Past Communications & Recordings
- February 4, 2022 - St. Mark's School COVID-19 Protocols and Communications Update
- February 3, 2022- Cases of COVID-19 at St. Mark's
- January 27, 2022 - Cases of COVID-19 at St. Mark's
- January 21, 2022 - Cases of COVID-19 at St. Mark's
- January 13, 2022 - Health & Safety Protocols Update
- January 12, 2022 - Cases of COVID-19 at St. Mark's
- January 8, 2022 - Cases of COVID-19 at St. Mark's
- January 1, 2022 - Health & Safety Update
- December 30, 2021 - Health & Safety Update
- December 16, 2021 - Protocols for Return to School in January
- December 15, 2021 - Case of COVID-19 at St. Mark's School
- December 14, 2021 - Case of COVID-19 at St. Mark's School
- December 10, 2021 - Moving to Phase Green
- December 1, 2021 - Athletic Protocols
- December 1, 2021 - Cases of COVID-19 at St. Mark's School
- November 17, 2021 - Health & Safety Protocols Update
- November 5, 2021 - Health & Safety Protocol Update
- November 3, 2021 - Case of COVID-19 at St. Mark's School
- October 29, 2021 - Remaining at Phase Yellow
- October 26, 2021 - Moving to Phase Yellow
- October 13, 2021 - Moving to Phase Green
- October 6, 2021 - Moving to Phase Yellow
- September 24, 2021 - Update to Visitor Policy
- September 11, 2021 - Case of COVID-19 at St. Mark's
- August 30, 2021 - Return-to-School Health and Safety Update
- August 13, 2021 - Academic Year Update #3
- July 16, 2021 - Academic Year Update #2
- June 17, 2021 - Academic Year Update #1
Past Updates
- May 20 - Moving from Phase Yellow to Phase Green
- May 6, 2021 - Case of COVID-19 at St. Mark's
- April 28, 2021 - Case of COVID-19 at St. Mark's
- April 21, 2021 - Moving from Phase Yellow to Phase Green
- April 13, 2021 - Cases of COVID-19 at St. Mark's
- April 9, 2021 - Fall Return Update & Vaccine Information
- April 2, 2021 - Operational Phase Level Moving From Yellow to Green
May 20 - Moving from Phase Yellow to Phase Green
May 20, 2021
Dear Members of the St. Mark’s Community:
Today, May 20, St. Mark’s changed its Campus Operational Phase Level from Yellow to Green. The School has not had any positive adult or student COVID-19 tests within the last week. We will remain in the Green phase as long as we do not have any new positive test results within our community. As the Green phase description notes, “All campus operations continue to run as per the current plan.” All members of the School community will continue to maintain a high level of awareness about ensuring all baseline health and safety protocols are in place.
I would like to thank everyone for their continued attention to our safety protocols, including mask-wearing and social distancing, and I would like to extend special thanks to our Facilities team for all of their work to keep the campus clean and safe, and to the Health Services staff and other staff for administering tests to members of the community twice each week.
Sincerely,
John C. Warren ’74, Ed.D.
May 6, 2021 - Case of COVID-19 at St. Mark's
May 6, 2021
Dear St. Mark’s Community:
I am writing to inform you that St. Mark’s became aware of a case of COVID-19 in our community yesterday (May 5). The individual is a member of our adult community and is in isolation.
Contact tracing is complete. If you have not been contacted by St. Mark's, you are not a close contact of the individual. Close contacts will quarantine for 14 days. We will continue with our ongoing cleaning protocols.
As a result of this case, the School will remain in our campus operations phase level of Yellow. We will reassess the phase level approximately one week from today.
Sincerely,
John C. Warren ’74, Ed.D.
April 28, 2021 - Case of COVID-19 at St. Mark's
April 28, 2021
Dear St. Mark’s Community:
I am writing to inform you that St. Mark’s became aware of a case of COVID-19 in our community today (April 28). The individual is a member of our adult community and is in isolation.
Contact tracing is complete. If you have not been contacted by St. Mark's, you are not a close contact of the individual. Close contacts will quarantine for 14 days. We will continue with our ongoing cleaning protocols.
We have moved our campus operations phase level from Green to Yellow. We will reassess the phase level approximately one week from today.
Sincerely,
John C. Warren ’74, Ed.D.
April 21, 2021 - Moving from Phase Yellow to Phase Green
Dear Members of the St. Mark’s Community:
Today, April 21, St. Mark’s changed its Campus Operational Phase Level from Yellow to Green. The School has not had any positive adult or student COVID-19 tests within the last week. We will remain in the Green phase as long as we do not have any new positive test results within our community. As the Green phase description notes, “All campus operations continue to run as per the current plan.” All members of the School community will continue to maintain a high level of awareness about ensuring all baseline health and safety protocols are in place.
I would like to thank everyone for their continued attention to our safety protocols, including mask-wearing and social distancing, and I would like to extend special thanks to our Facilities team for all of their work to keep the campus clean and safe, and to the Health Services staff and other staff for administering tests to members of the community twice each week.
Sincerely,
John C. Warren ’74, Ed.D.
April 13, 2021 - Cases of COVID-19 at St. Mark's
Constant Contact Link: https://conta.cc/2Qq6Pi7
April 13, 2021
Dear St. Mark’s Community:
I am writing to inform you that St. Mark’s became aware of two positive cases of COVID-19 in our community today (April 13). One individual is a faculty member and one individual is a staff member. The individuals are in isolation.
Contact tracing is complete. If you have not been contacted by St. Mark's, you are not a close contact of the individual. Close contacts will quarantine for 14 days. We will continue with our ongoing cleaning protocols.
We have moved our campus operations phase level from Green to Yellow. We will reassess the phase level approximately one week from today.
Sincerely,
John C. Warren ’74, Ed.D.
April 9, 2021 - Fall Return Update & Vaccine Information
Constant Contact Link: https://conta.cc/3uAU96Y (Deans' Weekly)
April 9, 2021
Fall Return Update
St. Mark’s is in the early stages of planning for a return to in-person school this fall. While there will be some modifications to large gatherings, dining, and other operations, it is our hope and plan to return to a St. Mark’s experience that resembles pre-pandemic life to the greatest extent possible. More details about the fall will be shared in the weeks and months to come.
Vaccine Information
As part of our goal to support students and families, St. Mark’s is working to assist our boarding students whose families do not live locally to become vaccinated for COVID-19. Massachusetts eligibility for students ages 16 to 18 begins on April 19, 2021.
For our more distant boarders, it may be impossible to obtain vaccination in their home country or in other states. We think it is important to prioritize these students as we search for available vaccine appointments. We will do this by enrolling them in the Commonwealth’s pre-registration system. We will also prioritize any students with a health condition as listed by Massachusetts guidelines. If an appointment is available in the upcoming weeks, we will provide transportation to and from the vaccine site. We will also require parent/guardian authorization in advance.
Please understand that we have no control over which vaccine may be available as we search for appointments. Currently, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines can only be administered to individuals 18 years of age and older. If Pfizer vaccine happens to be available, it may be possible to secure appointments for 16 and 17 year olds as well.
As per previous communications, we expect parents of day students and local boarders to plan their vaccination appointments. We will support students by excusing them from classes or other commitments, since we understand that there is little or no choice in the timing of these appointments. We view these vaccine appointments as medical appointments; therefore, local boarders should sign out through Health Services.
We will be in touch with families about next steps for authorizations.
