Safe + Sounder: Choate's COVID-19 Response Plan

Before the start of school, all families are required to provide an emergency contact and evacuation plan for their child. Information should be provided under Update Information on the Student Information tab on the Parents Portal. If you need assistance, please contact Michael Velez, Dean of Students.

Any student who tests positive will be isolated on campus—in a location separate from students with routine health care needs—until they can be safely transported home or to a caregiver off campus. It is imperative, therefore, that all students complete the “Evacuation Plan” form in the Student Information section of the Parents Portal. Contact tracing will be performed to identify any close contacts requiring quarantine. A parent or guardian can take the student to a local hotel to complete the isolation period.

Any student requiring hospitalization will be transported to Yale-New Haven Hospital or other area hospitals for further care. A faculty or staff member will stay with the student until a parent, guardian, or appointed caregiver arrives. Again, it is essential that students designate their caregiver in the “Evacuation Plan” form located in the Student Information section of the Parents Portal.

While it is our intention to offer rich and meaningful experiences in the arts for all students, whether through courses, ensembles, productions, etc., obviously the way we go about this will be different from pre-pandemic days.

The Arts Con community will have the opportunity to work together on collaborative projects, virtually, via video and in person when possible. The arts faculty are committed to ensuring that students will continue to be mentored and guided in their artistic development regardless of the venue (online or in person). If you have specific questions, feel free to reach out to Director of the Arts, Kalya Yannatos at kyannatos@choate.edu.

Beyond academic day dance classes, dance classes and rehearsals will be offered within the afternoon athletic block either remotely via Zoom or once campus reopens, as a hybrid offering in person for those present, and via zoom and recorded classes for those remaining remote. When in-person,  specific safety protocols will remain in place (masks, physical distancing, studio cleaning). Additionally, we will ensure dancers do not overexert themselves, as to minimize sweat and heavy breathing. Studio use will be limited to 17 students at a time so safe distances can be maintained.  For classes or rehearsals that extend beyond that cap, a satellite studio will be activated. Dance clubs will adhere to the same expectations. The dance faculty while remaining vigilant to safety protocols, will facilitate creative opportunities for student growth.

Performance opportunities will occur outdoors in person, via site specific works; on camera, via choreography intended for video and zoom; and when possible and safe, in person on stage. Student Choreographers Showcase will be shared publicly via a link January 15 and plans for the  spring Dance Concert are underway. It remains a goal to be able to virtually share with the local elementary school and with the extended Choate community online.

Music ensembles are affected by both safety limitations for large gatherings, as well as by the specific safety challenges inherent in singing, and playing wind and brass instruments. Therefore, ensemble “rehearsals'' will begin online, with creatively crafted opportunities for student growth and collaboration. We are following a cautious phased reentry toward in-person ensemble interaction, beginning with physically distant and masked string ensembles, while working toward incorporating more instruments once it is deemed scientifically safe to do so.

What does this mean regarding performance opportunities for Choate’s talented musicians? We hope you enjoyed the fall virtual concert! We will continue to produce  virtual recitals and hope to share small ensemble performances safely outdoors when weather permits. We look forward to the day when we can safely make and share music live and in person together again!

Online music lessons will continue to be offered through our Music Lesson Program. If you have specific questions, please contact Carol Jones at cjones@choate.edu.

Practice rooms will be scheduled for lessons and practice time, with safety protocols specific to each instrument and student use. If you play a wind or brass instrument, or sing and are returning to campus, by now you have hopefully picked up your special musicians or singers mask from the Arts Office, if not, please do so upon return.

Theater courses, rehearsals, and performances are happening in creative ways. When in-person, the same safety protocols are followed for masking and distancing. As theater is not a stationary activity, additional mindfulness about maintaining appropriate physical distance is important. The fall production, written by faculty Kate Doak and a group of students, will be shared virtually January 22-24, 2021. The winter production, Museum, has been cast and rehearsals have begun via zoom. It will be shared virtually at the end of the winter term. The spring production will likely occur outside, or virtually. Traditions such as the Choate Fringe Festival, Student Directed Scenes and One Person plays will be just as spirited and inspiring as ever despite a shift to an online format.

While most visual arts classes will occur online, students will receive the materials and guidance necessary for a fulfilling creative experience. Choate’s visual arts faculty are committed to facilitating and supporting students’ artistic growth.

Clubs and student organizations will kick off the year with a Virtual Club Fair on Sunday, September 27.

Initially, locker rooms will not be available.

Equipment 

The equipment room will disinfect and clean all team equipment with approved chemicals daily after each practice is completed.    

Athletic Team Balls 

The equipment room will provide each team with an approved chemical to disinfect and clean the team balls during practice.  At the end of each practice the equipment staff will clean all team balls with the same chemical prior to the next days practice.  

Athletic Clothing 

All athletes who sign out athletic clothing with the equipment room will be provided the following: 2 shirts, 2 shorts, 2 socks, and a laundry loop.  

