Fall 2020 Reopening Plan
WELCOME BACK TO BLUE RIDGE
We are excited to welcome students back to Blue Ridge School. After having to quickly adapt to distance learning in the spring, we appreciate even more fully the value of in-person, face-to-face learning our all-boarding model has for boys. We believe also that during these uncertain times our all-boarding model may be the safest choice for students. The health and safety of our students and faculty have been the driving factors as we prepared our plan to reopen.
The success of BRS’s repopulation plan for 2020 hinges on creating and maintaining a “bubble” of healthy students and faculty. Our all-boarding student population, as well as having 80% of our faculty living on campus, allows us to isolate our community from potential infection. Also, wearable technology allows us to continuously monitor the health of our students and faculty, so we can quickly identify and isolate potentially sick individuals.
The following synopsis of our reopening protocols and procedures should give you confidence that Blue Ridge School is fully prepared to welcome and care for all of our arriving students. Blue Ridge will conduct two online information conferences prior to the beginning of school: returning parents during the week of July 13, new and prospective parents during the week of July 20.
The school year will begin with students arriving in two waves, allowing for a manageable quarantine of new arrivals. The first wave, consisting of Seniors, Juniors, and some international students, will live in single rooms, have limited on-campus movement, practice rigorous personal hygiene, and abide social distancing. They all will be tested for COVID-19 when they arrive on campus and prior to the arrival of the second wave of students. This second wave of students (Sophomores and Freshmen) will adhere to the same protocols while keeping a completely separate schedule from the first wave. At the conclusion of four weeks and a clean bill of health for all students, BRS will begin a daily schedule that much more resembles typical life at the school.
RETURNING TO CAMPUS
August 17th – Seniors, Juniors, and some international students arrive.
September 2nd – Sophomores and Freshmen arrive.
All student registration forms (such as technology agreements, health forms, and athletics sign-up) must be completed prior to arrival on campus.
Students will be assigned time slots for when they should arrive for registration. This will reduce congestion and allow for appropriate distancing.
Students will remain on campus until at least September 17th, except in special circumstances such as a family or medical emergency.
During the first four weeks of school, guests are prohibited, except in special circumstances. All guests must complete a health screening survey prior to arrival and have their body temperature taken upon arrival. While on campus, guests must remain outside of the dorms.
Fall Break has been canceled.
Fall Parents Weekend will be held online with parent/teacher conferences, headmaster’s roundtable, and additional events occurring via video conference.
Alumni Weekend has been rescheduled for April 9-10, 2021.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Students and faculty will be tested for COVID-19 upon their arrival on campus. They will be tested again at the conclusion of the quarantine period.
Each student will wear a wristband that continuously monitors his body temperature, oxygen levels, and heart rate. These wristbands connect wirelessly to students’ mobile phones and will transmit health information to the Student Health Center, so sick students can quickly be identified and isolated. These wristbands also allow us to perform contact tracing if necessary. Touchless body temperature scanners are being installed on campus to allow the nursing staff to quickly evaluate many members of the community as they move through buildings on campus.
Upon arrival, students will be given masks to be worn in indoor, public spaces such as hallways between classes and the dining hall. During their on-campus quarantine period, students cannot visit other dormitory halls nor the rooms of other students. Classrooms have been configured to allow for appropriate social distancing during class periods. Dining hall procedures have been modified to accommodate social distancing as well.
During the first four weeks of school, we will not hold all-school gatherings, such as assembly and chapel. Instead, we will hold grade-level meetings in large areas that will allow for social distancing.
Blue Ridge School has two full-time nurses and one part-time nurse on campus. A nurse is always available to our students.
Any student or community member showing symptoms of COVID-19 or suspected of having the virus will not be allowed inside the Health Center. They will be evaluated and treated in a separate on-campus facility to reduce the possibility of infecting additional community members. Individual quarantine space is available if a student begins to exhibit symptoms of the coronavirus.
Bathrooms and high traffic public spaces (including dorm and academic hallways and the fitness center) will be cleaned twice daily. Classrooms will be cleaned daily by housekeeping and disinfected by teachers between each class. Door knobs and similarly often-touched devices will be disinfected four times each day.
