Reopening Forman School

We have revised cleaning protocols with regularly scheduled deep cleanings. We will use UV-C machines or electrostatic cleaning devices when sanitizing areas that a potentially infectious student has visited.

We have obtained portable HEPA air purifiers for spaces throughout the campus that do not have a central air system. We are also encouraging teaching and socializing outside. We have added clusters of seating around the campus and are erecting a tented Student Center.

Hand sanitizing stations may be found in every classroom and at the entrance of every building.

Testing is required of all students, faculty, and staff prior to student arrival for the 2020-2021 school year. Proof of a negative test, within a certain amount of days prior to arrival, will be required for registration. Random COVID-19 testing of faculty, staff, and students will occur throughout the year. At least 5% of the community tested weekly.

If a student tests positive for COVID-19 they will be required to return home, if within driving distance, as quickly as possible. For students that live further away, we are asking that you designate somewhere locally your child could isolate off-campus. If a student cannot return home or to a designated isolation location, we will have a staffed isolation dorm monitored by our nurses. If a student's health is such that it is determined that they must go to the hospital, we will ensure that they are taken. A student may continue to participate in classes virtually via Zoom, if they are well enough to attend. Beyond the care for the student who has tested positive, our contact tracers will identify anyone else that may have been exposed and follow proper protocols.

Quarantine refers to separating students that may have been exposed to the virus or have symptoms but have not tested positive for COVID-19. These students will be required to quarantine themselves in their dorm rooms for 14 days or at home. They should continue to participate in classes via Zoom.

In an effort to keep our campus community safe and to not overwhelm our Health Center, we will be requiring all students to have a flu shot this year.

There will be daily health and temperature checks of day students. There will be a special area, separate from the Health Center, designated for these checks.

The day student lockers will be located in the Student Center this year. However, this does not change the fact that all day students will still be affiliated with a dorm.

Day students will be required to have daily screenings on days they are on campus. Other restrictions will be based on the School’s current flag color.

Day students will be allowed to participate in weekend activities, as long as they have had their daily screening by a nurse (weekend screening times and location TBA). At this time, day students cannot stay overnight in the dorms. If circumstances warrant, we will re-evaluate these restrictions as the year progresses. 

While we cherish relationships between our day and boarding students, we must be mindful of maintaining a healthy community. At this time, we will not be allowing day students to host boarding students overnight. If circumstances warrant, we will re-evaluate these restrictions as the year progresses. 

We will follow the following schedules depending if we are offering on-campus classes or remote only learning.

Click here for the link to the On-Campus Learning Schedule.

Click here to the Remote Learning Only Schedule.

This will depend under which “flag” color the School is under. Click here for a detailed description of our Phasing Plan.

Yes, students will still be able to receive tutoring, both in-house and private, as well as receive help from teachers during the evenings. However, circumstances might dictate that this must be done virtually rather than in person.

During the part of Fall Term 4, which falls between December 1st and December 18^th, Forman will utilize remote learning in an effort to minimize the number of returns and departures from campus. A student may also utilize remote learning if they are in quarantine or isolation, or if one of their instructors is in quarantine. Students may also elect to utilize remote learning if they are concerned about travelling to campus. We may also utilize remote learning if the School is forced to move to a shelter in place or be evacuated due to local or state mandate.

Students will receive letter grades except for classes that are traditionally pass/fail (i.e. Perspectives in Learning and the Cognition & Learning classes).

This will depend on several factors such as the size of the dorm, family cohorts, or flag level the School is under. Even if students cannot gather in common rooms within the dorms, there will be spaces on campus, such as the Outdoor Student Center, that both day and boarding students can socialize while maintaining proper social distancing.

Yes, the wearing of masks is expected to continue to play an important role in our strategies to prevent the spread of the virus on our campus. Mask wearing will be mandatory when in a classroom setting and in certain other situations. Please refer to the Phasing Plan for further detailed information on when and where students must wear masks.

Students will be allowed to leave for weekends under certain circumstances. We are generally discouraging all travel for weekends. This policy helps keep our campus safe. We recognize that students may need to travel off-campus for the weekend and our Phasing Plan provides additional guidance when that is permissible and the protocols students should follow. See Phasing Plan for guidance.

We are currently creating a new dining protocol that reduces density, avoids self-serve, promotes distancing, creates well-spaced traffic patterns, and maintains high degrees of cleanliness/sanitation in the dining hall. Students, faculty, and staff will also be given the option for “grab and go” meals. We are also currently exploring the possibility of creating an outdoor version of The Bistro. Students may order food from approved venues and according to handbook guidelines except when the School is under the Red flag. 

Forman Athletics will have a different look as we return to school in August. We will not be playing any competition with our teams outside of Forman School for the fall season. The Housatonic Valley Athletic League (HVAL) that we belong to has canceled all league play and all championships for the fall season. The Athletic Department will continue to work throughout the summer, putting together a platform that will benefit our students athletes for the afternoon program.

Yes. During Fall Term 4 coaches will have time each afternoon via Zoom with their teams to work on drills and skill building. They will also examine strategies and “plays” depending on the sport to enhance the knowledge and understanding of the sport as preparation for game competitions. 

Yes. We know that it is important that our students stay healthy and active each day. During Fall Term 4, we will provide a wide range of afternoon activities that they may participate in.