: Virtual Town Hall Meeting for New & Returning Families

Topic: Athletics. Further details and registration link to come.

August 19: Virtual Town Hall Meeting for New & Returning Families

Topic: Final Details regarding the Fall Semester. Further details and registration link to come.

Beginning August 17: In order to address the current complexities of international travel, our international students will be welcomed back to campus for dormitory move-in beginning on August 17. We understand that current travel restrictions require some international students to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in the United States and/or to quarantine in a third country prior to arrival in the United States. For all of our international families, please continue to review the current CDC travel restrictions, to reach out to Director of International Students, Gillian Ritter, with updates or questions, and to know that we are also closely monitoring these protocols and are eager to work individually with each international family.

August 17-30: Boarding students will have the option to sign up through the Student Life Office to bring belongings to dormitory rooms in a staged, scheduled manner. Details to follow from Assistant Head of School for Student Life, Peter LaVigne, and Dean of Students, Jake Dellorco.

August 31 (a.m.): Student Leaders return for registration and dormitory move-in. Information regarding specific arrival times to come.

Leadership Training begins.

September 2 (p.m.): Sixth Form and Postgraduates (Senior Class) return for registration and boarding student dormitory move-in. Information regarding specific arrival times to come.

Our Fall Athletic Preseason was initially scheduled to begin on September 2. As Canterbury’s plans for athletics continue to clarify, we ask for your patience regarding the start of practices for fall teams. We will provide an athletic update during the July 21 Town Hall.

September 3: Fifth Form (Junior Class) returns for registration and boarding student dormitory move-in. Information regarding specific arrival times to come.

September 4: Fourth Form (Sophomore Class) returns for registration and boarding student dormitory move-in. Information regarding specific arrival times to come.

September 5: Third Form (Freshman Class) returns for registration and boarding student dormitory move-in. Information regarding specific arrival times to come.

September 6: Orientation activities held for all students (required community event).

September 7: Classes begin.

Virtual Fall Family Weekend (date TBD)

November 21: Classes end for Thanksgiving Break.

December 1 - December 17: Our plans for the final weeks of the Fall Semester remain flexible. We know that some boarding schools have already decided that students will not return to campus between the November and December vacations and will instead pivot fully to distance learning; we will continue to monitor the COVID-19 medical updates in order to make as informed a decision as we can regarding a return to campus for in-person classes vs. a shift to distance learning. If at all possible, we will bring our community back together to finish the semester safely and productively.

January 5: Spring Semester classes begin on campus.

Spring Semester: We ask for your patience regarding our plans following the December break. Once we are back on campus as a full community, we will finalize our January-June calendar.

These calendar dates reflect our best predictions at this point in time and are subject to change should the State of Connecticut guidelines and/or medical landscape shift in ways that prevent Canterbury from opening as scheduled. We understand that students who travel a great distance to join our community have questions about the availability of staying on campus during breaks, and we are working in earnest to address those questions. Finally, we would ask that all of our families continue to monitor local and national/international travel guidelines/restrictions; the State of Connecticut currently has a Travel Advisory in effect for several states, which we are closely tracking and about which we will provide an update in our August 1 communication.

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II. Medical Update
We have learned a great deal about COVID-19 since our students departed in March, and there is general consensus—both among the broader medical community as well as within Canterbury’s Medical Task Force—that the ways in which we can most significantly reduce the arrival and spread of illness on our campus rely on two critical components: 1) all students, faculty, and staff check for symptoms daily and seek medical care if feeling unwell; and 2) all members of the Canterbury community practice good hygiene and adhere to safety protocols (e.g., engage in social distancing and wear face masks as is reasonably possible). Our shared, persistent commitment to these practices will serve as our community’s best defense against coronavirus and our best avenue toward a healthy, productive, on-campus experience this fall.

This commitment will include:

“Quiet” period for students, faculty, and staff prior to students’ return to campus. We will ask all families to be particularly attentive to your child’s travel and interactions during the two weeks leading up to registration on campus in order to limit points of intersection with COVID-positive friends and relatives.

COVID-19 (PCR) Testing within four days prior to each student’s arrival on campus. Students must arrive for registration with official medical documentation of a negative test. At this time, antibody testing cannot be used to replace PCR testing. We know that the logistics of scheduling a test within this four-day window may be challenging for a small group of our families; please be in touch with Director of Health Services, Colleen Cook, if you have questions or concerns about scheduling the PCR test prior to your child’s return to campus. For a list of resources to help families identify testing locations, please click here.

Prior to returning to campus, parents and students will review and agree to Canterbury’s Medical Response Action Plan and Informed Consent language (regarding adherence to safety protocols and understanding of the reasonable risk associated with COVID-19). These documents will be shared digitally as part of Canterbury’s August 1 community letter.

Daily symptom checks. All students, faculty, and staff will be asked to self-check for symptoms daily and seek medical attention if experiencing symptoms. Details regarding these protocols will be included in our August 1 Medical Response Action Plan.

Testing protocols will continue throughout the school year and will be communicated with families as part of Canterbury’s Medical Response Action Plan. We will have an antigen quick testing device in our Health Center for use by our medical team for testing of symptomatic students, and our testing protocols for surveillance screening will be shaped by forthcoming state guidelines.

In the case of a positive COVID-19 test on campus, a family member will be required to take their child home for isolation if ill or for quarantine if considered a close contact. For families living further away than 300 miles/five-hour drive, an emergency contact/local guardian must be identified (as is the School’s expectation every year). We will have the ability to manage only short-term (<24 hours) isolation/quarantine on campus.

Canterbury’s medical and safety practices will include comprehensive use of PPE, cleaning supplies, cleaning protocols, and hand sanitizers following CDC and State of Connecticut Department of Public Health guidelines. We will have multiple members of our faculty and staff trained as certified contact tracers, will create separate “well” and “unwell” spaces in the Health Center, and will continue to be guided by: 1) local and state advisories and viral activity (new positive case rates and new hospitalizations) and 2) the Report of The Higher Education Subcommittee ReOpen Connecticut, the CT Independent School ReOpen Plan Education Subcommittee, and the State of Connecticut K-12 ReOpen Report. In addition, it is important and reassuring to note that COVID statistics in Connecticut are among the very best in the United States and that the June 25 American Academy of Pediatrics report (COVID-19 Planning Considerations: Guidance for School Re-entry) highlights: “The AAP strongly advocates that all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with a goal of having students physically present in school.”

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III. Academic & Athletic Update
As noted in our June 1 community letter, we know that the need for remote learning may continue into the fall for some students while others may need to engage in remote learning for short stretches during the year for a variety of reasons. Details regarding the structure of Canterbury’s remote learning option (an option that will provide access to our on-campus academic courses) will be shared in our August 1 letter; the prorated cost will be available to those families whose children cannot return to campus due to government-mandated travel restrictions or in the case of a temporary campus shut-down.

Our Athletic update remains unchanged from June: we are hopeful that fall athletics will be offered, albeit with additional safety protocols in place. In the meantime, we continue to closely monitor the experience and protocols of local/regional summer athletic programs that have begun, to learn from decisions among college athletic conferences, to take cues from the State of Connecticut, and to be in conversation with peer boarding schools. Additionally and in collaboration with peer schools, our athletic department is strategizing how to best support, develop, and showcase our athletes this fall, particularly those athletes who experienced a lack of exposure to the college recruiting process this past spring. We look forward to providing our latest thinking during the July 21 Virtual Town Hall.

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IV. Our Ongoing Commitment toward Building/Sustaining a Diverse and Inclusive Community
There is no question that our School’s focus on DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) work has run in concert with our focus on a healthy opening for the fall. You have seen recent communications from our hilltop regarding the Canterbury Faculty DEI Committee as well as our student forums and faculty forums, which will continue meeting throughout the summer (and years ahead) to read, reflect, discuss, and create action plans regarding critically important topics centered on anti-racism. In addition, we are building the framework for a broader committee that will involve student, alumni, trustee, staff, and faculty representatives of the Canterbury family, a committee whose work will begin in earnest this fall to help craft the long-term goals and roadmap reflective of Canterbury’s enduring commitment to social justice and to a diverse and inclusive school community. Regarding our most immediate short-term steps, we will seek feedback/perspective from members of the extended Canterbury family through structured focus groups, and we will formally open the 2020-21 school year with DEI-focused professional development.