Since locker rooms are not in use it is important that all athletic clothing is returned to the equipment room bins on the laundry loop the same day it was used.  

  Additional Notes 

• Daily laundry services will be available for students' athletic clothing  

• Locker rooms will not be available 

Yes, students will be engaged through the CoachMePlus app so they can stay active as they prepare to arrive on campus. We will also offer optional virtual Zoom yoga and other fitness style classes.

Once we have returned to campus, boarding students planning to learn on campus in the winter term will not be permitted to participate in club sporting events, private lessons, or other extracurricular activities off campus.

The Founders League has announced that, based on the uncertainty of health conditions in the months ahead given the COVID-19 pandemic, the Founders League will not have formal interscholastic competition, tournaments or championships for the spring 2021 season.  This decision does NOT preclude us from having athletic contests with other schools this spring (including other Founders League schools).

As of March 1, Choate, Loomis, Westminster, Hotchkiss and Taft have entered into a safe competition agreement that will require participating schools to meet agreed upon standards for campus testing, safety measures and competition protocols. Choate will only compete against schools that have signed on to the shared agreement.

Yes, form fitting masks covering the nose and mouth will be worn by players, coaches, and referees.

Varsity teams with expanded rosters will be participating in spring 2021 interscholastic competitions. By limiting the number of students traveling to and from games and possible exposures at a different school, the risk of contracting COVID-19 related to play interscholastic sports is minimized. 

Sports with JV and thirds teams will practice daily and have intrasquad scrimmages throughout the spring.

Unfortunately not all sports will be able to participate in spring interscholastic competition. Girls’ water polo can not compete as they are unable to wear masks during competition. They will have daily practices along with intrasquad scrimmages. Boys’ volleyball will also have daily practices with intrasquad scrimmages because Westminster, Taft, Hotchkiss, and Loomis do not have boys’ volleyball teams. Track and Field most likely will compete virtually against schools in the interscholastic competition agreement.

Yes, golf will practice daily at the Wallingford Country Club. Crew teams will practice at Lake Quonnipaug as usual. The practice location for the sailing team has yet to be determined.

As of now, spectators are not allowed at any competition.

There will be a physical wellness program again this spring with more outdoor options rather than the traditional intramural program.

Please see the Ordering Textbooks Online announcement, posted to the student and parent portals. 

The daily schedule has been modified to accommodate learning on campus and from a distance throughout the year. Please find the daily schedule here. 

Schedules are  available on the Student Information tab of the Student Portal. The Registrar's Office will continue to email students their schedules as any changes are made. 

There are three “bands” which were created to be geographically sensitive with the hope that our students would be able to access their classes during normal waking hours both in their time zone and when on campus, since students are expected to attend all of their classes synchronously.

Students will receive traditional letter grades (A-F) in their courses this year.  However, any student may, with the approval of the Director of Studies, take one or more courses on a pass/D/fail basis. A student taking a course pass/D/fail assumes all the normal responsibilities of a class (attendance, assignments, testing) but receives a grade of either pass (P), D, or fail (F). Students should approach the form dean as needed to discuss the P/D/F option, and parents/guardians will be consulted as part of the approval process.

We are planning to deliver meals in multiple locations on campus to provide nutritious meal service while minimizing density in dining areas and allowing for appropriate physical distancing. During quarantine, students will likely eat in their family units in the dormitory.  After that, students will be assigned to one of the meal locations on campus. As conditions allow, this plan will be revisited throughout the year.

Dining services will also be delivering a snack to the dorms each evening so that students have something substantial to eat after dinner. 

Classrooms will be set up to allow for adequate physical distancing between students, and between the students and teacher. Virtual student technology has been installed in each classroom to allow the best possible experience and to maximize engagement for students in the classroom, as well as those students learning from a distance.

Dorms are being divided into family units. Within these units, physical distancing will not be required, giving students a home-like environment in which to relax. An educational program will be undertaken to acquire “buy-in” from the students about necessary health protocols. Maintaining physical distancing and mask use is a social responsibility to keep each other and our Choate community safe. Faculty will be expected to model these behaviors themselves and modify student behaviors if they are not complying. Other common spaces have been evaluated and reconfigured as needed for appropriate use (e.g. lowering density) in alignment with health and safety guidelines.

A variety of shared spaces will be open to students on campus, with appropriate density and physical distancing expectations in place. For example, students will be able to use portions of St. John Hall, the library, and the Worthington Johnson Athletic Center, but new protocols will be in place to ensure health and safety and time for enhanced cleaning.

Students will be invited to return to campus according to the schedule outlined in the updated travel calendar.

Boarding students will not have access to facilities outside of residence halls during quarantine. However, all boardings students will have laundry service provided by E&R Laundry for washing of clothes, towels,  linens and masks. 

No.  For planning arrival to campus, families will need to drop you and your belongings off at your assigned house. 

No, they do not need to bring more formal attire to campus for the five weeks.

The Testing Schedule can be found under the College Counseling section of the Parents Portal.

