All students will begin Winter Term remotely from December 2-17. Instead of returning to campus in January, as previously planned, all students will continue to learn remotely through the end of that month.
Campus will re-open in February for all Seniors while other grades stay remote. Senior day students can opt to join as boarders or stay remote for the remainder of Winter Term. Families must notify the school whether their Senior will be a boarding student or remote student by Thursday, December 10.
In an email to the Andover community, Head of School Dr. Raynard Kington cited the recent rise in local Covid-19 cases and the approaching peak of flu season as reasons for the change. Kington also noted the inability to gather outdoors in tents during the winter months.
“Based on the latest data, compounded by challenges presented by the winter months, we now believe that repopulating the campus to the extent we have this fall would compromise our primary goal of protecting the health of our campus community,” wrote Kington.
In terms of the academic program for Winter Term, the administration is considering an increase in synchronous teaching and learning time, as well as a reduction of class sizes where possible.
The administration hopes to welcome all students back to campus for Spring Term. The return will happen over two days, with quarantine starting at home and continuing on campus. Rigorous testing and the use of tents will resume.
There will be a town hall for Seniors and their families on Tuesday, November 10, at 7:00 p.m. EST. Please refer to this Winter Term Q&A for more information.