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V. Closing Thoughts
Amid the chronic uncertainty and unrest we face today, let us not forget the hope and optimism we feel when envisioning the return of our students and reconnection of the Canterbury community. It is important that we prepare our students for new community norms around health and safety—indeed, things will look different!—as we also remind them that the relationships we build on this hilltop will not be precluded by masks and social distancing. To be sure, our returning students have carried the spirit and soul of this remarkable School with them since March, and they will share it with the new members of our community come September.

Until then, please continue to check our Opening of School 2020-2021 webpage and to stay healthy and safe throughout the summer. We shall stay in touch along the way.

Gratefully...and Go Saints!

Medical Task Force
Head of School Rachel Stone P ʼ23, ʼ24
Director of Health Services Colleen Cook R.N. ʼ02
School Physician Ken Marici M.D. ʼ87, P ʼ20, ʼ22
Trustee Anna Flik M.D. P ʼ21
Associate Head of School for Operations Pete Cotier ʼ86, P ʼ19, ʼ20
Associate Head of School for Academics Sue Roberts P ʼ24
Assistant Head of School for Student Life Peter LaVigne P ʼ14, ʼ16, ʼ17, ʼ20, ʼ23
Business Manager Stephen Carleton P ʼ16, ʼ20

June 1, 2020 – State of the School Message

June 1, 2020

To the Canterbury Community,

June greetings. We trust this letter finds you and your loved ones healthy and safe. As the coronavirus-impacted world begins to reopen, we are reaching out to all members of the extended Canterbury family with a State of the School update regarding the strength and stability of Canterbury, our ongoing COVID-19 planning, and our timeline for decisions moving forward.

On May 23rd, we shepherded the Class of 2020 across the virtual Commencement finish line and congratulated them on staying the course despite the unexpected hurdles placed in their way. As I said to the Sixth Form that morning: "Thank you for being my, and Mr. Stone's, diehard copilot class. For never taking this place for granted. For managing the disappointment and disruption of this spring with grace, humility, and resilience. And for loving this school, and one another, so deeply." Now, we turn our full attention to the 2020-2021 school year and the path forward to bringing our community back together on this hilltop.

Most critical to today's letter are the following key messages: 1) Canterbury remains an excellent, transformative option for students, now more than ever; 2) We plan to bring our students back to campus this fall, with classes to begin the week of September 7th; and 3) the financial, medical, and human infrastructure of our School is both enduring and extraordinary.

I. Why Canterbury: While the experience and program offered by Canterbury have always been life-changing, our ability to meet the needs of students and families in the wake of coronavirus is simply unmatched. We are a deliberately small, student-centered community in safe, rural western Connecticut. Our response this spring to stay connected to, and present for, our students was overwhelmingly well-received by our families; we are proud of the success of our Distance Learning Plan as well as our Student Life framework, from consistent touchpoints by advisors and coaches to virtual weekend activities and an explosion of student-driven social media.

Moreover, we place the highest priority on the self-advocacy, independence, and personal growth of each student, and we foster that academic, athletic/artistic, and ethical growth by knowing our students as individuals and expecting them to play an active and engaged leadership role in building community. As the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged each of us to affirm and prioritize our values, Canterbury stands as a reminder that excellent academic programming can be interwoven with an unwavering system of values: Honesty, Respect, Compassion, Spirituality & Self-Reliance. Indeed, our School's mission to "inspire moral leaders in a complex, secular world" is as relevant and important now as ever. As both an educator and parent, I cannot imagine a better time for families to consider boarding school as an option for their teenage children. What our community can offer and inspire simply cannot be replicated by day and public schools.

II. Student Return: What we have learned about COVID-19 over the past three months will continue to grow exponentially in June, July, and August. Knowing that each week will bring greater clarity and improve our ability to plan, we will proceed toward September under the expectation that both our boarding and day students will return for classes as originally planned the week of September 7th. Certainly this timeline assumes that the medical landscape continues to improve and that Canterbury can meet the public health expectations established by the CDC and the State of Connecticut in order to take excellent care of our community. Along the way, we will provide updates as possible when we reliably and transparently can regarding the following topics, a list that is incomplete at best:

Our Partnership with Parents: To reiterate prior messaging, a successful return of our students to campus will rely on our continued strong communication and collaboration with our parents/families. This partnership will include expectations regarding testing protocols (types, frequency, response to outcomes), summer medical physical exams, compliance with on- and off-campus safety protocols for our students, and acknowledgement of reasonable risk. We will share Canterbury's Medical Response Action Plan by August 1st and ask that all families read, discuss, and acknowledge their understanding of the expectations and responsibilities placed on the School, our students, and our parents/families.

Remote Learning Option: We know that for some families, the need for remote learning may continue into the fall. We plan to offer a robust virtual academic program this fall (and winter and spring as needed) that provides access to our traditional and innovative on-campus academic schedule. For enrolled students who need to access the Remote Learning option (due to travel restrictions, illness, or other complications), Canterbury will adjust tuition and fees accordingly. Details regarding the Remote Learning Option, and its cost, will be available by August 1st.

Athletics: We understand that our students deeply value both the individual physical/emotional growth they experience through athletics and the benefits (and joys) of team competition. We are paying close attention to decisions made across local and state organizations, peer boarding schools, and higher education. As of today's letter, there is promising news regarding athletic competition and avenues by which our Saints can resume play. As we determine when we can begin practices on campus—with the goal of interscholastic competition to follow—the safety and health of our student-athletes will be at the forefront of all decisions.

Student Leadership: We still plan to bring our 2020-21 student leaders back to campus for training prior to the start of classes, most likely as the "first wave" of students to move into dormitories and learn our new safety protocols in order to help model and norm them in their interactions on our hilltop.

We plan to share formal updates by July 1st and August 1st and will offer relevant details along the way as possible; please also continue to check our Opening of School 2020-2021 webpage. In addition, I am fortunate to have been invited to serve on the TABS (The Association of Boarding Schools) Healthy Opening & Operation Committee, a small working group that meets twice weekly to: "provide boarding school leaders and practitioners with concrete resources and actionable ideas that can help boarding schools open and operate in the healthiest possible way." Finally, please note that Canterbury is on track to receive a Reopen CT Badge as part of our staged reopening this summer for employees, and we are following the guidance provided by the Reopen CT: Report of the Higher Education Subcommittee for the fall.

III. School Infrastructure: To be sure, COVID-19 has disrupted the world's medical and economic foundation. We know that members of the Canterbury family have been affected as well, and we extend our thoughts and prayers to you. As this healing continues, we believe that it is important for our broad community to know that our Trustees and Leadership Team have confidence in the vitality of Canterbury's infrastructure:

Our teaching faculty have not only risen to face the challenges presented by COVID-19 but have taken professional and personal ownership to sustain the attention, expertise, and presence we provide our students. Their devotion to Canterbury is unparalleled. Meanwhile, our Administrative Team—in partnership with our Board of Trustees—has been stalwart in responding to a disrupted spring with persistence, creativity, and devotion to the sustained well-being of this community.

Careful stewardship of your financial support to Canterbury is very important to us, particularly in the face of the significant turbulence in the financial markets created by COVID-19. Thanks to our Investment Committee, along with our Investment Advisor, the Canterbury Endowment has defended well during these last few months. Moreover, we are not only on track to exceed our FY '20 Annual Fund goal but were thrilled and humbled by the outpouring of support during our May 19th Saints Giving Day: our aim was 300 donors and $100,000 to unlock a $100,000 match...and our outcome was more than 600 donors with $223,631 raised! Furthermore, we are on track to open the Steers Center this fall, a project inspired by our students and reflective of our commitment to innovative academics grounded by values. We believe that these successes will propel us toward the finish line for our capital campaign and help galvanize the critical work of growing Canterbury's endowment.

As we create the roadmap toward welcoming students back this fall, we are fortunate to be located in Litchfield County, where the COVID-19 statistics (incidence, prevalence, mortality) have been low since March and have become increasingly reassuring. In addition, our campus is located less than one mile from New Milford Hospital, and our Medical Task Force benefits from the extraordinary leadership, wisdom, and gravitas of School Physician Dr. Ken Marici '87, Director of Health Services Colleen Cook, RN '02, and Trustee/Pediatrician Dr. Anna Flik P'21. Just as we work toward preventing the spread of coronavirus within our community, we also work to address the physical and emotional health challenges experienced by our students during this time apart. Indeed, wellness is multifaceted and demands a collaborative, community-centered approach.