April 2, 2021 - Operational Phase Level Moving From Yellow to Green
April 2, 2021
Today, April 2, St. Mark’s changed its Campus Operational Phase Level from Yellow to Green. The School has not had any positive adult or student COVID-19 tests within the last week. We will remain in the Green phase as long as we do not have any new positive test results within our community. As the Green phase description notes, “All campus operations continue to run as per the current plan.” All members of the School community will continue to maintain a high level of awareness about ensuring all baseline health and safety protocols are in place.
Thanks to everyone for their continued attention to our safety protocols, including mask-wearing and social distancing. Special thanks to our Facilities team for all of their work to keep the campus clean and safe, and to the Health Services & entire testing team for administering tests to members of the community twice each week.
- March 26, 2021 - Case of COVID-19 at St. Mark's
- March 4, 2021 - Moving to Phase Green
- February 18, 2021 - St. Mark’s Return to COVID-19 Yellow Phase
- February 17, 2021 - St. Mark's Orange Phase Important Updates
- February 17, 2021 - St. Mark's Moving to Remote Learning Immediately
- February 16, 2021 - Case of COVID-19 at St. Mark's | Phase Yellow
- February 11, 2021 - St. Mark’s Moving to COVID-19 Green Phase
- February 3, 2021 - St. Mark’s Return to COVID-19 Yellow Phase
- January 31, 2021 - St. Mark's COVID-19 Update
- January 29, 2021 - Update on Weekend Status
- January 28, 2021 - Contact Tracing Complete; Weekend Status to be Determined by 6:00 p.m. EST Friday
- January 28, 2021 - St. Mark's Orange Phase and Remote Learning: Next Steps
- January 28, 2021 - St. Mark's Moving to Remote Learning Today
- January 14, 2021 - Welcome Back and Important Updates
- January 8, 2021 - Updated List of Day Student Expectations
- January 8, 2021 - Schedule Updates: January 19 and Forward
- December 29, 2020 - Returning to St. Mark's in January
March 26, 2021 - Case of COVID-19 at St. Mark's
Constant Contact Link: https://conta.cc/3cqkgYf
March 26, 2021
Dear St. Mark’s Community:
I am writing to inform you that St. Mark’s became aware of a positive case of COVID-19 in our community today (March 26). The individual is a day student. The student is in isolation at home.
Contact tracing is complete. If you have not been contacted by St. Mark's, you are not a close contact of the individual. Close contacts will quarantine for 14 days. Deep cleaning of campus facilities is in progress.
As a result of this case, we have moved our campus operations phase level from Green to Yellow. Students will continue to attend classes in-person when they return on Tuesday, and we will reassess the phase level one week from today.
Sincerely,
John C. Warren ’74, Ed.D.
March 4, 2021 - Moving to Phase Green
Constant Contact Link: https://conta.cc/38atjd8
March 4, 2020
Dear Members of the St. Mark's Community,
After two weeks with no positive COVID-19 test results, I wanted to share with you that we are moving back to the Green Phase within our operational phase levels. We will continue to maintain focus on adherence to required health and safety protocols, including mask-wearing and social distancing, in our efforts to keep the School open and safe for all members of our community. Thank you for all you are doing to assist the School in this work.
Sincerely,
John C. Warren ’74, Ed.D.
February 18, 2021 - St. Mark’s Return to COVID-19 Yellow Phase
Constant Contact Link: https://conta.cc/3s7t6yO
February 18, 2021
Dear St. Mark’s Community,
I am pleased to share that there were no positive COVID-19 results from the tests administered to boarding students yesterday, Wednesday, February 17. Additionally, there were no positive COVID-19 results from the remaining day student tests from Tuesday, February 16. Therefore with no additional positive test results in our student population, we will return to the Yellow phase of our Campus Operational Phase Levels tomorrow, Friday, February 19. Boarding students and day students will return to in-person learning at that time.
As part of our return to the ongoing surveillance testing, both day and boarding students will be tested on Friday, February 19. Additional details are listed below.
Return to Ongoing COVID-19 Surveillance Testing
All day and boarding students will be tested tomorrow, Friday, February 19, as part of the return to our regular surveillance testing protocols. Testing will take place in the MFAC lobby from Noon to 4:30 p.m. All testing must be completed by 4:30 p.m.
School Activities
All regular in-person School activities will resume on Friday, February 19, as part of the return to the Yellow phase.
Athletics & Wellness
We will resume the normal Athletics & Wellness schedules on Friday, February 19, as part of the return to the Yellow Phase.
Friday’s Inclement Weather
We are monitoring the inclement weather in Friday’s forecast and will inform day students if there is a shift in expectations for attendance in-person should this be necessary.
February 17, 2021 - St. Mark's Orange Phase Important Updates
Constant Contact Link: https://conta.cc/2Nywm7E
February 17, 2021
Dear St. Mark’s Families:
I would like to thank everyone in our community for their flexibility and patience following the news earlier today about the positive COVID-19 test in our student community and the temporary move to the Orange phase and remote learning.
Below are some important follow-up details. More information will be shared as it becomes available.
- The student who tested positive is currently in isolation off-campus for 10 days. Disinfecting of the campus is currently in progress.
- Contact tracing is now complete in the positive student case. We have communicated directly with those individuals who are determined to be close contacts of the student who tested positive.
- Boarding students were tested today, February 17, in their rooms and will be tested again on Friday, February 19.
- Day students will be tested on Friday, February 19. Additional information will be sent out tomorrow.
- St. Mark’s will continue to operate in the Orange phase tomorrow, February 18. All students will attend classes remotely using the in-person schedule. We will communicate plans for the rest of the week tomorrow (Thursday).
- Athletics will not be held today, February 17, or tomorrow, February 18.
- All School activities, including club meetings, must be held remotely.
- Boarding students will be able to leave their rooms for dinner this evening, February 17, and for breakfast tomorrow, February 18. Students have been instructed that they must sit with their Houses. Students should not leave their House unless going to and from dinner, breakfast, or picking up medication.
- If parents wish to take their boarding students off-campus, students will be required to quarantine off campus for 14 days before returning to campus. This approach is in keeping with the protocol we have had in place since the fall.
Again, thank you very much for your patience, and I look forward to being in touch soon when new information becomes available.
Sincerely,
John C. Warren ’74, Ed.D.
February 17, 2021 - St. Mark's Moving to Remote Learning Immediately
Constant Contact Link: https://conta.cc/37nPQmg
February 17, 2021
Dear St. Mark’s Community:
Today, February 17, St. Mark’s became aware of a positive case of COVID-19 among our student community. The student was tested on campus earlier this week. The student has been isolated and is now off-campus. Contact tracing is currently underway. Additionally, the cleaning and disinfecting of school spaces are underway.
Because of this development, St. Mark’s is immediately moving its Campus Operation Phase Level from Yellow to Orange. Beginning immediately and until further notice, in-person learning is suspended, and all classes will be held remotely. The Brown period is ending immediately.
Boarding Students
Boarders need to return to their rooms immediately. Boarders will remain in their rooms until contact tracing is complete.
Day Students
III & IV Form
III & IV Form day students will be picked up at the Front Circle. Please wait in the Library until you are picked up from campus.
V & VI Form
V & VI Form day students will be picked up in the MFAC Parking Lot. Please wait in Taft until you are picked up from campus.
