As always, your advisor will be a primary support for you, checking in with you regularly to see how your classes are going and how you are doing under these circumstances. Your advisor will establish plans for connecting with you twice a week either by email, Zoom, or phone call. Your advisor may also set up an advisory meeting so that you can connect with fellow advisees! While we can’t do advisory outings at this time, we hope that your group can find some fun ways to connect remotely.

Prior to the launch of remote learning, we will share a Canvas module with students that will walk them through the basics that they will need to be successful. This training covers core technology skills, as well as routines and habits of mind. Teachers will spend a portion of the first week of classes troubleshooting questions of technology and access, and partner with advisors and the Technology Help Desk to resolve issues.

Is St. Mark’s keeping attendance? What if I miss a class because of time difference or connectivity issues?

We recognize that the upcoming weeks will be challenging for the community as we connect from distance, manage new routines, and potentially navigate mild or severe illness. In order to approach these challenges flexibility, attendance at synchronous classes and community events is encouraged, but not mandatory. First and foremost, students should always communicate with the relevant teachers and their advisor if they encounter challenges of any kind. If your student is ill and unable to participate in learning on a given day, please contact Sue LaFreniere at deanofstudents@stmarksschool.org. In the case of illness or injury which would cause your student to miss multiple days of participation, please contact our Director of Health Services Adria Pavletic at adriapavletic@stmarksschool.org. We will not track absences, but this information is helpful for us to ensure that we remain responsive to the needs of our community.

With the disruption to school routines and constant change being the norm in the news, feelings of anxiety and concern are entirely normative in our students. This behavior is often exhibited differently in teenagers than in adults. Some are overjoyed with the additional time off while others are confused, sad and disappointed about the possibilities of missing events. Your child may respond by becoming withdrawn, frustrated, defiant or tearful. Please help your child understand that their emotional response is valid, and that there are resources available to ensure that they feel supported in expressing their worries and anxiousness. Start by adopting and encouraging a self-care strategy, either together as a family, or something that students do independently -- going for walks, video calls to friends, baking, meditating, spending time with pets, journaling, or creating art. Parents should encourage their children to stay connected to the St.Mark’s community, friends, teachers and advisors. If parents believe that the level of anxiousness is preventing their child from engaging in school, parents should reach out to school counselors directly. School counselors will be providing weekly emails to all students helping them to develop healthy strategies for self care, resources and support.

Understanding that some students did not have the opportunity or availability to come campus during the week of March 22, we have created a system to assist. If you are far from campus and need something essential from your House, you should email the Dean of Students Office at deanofstudents@stmarksschool.org. Please list specific essential items, what room, and the address we should send it to. If you are within driving distance and want to pick up essential items after the week of March 22, you should contact the Dean of Students Office at deanofstudents@stmarksschool.org and we will create a plan.

All technology questions should be addressed to the Technology Help Desk.

Please be in touch with the Technology Help Desk and they will help to explore alternatives.

So that campus can be adequately cleaned, campus buildings are closed at this time.

Lion Term 2020, including the Lions Roam trip, will not take place. Plans are currently being formulated for what school programming will look like between May 18 and June 6. We hope that the campus will reopen on May 18, welcoming as many members of the community as possible back then. Recognizing that conditions may not permit a May 18 campus reopening, the plans we develop will account for a variety of scenarios. The twin pillars of the plans for what takes place between May 18 to June 6 are: academic and intellectual engagement, and community building.

It is our sincere hope that conditions will allow for Prize Day to take place on the St. Mark’s campus on June 6, as planned. We regret that travel realities will, in all likelihood, keep some students from being able to participate physically in that ceremony. We will ensure that a virtual Prize Day experience is available. As the date gets closer, we will have a better idea of the likelihood of Prize Day happening on June 6 and will communicate decisions as they are made.

As is always the case, St. Mark’s teachers will be ready to offer appropriate levels of support for all students.

We will address each situation individually as they arise. If it becomes clear that a student cannot return to campus for whatever reason, we encourage you to be in touch with the Dean of Students Office.