We hope this State of the School provides clarity, reassurance, and confidence in our School. I look forward to connecting with our alumni virtually this weekend, and we will be inviting newly enrolled families to a virtual Town Hall on June 10th. Finally, please encourage friends and family with teenage children to attend our Admission Virtual Open Houses on June 24th and July 22nd.

We can't wait to welcome our students back to campus this fall!

Go Saints!

Gratefully,

Alternate text

Rachel E. Stone P '23, '24
Head of School

Alternate text

Robert H. Steers '71, P '11
President, Board of Trustees

Previous Communications

May 19, 2020

Dear Canterbury Families,

As we begin our final week of the academic year, I wanted to remind you of the special events and happenings on the hilltop this week. The celebration starts tonight with Canterbury’s Underform Awards Assembly and continues tomorrow evening with the Sixth Form Assembly. Both events are at 7 PM. To find the livestream links to these and all events this week, please view our Commencement 2020 website.

The Sixth Formers have a busy week (Senior Week) including several Commencement rehearsals, starting with this afternoon’s required meeting at 3:30 PM. In addition, the seniors will have their final school meeting tomorrow morning at 10 AM where we will honor this year’s Cantuarian dedicatee. We will also confer several athletic awards during this school meeting. The seniors finish classes tomorrow afternoon and begin their Senior Seminar Series on Wednesday morning.

The Underformers have classes through the end of week and finish Friday with their own special school meeting at 2:15 PM. All students and families are invited to the Baccalaureate Mass being livestreamed on Friday night at 7 PM. Similarly, our entire community is invited to Commencement on Saturday morning at 10 AM.

As mentioned, our Commencement page has all the links you need to watch the events this week. Let me or Jake Dellorco know if you have any questions.

Go Saints!

Peter LaVigne
Assistant Head of School for Student Life

May 12, 2020

Dear Canterbury Families,

With just ten days remaining in the spring semester, I am writing to ensure that our Canterbury families have the information you need for these final two weeks as well as to touch base once again regarding next fall.

For our Sixth Form parents, the final countdown begins! Your children have continued to impress us with their approach to such an unexpected finish to their senior year and have been overwhelmingly generous in spirit, nostalgia and gratitude. As they experience their last academic moments as Saints and transition into Senior Seminars and Commencement Week events, we appreciate all that you are doing to help them focus on the extraordinary accomplishment that their Canterbury graduation will be. As a reminder, the Commencement 2020 webpage has been updated and will host the livestream links for our virtual Sixth Form Assembly (May 19), Baccalaureate Mass (May 22), and Commencement (May 23). Finally, kudos to our AP Art Students whose Exhibition is tonight at 6:30; don’t miss it!

For our Underform parents, your children are wrapping up their academic courses in various culminating endeavors as they also begin to select their classes for the fall. Please continue to help them finish the year on a high note by reviewing their assignments via your parent portal. All Underformers will be expected to attend the virtual Underform Assembly on May 18 at 7:00 PM (EST) as well as the final (Zoom) School Meeting of the year on May 22 at 2:15 PM (EST). Their Advisors and Academic Counselors are available and ready to help!

Tomorrow morning’s Parent Q&A will provide an opportunity to discuss any additional year-end topics but will largely focus on next year. As I noted in my April 27 communication:

As we reach clarity about 2020-21, we remain fully committed to offering a program for your children that we believe will best meet their needs come September. From academic and college counseling programs focused intentionally on individual growth and success; to the strength and values of our community (and familiarity to returning students); to the small size, rural location, and medical infrastructure of our town and campus; Canterbury is here for you. And we are here for you whether we open right on time (hopefully), October 1st, in a hybrid model, or remotely. Thank you for your patience and partnership.

I wish I could say that now — two weeks later — we have all the answers, but like every educational institution, we are living at the nexus of persistence and patience as we do our best to plan ahead. As a small boarding school, Canterbury draws both comparisons to, and distinctions from, the roadmaps which colleges, K-12 day schools, and public schools will build toward 2020-21. To that end, we are paying close attention to various reports and recommendations as we engage in conversations and tabletop sessions with peer boarding schools; we have included a sampling of resources from the state of Connecticut, the National Association of Independent Schools, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association:

ReOpen CT: Report of the Higher Education Subcommittee*

*Because of our residential program, boarding schools are included in the Higher Ed report, but we also await the ReOpen CT Report of the K-12 Subcommittee.

We know that both the breadth and depth of information woven throughout these reports are overwhelming and raise more questions than provide answers. That said, our goal is to share the resources we are accessing with you in the spirit of good communication. Please also know that we have a standing biweekly Medical Task Force meeting with members of our administrative team, Director of Health Services Colleen Cook ’02, School Physician Ken Marici ’87, and a member of our Board of Trustees who is also a current parent and practicing pediatrician. As Canterbury’s specific plans take shape, we will keep all of our families updated in a timely and transparent manner.

To be sure, a successful return of our students to campus will rely on our continued strong partnership with all of you. As an example: consistent across medical updates and government recommendations is the critical role that testing will play in monitoring and managing the safety of our students, faculty, and staff (both testing for COVID-19 and testing for antibodies as an avenue toward measuring our community’s level of herd immunity). Canterbury’s Medical Team will need to work with families to achieve a consistent level of accurate testing. Ultimately, we will have a Medical Response Action Plan to share that will address a full array of details, from those parameters surrounding our students’ safe return to those we will abide by in the case of a positive test on campus. While I am getting ahead of myself, my intention is to further plant the seed that our collaboration with all of you will be even more essential when campus reopens. I am truly grateful to work with the families who have chosen Canterbury.

I hope that many of you will join us tomorrow morning (Wednesday, May 13) for our weekly Parent Q&A, which begins at 8:15 AM (EST). While I will provide some framing, the bulk of our time together will allow for questions. If you are unable to attend, a recording of the session will be made available here. Finally, Week 3 of Epidemiology runs this afternoon at 4:30 PM (EST)!

Thank you for everything you do to support Canterbury and our Saints. Stay safe.

Gratefully,

Rachel E. Stone P’23, ’24
Head of School

May 5, 2020

May 5, 2020

Dear Canterbury Families,

The spring weather is finally cooperating and I hope that you are all able to get outside a bit and enjoy it! I write today with a few academic updates, announcements, and reminders.

We are now one week away from the beginning of at-home AP exams. If you are an AP student/family, please see the guide found here which includes final preparations to be completed in the week ahead. For students registered to take an AP World Languages exam, be on the lookout for information sent directly from the College Board regarding the AP World Languages Exam App which will be made available to download the week of May 11.

In case you missed it, Fifth Form families received a message from Sarah Ferland, Director of College Counseling, earlier today regarding the Virtual College Day Series. Fifth Form college workgroups have been busy in Mock Admission Committees!

The Commencement 2020 website has been updated to include the events for end-of-year celebrations. Please check back to this page for livestream links and recordings of the events once they have concluded. If you would like to leave an individual message for a member of the Class of 2020, our message board is now open and receiving messages!

Boarding families who would like to retrieve their child’s belongings in the dorms should consult the Move Out Procedure. Day families should reach out directly to EJ Soifersmith and/or Peter LaVigne.

Canterbury has created a new Instagram account to celebrate the class of 2020. Follow CburyGrads2020 to get involved in celebrating our Sixth Formers.

Last week began the four-session Epidemiology Seminar series with Rachel Stone. This afternoon at 4:30 PM, the second session will review the Public Health Framework. Rachel will share her knowledge of the field to offer some foundational elements of epidemiology and public health that may serve as a resource during this unprecedented time (read more & register).

Finally, we hope parents will join us for tomorrow morning’s Weekly Parent Q&A which begins at 8:15 AM. The focus of tomorrow’s session will be Academics (20-21 Course Selection & AP exams) and College Counseling. Sarah Ferland will join me to discuss current topics, and we will both be available for questions and conversation. If you are unable to attend, a recording of the session will be made available here.

Sincerely,

Suzanne Roberts
Associated Head of School for Academics

April 27, 2020

April 27, 2020

Dear Canterbury Families,

As we pass the midway point of this unusual and unexpected spring, I am writing to once again check in with all of you. Those of us living on our hilltop in New Milford continue to wish the extended Canterbury family good health during this time, to miss our students deeply, and to eagerly hope for clarity (medical and otherwise) that will inform our decisions regarding the 2020-21 school year. It goes without saying that we simply cannot wait for our students to return.