Lunch
The dining hall is closed and lunch is moving to grab-and-go. If you are a boarder, day student, or faculty/staff member and have not yet had had lunch, please take a grab-and-go lunch before moving to your designated area (Day student designated areas listed above).
COVID-19 TESTING
- Boarding students will be tested in their residence halls on Wednesday afternoon.
- Faculty and staff will be tested, according to the schedule already identified, on Thursday and Friday.
- Boarding students and day students will be tested on Friday.
We will follow up with additional information as it becomes available. Thank you.
Sincerely,
John C. Warren ’74, Ed.D.
February 16, 2021 - Case of COVID-19 at St. Mark's | Phase Yellow
Constant Contact Link: https://conta.cc/3rZYC1H
February 16, 2021
Dear St. Mark’s Community:
I am writing to inform you that St. Mark’s became aware of a positive case of COVID-19 in our community yesterday (February 15). The individual is a day student. The student is in isolation at home until March 1, 2021.
Over the long weekend, the student was in contact with a positive case, tested privately off-campus, and now has tested positive. Since the student has not been on campus since testing negative during the school-administered test on Thursday, February 11, there is no contact tracing involved in this case, and no additional cleaning of campus spaces is necessary, although we will, of course, continue our current cleaning schedule and procedures.
We will move our campus operations phase level from Green to Yellow. While the case did not occur on campus, our phase level guidelines note that a positive case in the community results in the School operating with a heightened sense of awareness and precaution. Students will continue to attend classes in-person and we will reassess the phase level one week from today.
Sincerely,
John C. Warren ’74, Ed.D.
February 11, 2021 - St. Mark’s Moving to COVID-19 Green Phase
Constant Contact Link: https://conta.cc/2NjLBAW
February 11, 2021
Dear Members of the St. Mark’s Community:
Today, February 11, St. Mark’s changed its Campus Operational Phase Level from Yellow to Green. The School has not had any positive adult or student COVID-19 tests within the last week. We will remain in the Green phase as long as we do not have any new positive test results within our community. As the Green phase description notes, “All campus operations continue to run as per the current plan.” All members of the School community will continue to maintain a high level of awareness about ensuring all baseline health and safety protocols are in place.
I would like to thank everyone for their continued attention to our safety protocols, including mask-wearing and social distancing, and I would like to extend special thanks to our Facilities team for all of their work to keep the campus clean and safe, and to the Health Services staff for administering tests to members of the community twice each week.
Sincerely,
John C. Warren ’74, Ed.D.
February 3, 2021 - St. Mark’s Return to COVID-19 Yellow Phase
Constant Contact Link: https://conta.cc/36DXxUW
February 3, 2021
Dear Members of the St. Mark’s Community:
I am pleased to share that all COVID-19 test results for boarding and day students, and faculty and staff, administered on Monday, February 1, and Tuesday, February 2, were negative. Therefore, we will return to the Yellow phase of our Campus Operational Phase Levels tomorrow, Thursday, February 4. Boarding students and day students will therefore return to in-person learning at that time.
I am happy to report that we will be able to return to the Yellow phase for athletic activities today (February 3). Coaches will be in touch with students directly with additional details. Day students are welcome to come to campus for athletics today and should arrive at the MFAC for their health check.
Sincerely,
John C. Warren ’74, Ed.D.
January 31, 2021 - St. Mark's COVID-19 Update
Constant Contact Link: https://conta.cc/3cu0YS2
January 31, 2021
Dear Members of the St. Mark’s Community:
Today, January 31, the School learned that a faculty member tested positive for COVID-19. The test was administered on Friday, January 29. This person has been teaching remotely since Thursday, January 28. Contact tracing is complete, and the person is in isolation. Deep cleaning of campus spaces is in progress.
In addition, eight students will quarantine for 14 days. While these students do not technically meet the criteria of “close contacts” of the faculty member, we are widening the circle of contacts through an abundance of caution. The day students in this group will quarantine at home. The boarding students in this group will be taken to the Health Services Annex until they can be picked up by their parent(s) or local guardian.
We will be testing the entire School community on Monday and Tuesday, February 1 and 2. The approach of testing potential close contacts of an individual who has tested positive within five to seven days from exposure is per guidance from the CDC. In addition to the disinfecting of campus buildings and Houses, as an added precaution, we will remain in the Orange phase as described below while we test our entire community. Day students will return to campus for their test on Monday, February 1, between 8:00 a.m. and noon. Testing will take place in the MFAC lobby. Five-minute slots are available. The link for day students to sign up for testing is: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4EABAE23ABFCCF8-daystudent2. Boarding students will be tested in their rooms on Tuesday, February 2.
We will remain in the Orange phase through Wednesday, February 3, when test results are expected, with all classes taking place remotely and day students remaining off campus except when they come to campus for testing. We will move back to the Yellow phase, with on-campus learning, on Thursday, February 4, if all tests from Monday and Tuesday are negative. While we are in the Orange phase, we will operate similar to the way we have over this weekend, with boarding students allowed to leave their rooms according to an approach overseen by the Dean’s Office. More details will be communicated by the Dean’s Office. We will use the current hybrid academic schedule while we are in the Orange phase.
More details will be communicated as they become available. Thank you for your understanding, patience, and flexibility.
Sincerely,
John C. Warren ’74, Ed.D.
January 29, 2021 - Update on Weekend Status
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Sincerely,
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January 28, 2021 - Contact Tracing Complete; Weekend Status to be Determined by 6:00 p.m. EST Friday
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January 28, 2021 - St. Mark's Orange Phase and Remote Learning: Next Steps
Dear St. Mark’s Families:
I would like to thank everyone in our community for their flexibility and patience following the news earlier today about the positive COVID-19 tests in our student community and the temporary move to the Orange phase and remote learning.
Below are some important follow-up details. More information will be shared as it becomes available.
- Both students who tested positive are currently in isolation for 10 days. Disinfecting of the campus is currently in progress.
- Boarding students are being tested today in their rooms and will remain in quarantine in their rooms until their results are available.
- Contact tracing is now in progress for the positive student cases. We will communicate directly with those individuals who are determined to be contacts of the students who tested positive. We will notify the entire community when contract tracing is complete.
- St. Mark’s will continue to operate in the Orange phase today, January 28, and tomorrow, January 29. Day students will attend classes remotely today and tomorrow using the in-person schedule. We will communicate plans about the weekend tomorrow (Friday).
- Athletics activities will not be held today, January 28, or tomorrow, January 29. All School activities, including club meetings, must be held remotely.
- Day students will not be tested today or tomorrow as scheduled.
- We ask that parents of boarding students not visit their students on campus this weekend. If parents wish to take their students off campus, students will be required to quarantine off campus for 14 days before returning to campus. This approach is in keeping with the protocol we have had in place since the fall.
- When our operational phase status changes back to yellow, day students will be tested before rejoining in-person learning. We will share these details as soon as they become available.
Again, thank you very much for your patience, and I look forward to being in touch soon when new information becomes available.
Sincerely,
John C. Warren ’74, Ed.D.
January 28, 2021 - St. Mark's Moving to Remote Learning Today
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January 14, 2021 - Welcome Back and Important Updates
Dear St. Mark’s Community,
I hope you had a restful holiday season. As we approach a return to in-person learning on Tuesday, January 19, I write today to welcome all of our students—day and boarding students who will be with us in person, as well as those students who will join us remotely—and to provide some important reminders and updates.
