Dear St. Mark's Families,
We hope that this communication about St. Mark’s plans for
OPTION 1
of St. Mark’s Pack-Up/Move-Out 2020 finds you and your families well. As we have not yet heard back from every family about their preferred option, we are sending information on both options to all families to make sure we reach everyone.
There is much information provided here for you, and we hope that many of your questions will be addressed and covered. We will be allowing access to campus over the course of the next five weeks, and we look forward to seeing you (from a distance) as you return to campus to gather belongings.
OPTION 1: Return to campus between May 11 and June 13 to pack up your belongings and move out. Please choose a time slot on the SignUpGenius form (choose your House—only ONE time slot).
Boarders,
please use this link:
Burnett House students,
please use this link:
Please note that these links are LIVE for parents. Students are receiving a similar communication but the links will not be active. Only parents can sign up for time slots on SignUpGenius. This way, we avoid multiple bookings and confusion.
What’s the schedule? It is below and on SignUpGenius.
We will schedule access to campus from May 11 to June 13 that will not interfere with the remote learning academic schedule. We are only allowing one family per House per time slot to help us maintain social distancing.
Week of May 11
West Campus/Burnett: Monday, Weds, Friday: 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Main Building/Thieriot: Tuesday and Thursday: 3:30-5:30 p.m.
and Saturday May 16 9:00-11:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Week of May 18
Main Building/Thieriot House will have access slots Monday and Friday 1:00-3:00 p.m. and 3:00-5:00 p.m. and on Wednesday, May 20, 9:00-11:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
West Campus/Burnett will access slots on Tuesday and Thursday 1:00-3:00 p.m. and 3:00-5:00 p.m. and on Saturday May 23, 9:00-11:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Week of May 25
West Campus/Burnett will have access slots Monday, (Memorial Day) 9:00-11:00 a.m., Wednesday and Friday 1:00-3:00 p.m. and 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Main Building/Thieriot House will have access slots Tuesday,Thursday 1:00-3:00 p.m. and 3:00-5:00 p.m. and on Saturday May 30: 9:00-11:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Week of June 1
Main Building/Thieriot House will have access slots on Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9:00-11:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
West Campus and Burnett will have access slots Tuesday and Thursday 9:00-11:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. No access on Saturday June 6 (Prize Day).
Week of June 8
West Campus/Burnett will have access slots Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday 9:00-11:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Main Building/Thieriot House will have access slots Tuesday and Thursday 9:00-11:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Why is this schedule seemingly so complicated?
First, we need to alternate areas of campus so that our maintenance crews can sanitize after a day of visits. Second, we want to give families multiple time options on different days, afternoons, mornings, and even Saturdays.
When can Burnett students pick up belongings from Burnett House and the other areas?
On the days earmarked for West Campus/Burnett, you may choose from four 30-minute slots. There is a separate SignUpGenius form for Burnett House.
Can I come at a different time than what is scheduled (earlier or later)?
We ask that families find a time within our framework that works for your schedule. We have provided numerous days and times to meet people’s needs. In addition, we have only a small group of faculty and staff who will be manning this operation six days a week, and exceptions will put an unnecessary strain on our system.
What if I am not comfortable coming to campus due to state restrictions and other COVID-19 concerns?
We recommend that you select one of the later time slots in June, and as we get closer to those June dates we can assess whether or not coming to campus makes sense for you or if we need to come up with different options.
Can’t I just leave me stuff in my room and get it later in the summer or in September?
No. We are hoping to have all the House rooms cleared out by June 13 so that we can clean, perform maintenance, provide space for potential summer programs, and avoid confusion in the fall.
Can VI Formers leave belongings at St. Mark’s?
VI Formers will not be permitted to store anything on the St. Mark’s campus. VI form families can choose to store with Mark’s Movers or ship home or directly to their college.
What safety precautions will be in place?
We will be following safety protocols required by our COVID-19 Task Force, which will include specific appointments, social distancing, masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, and faculty and staff oversight in and out of the Houses. Please bring your own mask if you have it. We have plenty of gloves and a limited supply of masks.
Will St. Mark’s be taking visitors’ temperatures on arrival?