In hopes of striking an effective communication balance, we have tried to focus each message this spring on one or two specific updates. Today, we write to follow up on the topic of spring 2020 refunds/credits as well as questions about the 2020-21 school year. We have appreciated your patience as our Leadership Team continues to thoroughly and thoughtfully assess the financial implications of this pandemic on the School’s operations, our employees, and our families.

Credit/Refund for Portion of Tuition for the Spring Term
I must start by acknowledging the extraordinary work our Academic team, teaching faculty, and students have tackled from the very moment we made the decision to delay, and then cancel, a return to campus after spring break. I have seen this commitment as both a colleague and parent (apparently Latin is just as challenging via distance learning as it was in person!), and I want to thank the entire Canterbury community for embracing a new model of learning.

As I noted in my April 14 communication, the vast majority of our costs remain fixed whether students are on campus or not; moreover, we have committed to ensuring the employment of our faculty and staff through June to reiterate that our community is our highest priority. Along the way, Canterbury’s Board of Trustees and Administrative Team have closely monitored cost savings during this transitional time in order to determine a fair credit/refund to our families in good faith and in acknowledgment of your partnership during these unsettled times.

To that end, we are able to offer a credit of up to $2,000 per boarding student and up to $500 per day student, distributed as a credit applied to your student billing account. The credit will be prorated in proportion to any amount of financial aid awarded for the year. For Sixth Form families, any credit balance in your account will be refunded in June. For Third, Fourth and Fifth Form families, this credit will carry forward in your student billing account.

In order to initiate the processing of your family’s credit/refund, please register here.

How Can You Support our Saints?
Many of our families have reached out to offer help in recent weeks, and we could not be more grateful for these gestures of goodwill. In the spirit of these requests, we are sharing the option for you to consider making a tax-deductible gift of your family’s credit/refund to the Canterbury Annual Fund. Please know that we appreciate, and are sensitive to, the varying degrees of financial impact this pandemic has created for individual families. If, however, you are in a position to give, your generosity would provide critical support to our School and a powerful message to your children’s teachers and mentors. Should you have any questions about the specifics of this process, please feel free to reach out to Business Manager Steve Carleton or Chief Advancement Officer Rick Henderson.

To make a gift of your credit/refund to the Annual Fund, please register here.

Looking Ahead to the 2020-21 School Year
As we focus intently on a strong finish to the spring semester - including closure for, and celebration of, our Sixth Formers - we are also planning for next fall. To be sure, we fully intend to open the 2020-21 school year as planned and are working in close collaboration with local and state medical/public health and government officials, as well as the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools (CAIS), to build a roadmap to that safe opening. That said, the COVID-19 landscape continues to be fluid at best, and we will work in parallel to prepare for any and all versions of a “disrupted” fall.

To that end, and in order to provide reassurance to our new and returning families, should state or federal restrictions preclude us from starting the academic year as scheduled - including via distance learning or a late start to the year - we will adjust tuition, room and board accordingly and in reflection of the degree to which our program is impacted. Moreover, if government- issued travel or visa restrictions prevent a student from arriving on campus for the start of the school year, Canterbury will apply appropriate reductions to those same charges and provide a distance learning option until the student arrives.

We know that some families are weighing the risks/benefits of various educational scenarios for the fall, and we appreciate the array of questions tied to those scenarios. As we reach clarity about 2020-21, we remain fully committed to offering a program for your children that we believe will best meet their needs come September. From academic and college counseling programs focused intentionally on individual growth and success; to the strength and values of our community (and familiarity to returning students); to the small size, rural location, and medical infrastructure of our town and campus; Canterbury is here for you. And we are here for you whether we open right on time (hopefully), October 1st, in a hybrid model, or remotely. Thank you for your patience and partnership.

Circling back to where this letter began: we wish you good health as we collectively aim to stay steady, informed, and safe during this crisis. I am eternally grateful to our team of colleagues, Trustees, students, parents, and alumni; thank you for your commitment to our extraordinary School, and may you continue to find Canterbury’s mission both grounding and inspiring. We look forward to seeing you back on our hilltop in the near future!

Gratefully,

Rachel E. Stone
Head of School

April 21, 2020

Dear Canterbury Families,

We write today to update you on several decisions regarding the end of the academic year. Last week, you received a great deal of detailed information regarding the spring distance learning plan once we decided that a return to campus was not possible. So that families can make plans accordingly, today we share a few times and dates for events that will close the school year in May.

The Underform Awards Assembly will be held on Monday evening, May 18.
The Sixth Form Awards Assembly will take place the following night on May 19.
Sixth Form Project Presentations will occur on Wednesday, May 20.
Canterbury’s Baccalaureate Mass will be celebrated on Friday evening, May 22.
This year’s Virtual Commencement Exercises will be Saturday morning, May 23.

We will share details regarding each event as well as the live stream links in the weeks to come. Please note that these events will be recorded to share with the graduating class and with families unable to view them live.

As mentioned previously, we will meet with our Sixth Formers later this week to continue building the balance of our end-of-year schedule. Their suggestions and feedback are paramount to our planning. With their input, we expect to continue our senior traditions as best we can, including Sixth Form Seminars. As an aside, our Advancement Office will also reach out directly to Sixth Form parents inviting them to a conversation and enlisting their thoughts regarding the closing events of their child’s Canterbury career.

Finally, we hope parents will join us for tomorrow morning’s weekly Parent Q&A with our Student Life Team, which begins at 8:15 AM. If you are unable to attend, a recording of the session will be made available here.

Respectfully,

Rachel Stone
Head of School

Sue Roberts
Associate Head of School for Academics

Peter LaVigne
Assistant Head of School for Student Life

April 17, 2020

Dear Canterbury Students, Parents & Families,

At the close of our third week of distance learning, I write to follow up the communication released earlier this week on Tuesday. In that note, we mentioned an updated distance learning schedule for the remainder of the semester that would be released at the end of this week and include built-in mini-breaks to allow students and faculty alike to pause and take a breath. The students have done a great job completing weekly surveys, and we are listening.

In addition to providing our students and faculty time to step away from online classes, Canterbury remains committed to providing our students the time and necessary attention in College Counseling, The Donovan Center for Learning, and 2020-21 leadership processes (e.g., speech preparation, interviews). We will not be holding distance learning classes on April 23rd & 24th or May 5th & 6th. During this time, students may be scheduled for individual meetings with College Counselors, The Donovan Center for Learning and/or The Office of Student Life. Veracross and our website will be updated in the days ahead to reflect these schedule changes.

Faculty will prepare the third progress report of the second semester at the end of next week, and grades and comments will be released the week of April 27th. I hope this feedback is helpful as parents partner with our faculty to support our students.

In case you missed it, please see an important letter regarding AP® exams that all students/families registered to take an AP exam should read. To view the updated COVID-19 AP® exam schedule, please click here. As many of you may have seen already, The College Board announced on Wednesday afternoon that the June 6th SAT and SAT subject test administrations are cancelled. Our College Counseling Office communicated with Fifth Formers on Wednesday and again yesterday at their form meeting. Fifth Formers continue to meet in College Workgroups, and Ms. Ferland and Ms. Mandigo will communicate changes and updates to testing as they occur. As of today, the June 13th ACT has not yet been cancelled.

Finally, I hope that many of you will join us next Wednesday, April 22nd, for our weekly Parent Q&A with our Student Life Team, which begins at 8:15 AM. If you are unable to attend, a recording of the session will be made available here.

Sincerely,

Suzanne Roberts
Associate Head of School for Academics

April 14, 2020

Dear Canterbury Students, Parents & Families,

As we begin our third week of distance learning, we write to update our plans for the spring as they continue to be altered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you are a parent of a Sixth Former, you may already know that we reached out to the Class of 2020 earlier today to ensure that they were first to learn of the following updates. They received this video message and will meet as a Form today at 3:15 via Zoom.