The Health and Safety Task Force continues to meet regularly to examine and discuss local, state, national, and international COVID-19 data and trends. The School is also in regular contact with consultants at Environmental Health & Engineering, a valuable partner in the work of ensuring the safety of the St. Mark’s community, particularly as we return to in-person learning. I am confident in the approach that our Health and Safety Task Force and EH&E have taken, which incorporates frequent testing as well as nonpharmaceutical interventions we introduced in the fall such as mask-wearing, social distancing, regular cleaning of public spaces and classrooms, adjustments to our dining experience, HVAC system upgrades, and the implementation of HEPA filter machines.
Following are some important updates and reminders to keep in mind in the coming days.
Current Parent Open Houses
Parents will have the opportunity to meet virtually with me and members of the senior administrative team in an upcoming series of Current Parent Open Houses. The dates for these sessions will be finalized this week. Please look for a save-the-date email from our Advancement Office soon.
Day Student Expectations
As noted in the January 9 edition of the Deans’ Weekly newsletter, the School has developed a revised list of day student expectations for January through the end of the academic year. We ask families to assist in ensuring their students are able to adhere to these expectations. Our comprehensive control plan requires each member of our community to adhere to necessary safety protocols, including the student expectations outlined here, and we appreciate all you are doing to help in these efforts.
- Students should avoid large gatherings to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19. These gatherings should be avoided regardless of location, whether at home or outside the home at another location.
- Students should remain committed to wearing a mask and practicing social distancing whenever they are outside the home.
- Students should avoid dining at any indoor establishment.
- Students should avoid use of public gyms, training facilities, and/or weight rooms, including working with trainers or coaches.
- Students should not hold part-time jobs in which they interact with the general public or with other employees while attending classes in person. Risks associated with exposure, even with the best efforts, are too high and we ask that part-time jobs are avoided while the student is attending classes in person.
- Students should not participate in group activities that include large groups indoors, such as outside organized athletics or other activities that involve large groups. Trips for medical appointments and other essential activities are acceptable.
- Students should maintain the same level of vigilance in upholding the School’s safety plan away from campus by limiting exposure to a limited number of people from outside the home as possible and adhering to social distancing and mask requirements if meeting.
Testing Update
Beginning this month, St. Mark’s is moving to a twice-a-week schedule for COVID-19 PCR testing. Exact dates for testing will be shared by Health Services and the Dean’s Office.
Athletics
As of today, we do not envision a return to normal ISL competition this winter. Our athletics program during the winter will likely be limited to skills training and intrasquad play. I am in close touch with the other heads of school in the ISL and will share any updates about the winter or spring seasons as they become available.
Academics and Schedule
We look forward to welcoming students back to classrooms for the resumption of in-person and remote instruction on Tuesday, January 19. As a reminder, we will run a modified academic schedule for January 19-22. Each class will have one 60-minute in-person block, and one optional due date for a second assignment, which should help to manage student workload as we make our way to the end of the first semester, which closes on January 22. This modified schedule will also give students the opportunity to adapt to the important health and safety protocols and routines that will help us to keep the campus open for learning. Starting January 25, we begin operation of our updated hybrid learning schedule (in person and remote instruction), which has been refined with helpful feedback from students, families and faculty on their experiences this fall. Dean of Academics Mr. Waters provides an overview of some of the features and design considerations of the updated schedule in this explainer video.
Faculty members have been thinking deeply about our pedagogy for supporting both in-person and remote students since we last were on campus in November. Director of the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning Colleen Worrell led a recent session featuring a number of faculty discussing the ways that they use different devices to create an experience that connects remote students to the physical classroom. Whether your student is learning in person or remotely this winter, we encourage them to continue connecting with their teachers and advisor to troubleshoot any challenges they are encountering as the modality shifts back to the hybrid context.
We know that many of you have the modified academic calendar on your minds as we look ahead to a stretch where we will not hold the traditional spring break. Faculty are thinking carefully about the approach to these days off, and how to ensure that the community can have a meaningful rest, even as we keep an eye on providing a rich and appropriately challenging academic experience. Our four-day weekends, February 12-15 and March 26-29, will be “no homework” weekends. For other individual days off (March 4, March 16, April 6, April 19, May 5, and May 20) we are asking teachers to assign no more than 45 minutes of work for the next class meeting, and no major assignments or assessments. A faculty task force led by Dean of Students David Vachris and history teacher Shelly Killeen will be thinking carefully about the programming and expectations for these days. More information about academics throughout the winter and spring will be available in the Deans’ Weekly newsletter each week.
Returning to Campus
Thank you to all of our boarding families who have signed up for move-in times on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, January 16-18. The link to sign up is here. Please arrive 15 minutes earlier than your slotted time for COVID screening. Please come to the MFAC Athletic building (Rt. 85 entrance) to check in and to complete your screening. We have a number of stations set up in the lobby outside the main gym. Please go to the MFAC first (not the front circle).
We ask that students limit what they bring to their House rooms—no furniture, and just the essentials—in the event that we reach the “red” level in our Campus Operation Phase Levels.
Due to the timing of COVID testing, boarding students will need to stay in their Houses until Tuesday morning (January 19) regardless of when results are returned. We will deliver meals to House rooms over the weekend and will sponsor meetings and other activities for those waiting for their results.
Thank you to all of the day students who came to campus on Wednesday and Thursday, January 13 and 14, for their COVID testing. We have made some changes to morning drop-off and check-in locations due to feedback and to weather considerations. Day students in V Form and VI Form should come to Taft Hall in the PFAC to check in and to complete their morning health report. We have created new spaces in the PFAC for V and VI Form day students, which are more accessible and comfortable than the MFAC gym was this fall.
Day students in III and IV Form will continue to use the Library as a day student space. However, check-ins will be located in the Outer Center area (not through the Library Quad). Students should be dropped off at the Front Circle and head to the Outer Center through the English/Religion Wing, or go through the Main Building exterior door that leads to the Outer Center.
Thank you for your attention to these important updates and reminders.
Sincerely,
John C. Warren ’74, Ed.D.
January 8, 2021 - Updated List of Day Student Expectations
St. Mark’s School has worked closely with our consultants at Environmental Health & Engineering on many facets or our control plan for risk mitigation throughout the year. We have worked to build both our non-pharmaceutical interventions as well as our ongoing PCR surveillance testing as part of this comprehensive plan. All of this is done to help ensure we are reducing these risks for our entire community—all students as well as faculty and staff.
Day student expectations include the items below to ensure the health and safety of the students and the entire community. We ask families to assist in ensuring their students are able to adhere to these expectations:
St. Mark’s School day students are expected to to adhere to the following expectations:
- Students should avoid large gatherings to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19. These gatherings should be avoided regardless of location, whether at home or outside the home at another location.
- Students should remain committed to wearing a mask and practicing social distancing whenever they are outside the home.
- Students should avoid dining at any indoor establishment.
- Students should avoid use of public gyms, training facilities, and/or weight rooms including working with trainers or coaches.
- Students should not hold part-time jobs in which they interact with the general public or with other employees while attending classes in person. Risks associated with exposure, even with the best efforts, are too high and we ask that part-time jobs are avoided while the student is attending classes in person.
- Students should not participate in group activities that include large groups indoors, such as outside organized athletics or other activities which involve large groups. Trips for medical appointments and other essential activities are acceptable
- Students should maintain the same level of vigilance in upholding the School’s safety plan away from campus by limiting exposure to as limited a number of people from outside the home as possible and adhering to social distancing and mask requirements if meeting.
