Dear Parents and Students,
As we approach the start of the 2020-2021 School Year in two and a half weeks, in addition to our opening plan posted on our website, we want to provide you a series of daily emails that recaps and further clarifies our approach to the reopening of campus and the commencement of the year. COVID-19 has us all on information overload and so we want to make sure that we are communicating to you in a simple, digestible format on the topics that are important for us all to ensure a great start to the year. I am convinced that the COVID-19 pandemic is an opportunity for extraordinary community and personal growth if we will receive it as such. If we love our neighbor as ourselves by putting into place the measures that we have seen be effective in New York State, social distancing, face coverings and consistent hygienic practices, we are putting ourselves in the very best position for a safe and healthy school year. The communities that truly sacrifice for each other will emerge the strongest from the COVID-19 era. This is already a way of life for us at Stony Brook and I am confident we will rise to this challenge.
We believe that in-person, on-campus learning is important for the social and emotional development of young people. That is why from the beginning, we have been committed to reopening our physical campus for five day a week classes and a robust residential experience. However, given the varying health needs of students and families and the reality of constrained international travel, we also knew that flexibility was going to be crucial. Our program’s design and the sophistication of our online learning capabilities allows each family to make the decision that they believe is best for their child based off health and travel statuses and still experience the power of a Stony Brook School education.
Our faculty and staff has been working throughout the summer to ensure that our campus and program are ready for an outstanding year of growth and learning. In addition to my daily email, you will also be able to go to the portal for videos and other updated information. Below is the schedule of emails with the associated topics. In addition, we will be offering a Town Hall meeting next Wednesday 8/19 at 8:00pm EDT where we will be recapping the information from the emails along with any updated guidance that might come in between now and then. There will be an opportunity to submit any questions that may be on your mind in advance of that meeting.
Arrival Dates and First Week of School
- Campus opens this Friday 8/14 for those who are quarantining with us
- International or Restricted State Boarding students who have completed their quarantine are to arrive on August 28th or 29th. Please let Dustin Mones (dustin.mones@sbs.org) know your arrival date
- New domestic boarding students arrive on August 30th
- Returning domestic boarding students arrive on August 31st.
- Day students for car drive up and materials receipt September 1st
- All students on campus for first day walk through and Convocation September 2nd
- First regular day of classes September 3rd
Testing
The CDC and the New York State Department of Health are advising against universal testing at this time. Due to the nature of life in a residential community, we are following Higher Education best practices. Boarding students are required to take a COVID-19 diagnostic test with a negative result within 14 days prior to arrival on campus
Once school begins, The Stony Brook School will arrange COVID-19 testing for any boarder who reports or demonstrates symptoms of COVID-19 at any point in time throughout the School Year. We are fortunate to have a State approved testing site within a five minute drive from campus.
Our journey together begins. I believe deeply in this community and its ability to sacrifice for each other to preserve what we hold dear. We will employ faith, reason and science as we navigate these uncharted waters. For ninety-eight years, God has been faithful to our School and He is not going to stop now. He will lead us safely to our destination- let’s enjoy the journey together.
Yours,
Joshua Crane
Head of School
August 12, 2020