Any areas known to have been used by a community member with the COVID-19 virus will be thoroughly cleaned by housekeepers wearing enhanced personal protective equipment.
DORMS & DINING
Students and families will report to a staging area prior to entering the dorms. Only a limited number of buses will be available to pick-up students at airports. Parents should bring students to campus if possible. Students will be tested for COVID-19 and given a face mask and a health monitoring wristband.
Only one parent will be allowed to assist students with moving into the dorms.
Students should bring only essential items. Students will be living in a single room during the two-week quarantine and will be moving into a double room at then end of that period. Comfort items can be delivered at that time.
During the first four weeks, all meals will be served in disposable to-go containers by the dining hall staff. Students will eat either in their rooms or outdoors. We will not have meal times in which the entire community gathers in the dining hall. Wave 1 and Wave 2 will each have separate times for each meal.
While waiting for food service, students and faculty will maintain social distancing.
Sage Dining staff will be screened, will wear N95 masks and wear food service gloves whenever contact with or close proximity to students or food is possible.
During the quarantine period, students will not be allowed to go to halls in the dorms other than the one to which they are assigned. Also during this time, they are not allowed to visit the rooms of other students.
We will not be able to hold all-school assemblies during the first four weeks. Instead, we will hold weekly meetings for each class. During that meeting, we will integrate brief messages from the chaplain. We can arrange seating in the auditorium, chapel, or outdoors to facilitate class meetings.
All lounges will be closed during the first four weeks on campus.
The number of students in Walsh Dormitory bathrooms will be limited to allow for social distancing.
Students will be encouraged to use water bottles and the touchless feature on water fountains.
ACADEMICS
When classes begin for the first wave of students, they will be held in a block schedule with students having only two classes per day. This will reduce student interaction in hallways between classes. This schedule will continue through September 17th. Classes for Wave 1 will begin on August 27th. Classes for Wave 2 will begin on September 7th.
During the first four weeks of school, the academic day will be extended and the number of students per class will be reduced, so appropriate social distancing is possible. In accordance with CDC and VAIS guidelines we will observe physical distancing in classrooms and face desks in the same direction, when possible. We have evaluated each classroom and developed measures to reduce the possibility of viral transmission.
If a student is unable to return to BRS for the start of the academic year we will offer him a distance learning program.
Students in the first wave will participate in SAT preparation and college counseling programs from August 17th-26th, as well as orientation and sports activities.
ATHLETICS
The Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association has cancelled championships for all fall sports. Students will participate in a variety sports and outdoor activities during their quarantine period, particularly those that pose low risk for viral transmission, such as mountain biking, cross country, and golf.
Modified practice for soccer and football will occur. Football will begin two-a-day practices on August 18th. Soccer will begin practice on August 24th.
There will be no interscholastic competitions prior to September 17th.
Whom to Contact
Health and Wellness – Director of the Student Health Center Stacy Oliver 434-985-2787
Residence Life and Housing – Director of Residence Life Hans Hermanson ’94 434-992-0521
Academics – Dean of Faculty and Academics Pete Bonds 434-992-0574
Athletics – Director of Athletics Bryan Puckett 434-992-0524
Safety and Security – Director of Campus Safety Mike Jamrozek 434-992-0591
EVENTS CALENDAR
*Dates for events occurring in 2021 are subject to change.
OPENING DATES
August 17 – Seniors, Juniors, and international students
September 2 – Sophomores and Freshmen
CLASSES BEGIN
August 27 – Seniors and Juniors
September 7 – Sophomores and Freshmen
OPENING CONVOCATION
September 20
PARENTS WEEKEND (Online)
October 9-10
THANKSGIVING BREAK BEGINS
November 13
DISTANCE LEARNING BEGINS
November 30
DISTANCE LEARNING ENDS
December 18
STUDENTS RETURN TO CAMPUS
January 4
CLASSES RESUME
January 5
SPRING BREAK BEGINS
February 26
SPRING BREAK ENDS
March 14
RITES OF PASSAGE EXPEDITIONS
March 28-31
EASTER BREAK
April 1-5
ALUMNI WEEKEND
April 9-10
SPRING PARENTS WEEKEND
April 23-25