January 8, 2021 - Schedule Updates: January 19 and Forward
St. Markers!
As we start to think more intently about the reopening of the campus for in-person + remote classes on January 19th, I am sharing an update about some schedule changes for the upcoming semester. You can find the updated daily schedule here, along with an explainer video.
We have worked to make appropriate changes based on our experience and feedback from the fall, along with some of the special considerations for our operations this winter (athletic practice schedules, health and safety protocols, etc.). We will continue to evaluate and collect feedback as we work through the winter and spring, and will consider any necessary changes periodically along the way.
Full implementation of the new schedule will begin on January 25th.
During the week of our return to in-person and remote classes, January 19th - 22nd, we will run a modified schedule that offers each class the opportunity to meet synchronously for 60 minutes, and add one additional asynchronous preparation. As Window Two and Semester One close on Friday, January 22nd, this schedule offers us time and space to manage workloads at a traditionally stressful period of the academic year, and to readjust to the routines we will be operating here on campus for the remainder of the year. Please remember that classes will not meet on January 18th, as previously planned. More details will follow about procedures for returning to campus.
I will follow up next week with an email regarding the assignment of lunches and class blocks for those classes meeting mid-day in the staggered "ABC" arrangement.
We encourage students to reach out to their teachers and advisors with questions about how class and campus routines will change with the updated schedules. You should see the adjusted timing reflected in the Google/Canvas color calendars.
Finally, I would like to offer a particular note of thanks to the faculty task force that worked very thoughtfully to plan for these schedule changes: Ms. Cook (Co-Chair), Ms. Duran, Mr. Eslick, Ms. Guyer, Dr. Harwood, and Mr. Vachris.
Best,
Mr. Waters
December 29, 2020 - Returning to St. Mark's in January
December 29, 2020
Dear Parents,
I hope these weeks are providing the opportunity for some relaxing family time. I wanted to let you know that the Health and Safety Task Force met today, Tuesday, December 29, to examine and discuss local, state, national, and international COVID-19 data. After this examination of available data, St. Mark’s remains committed to a return date of Monday, January 4, for remote learning and Tuesday, January 19, for in-person learning, as previously announced. More details about our in-person return will be communicated in the Deans’ Weekly newsletter on Friday, January 8.
In addition, the Health and Safety Task Force is finalizing a revised social agreement for day students which will clarify health and safety protocols and expectations. More details will be available in the January 8 Deans’ Weekly.
As a reminder, students who are returning for in-person learning in January must arrive on campus with evidence of a negative PCR test that is no more than seven days old. All students must quarantine for 14 days before returning to campus. As announced in the December 19 Deans’ Weekly, students are permitted to quarantine at home, provided the following requirements are followed:
- A 14-day quarantine with no contact with others outside of the home and no travel outside the home must be completed. We also ask that family members limit contact with others, especially large groups, to the extent possible.
- As noted above, students must arrive on campus with a negative COVID-19 PCR test result that is no more than seven days old. Leaving the home to obtain a COVID-19 PCR test does not violate the quarantine requirements.
- Students must arrive via private transportation directly from their quarantine location without staying overnight at another location, such as a hotel, en route.
Please contact Director of Health Services Adria Pavletic at adriapavletic@stmarksschool.org with any questions about the quarantine process.
Thank you for your attention to these important details. I wish you and your family a happy and healthy 2021 from all of us at St. Mark’s.
Sincerely,
John C. Warren ’74, Ed.D.
2020 Updates
- Monday, June 15 (Message to Families)
- Tuesday, April 14 - Update on St. Mark’s Spring Term
- Monday, March 23 (Message to Alumni)
- Friday, March 20
- Friday, March 13
- Friday, March 13 (Message to Alumni & Parents from Advancement)
- Wednesday, March 11
- Thursday, March 5
- Friday, February 28
- Wednesday, February 12
- Tuesday, February 4
- Tuesday, January 28
Monday, June 15 (Message to Families)
Dear St. Mark’s families,
As I reflect on the past three months and think about what has taken place over that time, it is hard to believe. The heinous killings of black Americans have brought the issues of police brutality and systemic racism into laser-sharp focus. COVID-19 has claimed the lives of more than 400,000 people around the world, with nearly a quarter of those deaths here in the United States. The U.S. unemployment rate increased 10 percent in one month. To say that the spring of 2020 has been a challenging time would be an enormous understatement.
And yet, as I look at the work that St. Markers have done this spring—faculty and staff members and students alike—I cannot help but be inspired. The pivot from in-person to remote learning happened at St. Mark’s, as it did at schools around the world, very quickly. At St. Mark’s, this transition, though not seamless, was made with thoughtfulness, creativity, attention to detail, and most importantly, with the needs of our students at the center of every decision we made.
Some of the results have been outstanding. From virtual collaboration among engineering students to inspired takes on the traditional chapel talk, our students showed that they were more than ready to meet the many challenges brought about by remote learning. Our faculty members, faced with teaching students spread over 17 time zones, developed strategies for both synchronous and asynchronous learning that yielded some truly great work. Our Prize Day Week, though not what any of us would have wished for, was a memorable time that brought our community together, and on Prize Day, the Rt. Reverend J. Clark Grew, Class of 1958, gave a speech that no one present will soon forget.
While we have not been able to process the recent killings and the recent violence as fully as we would have been able to do if we had been together physically as a community, I am proud of the deep reflection and sharing of perspectives that took place in early June and continues, led both by students and by faculty. St. Mark's believes that Black Lives Matter, and in keeping with our Episcopal values, believes that we must work ever harder to promote thinking by our students about what constitutes a just society. I look forward to the opportunity for our students and faculty to unpack the complexities of this topic in respectful dialogue this fall.
Over the course of the spring our COVID-19 Task Force, led by Ken Griffin, chief technology officer and director of emergency planning, and our Return to School Task Force, led by Samantha Brennan, dean of faculty and assistant head of school, have met regularly to address current concerns and future plans for St. Mark’s. As we look ahead to the 2020-2021 academic year, I have developed a third group—the Campus Opening Task Force—that is focused specifically on the details of opening the 2020-2021 academic year in a way that prioritizes the health and safety of our entire community and takes guidance on reopening procedures from local, state, and national guidelines and recommendations. I am personally chairing this task force, which meets weekly.
This summer, our faculty members will spend time in professional development sessions to prepare for an academic year that could unfold in a number of ways, the most likely being a hybrid of remote and in-person learning. We have listened carefully to the feedback we gathered from students, families, and faculty about this spring’s remote learning. Based on that feedback, our summer work focuses on planning that will leverage the very best of our relational, in-person approach, drawing on guidance from experts in the field about design for deep and active engagement. We are also making important updates to the design elements of our learning management system, Canvas, to ensure that online elements of our coursework are consistent and easy to navigate, and support the planning and organizational work students will do with the support of their faculty mentors.
Colleen Worrell, our director of the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, is overseeing this professional development work, drawing on her deep experience with online and hybrid learning. Colleen’s expertise, our attentiveness to what we heard about the spring, and the commitment of our faculty to do right by our students will ensure that in 2020-2021 St. Mark’s provides a best-in-class learning experience Monday through Friday, in our Saturday program, and in our advisory work. For our faculty, the care for, commitment to, and connection with our students makes a St. Mark’s education special, and this dedication will continue in the fall, no matter the mode of our teaching and learning program.