On that note, as of last Thursday (April 9th), the state of Connecticut extended its “stay-at-home” order through at least May 20. As much as we had hoped that a return to campus for our students this spring might be possible, it is critical that we embrace public health best practices as a school. Therefore, our campus remains closed to visitors, and we are unable to open dorms or the athletic center for students at this time. While we suspect no one will be surprised by our letter today, we are sorry to have to share the news that given the ways the COVID-19 pandemic is continuing to impact our world, distance learning will continue through the end of this school year and we will not be able to bring students back to the campus this spring.

All school-sponsored events are cancelled (e.g., spring season athletics, concerts, spring musical, Broadway Trip, Canterbury Honor Society Dinner, Prom, spring carnival), or postponed (e.g., Confirmation, Sacristan Installation, Memorial Service for Deacon Frank Bice ’77, Alumni Weekend) until further notice. Some events will move to a virtual format (e.g., Fifth Form College Day, Underform Prize Assembly), and details regarding those events will be communicated once they are determined.

While we realize that this news is hard for students to hear at a time when there is plenty of difficult news to process, we hope that the clarity and certainty provided by this update are helpful. Families need to be able to plan. For the Class of 2020, we recognize that your Sixth Form spring at Canterbury has not materialized in the way anyone would have hoped, and you deserve our best efforts to honor and acknowledge your class. While we will not be holding Commencement on campus, we look forward to collaborating with the Sixth Form regarding how to finish the spring — proudly, gracefully, and in celebration! We will be communicating directly with the Sixth Form as our plans develop and will keep the broader community informed as well, including details regarding Sixth Form Prize Assembly, Sixth Form Project presentations, and traditions woven into the days leading up to Commencement. The Commencement website will be fully updated by May 1.

To be sure, Sixth Formers who remain in good standing both academically and in terms of citizenship throughout the remainder of distance learning will receive their diploma (or post-graduate certificate) and will officially graduate from Canterbury School.

For our underform students, we know that many important questions remain, from how to manage students’ belongings at school and how to select your academic courses for 2020-21, to how end-of-year awards and leadership positions will be determined.

The Donovan Center for Learning will begin scheduling individual Zoom appointments in late April with underform students to begin the course selection process.
We understand that many students and families will be eager to return to campus to collect their belongings; however, we must ensure that we are planning accordingly to keep all of our community members safe and healthy. The Office of Student Life is in the process of creating a move-out protocol and calendar for students to return to campus and retrieve their personal belongings. This process will not take place prior to May and will be informed by public health, federal, and state guidelines and their recommendations regarding travel, gatherings, and social distancing.
Student Life will also be reaching out with specific information next week to those Fifth Formers who have applied for leadership positions.

We have paused after the first two weeks of distance learning to celebrate Easter and to assess/respond to the feedback from faculty observations and student surveys. An updated distance learning schedule for the remainder of the semester will be released later this week and will include built-in mini-breaks to allow students and faculty alike to pause and take a breath. We remain committed to providing grades for classes this spring, and teachers will prepare the third progress report of the second semester in late April with both grades and comments. The College Board has adjusted its schedule and AP exams will begin on Monday, May 11 and end on Friday, May 22. Please see an important letter regarding AP exams that all students/families registered to take an AP exam should read.

Our spring semester classes will end for all students on Friday, May 22, and final report cards will be released on Veracross soon after. Sixth Form transcripts will be finalized in early June and sent directly to colleges where students have enrolled. Given the complexities of online assessment, we will not be administering traditional final exams for any students, regardless of grade level. However, faculty will ask students to complete a culminating project, assignment, or assessment at the end of the semester, to be completed by May 22.

On a different note, like all private/independent schools (from day schools through higher education), we are working to assess the institutional financial implications of COVID-19. The vast majority of our costs remain fixed whether students are on campus or not, but we are very mindful of this pandemic’s impact on our Canterbury families as well as the School and our employees; and, we are aware of questions raised concerning any possible refunds/credits toward room and board. As we navigate yet another new set of circumstances, we ask for your patience as we determine the best course of action for the School, our families, and our employees.

Finally, we hope many of you will join us for tomorrow morning’s weekly Parent Q&A with our Academic Team (The Donovan Center for Learning and College Counseling), which begins at 8:15 AM. If you are unable to attend, a recording of the session will be made available.

Sincerely,

Rachel Stone
Head of School

Sue Roberts
Associate Head of School for Academics

Peter LaVigne
Assistant Head of School for Student Life

April 7, 2020

Dear Canterbury Parents & Families,

It is hard to believe that our students left campus for spring break just one month ago, not to mention how the world has changed since March 7th. As this week’s COVID-19 statistics and stories become even more sobering, I am writing to check in with all of you.

First, let me wish a Happy Easter and a reflective Holy Week to those who celebrate. As the daughter of a minister, I was raised in a family whose Easter morning began with a sunrise service (overlooking the Hudson River) and continued on through basket and egg hunts, a brass quartet at church, and far too much food. But most of all, Easter was a day of family, friends and joy. I wish you the same, even as many traditions will look different this year. Likewise, for those celebrating Passover, may there be moments to rejoice with loved ones, if even from a distance.

Second and along the same vein, our academic schedule this week is modified for Good Friday, and classes will not meet on Easter Monday. Our students’ schedules will reflect these adjustments in Veracross. The distance learning feedback we have received to date from your children has been overwhelmingly positive, and I hope you are hearing the same. While nothing can fully replace the face-to-face interactions within a classroom, our faculty and students remain impressively connected; when asked if “adults at Canterbury have been supportive while students transitioned to distance learning,” 100% of our students agreed, with 61% agreeing strongly. Well done to all!

As we lean into the second week of virtual academics and begin to truly establish a new pattern of learning, I echo the sentiment shared by Peter LaVigne last Friday: now is the time to further partner with us in encouraging your children to commit to a routine that will position them for success this spring. I know that many questions remain about the weeks ahead, and the month of May in particular, and I want you to know that we are working in earnest to be as proactive and transparent as possible. To that end, our Department Chairs meet today to further our conversations about what the “academic finish” to the year will look like (i.e., will classes conclude with exams/assessments; when will classes end), and Sue Roberts will provide clarity by the end of next week. As a reminder, we are committed to the distance learning infrastructure through year-end, knowing that some students will be unable to return to campus even if we are able to re-open in May.

On a related note, I know our Sixth Formers and their families are eager for an update regarding graduation. Please trust that we are not taking these decisions lightly but rather closely tracking this evolving situation in the outside chance that we can welcome students back — and our seniors in particular — at some point in May. We still plan to communicate a final decision by April 27th at the latest.

Finally, we hope many of you will join us for tomorrow morning’s weekly Parent Q&A with our Health & Medical Team.*

Warmly,

Rachel Stone
Head of School

* To access the Zoom link, please log in to your Veracross Parent Portal; there will be a button labelled: Weekly Parent Q&A

April 3, 2020

Dear Canterbury Parents,

We wanted to reach out to you as we complete our first week of Distance Learning. The faculty on the hilltop have been excited to see your children again, and the energy has been wonderful. Clearly the students also missed each other as evidenced by their smiles and interactions.

Now that our students have spent the week transitioning to online learning, we believe that establishing a healthy routine is the most important next step. From maintaining regular sleep habits and good hygiene, to starting the day with breakfast and time to mentally prepare, and committing to appropriate dress and a productive work space — all of this in combination will play an invaluable role in their academic experience this spring. Thank you for partnering with us to help establish and sustain your child’s routine; many of us are playing the same role as parents with our own children! In addition, please note that attendance for live classes and the advisory meetings is required; the advisory meeting is purposefully set for the first live meeting of the day and structured with key information and engaging exercises.

Thank you to the parents who attended our Zoom Q&A meeting on Wednesday morning. The next meeting is scheduled for 4/8 at 8:15 AM. Join us** to hear Colleen Cook ’02 (Director of Health Services), Dr. Ken Marici ’87 (School Physician), and Cynthia Willmen (Director of Counseling) discuss updated medical facts and useful resources for your child and you. As a note, Cynthia Willmen offers a mindfulness exercise four mornings a week at 9:30 AM for students to start their day on the right note. Your child can find details in the daily bulletin.

Finally, our Admission Office will be hosting two Virtual Revisit Days this weekend; please help us spread the word to prospective families!

Respectfully,

Peter LaVigne
Assistant Head of School for Student Life

** Please be sure to join Canterbury Zoom meetings with your first and last name so we may appropriately welcome you! Unfortunately, we will not allow entry into Canterbury meetings to Zoom profiles that we are unable to recognize.
Instructions for changing Zoom Profile Name:

Go to https://zoom.us/profile
Click on the Edit button to the right of your profile name.
Change your first and last name.
Click on the Save Changes button.

