Wyoming Seminary School Plan 2020-2021

We are converting larger spaces, which have not been previously utilized as classrooms so that they can serve as classrooms where students’ desks will be spaced six feet apart and facing the same direction.

Students will be kept as distant from one another as possible and will regularly wash hands. All table/work groupings will be kept six feet apart, and we will limit the frequency with which students share supplies.

Students will remain in classrooms as much as possible, including for lunch, and specials teachers will come to the classrooms to deliver their course content. Half-day students will not eat lunch at school to minimize mask removal. 

Students desks will be spaced six feet apart and facing in the same direction. Students will not rotate between classrooms. Instead, specials teachers will come to the classrooms to deliver their course content.

Wyoming Seminary will provide online instruction for students in kindergarten through postgraduate who are unable to return to campus or who would prefer to learn virtually until there is a vaccine or effective treatment for COVID-19.

If conditions improve, families may request to move to in-person instruction at the end of each trimester.

Parents and visitors will not be allowed to enter hallways or classrooms. All drop-off and pick-up of students will take place outside of the buildings. Any visitor or parent coming to campus are by appointment only.

The aftercare program at the Lower School will not be operating for the first trimester of the 2020-2021 school year. We will review our ability to provide aftercare throughout the fall.

To reduce the number of large gatherings, all school assemblies, chapel, performances, and other community meetings will be held virtually.

Yes, masks/face coverings will be required for all students and all faculty, staff and employees. All Sem community members will wear masks/face coverings during class, during free time, during athletic practices, during games, and on campus. Masks may be removed during meals, when using the bathroom for personal hygiene, and for boarders, when in their dorm room alone or with their roommate or in common spaces with their cohort.

There may be some instances where teachers and students may come within six feet of each other, including but not limited to: learning support, science labs, and individual literacy instruction. In such situations, desk screens will be employed as additional protection.

If a student has to take a 14-day leave of absence from the classroom due to themselves or a family member being exposed to COVID-19, the in-person learning teachers will work with the student to maintain continuity of curriculum.

If a student has to miss school due to routine illness, we ask that they stay home, rest, and heal.

If we are forced to close in-person instruction, we will initiate virtual learning as soon as possible. There will be a prorated tuition credit for any days spent in virtual learning. Toddler and preschool will not receive virtual instruction and will receive full credit.

All Lower School students will have lunch in their classroom.  Lunches ordered from Metz (Grades 1-8) will be delivered to the classrooms. Full-day early childhood students should bring a lunch from home. Half-day early childhood students will not eat lunch at school. 

Students will pick up bagged lunches in the Blue Gym, where they can maintain spacing. Lunches will be brought to designated areas on campus where students will be able to eat while spaced six feet apart or separated by plastic dividers. 

During free bells, students will report to the KCCA auditorium where they can work while maintaining social distance.

Weekend and social activities will take place but will be modified to ensure they are as safe as possible. Modifications will include, but are not limited to, appropriate distancing measures, reduced capacity in vehicles and enclosed spaces, etc. Socially-distanced on-campus movie nights will take place in one of our two theaters or on Back Campus.

For Toddler and Preschool: As with Spring 2020, tuition refunds will be issued for the period of time the school is closed by The Commonwealth. Virtual learning will not be offered.

For Day Students (Pre-Kindergarten-12th Grade): Classes will transition to virtual learning and there will be a 15 percent tuition discount for the period of time the school remains closed by order of The Commonwealth.

For Boarding Students (Grades 9-Postgraduate): Classes will transition to virtual learning and there will be a 15 percent tuition discount for the period of time the school remains closed by the order of The Commonwealth. Prorated room and board will be credited if dorms are closed by order of The Commonwealth and boarding students are required to depart campus.

Virtual learning teachers will be assigned and integration with in-person classes and teachers will occur for units and classes when appropriate. Tuition will be billed as normal.

A virtual learning schedule will be implemented for each student until they are able to arrive on campus. Dorm rooms will be reserved and prorated room and board will be credited for the period of time the student is not on campus. Tuition will be billed as normal.

If a student has to take a 14-day leave of absence from the classroom due to themselves or a family member being exposed to COVID-19, the in-person learning teachers will work with the student to maintain continuity of curriculum. If the student faces a lengthy absence, Wyoming Seminary will be adopting practices allowing students to remain engaged in their academic environment should they need to be home for an extended period of time. While implementation will vary by grade level and discipline, teachers will be able to utilize digital tools including: cameras and microphones that will allow students to participate in class when appropriate, Google Classroom for the distribution and collection of student work, and open PowerSchool grade books that allow students to track their academic progress. If a student has to miss school due to routine illness, they will not be required for a student to participate in work via the camera system.

Boarding students will begin a phased reopening to campus on September 19, beginning with fall athletes and student leaders. The school expects all boarding students to begin a period of self-quarantine 14 days prior to their return and all boarders are expected to have a COVID-19 PCR test 48 to 72 hours prior to returning to school. Students who test positive, or who are symptomatic prior to returning to school should contact Director of Health Services Beth Blaum at bblaum@wyomingseminary.org.