We are working diligently to reopen the campus fully, guided in all aspects of that effort by the advice of experts. In the meantime, I am confident in our ability to provide a high-quality education in whatever format is necessary.
The character and leadership skills we foster at St. Mark’s have never been more important than they are today. At St. Mark’s, we are committed more than ever to prepare our students to lead lives of consequence. That effort starts with an intentional promise from the St. Mark’s adult community to encourage and model a commitment to intellectual curiosity, character development, leadership, and service. Rest assured that our faculty members remain committed to delivering on this promise too, no matter what scenario or scenarios may unfold during this coming year.
COVID-19 has forced creativity on us at St. Mark’s, stretching us in positive ways. Innovations we have developed will continue in the months and years to come. COVID-19 has also called upon resilience, creativity, and self-discipline in ways that have made our students and our faculty and staff stronger. As a result, St. Mark’s is a stronger school as a result and will be a stronger school once we are all back together physically.
I am working closely with the Campus Opening Task Force on a detailed plan for the opening of the St. Mark’s 2020-2021 academic year. We all look forward to returning to our in-person community as soon as it is appropriate to do so. I look forward to sharing with you on or before July 15 our plans for the fall. I also hope to have some details to share then about the Fall 2020 athletic season. In the meantime, I thank you once again for your patience, your support, and your belief in St. Mark’s.
Sincerely,
John C. Warren ’74, Ed.D.
Tuesday, April 14 - Update on St. Mark’s Spring Term
With a heavy heart and a keen recognition of the realities our world is confronting, I write to let you know that our campus will remain physically closed at least through mid-June. While I suspect the news that we will be unable to resume normal operations on May 18 does not come as a surprise, I imagine this reality is, nonetheless, a disappointment.
Careful planning is underway to ensure a positive ending to our Spring Term. Many details about the approach for the weeks between May 18 and June 6 remain to be finalized, and we will be sure to communicate those details when we know them.
Here are decisions that have been made:
- The remote approach to how we “do school” will continue through the week of June 1. The goals for that approach are continued academic engagement and continued community building.
- We will hold a virtual Prize Day on June 6, and we will hold as many of the other end-of-year traditions as the virtual format allows. Also, we will hold an on campus ceremony to honor the Class of 2020 at a time that is safe and logical.
- We will be in touch with boarding families about how to ensure that student belongings are returned home or are safely stored.
- We have communicated to boarding parents the offer to refund the room and board portion of tuition for the weeks of the Spring Term when St. Mark’s is not, physically, in session. We are also asking boarding parents to consider donating some or all of that refund to the Annual Fund.
I am aware that the closing of campus prevents the sort of connection with the School that is so important to parents and to all of us faculty and staff. Therefore, under the guidance of Parent Association Chairs Michelle and Tom Davis, we plan to hold town hall-style Zoom forums for parents later this month. We imagine holding separate forums for parents of each Form. We hope that this approach allows parents to gain the most helpful and relevant information and provides the most effective opportunity to raise questions and offer feedback. In addition to me, administrators who can be most helpful to parents will participate in the Zoom parent forums. We look forward to the opportunity to connect in this way.
Thank you so much for your continued support of our School at this challenging time. As we enter the third week of our remote learning program, students and faculty alike are developing more of a rhythm and routine to this new way to approach academics. The transition has involved a learning curve, as we know, and we are committed to continuing to refine our approach, based on feedback and lived experience. I am proud of the student and faculty engagement with our remote education program and of the learning that is taking place. I am proud, too, of the vibrancy of virtual community events like Chapel, School Meeting, and 9:30 p.m. boarder check-ins. While these virtual community events cannot entirely replicate the in-person experience, they are helping us remain the school under one roof we all prize, even if the roof is more conceptual than actual at the moment.
With all best wishes and hoping that you are safe and well,
John C. Warren ’74, Ed.D.
Monday, March 23 (Message to Alumni)
I hope you and your family are well as we work through the daily challenges of this global health crisis. As members of our St. Mark’s family, you and your loved ones are on our minds during this unprecedented time. Thank you for your many supportive messages and inquiries in recent days about how to support our students and community during this crisis. I know this situation is affecting all of you in a variety of ways, so your expressions of concern for our students are particularly meaningful. Please know that in the coming weeks we will share opportunities for you to best support our students and the campus community more broadly.
I’m sure at this point it comes as no surprise that due to the restrictions placed on many areas, St. Mark’s will postpone Reunion Weekend, along with the Athletic Hall of Fame Induction ceremony, planned for May 8 and 9, 2020.
While the need to postpone is unfortunate, I do have good news. When next year’s Reunion is held we will invite classes ending in 1s and 6s as well as 0s and 5s. We know how special Reunion Weekend is to the St. Mark’s community, and making sure we celebrate with those who did not have a chance to attend this year’s event is the right thing to do. We will hold the Athletic Hall of Fame Induction ceremony then too.
No doubt, there will be questions about how postponing this year’s event will impact those who have already registered. A separate email with more information will be sent soon to Reunion registrants.
I think it’s important to underscore that we are not alone during this crisis. Head of School John C. Warren ’74, and his staff have been hard at work effectively communicating to students and families about plans for launching our remote learning program. We can stay connected with each other through social media (see the links below) including SM Lions Connect, our alumni network platform.
These are challenging times. As we work to meet the needs of our campus and global communities, we send our best wishes to everyone in the St. Mark’s community, and we hope you and your family remain safe and healthy through this crisis. Thank you for your commitment to St. Mark’s, and for your patience and understanding as we navigate these extraordinary circumstances. I know we will get through these times, and we will do so together.
Sincerely,
Chief Advancement Officer
Friday, March 20
I hope that you are doing well under a tremendously challenging and rapidly changing set of circumstances brought about by COVID-19. As I noted in my message to you last Friday, March 13, the top priority for all of us at St. Mark’s is ensuring the safety and well-being of every single member of our community: faculty, students, and staff. With that priority in mind, we have decided to extend the period of remote learning from the previously announced date of April 6, 2020, to Monday, May 18, 2020. We hope that conditions in mid-May will allow us to resume on-campus events on that day and for the rest of the School year.
New guidelines and recommendations at the local, state, and federal level have led us to this new decision regarding in-person resumption of School activities. We will hold to our previously announced plan of beginning a program of remote learning on March 30.
The May 18 date coincides with the close of our Monday-Friday class schedule and the end of Window Four, and will allow our faculty to undertake appropriate planning for the remainder of the semester to ensure that their courses provide the best possible development of skills, habits of mind, and content for every one of our students.
I am aware of how important regathering physically is to students. I am thinking, in particular, of our VI Form students as they prepare for their final days at St. Mark’s. While we are not yet sure exactly what the final weeks at St. Mark’s may look like, should we be able to return on May 18, all of us at the School agree that gathering together is an important first step in the process of restoring the community we all cherish so dearly.
I realize that any regathering this academic year will be imperfect because many of our international students are returning home, or have returned home, and may not be able to get back to campus this spring. We will do everything we can to make students who are unable to rejoin us physically feel part of our on campus end-of-year activities. Please be assured that we are attentive to the specific challenges that these students may face in connecting with our remote learning programming at a distance and across many time zones. It is also of paramount importance that we as a community remain committed to the safety of our Asian and Asian-American students, families, faculty, and staff in the face of escalating xenophobic rhetoric related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
I know that many of you will have questions in the hours and days to come about this announcement and its specific impact on your family. Following are some details that you may find helpful. We will share more specific information as it becomes available.