March 31, 2020

Dear Canterbury Parents,

As a follow-up to Friday’s email, I am reaching out to share a few more details regarding the Wednesday morning weekly Parent Q&A.

Our overarching goal is to provide an additional avenue by which we can stay connected to you, and you to us. Additionally, we hope that engaging in these Zoom sessions will be an opportunity to experience one slice of your children’s Distance Learning Program. Fear not, we won’t assign homework, and you are welcome to “bring” coffee to the sessions!

* These sessions will run on Wednesday mornings at 8:15 for 30-45 minutes.

* To access the Zoom link, please log in to your Veracross Parent Portal; there will be a button labelled: Weekly Parent Q&A

* We will have administrators overseeing each session with an opportunity for parents to ask questions via the Zoom Chat feature; we will certainly do our best to respond to questions/topics as they surface.

April 1: Administrative Team: Current COVID-19 updates from Rachel Stone, Colleen Cook and Sue Roberts
April 8: Health Center/Medical Team
April 15: Academics/Donovan Center for Learning/College Counseling
April 22: Student Life
April 29: Athletics

We look forward to this new experience and are grateful for your partnership in the uncharted waters of spring 2020. On that note, your children are off to an excellent start this week!

Best regards,

Rachel Stone

March 27, 2020

Dear Canterbury Families,

Greetings from our very quiet hilltop. Just as your children are missing their friends and social interactions, we are missing their presence throughout campus. That said, we are hopeful that our collective commitment to social distancing has kept your families safe as it has those who live on our campus. I am grateful every day for the Canterbury community; your individual expressions of support and understanding have been a source of strength and steadiness during these unprecedented times.

We are writing today with several updates as we transition fully into Canterbury’s Distance Learning Plan on Monday:

For those families living locally, you may be aware that CT Governor Lamont: “has determined that to promote and secure the safety and protection of children in schools related to the risks of COVID-19, all public school classes will be cancelled for all Connecticut students effective Tuesday, March 17 until at least April 20, 2020, and is encouraging private schools to follow the same schedule.” Certainly this precludes our ability to bring students back to campus on April 13th. As we continue to follow CDC updates and track the COVID-19 statistics, we know that our odds of welcoming students back to campus this spring are low at best; that said, we will extend the delayed return until Monday, May 4th for classes (boarding students would return the evening of May 3rd) with a commitment to update families by April 27th.
Meanwhile, our faculty have met these unexpected circumstances with conviction and optimism. This week, our full faculty met as “technology team” groups and within their individual academic disciplines to continue their training for Monday’s DLP launch. Under the guidance of Sue Roberts, Kelli Darrin and Rob Roffe, our colleagues have been full steam ahead, developing online teaching and learning strategies with technological tools that offer students the best possible educational experience. We are certainly looking forward to maintaining some face-time connection with our students.

As a reminder: distance learning will begin with Advisory at 10:00 am on Monday, March 30th. Students should log in to Veracross and check their Daily Schedule to find the Zoom link for live meetings. Even though our students are digitally savvy, they are not necessarily digital natives regarding academic technology. There will be a learning curve for all throughout the first week of distance learning as we transition to a new platform and way of sharing information. Please know that we will be gathering information from students about their experience on a regular basis via advisor meetings and weekly surveys.

Finally, the Technology Team offered “Tech Checks” for students this past Monday and Tuesday. We were excited to “see” more than 100 of our students from around the globe signed on to Zoom! There will be one more session tomorrow (Saturday, March 28th) from 9-10AM if your child would like to hop on and work out any glitches. In addition, teachers will share a set of Netiquette guidelines with your children on Monday, and we’ve included them here for your review.
Prior to the start of virtual classes, your children will hear from their faculty advisors. The goal of these “check-in” meetings is simply that: we want to know how our students are doing, how your local communities are managing the impact of coronavirus, and what your children need from us. Between the Advisory Meetings built into the DLP to opportunities created outside of the “academic day,” we remain committed to being present for your children and knowing them both individually and well.
Finally, we will offer a weekly Wednesday morning (8:15-9:00) Live Q&A for parents beginning on April 1. Director of Health Services, Colleen Cook, and I will typically run point on these conversations, though other members of the Administrative and Health teams will often be present as well. We will share a link to a Zoom invitation early next week.

Amid relentless news updates and growing questions regarding return to “normalcy” — a word that may have been coined in reference to the 1918 Flu pandemic — we truly lean on, and stand together as, the Canterbury community.

Gratefully,

Rachel Stone
Head of School

March 20, 2020

Dear Canterbury Families,

First and foremost we hope that everyone is staying healthy during this time. We would like to share some recent updates and clarifications we received from Clifford Allen, the agency that provides the student medical insurance purchased through the school. Our hope is that you will find that this answers your questions and leaves you feeling reassured about your students health care coverage. Below is the information received from Clifford Allen:

Treatment of the Coronavirus is eligible for reimbursement - There are no exclusions in your plan for pandemics/epidemics.
Screening/Testing of Coronavirus is eligible for reimbursement – even in the absence of symptoms. UnitedHealthcare has waived all member cost sharing, including copays, coinsurance and deductibles, for COVID-19 diagnostic testing provided at approved locations in accordance with CDC guidelines. It will be important that the testing follows the CDC guidelines.
The student does not need to be at school to be covered - The student’s coverage is in force until their current ending date, 8/14/2020, and covered expenses are eligible for reimbursement anywhere in the world with the exception of the student’s home country. While United Healthcare is willing to pay non-US providers, most of those providers will require the student to pay them and then have the student seek reimbursement from United Healthcare. Importantly, the check will be made payable to the student in US currency (after currency conversion has taken place). Claims can be filed directly by the family or you can contact Colleen Cook at ccook@cbury.org for assistance.
Travel/Lodging
1. Your policy is a medical expense policy and does not include reimbursement for travel/lodging costs.
2. Your policy does include Assistance and Evacuation Benefits. A full description is provided in your brochure. This is a service that needs to be engaged in advance of incurring any expenses. That service is designed to assist the student if they are suffering from an illness/injury and cannot secure appropriate treatment where they are located. If you believe a situation might require this assistance, you/student can reach out to the number located on the back of the ID card. Again, this service must be engaged in advance. It does not and will not “pay claims."
ID card – If you have students that are away from school and need a copy of their ID card a copy is uploaded in the Magnus Health portal and should be accessible. You can also contact Clifford Allen offices or Colleen Cook at the Canterbury Health Center at 860-210-3888 or ccook@cbury.org.
All of our students enrolled in the insurance program have a 12 month coverage plan with coverage through 8/14/2020.
If you would like to reach out to Clifford Allen directly with questions or for claims submissions, they can be reached at:

Toll Free: 888-342-2224
Local: 843-342-3150
Fax: 843-342-3250
email: ford@cliffordallen.com
website: www.cliffordallen.com

If you have additional questions please reach out to us:

Colleen Cook
Director of Health Services
860-210-3888
ccook@cbury.org

Allyson McFerran Mard
Student Billing Coordinator
860-210-3803
amcferren@cbury.org

March 18, 2020

March 18, 2020

Dear Canterbury Families,

I hope this note finds you healthy and well during this extraordinary time. Following Mrs. Stone’s note yesterday, we wanted to communicate some details about the days and weeks to come. On our hilltop, the Administrative Team and the Academic Office continue to fine-tune the distance learning plan which begins on March 30. Mrs. Roberts will share specific details and information on Friday.

In the meantime, Student Life remains ready to assist with any questions or concerns as best we can. We have received some requests from families to pick up items in student dorm rooms. At this time, students do NOT need to remove all belongings from their dorm rooms. If students wish to return to campus to retrieve essential items, they must coordinate their visit through Student Life (jdellorco@cbury.org, plavigne@cbury.org) prior to arriving on campus. Please know that the distance learning plan will account for the fact that students may not have access to textbooks. Approved visits to campus should be limited to 10 minutes and follow CDC guidelines for limiting exposure and spread of illness. Feel free to reach out to us as needed.

All campus events scheduled between now and April 13 have been canceled or postponed. We will continue to evaluate during this fluid situation and will alter plans accordingly. You will hear from Student Life, the Academic Office, and the Head of School regularly with important and updated information.