Wyoming Seminary has expanded its health services to include a detached Student Health Center capable of quarantining a small number of students who are awaiting COVID-19 test results or transportation off-campus following a positive COVID-19 test. Medical staffing has also been expanded to meet the potential need. Wyoming Seminary will be able to provide COVID-19 testing on campus during the school year should a student or community member become symptomatic.

Mask use will be required at all times, except when students are using the bathrooms for personal hygiene, and in their dorm room alone or with their roommate.

There will be ongoing education and signage outlining best practice to prevent the spread of infection. Student traffic flow will be designed to move in one direction based on the particular dorm layout and designed to limit student volume in hallways. The common indoor spaces will be used by small groups that are socially distanced. Hand sanitzer will be placed in key locations in all dorms. Cleaning and disinfecting procedures will be supplemented by additional contracted services.

Fleck Dining Hall will be used for breakfast, dinner, and weekend brunch. Dining hall capacity has been reduced, and use will be socially distanced. We will also employ plexiglass shields on each table. Dinner will be served in two assigned seatings, and there will be a predetermined traffic flow through the servery.

Per Sem’s established practice, the first two weekends of the year are closed. The purpose of closed weekends is to use them to establish community and to familiarize our students with other students and the campus. We encourage families to limit weekend visits home. Limiting visits will help boarders settle into their important school routines and also mitigate the potential for infection at home and school. Modifications will include, but are not limited to, appropriate distancing measures, reduced capacity in vehicles and enclosed spaces, etc. Socially distanced on-campus movie nights will take place in one of our two theaters or on back campus. Students will be able to depart campus for essential trips to local stores to purchase personal items, etc. We ask that they are masked for all of those trips.

We are currently evaluating best practices in this area in close collaboration with our transportation providers.

In case a boarding student tests positive for COVID-19 and has to depart campus, or in case the school is closed by the Pa. Department of Health, all boarding students should submit contact information for a family member or guardian to Stephanie Heerschap, Director of Residential Life (sheerschap@wyomingseminary.org) by August. 14. The information should include the name, address and contact information for a person within 500 miles of Kingston, Pa. and who will be able to pick the student up within 72 hours.

All Sem boarders are very much a part of the Sem community, regardless of distance. The school is saving dorm rooms for all students unable to arrive for the start of school, and residential faculty will be designing a virtual program for boarding students. Dorm community meetings will be accessible for boarders not on campus via Zoom, and virtual Resident Assistants will be appointed to help keep all boarders connected.

Wyoming Seminary has developed a symptom checker/reporting application that can be used via a computer or mobile device. This application will be used daily by all students, faculty, and staff.

Data from the application will be sent to the Health Services Center at each division daily, triaged, and any symptoms will be followed up. Any individual presenting with a COVID-19 symptom will be signaled to stay home.

Signage will be posted for facilitating the flow of foot traffic on both campuses while maintaining six feet of social distancing. Educational materials reminding students, faculty, and staff about proper mask wearing, hand washing, and other hygiene will also be posted throughout buildings.

Yes, Wyoming Seminary will be able to provide COVID-19 testing on campus during the school year should a student or community member become symptomatic. The test results should be available in 24-48 hours. Off-campus testing through the Geisinger Health System also will be available.

The Wyoming Seminary Coordinator and Pandemic Crisis Response Team, along with the communications department, will ensure constant communication regarding any positive cases reported on both campuses.

Upper School students may go to the Student Health Center, located in the Shafer House between the Stettler Learning Resources Center and Sprague Hall. The Health Center includes a waiting area for day students awaiting pick-up by parents. The Center also has an exam room, office space for nurses, and bedrooms for ill boarding students.

Wyoming Seminary is cleaning and disinfecting all facilities following guidance provided by the CDC for cleaning school facilities and college and university facilities. Frequently touched surfaces and objects within the school, including door handles, sink handles, railings, desks, chairs and other surfaces, will be cleaned and disinfected during the day. Cleaning and disinfecting efforts will be supplemented by additional contracted services.

Hand sanitizer stations will be located in key locations in all buildings, classroom and dormitories.

Yes, all school nurses will have hospital grade personal protective equipment to allow for the change of gear between each patient/student, will have CDC-recommended supplies for students and staff for daily usage, and will have contact-free infrared thermometers and pulse oximetry units.

Increased cleaning services will be implemented for all athletic facilities and equipment. Sanitizing equipment to clean balls, helmets, pads and other athletic equipment will be used daily, and spray foggers for fields, lockers and score tables also will be used. Weight room equipment will be wiped down after team and individuals’ use. In addition, the school is providing thermometers for athletic facilities, masks specifically designed for athletes and coaches will be provided, and custom water bottles or bottled water will be available.

In phase 1 (Pennsylvania red phase), no in-person gatherings, practice, or competition is permitted. Athletes and coaches may communicate via online meetings and athletes may participate in home workouts including strength and conditioning. All athletic facilities will remain closed as per state guidelines.

