Dear Miss Hall’s School Families,
I write to touch base and check-in with you as we wrap up the first week of a highly unusual Spring Break. I hope everyone is doing well, or as well as can be, given the global uncertainty and the unprecedented challenges we are facing. I know this is not the Spring Break we all had hoped for, even just a few weeks ago, but I am heartened to hear that students remain connected and are supporting each other in myriad ways. And, amid the uncertainty, I take comfort in this opportunity to slow down, prioritize, spend time with loved ones, and embrace family activities we might not normally get to with our busy schedules.
As you know, we continue to monitor developments regarding the coronavirus/COVID-19 and take the steps we can to keep our community and campus safe. I’m pleased to report that there are still no known cases of coronavirus at MHS, and there has been little risk of student exposure in the last week, as we canceled off-campus trips for those on campus during the break. About three-dozen students chose to remain on campus, and they are doing well. (This morning’s cooked-to-order brunch was a big hit!) We are also limiting any unnecessary flow of visitors in and out of campus, and anyone coming to stay on campus is asked to provide information about their health.
In light of Governor Charlie Baker’s announcement last Sunday ordering all schools in Massachusetts to close through April 6, we are encouraging families to make arrangements for remaining students to leave campus, if possible. We will, of course, support the logistics of this travel. We also remain committed to providing safety and supervision for any student who cannot get home due to travel restrictions. We will continue to follow the guidance of local, state, and national authorities, and will update the community
March 23 about the decision regarding reopening.
Please continue to check email and
www.misshalls.org/resources
for updates, and we promise to communicate as the situation changes.
In the meantime, we continue to plan for distance learning to begin on April 6. You should have received
a communication yesterday from the Deans
with an update on plans for learning and coursework in the coming weeks. Next week, we will send students and families additional details, including schedules, guidelines and expectations, and plans for continued support. Mid-semester grades and comments will also be on their way next week.
As this week comes to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all of the well wishes and expressions of gratitude for Miss Hall’s. I extend my gratitude, especially to the MHS faculty and staff, who are working hard to take care of our students, plan for distance learning, and stay in touch with our community. I appreciate the many ways people are staying connected, even when we are not together. These are challenging times that require patience and empathy, compassion and resilience, and I know we will get through this.
I leave you with this bit of sunshine on this warm but overcast first day of spring. The MHS Diversity Coalition recently organized the
DivCo 20-Day Challenge
, in which participants were challenged to complete a variety of community-building tasks, such as “take a selfie while cheering on MHS athletes,” and “take a selfie with someone who taught you something new.” I hope you enjoy these smiling faces as much as I do!
Best,
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Contacts and Resources
For health questions and concerns:
Christie Puz, R.N., Director of Health Services, 413-395-7074,
[email protected]
For travel arrangements and Spring Break info
: Mary Bazanchuk, Asst. Dean of Students and Director of Residential Life, 413-395-7045,
[email protected]
For questions about counseling resources:
Teresa Gentile, School Counselor, 413-395-7073,
[email protected]
For academics questions:
Lisa Alberti, Dean of Academics and Faculty, 413-395-7108,
[email protected]
For general questions:
Miss Hall's School Main Number, 413-443-6401
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The World Health Organization
The U.S. Department of State
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