Choate is a closed site for the SAT. In other words, registration for the SAT at Choate is only open for Choate students. To find Choate when you register online, enter the Test Center Number: 07620. The remaining on campus test date for the 2020-21 academic year is May 8. Because underformers will leave campus on May 28, the June 5 SAT/Subject test will not be offered at Choate. 

Choate is also a closed site for the ACT. Like the SAT, registration for the ACT at Choate is only available for Choate students. To find Choate when you register online, enter the Test Center Number: 163670. The remaining on campus test date for the 2020-21 academic year is April 17.

Students are required to wear masks before, during, and after the exams. Adult proctors will also be masked. Appropriate social distance will be maintained for administration of standardized tests.

Yes. Summit Education Group will offer an SAT prep class for Choate students via Zoom. The winter classes, which begin in February, will prepare students for the May SAT. For the class schedules, cost, and registration information, please see the SAT information form. Registration is open through February 4. The course costs $575. Summit offers financial aid for qualifying students at Choate.

Summit will offer an abbreviated online ACT prep class beginning February 21. This will prepare students for the April ACT. For the class schedules, cost, and registration information, please see the ACT information form. The course costs $385. Summit offers financial aid for qualifying students at Choate.

The PSAT was offered to fifth form students in person on Saturday, October 17. Due to the delayed return to campus this winter, Choate did not offer the previously scheduled make-up PSAT/NMSQT on January 26, 2021. There is no other make-up date available. .The National Merit Scholarship Corporation has announced an “alternate entry” this year: students may be able to qualify for the scholarship competition on the basis of an SAT score. This will enable students who could not take a PSAT to have the opportunity to be considered for the scholarship. A PSAT administered in fourth form is solely for practice; it is not the qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship Program.

No. Students who are not remote learners should plan to take standardized tests at Choate this year when School is open for in-person learning. This rule applies to both boarders and day students. Choate is a closed testing site, which reduces the risk of students exposing themselves and others to the virus and keeps our community safe. Families may petition the form dean if there are exceptional circumstances. Students can take the ACT at Choate in April, and the SAT at Choate in May. The March SAT coincides with Spring Break and will not be offered on campus.

College Board and ACT registration is open to students in all forms. However, due to the many test cancellations in the spring, summer, and fall of 2020, there was a scarcity of testing opportunities (and testing seats) for the Class of 2021. Therefore, we asked members of the Class of 2022 to delay their testing until winter and spring 2021. Accordingly, we anticipate more demand from current fifth formers for testing seats through the end of this academic year. To ensure that current fifth formers have access to testing opportunities on campus while school is in sessions, we ask third and fourth formers to delay any standardized testing until June, at the earliest. 

This year, the College Board has provided students the option of taking exams either in-school (paper-and-pencil format) or at-home (digital format). It should be noted that the at-home digital exams will be full-length (2 ½-3 hour exams), as are the in-school versions, and that some exams are only offered at-school/cannot be taken at home in the digital format. Choate students already registered for AP exams will receive clear instructions in early March about their exam options. All Choate students learning on-campus in the spring will have the option of taking AP exams in person at Choate during Administration 1 from May 3 to 17. Otherwise, these students can opt to take their exams at home digitally during Administration 3 from June 1 to 11 (but only for exams that have a digital, at-home option). All Choate students learning remotely during spring term should plan to take their exams at home digitally (if available) during that same Administration 3 from June 1 to 11. Please note that the late registration deadline for AP exams is March 1. Students are not able to register for any AP exams after this deadline. Any questions should be directed to Mr. Stahura at estahura@choate.edu.

We are asking all students returning to campus to start their quarantine at home beginning on January 22, meaning one should not have close contact with a non-family member during this time period. Additionally, students should avoid any unnecessary exposures and situations where there is a high risk for exposure to COVID-19 beginning on January 15. There will still be an additional quarantine period performed on campus for boarding students. The length of this period is currently 10 days based on the recent changes in guidelines for travel quarantine by the CDC and CT DPH.

Yes, insurance information and an enrollment form is available through Clifford Allen Associates. Access to information about insurance and health forms is also available through the Parents Portal. Coverage through Clifford Allen includes COVID-related treatment. Students who were remote during fall term and plan to be on campus for the remainder of winter term must provide proof of insurance prior to arrival. Students planning to be on campus only for spring term will be able to enroll in a shorter-term plan, with details available later this winter.

Returning students who opt for distance learning will continue in active SEVIS status. New students, all of whom are currently in initial SEVIS status, should become active when they begin in-person, on-campus learning.

The Travel Calendar for 2020-2021 has been updated. All plans are subject to change based on current conditions; please check back frequently.

The Student Services Kiosk in St. John Hall assists students in arranging transportation to and from campus. If you would like to schedule ground transportation, please complete this form. Vehicles are being scheduled and configured to meet physical distancing and safety guidelines.

Information Technology Services (ITS) at Choate is ready to help.  Reach out to them at infotech@choate.edu.