In phase 2 (Pennsylvania yellow phase) team activities may include competition, team meetings, open field/gym, weight training/conditioning, and running.

Appropriate social distancing will be maintained on sidelines/benches during contests and games as deemed necessary by Wyoming Seminary and governing bodies.

Potential modifications will be determined by Wyoming Seminary, bus companies, the Department of Education, state and local governments. 

Wyoming Seminary will evaluate each event and follow local/state government guidelines on a case-by-case basis. Every consideration will be taken so as to not expose students to unnecessary or potential high-risk exposure.

Any Lower School day student who is not feeling well should report to the Lower School nurse’s office. Any Upper School day student who is not feeling well should report to the Student Health Center. Sem nurses will contact parents or guardians immediately to take the student home. Follow up with PCP and COVID-19 testing will be required before a student is permitted to return to campus. If the student receives a negative test, the student remains quarantined for 72 hours following the initial test. If symptoms persist beyond 72 hours, Sem recommends a repeat COVID-19 test and respiratory panel to rule out influenza, pneumonia or other viral or bacterial respiratory infection. Medical clearance from PCP or family doctor is required to return to school. 

If the student receives a positive test, home quarantine for a positive student with symptoms is a minimum of 14 days from date of test. The student must then be symptom free for 72 hours, test negative and obtain a clearance note from PCP to return to school. For symptoms persisting beyond 14 days with positive COVID-19 test, a student should remain at home for 72 hours beyond the resolution of symptoms, i.e, a student with persistent cough or other symptoms will not be permitted on campus until symptoms have fully resolved.

Any Upper School boarding student who is not feeling well should report to the Student Health Center. For boarders with symptoms of COVID-19, the nurse will contact parents or designated guardian to begin preparations for emergency evacuation of the student from campus, pending test results.

The nurse will proceed with COVID-19 test on or off campus and will quarantine the student in the health center and manage symptoms until the test result is obtained. If the test result is negative, symptomatic students will remain quarantined in infirmary for 72 hours. If symptoms persist beyond 72 hours, the COVID-19 testing will be repeated and a respiratory lab panel obtained under the direction of the school physician, Dr. Joseph Anistranski.

If the test result is positive, this requires immediate removal from campus for 14-day quarantine with parent or guardian. The school will contact the family to initiate the student’s evacuation plan. Home or off campus quarantine for a positive boarding student with symptoms is a minimum 14 days from date of test. The student must then be symptom free for 72 hours, test negative and obtain a clearance note from PCP to return to school. For symptoms persisting beyond 14 days with positive COVID-19 test, a student should remain at home/off campus for 72 hours beyond the resolution of symptoms, i.e, a student with persistent cough or other symptoms will not be permitted on campus until symptoms have fully resolved.

The Pa. Department of Health will be contacted for guidance. In the event of a school closure affecting the boarding community, the school will communicate with boarding families and ask that they implement their student evacuation plans. Contact tracing of all positive tests should include all students/faculty/staff who came within six feet of contact with a positive tested individual. Contact tracing will be conducted by the Pa. DOH with assistance from health center staff. COVID-19 testing will be required for any person unmasked during time of exposure to a positive tested person; the untested individual should be quarantined until tested and follow above protocols as per outcome of testing.

Information regarding a confirmed positive test on Upper or Lower School campuses will be coordinated through the health centers and the Communications Office and will include recommendations provided by the local Department of Health. Please note that those recommendations could likely include closure of school for a brief or longer period of time. If a student, faculty or staff member tests positive on either campus the entire community will be notified of a positive test through the Communications Office. No personal information will be communicated unless directed by the DOH.

Residential and day faculty should follow the protocols established for students with symptoms of COVID-19 and consult with the school health centers for additional guidance regarding their ability to continue with assigned duties. All faculty and staff will be relieved from in-person responsibilities following a positive test result with or without symptoms. Faculty and staff will also be required to quarantine off campus or in their residential housing following a positive test result of any household member.

All drop off and pick-up of students will take place outside of the buildings. At this time, parents’ access to buildings will be limited, and any visitor or parent coming to campus are by appointment only. Upon arrival at the appropriate building, parents should call the person with whom they are meeting, who will meet them at the door to let them into the building. If a student becomes ill during the day and needs to be picked up, the parent or guardian doing pick-up will call the Lower School nurse from the parking lot and the student will be escorted to the car by a masked Lower School professional. All visitors will be masked and maintain social distancing. Visitors who will require a longer period of time on campus, i.e., essential workers providing service to maintain facilities, will be required to do a daily symptom check in addition to mask and social distancing.

Any visitor or parent coming to campus to meet with the Dean, a teacher, Class Dean, College Guidance, Coach, advisor, etc. are by appointment only. Upon arrival at the appropriate building, parents should call the person with whom they are meeting, who will meet them at the door to let them into the building. All visitors will be masked and maintain social distancing. Visitors who will require a longer period of time on campus, i.e., essential workers providing service to maintain facilities, will be required to do a daily symptom check in addition to mask and social distancing.