We understand you are likely hearing that some schools and colleges have already moved to distance learning for the remainder of the academic year. We will update families by April 6th regarding: 1) if we will return on April 13th, 2) if there will be an additional delay to a return to campus, or 3) if we make the decision for campus to remain closed through the end of the school year. Regardless of if/when students return to campus, distance learning will be available for the duration of the spring semester for those who need it.

We are all working together to ensure the next few weeks are as positive and valuable for your child as possible. Here is a link to information and frequently asked questions about COVID-19. We appreciate your continued cooperation with, and support of, Canterbury.

Respectfully,

Peter LaVigne
Assistant Head of School for Student Life

March 13, 2020

Dear Canterbury Families,

Like you, I have been watching the COVID-19 news develop, magnify, surprise, and alarm us over the past several days. I wish I could offer clarity and reassurance about how this virus will impact us locally and globally over the next weeks and months; the best I can do, however, is provide an update regarding the conversations and planning that are taking place on our hilltop.

We know that you are reading news from higher education, the NCAA, and local/national government and school districts, not to mention professional athletic organizations like the NHL and MLB. Likewise, our peer boarding schools have begun to communicate regarding delayed returns from spring break and online learning modules for the spring semester. I have joined many conference calls this past week with fellow Heads of School from CAIS (Connecticut Association of Independent Schools), NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools) and TABS (The Association of Boarding Schools). Internally, I am working closely with Canterbury’s Administrative Team, Medical Team, and members of our Board of Trustees to carefully monitor a very fluid situation.

I share the following proposed plan with two caveats:

As the data and decisions around COVID-19 continue to shift, there is every chance that we will have to propose a new plan.
We will continue to rely on, and be grateful for, the direct, proactive, and honest partnership we have with Canterbury parents, students, faculty & staff; this partnership is perhaps the most critical component of our ability to successfully navigate the path “through” this unprecedented set of circumstances. I am both personally and professionally grateful for the relationships that serve as the foundation of this community.

After myriad discussions, broad and deep research, and team brainstorming around various scenarios, we have decided that our best approach forward is to delay the return of our students and ask those currently on campus to return home for the coming weeks. To be sure, this decision was not made lightly, and it centers squarely on the health of our students as well as the entire Canterbury community.

By March 16th: Campus closes for all students currently staying for spring break

Please contact Peter LaVigne, Assistant Head of School for Student Life, for questions regarding departure plans.

March 22nd: CANCELLED: Early return for baseball and boys’ & girls’ lacrosse teams

March 25th: Faculty return as scheduled to continue training for online/distance learning

March 30th: Virtual classes begin

You will receive a separate communication with details from Associate Head of School for Academics, Sue Roberts, and Director of Curriculum, Kelli Darrin, by the middle of next week. I have every confidence in our Academic Team and commend the work they have already undertaken to proactively prepare for online learning options; our faculty are committed to ensuring that your children meet their academic obligations this semester.

Our goal is to bring students back to campus the evening of April 13th, but we cannot predict the course COVID-19 will take between now and then. We will provide ongoing updates along the way. Likewise, the schedules for spring athletics and arts are on hold for the time being.

As a parent and educator, I am asking the very same questions as you, from how to best mitigate risk of exposure, to what the impact of the virus will be on our spring and summer events, and what it will “look like” for a safe return to campus. Please know that we are working in earnest to make informed and rational decisions. In the meantime, please continue to do all that you can to stay healthy.

Finally, I know that we are collectively managing countless “what ifs” during a complicated, dynamic and entirely new set of circumstances. There is a chance that the spring semester will be further disrupted and that there could be changes to the plan we have laid out today. I cannot reiterate strongly enough the importance of our direct, proactive and honest partnership with you. We shall remain hopeful that the Canterbury community will be together once again on our hilltop in the near future.

Gratefully,

Rachel E. Stone P ’23
Head of School

March 9, 2020

Dear Families of our Girls’ Lacrosse and Baseball teams,

After much conversation with our peer schools, feedback from higher education, and discussion as an Administrative Team in concert with our coaches, we have decided to cancel our spring training trips to Nevada and Florida. We are disappointed for our student-athletes — particularly our Sixth Formers and Postgraduates — but believe collectively that this decision is in the best interest of their health and safety as well as that of the entire Canterbury community.

While the current Coronavirus risk to adolescents is quite low, our ability to measure the odds of exposure in large common spaces like airports is near impossible. To then predict the possibility of quarantine while off-campus — particularly when we know from experience that at least one of our students will catch a cold or spike a fever while away, and that travel restrictions are changing daily — becomes a futile exercise. To be sure, the one predictable aspect of this virus and its spread is that the coming days will be unpredictable and fluid.

Finally, as many prep schools have similarly cancelled their spring break trips, it has become far less likely to meet the goal of training and competition. To that end, we plan to bring both teams back for several days of “preseason” practices and scrimmages on Sunday, March 22nd. Coaches Lindsay Mulhern and Todd Mathewson will be in touch with details in an ongoing manner as the situation evolves. Likewise, as we sort through cancellation policies, etc., coaches will provide updates regarding the possibility of refunds.

We appreciate your patience throughout this process and your understanding of where we have landed. As you know, your children’s well-being is our highest priority.

Best,

Rachel Stone
Head of School

March 6, 2020

Dear Canterbury Families,

As we begin our March break today, I am writing to share updated information with regard to the evolving novel coronavirus situation (COVID-19). Please carefully read the entirety of this message which addresses March break travel and return-to-campus protocols.

Like you, we are navigating the uncertainty caused by this virus and its spread; our goal is to prioritize the health and safety of our community by making decisions guided by medical experts and good judgment. As we continually monitor the situation and scale of COVID-19, we want to not only emphasize the importance of keeping our community safe and healthy but informed as well. To that end, Canterbury has adopted CDC guidelines to create travel and health protocols for our community, and we ask all visitors to our campus and Canterbury-sponsored events to adhere to these same guidelines.

Current Status on Campus
At this time, there are NO confirmed cases in our local community. Our dorms will remain open over the break to support students that, due to travel advisories, have had to alter travel plans.

Current Global Status
The CDC has an alert system that provides critical guidelines around travel. Those warning levels are: Warning Level 3 (avoid nonessential travel); Alert Level 2 (practice enhanced precautions); and Watch Level 1 (practice usual precautions). As of this writing, China, Iran, South Korea, and Italy are listed as Warning Level 3. Japan is listed as Alert Level 2. Hong Kong is listed as Watch Level 1.

Travel Safety Protocol
Any person — including all students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and visitors to Canterbury’s campus — who has recently traveled to a country which is listed as Warning Level 3 or Alert Level 2 will be required to remain off campus for 14 days before coming to Canterbury’s campus or attending a Canterbury-sponsored event; Canterbury School reserves the right to require proof of recent travel.

Similarly, if a student or member of the Canterbury community has had contact with a person who has traveled to a Warning Level 3 or Alert Level 2 country, that student or person should not come to Canterbury’s campus or attend a Canterbury-sponsored event for 14 days.

The CDC is continually evaluating these ratings, and countries could change ratings without notice. Furthermore, new countries and regions could be added, including parts of the United States. Warning levels are updated by the CDC on its website. We encourage you to stay current on the status of locations where you live, work, and visit.

For the well being of the entire Canterbury community, we expect transparency from all members of the community, all visitors to campus, and all attendees at Canterbury-sponsored events about the following:

Potential exposure to COVID-19
Travel to Warning Level 3 or Alert Level 2 countries or regions
Contact with any person who has traveled to Warning Level 3 or Alert Level 2 countries or regions
Domestic travel locations and dates

BEFORE Returning to Campus (After Break)
Please fill out the linked required form to let our Health Center know about any international and/or domestic travel plans over the March break, including dates. We will share this form weekly; please keep it updated as your itinerary or travel plans change. We ask that families complete this form prior to March 20, 2020. Students will not be permitted on campus until we receive your travel information. This information will be used by Canterbury’s Health Center staff for risk-screening purposes. As we are unsure of the course of the virus over the next several weeks, it is essential for our medical staff to have this information PRIOR to our students’ return. If the areas you have visited change to a Warning Level 3 or Alert Level 2 while you are there, or within 14 days of your return, you will be subject to a 14-day quarantine and cannot return to campus until asymptomatic in alignment with the guidelines above.

