Back to School 2020-21

Back to School

Back to School Plan

Back to Sage

The COVID-19 Leadership Team spent the summer methodically working on the details of our back to school plan, keeping our mission and the safety, health and well-being of students, faculty, and staff a top priority.

Sage is committed to fostering and maintaining the connections of our school community while being responsive to the requirements of COVID-19.

The leadership team, as well as several task force committees, will continue to meet throughout the academic school year, paying close attention to the stringent health and safety requirements put forth by the CDC, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, as well as trusted medical professionals’ advice.

 

What is our approach?

We know that for most students, the ideal teaching and learning environment is one in which students and teachers are afforded every opportunity to engage face-to-face. That said, we also recognize that creating a campus environment that speaks to the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff is of equal importance. Therefore we will offer in person and remote options for our students and faculty.

  • We will offer on-campus learning as our priority when it is safe to do so.
    • We will offer a hybrid option while our campus is open for students who wish to have an at-home, remote option.

  • We will offer a virtual platform for all if the campus must be closed for the safety of our community.

Back to School Plan

Back to Sage

The COVID-19 Leadership Team spent the summer methodically working on the details of our back to school plan, keeping our mission and the safety, health and well-being of students, faculty, and staff a top priority.

Sage is committed to fostering and maintaining the connections of our school community while being responsive to the requirements of COVID-19.

The leadership team, as well as several task force committees, will continue to meet throughout the academic school year, paying close attention to the stringent health and safety requirements put forth by the CDC, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, as well as trusted medical professionals’ advice.

 

What is our approach?

We know that for most students, the ideal teaching and learning environment is one in which students and teachers are afforded every opportunity to engage face-to-face. That said, we also recognize that creating a campus environment that speaks to the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff is of equal importance. Therefore we will offer in person and remote options for our students and faculty.

  • We will offer on-campus learning as our priority when it is safe to do so.
    • We will offer a hybrid option while our campus is open for students who wish to have an at-home, remote option.

  • We will offer a virtual platform for all if the campus must be closed for the safety of our community.

What are our overarching guiding themes?

As always, our first priority is the health, safety, and well-being of our community.

While COVID-19 may necessitate changes and restrictions, our ultimate goal is to support students’ social-emotional needs as well as provide robust and meaningful access to learning.

Sage is a safe place for students to grow and learn. By continuing to foster our culture of kindness, we will support our students through a time of ambiguity, changing circumstances, and a physical environment that may look different from the traditional school.

We continue to embrace a culture of diversity and inclusion in our decisions and actions as a community.

We will continue to listen to our community members – their wishes, needs, and challenges – as part of our decision making process.

The following is a general overview of new policies and procedures that concern the entire school community. Please reference your specific cohort’s guidelines for more details and additional information.

 

We are offering in-person classes in addition to a hybrid-learning model that will enable classes to accommodate both remote and on-campus students or teachers. A family may choose to utilize our virtual learning platform if necessary or by choice. For example, if a student needs to stay home because they are displaying cold symptoms, they will still be able to participate in classes remotely.

 

Students, faculty, and staff are required to wear masks throughout their day, as we have been advised that this is the best way to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.

 

All community members are required to complete a daily health assessment online before coming to campus.

 

Staggered times for arrival and dismissal. Students enter the building through the door closest to their classroom.

 

Community members will continually be reminded about proper hygiene which includes the frequent washing of hands and use of hand sanitizer.

 

Parents will say goodbye to their children at the designated drop off points. There will be no outside visitors in the school, including parents, throughout the day.

 

We have upgraded ventilation and air filtration in every classroom being used for instruction and outdoor learning spaces are available for every cohort.

 

 

To enhance safe movement around campus, hallways will not be in use unless visiting the cohort specific restroom.

 

 

Classroom furniture is set up to promote 6-foot social distancing.

 

 

The Role of Our Community

All members of The Sage School community have a shared responsibility that extends beyond our campus and into our homes. It’s crucial that we all remain committed to the guidelines in the Back to School plan and future communications to help keep students, faculty, and families safe.

By enrolling your child at Sage, you agree to commit to doing your part to keep our community healthy and safe, whether on or off campus. The most important safety measure is to keep a child home if they are sick or exhibiting symptoms to to notify the School.


COVID-19 Leadership Task Force Team

Marie Leary, Head of School
Cheri Alix, Office Manager/Registrar
John Cobbett-Walden, Upper School Division Head
Amy Conrardy, School Counselor
Kaitlyn Cronin, Lower School Division Head
Lisa Downs, Administrative Assistant to the Head School
Megan Fahey, Director of Admission
Nancy Farrell, Director of Business & Finance
Sarah Golden Martin, Upper School Student Support Coordinator
Elizabeth Krikelis, Lower School Student Dean
Elizabeth Murzycki, Controller
Nitzan Resnick, Academic Dean
Jennifer Tanner, Upper School Student Dean
Julie York, Director of Communications