After three successful weeks of in-person learning, having students and teachers finally adjusted to the hyflex model, the Fieldston Upper School school announced on November 8th, 2020 that remote learning at the high school will be activated.
The school has no option but to switch to remote learning after receiving news of 7 positive COVID-19 cases which triggered quarantine for over 15% of the Upper School. Beginning Monday 11/9 and continuing through Friday 11/20, all students and teachers at the Upper School will be working remotely.
With the high school vacant, the facilities team had the chance to thoroughly clean and disinfect many of the Upper School common spaces and classrooms, prioritizing the spaces used by the middle school students. This process was complete by the end of Monday 11/9, as the middle school is still in in-person learning and interacts regularly with the Upper School building.
Additionally, as stated by Kyle Wilkie-Glass, Chief Operating Officer & Assistant Head of School for Strategic Initiatives, “The School Administration is actively working through our trace and notify processes.” Wilkie-Glass continued, “This process yields insight into a student’s activities throughout our campus and includes all curricular, co-curricular, and athletic activities. We look carefully at these activities and work collaboratively with the New York City Department of Health to determine which members of our community should quarantine.”
As of Sunday, November 8th, contact tracing had been complete and all members of the community that needed to quarantine had been contacted.
Moreover, due to the large percentage of the community that was potentially exposed to the COVID-19 virus, the school has offered COVID testing for precautionary measures.
“The School is deploying the Everpoint COVID-19 testing team at the Fieldston campus on Monday 11/9 and Tuesday 11/10 for any student or employee who is not quarantining and wishes to be tested. The testing team will be located in the JV Gym and will be available from 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM. No appointment is necessary.” Said Wilkie-Glass.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold, the school remains cautious and equipped to react in whatever way necessary to return to safe in-person hyflex learning.