AFTER Returning to Campus
Any student who learns, after returning, that they had significant contact with a COVID-19
patient or a person under investigation for COVID-19 while off campus should immediately
notify the Health Center.

We would like to remind our community members that the best way to protect ourselves and others is to practice best health practices: always wash hands, cover our mouth when coughing and nose when sneezing, and avoid contact with those that have cold or flu-like symptoms. If your child has flu-like symptoms (fever, respiratory issues, etc.), they should not return to Canterbury’s campus until they are asymptomatic and have been fever-free for at least 72 hours.

Thank you for your collective help in keeping the Canterbury community safe and in good health.

Sincerely,

Rachel Stone
Head of School

Ken Marici, MD
School Physician

Peter LaVigne
Assistant Head of School for Student Life

Colleen Cook, RN
Director of Health Center

February 26, 2020

Dear Canterbury Families,

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have been closely monitoring an outbreak caused by a novel coronavirus, COVID-19, first identified in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. The CDC continues working with the World Health Organization (WHO) and is informing various travel advisories. Canterbury’s Administration and Health Center will continue to follow the CDC’s directives and track any travel advisories regarding the virus. Canterbury has restricted student travel to countries for which the CDC has indicated escalated travel advisory warnings due to COVID-19. In addition, as global conditions change, we will adhere to the guidance of the U.S. State Department and CDC regarding travel and potential quarantines.

It is important to know that based on current information, the immediate health risk from COVID-19 to the general US public is deemed to be low at this time. If you have any questions about the coronavirus or your child’s health, please contact our Health Center at 860-210-3888 or refer here (CDC Coronavirus Disease 2019).

Out of an abundance of caution, Canterbury’s recommendation is that you consider all potential scenarios regarding international travel over March Break. In the first scenario, international travel to certain countries is permitted and your child travels during break and returns to campus as scheduled. In scenario two, travel advisories (CDC Travel Advisories) escalate in the next 10 days and your child is prohibited from international travel and must make different arrangements for break.

As we have seen with other countries, the final scenario happens when your child travels internationally, is abroad when conditions escalate, and is unable to return to the U.S. or must be subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine off campus at the family’s expense. This possibility creates the biggest challenge due to the missed academic time. In this instance, the child will be required to complete all academics in absentia in order to receive credit for the semester.

Our caution comes because we cannot predict how the coming days and weeks will unfold. To assist Canterbury in our response to the situation, please reply to this email letting me know to which countries you are traveling if your plans include international travel. If you have questions or concerns, please contact me at plavigne@cbury.org or Jake Dellorco at jdellorco@cbury.org.

Respectfully,

Peter LaVigne
Assistant Head of School for Student Life

January 31, 2020

Dear Canterbury Families,

As the news surrounding the Novel CoronaVirus continues to develop, we are reaching out to allay any concerns you may have about upcoming March Break travel. At Canterbury School, we continue to monitor the developing situation. The U.S. State Department today issued a Level 4 Travel Advisory regarding travel to China. If this advisory remains in effect and your child is unable to travel to China as planned over the upcoming March Break, Canterbury School will remain open to care for your child. We will share specific details in the coming days. In the meantime, please know that your child’s safety and well being is our highest priority.

Please feel free to contact me at plavigne@cbury.org or Gillian Ritter at gritter@cbury.org with any specific questions.

Respectfully,

Peter LaVigne
Assistant Head of School for Student Life

January 24, 2020

Dear Canterbury Families,

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring an outbreak caused by a novel (new) coronavirus (“2019-nCoV”) first identified in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. The CDC is working with the World Health Organization (WHO). It is important to know that based on current information, the immediate health risk from 2019-nCoV to the general US public is deemed to be low at this time.

Canterbury’s Administration and Health Center will continue to follow the CDC’s directives and track any travel advisories regarding the virus. If you have any questions about “2019-nCoV” or your child’s health, please contact our Health Center at 860-210-3888 or here.

As a reminder, we are still in the middle of the cold and flu season and so are encouraging all on campus to engage in standard precautions such as hand washing. We also ask that if a day student has flu-like symptoms that they remain home until they have been fever free for 24hrs. Boarding students with similar symptoms should report to the Health Center for evaluation.

With Winter Weekend approaching, we will reach out again if conditions change or impact travel plans.

Regards,

Peter LaVigne
Assistant Head for Student Life

Colleen Cook
Director of Health Services

Event Changes & Cancellations

March 16: Campus closes for all students currently staying for spring break
Early return for baseball and boys' and girls' lacrosse teams has been cancelled.
March 29: Sunday Mass cancelled
March 30: Virtual classes begin
All domestic and international trips through May 2020 cancelled
April 5: Sunday Mass cancelled
Holy Week Services in the Chapel of Our Lady cancelled
April 14: Confirmation postponed
April 17: College Day postponed (details to come about virtual programming!)
April 19 Songs of Spring cancelled
April 29 Grandparents and Friends Day (details to come about virtual programming!)
May 1 & 2 Spring Musical - Chicago cancelled
May 2: SAT cancelled (See updates from the College Board)
May 9 Virtual Spring Open House
May 11 Honor Society Dinner cancelled
May 12 AP Art Exhibit (details to come about virtual programming!)
May 15 All-Band Year End Concert (details to come about virtual programming!)
May 18 Sixth Form Dinner cancelled
May 18 Virtual Underform Awards Assembly
May 19 Virtual VI Form Awards Assembly
May 20 VI Form Project Virtual Presentations
May 22 Baccalaureate Mass
May 23 Virtual Commencement
June 5-7 Virtual Alumni Weekend

March 17, 2020

Contacts

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact:

Peter LaVigne
Assistant Head of School for Student Life
plavigne@cbury.org

Sue Roberts
Associate Head of School for Academics
sroberts@cbury.org

Admission Office
admission@cbury.org

Canterbury Health Center
healthcenter@cbury.org

Cynthia Willmen
Director of Counseling
cwillmen@cbury.org

Matt Glaser ’81
Director of Information Technology
mglaser@cbury.org

Sarah Ferland
Director of College Counseling
sferland@cbury.org

External Resources

General Information

The following websites provide important information about the spread of this disease along with travel guidelines and prevention measures:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

CT Department of Health

World Health Organization (WHO)

Department of Homeland Security

The President's Coronavirus Guidelines for America

Prevent Epidemics: Weekly Science Report, Youth and COVID-19

COVID-19 Transmission and Children: The Child Is Not to Blame

The New England Journal of Medicine: An mRNA Vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 — Preliminary Report

CNN July 2020 Vaccine Update

Is classroom teaching advisable during COVID-19? With precautions, absolutely.

WSJ: Face Masks Really Do Matter. The Scientific Evidence Is Growing.

Avoiding Stigma

Periods of pandemics are often accompanied by xenophobia and expressions of cultural insensitivity. These run contrary to Canterbury's core values and will not be tolerated in accordance with our Student Handbook.

The following resources help to dispel common myths and shed light on the ways in which our society might better respond to this outbreak:

Time Magazine: Xenophobia and the Coronavirus

CDC: Stigma and Resilience

Mental Health & Coping

We are aware that feelings of anxiety can be heightened in situations such as this. Here are resources that can help:

CDC: Mental Health and Coping with COVID-19

WHO: Mental Health Considerations during COVID-19 Outbreak

National Association of School Psychologists: Talking to Children About COVID-19 - A Parent Resource

VeryWellMind: How to Cope with Anxiety around Coronavirus

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Canterbury School

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Campus Response to COVID-19

Current families: login to your parent portal for additional information

April 14, 2020 Message from Rachel Stone

Health & Travel Guidelines for Our Community and Campus Visitors

Frequently Asked Questions

Recent Communications

July 1 — Fall 2020 Reopening Update

June 1, 2020 – State of the School Message

Previous Communications

May 19, 2020

May 12, 2020

May 5, 2020

April 27, 2020

April 21, 2020

April 17, 2020

April 14, 2020

April 7, 2020

April 3, 2020

March 31, 2020

March 27, 2020

March 20, 2020

March 18, 2020

March 13, 2020

March 9, 2020

March 6, 2020

February 26, 2020

January 31, 2020

January 24, 2020

Event Changes & Cancellations

Contacts

External Resources

General Information

Avoiding Stigma

Mental Health & Coping