Since, Middlesex was brought up above and I graduated (or watched an online graduation on my couch) at the beginning of the whole lockdown, I gotta add in that at least MX is doing in-person classes. I’ve spent my senior spring and freshman year of college at home doing virtual classes, so in my opinion and from what my friends still at MX say, the limited days, activities, and all around consequences of having even some days in person is sort of the pill you have to swallow if you want in person. I know the faculty is really trying to keep everyone involved and the dorm parents have been amazing, but yes its nothing normal and its tough, and for day students the restrictions are brutal. But I guess on the other hand, we can all just be safer at home doing our own definition of quarantining, and sticking to virtual school so there is that.
Also, totally agree with the assertions above about different covid guidelines based on state and everything @cityran said in their post above.
And to the point of the BS tuition when so much is limited—yea it sorta sucks, but thats happening everywhere. I’m paying my college full tuition to watch lectures from home without ever stepping foot on campus.
The understatement of the century especially for those with kids at schools that had hardly any in person teaching last Fall, and none at all this Winter. Like PA. The Spring plan as announced should be much better, but I’m still in show-me mode at this point. Hopeful, but that’s about it.
It’s even worse when you look around not only at what’s happening locally, but at peer schools where they’re in person and yet magically the precautions have thus far precluded any health disasters.
I think Deerfield has handled the pandemic very well and with many creative approaches to the experience. The school invested millions in not only healthcare-testing services, but also making the school year happen and to have facilities, as well as programming, running throughout the year. They invested in having elaborate tents (one is nicknamed “Hogwarts”), outdoor skating rink with Christmas trees, fire pits, outdoor seating areas, food trucks and activities. Also, the school redesigned and constructed dorm facilities to provide singles for every student who wanted to be on campus. They were able to create a type of “bubble” over the school (not a large day student population and by second term many were on campus). The number of cases have been relatively small for the state. I think Deerfield went all out on their facilities and programming.
I don’t think Lville was fully transparent about this. They argue that their hands are tied by the state, they said this multiple times in their Spring Back to School Webinar, but the other schools in the area, including BS, opened during the winter, served hot meals starting in the fall, and even managed to resume interscholastic sports on some level.
The dining hall situation remains a mystery to me…according to pre fall communication, grab and go was a temporary situation that would only last a few weeks. Now it sounds like grab and go will last all year. I know plenty of schools that have had the students eating in dining halls since day one and when I looked up NJ Covid rules on this, the dining halls could be open with staggered seating.
I had been eating inside the dining hall since October along with everyone who would be designated to eat there during “normal times”— all sophomores and juniors, regardless of day/boarding status or house affiliation. I’ve heard Abbott (the senior dining hall) was operating similarly, so this comment really surprised me—did they not reopen Lower?
In terms of the grab and go, no (returning) student is disappointed about this because the food quality has actually improved relative to last year.
Now I’m confused!! From what kiddo has told me, and based on email communication we have received (it’s even something I’ve asked about, but received no answer), second formers were eating either in the bowl or in their rooms. I’ll have to ask kiddo about it … maybe she just isn’t aware they can eat inside? I’m glad to hear everyone else has been!!