- Later today, you will receive an email from Dean of Students David Vachris that will include details regarding how and when students can access the houses to retrieve essential items. Students will have access to their rooms for a brief period of time. This will not be a comprehensive move-out process. The email will include a form through which families can sign up for a time slot to come to campus.
- As I noted last week, specific details about our program of remote teaching and learning, which will begin Monday, March 30, will be shared no later than Friday, March 27.
- As a reminder, no St. Mark’s athletic practices or games will take place until students return to campus. More details regarding our spring athletics season will be shared as soon as they become available.
The uncertainty that continues to exist for all of us during this time is challenging and unsettling. I am confident that the kindness, adaptability, and resilience that are hallmarks of the St. Mark’s community will continue to provide strength for all of us as we face the days and weeks ahead.
Sincerely,
John C. Warren ’74, Ed.D.
Head of School
Friday, March 13
At St. Mark’s, our uppermost priority is ensuring the safety and well-being of every single member of our community: students, faculty, and staff. Indeed, that priority orients every aspect of my leadership of our School. Every now and then, outside events require a change in our normal approach in order to meet the highest standards of safety and well-being. The outbreak of COVID-19 makes this one of those times.
Because the course of the infection is currently on the rise in Massachusetts and in many other places in the United States and the world, and because we cannot anticipate the way the infection will evolve, we need to take some strong protective measures as a School while continuing to provide the quality of learning that our School is rightly known for. In particular, rather than students returning from spring break for classes on March 24, we currently plan to resume our full on-campus program on Monday, April 6. Details of what will take place between March 24 and April 6 appear below. Please send any immediate questions to headofschool@stmarksschool.org. We are working on a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions, which we will distribute early next week.
- The week of March 23 will serve as an extension of spring break for students. Over the course of this week, faculty members will participate in professional development sessions to prepare for the launch of a remote learning model.
- St. Mark’s will temporarily shift to a remote learning model beginning on Monday, March 30. We are thinking very carefully about the implementation of this temporary teaching and learning model and about maintaining academic continuity during this time, and will share more specific details in a separate communication no later than March 27. If students need any support in regard to technology or equipment, they should be in touch with the Help Desk at helpdesk@stmarksschool.org. We are very fortunate to be able to call upon the expertise of faculty and staff leaders in the Academics Office as we develop our specific plan for online teaching and learning during this time.
- We will make a decision by Friday, March 27, regarding the resumption of in-person School activities. As we have seen, it is impossible to determine how quickly or broadly COVID-19 will spread in the coming days and weeks. It may be necessary to extend our period of remote learning.
- As of today, we plan to welcome asymptomatic/healthy students back to campus beginning on Sunday, April 5. Traditional, in-person classes are scheduled to resume on Monday, April 6. As this situation is rapidly changing, these dates could shift. Families will be asked to complete a survey regarding recent travel before students will be allowed to return to campus. Students who have traveled to an area designated by the Centers for Disease Control with a Level 1, 2, or 3 advisories, have traveled on a cruise, or have been in contact with a person being tested for or diagnosed with COVID-19 should self-quarantine for 14 days before returning to campus. Students who do not feel well or who are at increased risk for complications from COVID-19 should contact Director of Health Services Adria Pavletic to discuss their return to campus.
- No athletic practices will take place until students return to campus. The ISL heads agreed on March 12 that ISL schools will not hold practices when their schools are not in session. The ISL heads also agreed to remain in close communication over the coming weeks to develop an approach toward the Spring 2020 athletic schedule. That schedule will clearly need to be adjusted due to delayed student returns at a number of ISL schools.
Please know that students will receive full credit for coursework that takes place online. VI Form students who fulfill all requirements will graduate as planned on Prize Day on June 6. We are considering options for virtual community experiences, including chapel, for students during this time , away from campus, and will share details next week.
We will share additional details on next steps for your child as soon as they are finalized. In the meantime, I encourage you to visit this website for the latest updates and resources. In the coming days, we will be supplementing this website with a list of frequently asked questions for families. There are a number of questions for which we do not currently have answers, but that we will be thinking carefully about in the coming days. For example, how will St. Mark’s Saturdays and Lion Term be impacted by our approach to COVID-19? We will communicate additional details about these and other items as they become available.
I am well aware that the changes we have identified, up to this point, for the spring term will cause frustration for many, inconvenience, and a certain sense of loss. I wish, as much as anyone, that circumstances would allow us to resume normal operations on March 24 in just the way we had anticipated when spring break began.
I am well aware, too, that uncertainty exists for all of us about what will happen at St. Mark’s in April, May, and June. Regrettably, we are at the mercy of factors beyond our control. What I can promise is that every adult at St. Mark’s is committed to providing a valuable learning experience for every student, and that the decisions we make moving forward will ensure the highest degree of safety and well-being possible for every member of our School community.
At St. Mark’s we are resilient, we are adaptable, we are innovative, and we are deeply caring. I know that these qualities, which are part of what makes our School so special, will carry us through these challenging times.
Sincerely,
John C. Warren ’74, Ed.D.
Head of School
Friday, March 13 (Message to Alumni & Parents from Advancement)
School leaders have been in extensive conversations as we follow not only the rapidly-changing challenge of this virus, but also advice from health experts.
As a result the following is now in effect:
- Domestic and international travel by faculty and staff for St. Mark’s-sponsored activity is suspended through May 1, 2020.
- Off-campus St. Mark’s-sponsored events scheduled through May 1, 2020 will be postponed or canceled;
- On-campus events involving outside guests scheduled through May 1, 2020 will be postponed or canceled.
It is important to note that at this point plans for May and June events, including Reunion 2020 weekend and the Lives of Consequence Boston-area launch, have not changed. We are, however, actively planning for any necessary changes, and will communicate them as soon as any new decisions are reached.
Many resources are available online that have information about COVID-19, including this webpage, for St. Mark’s families that provide updates and resources from the School and other respected resources.
I, and the entire St. Mark’s community, are thinking about you and your families, and remain committed to keeping you updated during this challenging time. Coronavirus will be solved. I believe in the strength of our St. Mark’s family and community, and we will overcome this challenge unified and in support of each other and together.
Sincerely,
Chief Advancement Officer
Wednesday, March 11
Thursday, March 5
I write today to provide an update on measures that St. Mark’s has taken, as well as decisions we are considering, in regard to the new coronavirus (COVID-19).
With spring break just days away, many of you are facing travel restrictions and other challenges that will affect your child and your family. As the impact of COVID-19 is expanding and changing each day, a team of St. Mark’s faculty and staff members chaired by Chief Technology Officer Ken Griffin is meeting daily to review the latest updates on COVID-19, to discuss the status of recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control, and plan for next steps here at St. Mark’s. Many thanks to our local parents and families who have graciously offered to host students who are not able to go home for the break.
The School is considering the implementation of screening protocols when students and faculty members return to campus after spring break, and we will share details of this process with you via email and the RAVE system before students return on March 23. We will also be asking families to provide information about where students have traveled over spring break. We will share information on the process for collecting this information in the coming days.