No. We will be asking how everyone is feeling in the group and ask that anyone who has not been feeling well, has a fever, or has been exposed to the coronavirus to stay in the car or at home.
How many people can come to campus to pack up the room?
No more than three people (the student and two others) will be allowed in the room while packing. Families and family friends will need to check in and be escorted to the student’s House room.
Is two hours enough time?
We ask families and family friends to be prepared to pack up rooms quickly. This is not a normal pack-up situation, and we ask that you are respectful of the space and of the people working by limiting your time to two hours or less. Please come prepared for a quick move out with containers, bags and other supplies.
Will roommates be involved?
Yes, roommates need to be involved. They should be contacted by families or the SM escort and can be a part of the pack up via Zoom or FaceTime. Roommates cannot pack up at the same time on the same day on campus.
Will St. Mark’s be providing packing material for those you are coming to campus to pack up?
No, SM will not be providing boxes or tape.
Will the elevators be available for use?
No. Due to sanitizing issues, the elevators will not be available.
Can students retrieve items from other areas of campus?
Yes, and SM adults will walk families and friends to areas on campus. Students will have the opportunity to access the athletics building, the PFAC, and the Main Building package room to collect belongings. Lockers in MFAC and music rooms need to be emptied.
What will the School do if St. Mark's adults or Mark’s Moving who are packing my room find substances that violate school rules?
If there are illegal items/substances in your room, we ask that students disclose inappropriate items to the coordinating SM adult before packing commences. If disclosed properly, students will not face the normal and customary discipline responses. The SM Counseling Office and parents will be informed in the hopes that healthy non-discipline conversations will occur.
If a student does not disclose and inappropriate items are discovered (by either SM adults or Mark’s Moving) he/she will be subject to a disciplinary response.
If dangerous, harmful, or illegal (e.g. a weapon) items are in the room, the school reserves the right to proceed to a disciplinary response and to contact the local authorities.
While on campus, will students be able to go into other students' rooms to retrieve items?
No. For a variety of safety and security issues, other rooms in the House will remain secured.
Is it possible for a family friend to come to campus and pack up a room and leave items in the room to be stored later at the ice rink or with Mark’s Moving?
Yes. Articles left behind need to be boxed and clearly marked with the student name.
If I have more than one child at St. Mark’s, can we pack up both students on the same day.
Yes. Select a time and let us know that you intend to pack up multiple rooms.
When we arrive on campus for our appointment, where do we go?
Depending on the day, you are asked to check in outside the Ritz on West Campus checkpoint or the front circle on Main campus upon arrival.
What if I do not have my key?
Our move-out faculty and staff will have key access to all Houses and rooms.
What should I do with my room key, lock, and Lion Card when we are finished?
Students who come to campus to pack should leave their room key and lock at the checkpoint when you have completed the move out. For those who can’t come to campus, we ask that students mail their room key to the Dean’s Office and to hold on to their locks for the fall. VI Formers should mail in their locks as well. There will be a $50 replacement fee for lost or unreturned keys.
Underformers, please be sure to keep your Lion Card safe over the summer, as this will remain your access card for next year.
What can be stored at St. Mark’s?
Boxes, refrigerators and lamps. No furniture. We will use the Gardner Ice Rink for storage at no cost. Mark’s Moving is available for storage as well and they can store furniture items for you.
Please contact Mark’s Moving directly
for quotes about furniture storage.
Are there storage and shipping options available to those who come to campus to pack up?
Technically, yes. That said, we ask relatively local families to pack up all items and not to rely on campus storage. Family friends who are packing for students who live away may store items in the ice rink or with Mark’s Movers.
Will there be financial assistance available for St. Mark’s families on financial aid?
Yes. Support for shipping and financial assistance will be available to help with shipping costs for families receiving financial aid. Resources are limited with how much St. Mark’s can ship per student. Please reach out to Channing Warner at
[email protected]
with questions about financial aid and shipping essential items.
Will there be donation boxes?
Yes. Clothing and unopened items can be donated. Furniture and used materials should not be donated.
Will there be garbage bins in the Houses?
Yes.
Thank you for your assistance and patience as we work through this process.
Sincerely,
Channing Warner
David Vachris
Dean of Students Office