We are encouraging students, faculty, and staff to avoid traveling to countries that have a Level 2 or 3 travel warning from the Centers for Disease Control. Here is a complete list of CDC travel health notices. Over the course of spring break, there is a chance that domestic travel will be impacted by restrictions as well. Please check the Massachusetts Department of Health website for the latest information. If the CDC increases the warning to a Level 3 for any location, there is risk of a mandatory period of quarantine or refusal of entry on return to the United States. It is also possible that the CDC could recommend that individuals returning from a Level 2 country should self-quarantine. Please note, the School is not equipped to quarantine students awaiting COVID-19 lab results or accommodate 14-day self-quarantine waiting periods. We expect families to have off-campus contingency plans in place for their students, if needed.
St. Mark’s spring break international travel programs (scheduled for Belize, Italy, and Peru) have been canceled. The Global Citizenship office is in direct communication with affected families regarding this decision. Our domestic spring break trips are currently scheduled to continue as planned. Again, this is very much an evolving situation. We will communicate about any postponements or cancellations of domestic spring break trips with affected students and families as soon as information becomes available.
There are many resources available online that provide information about COVID-19. I encourage you to check back to this page, a resource created here at St. Mark’s that provides updates and resources from the school, as well as links to respected resources.
We will continue to monitor new information daily. Thank you for your help as we work to ensure every member of the St. Mark’s community remains safe.
Sincerely,
John C. Warren ’74, Ed.D.
Head of School
Friday, February 28
I write to update you on measures St. Mark's is taking in response to the increasing spread of COVID-19. In general, we are following our stated Infectious Disease Epidemic Policy as stated on page 34 of the School’s Handbook.
In addition:
- As students look ahead to the start of spring break on March 7, we will respectfully ask that families follow the official recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and avoid all nonessential travel to China, South Korea, Italy, and any other identified areas. As this situation is changing rapidly, the number of countries on this list is likely to grow in the days and weeks to come.
- Consistent with current CDC guidelines, St. Mark's is introducing precautionary health screening questionnaires for visitors to campus who have recently been in countries that the CDC has identified as being at Alert-Level 2 or Warning-Level 3. If you have been to one of these countries in the past month, and are planning on coming to St. Mark's in person, please call Director of Health Services Adria Pavletic at 508-786-6372. This is a fluid and challenging situation, and we will respond accordingly as it unfolds. Our foremost concern, of course, is the health of the students in our care as well as the faculty and staff who work to support our students.
- Our Facilities staff is implementing their normal infection control measures by cleaning public surfaces with antimicrobial solutions. Students, faculty, and staff are being reminded of the importance of good hygiene and self-care practices and to report to our 24/7 Health Services at the onset of illness.
- For students visiting our Health Services, we will begin to ask screening questions of any student who could be considered a suspicious case of COVID-19. A suspicious case is anyone with fever and respiratory symptoms who has traveled to a country that the CDC has identified as containing possible carriers of COVID-19 within the past 14 days, or anyone with fever and respiratory illness who has had close contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19.
- We will continue to be in contact with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences as our primary resource for guidance.
- If a student has been in an area identified by the CDC as being at Alert-Level 2 or Warning-Level 3, or if a student has been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, they will need to be away from campus and symptom-free for 14 days. They will need to contact Health Services to discuss their status before they return to campus. In addition, they need to contact the Academic Dean to arrange for ways in which to continue to do their schoolwork while away from campus.
While we are relying on the CDC and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health as our primary sources of information and guidance, we are also using the resources of the World Health Organization, International SOS, Johns Hopkins University, and the Global Education Benchmark Group, and we are making decisions that we believe are in the best interest of St. Mark’s and our students based on internal conversations as well as recommendations from peer schools about best practices regarding students and others who are coming to the School from places where cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed.
We will continue to carefully monitor developments with this public health concern, and we will share further updates as they come available. Thank you for your patience and for your support of St. Mark’s during this challenging time.
Sincerely,
John C. Warren ’74, Ed.D.
Head of School
Wednesday, February 12
As you know, the new coronavirus is having a great impact on our students and their families, particularly those from Asia, in planning for spring break at St. Mark’s in less than four weeks. All of us at St. Mark’s understand the personal and logistical challenges that the virus has caused in regard to travel, not only to and from China, but throughout the world.
I am sorry that St. Mark’s will not be able to remain open over spring break. I am very proud of the work that our faculty members do each and every day to care for our students. During spring break, our faculty members will not be on campus, and we are simply not able to provide the adult presence necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of our students. In addition, campus dining services are not available during this time.
I am very pleased that St. Mark’s, in partnership with our travel partner, Envoys, is offering two travel options for those students who are not able to travel home for spring break. Each session is offered for one week or two weeks. The programs are:
Arizona: Environmental Stewardship and Ancient Heritage
- Session 1: March 8-21
- Session 2: March 15-28
- Session 1: March 8-21
- Session 2: March 15-28
For more information or to sign up for an Envoys spring break program, please contact Mary Ann Ciampa at 508.786.6047 or maryannciampa@stmarksschool.org. The deadline to register for the Envoys programs is Saturday, February 15.
Spring break provides an important mental, physical, and emotional break for our students, and I hope that you will encourage your child to take this time to relax in preparation for the final months of the academic year, whether through one of the Envoys programs or elsewhere. Through our work with Dr. Justin Chen and the MGH Center for Cross-Cultural Student Emotional Wellness, we know that students who push themselves too hard over the break often suffer from illnesses related to stress and fatigue. The Envoys programs are academically aligned and designed to stimulate thought and perspective-taking without being overwhelming.
I am so grateful that you and your child are part of the St. Mark’s community, and I thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate this very challenging time.
Sincerely,
John C. Warren ’74, Ed.D.
Tuesday, February 4
The coronavirus situation is evolving and rapidly changing. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization for the latest information about the virus, and the U.S. Department of State for the latest information regarding travel to and from China.
Travel Advisory
The U.S. State Department has issued a Level 4 travel advisory—“do not travel to China.” For more information about State Department travel advisories, visit
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/.
Spring Break Travel Options
For those students who are not able to travel home for Spring Break, St. Mark’s travel partner, Envoys, is offering two travel options:
Arizona: Environmental Stewardship and Ancient Heritage
- Session 1: March 8-21
- Session 2: March 15-28
- Session 1: March 8-21
- Session 2: March 15-28
Tuesday, January 28
The administrative team at St. Mark’s is closely monitoring updates about the coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China, including the latest news and recommendations from the U.S. Department of State and the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
As Spring Break at St. Mark’s approaches, we are considering steps to ensure the safety of all of our students. We are in the process of consulting with member schools of the Global Education Benchmark Group (GEBG) to offer U.S.-based travel options for our Chinese students over Spring Break through our travel partner, Envoys. While St. Mark’s does not currently have any students from Wuhan, the CDC is now recommending that travelers from the U.S. avoid nonessential travel to China. We will be sharing information on opportunities for our Chinese families soon.
In the meantime, please know that we are monitoring this situation closely and will be in touch with any updates as this situation continues to evolve.
Town Hall Zooms & Recordings
- Thursday, August 27, 2020 - Watch Recording
- Monday, August 31, 2020 - Watch Recording
- Friday, September 4, 2020 - Watch Recording
- Tuesday, September 8, 2020 - Academics - Watch Recording
- Wednesday, September 9, 2020 - Athletics - Watch Recording
- Monday, September 14, 2020 - Community and Residential Life - Watch Recording
- Wednesday, September 16, 2020 - College Counseling (V Form) - Watch Recording
- Thursday, September 17, 2020 - College Counseling (VI Form) - Watch Recording
- Thursday, September 24, 2020 - Health & Safety - Watch Recording