Working Together for a Safe Belmont Hill

WORKING TOGETHER FOR A SAFE BELMONT HILL

P R O T O C O L S F O R S C H O O L O P E N I N G : FA L L 2020

TABLE OF CONTENTS OVERVIEW AND ESTABLISHMENT OF PROTOCOLS • Guidelines..................................................................................................1 • Key Goals...................................................................................................2 CAMPUS-WIDE HEALTH PROTOCOLS • Mask-Wearing Requirements..................................................................3 • Daily Health Screening............................................................................3 • Testing, Tracing, and Quarantine...........................................................4 • Social/Physical Distancing.......................................................................5 • Hand Hygiene...........................................................................................5 • Bathroom Use............................................................................................5 • Campus Cleaning......................................................................................6 • Visitors to Campus...................................................................................6 • Off-Campus Activities..............................................................................6 ACADEMIC-DAY PROTOCOLS • School Calendar........................................................................................7 • Academic Schedule...................................................................................7 • Remote Learning Options........................................................................8 • Sample Academic Schedule.....................................................................9 • Arrival and Departure............................................................................10 • Dress Code...............................................................................................11 • Cubbies and Lockers..............................................................................11 • Support Services......................................................................................12 • Meals and Snacks................................................................................... 12 BUS TRANSPORTATION................................................................... 13 BOARDING AND RESIDENTIAL LIFE........................................ 14 ATHLETICS.............................................................................................. 15 PERFORMING ARTS AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.............................................. 16

OVERVIEW AND ESTABLISHMENT OF PROTOCOLS GUIDELINES Returning to campus during a global pandemic represents a new challenge for the Belmont Hill community, yet we will continue to be guided by our mission focused upon character and our culture of working together. While there is no return-to-school plan that can eliminate all risk related to COVID-19, our goal is to provide the safest possible scenario to offer our boys in-person learning opportunities to start the year. This involves sacrifices and partnership from our students, their families, and from our faculty and staff. Just as we valued iteration and feedback during remote learning last spring, we must be flexible and adaptable this fall.

The plan outlined in Working Together for a Safe Belmont Hill is the result of many Belmont Hill minds, supported by numerous external experts, working to balance our desire to be back on campus this fall along with our primary commitment to safety. We believe that we have covered the majority of relevant issues for our families, but we will continue to add and refine in the weeks leading up to the opening of school. Additionally, we have the good fortune of strong financial resources to make smart investments in support of our efforts. It is important to acknowledge that within our community, there is a wide range of perspectives as well as risk tolerance. Working Together for a Safe Belmont Hill is grounded on a premise that we seek to make Belmont Hill work well for this entire range of viewpoints if at all possible. Therefore, we have created a model that provides a positive experience for students and faculty who need to remain in a remote-learning environment.

Additionally, we intend to support a social climate on campus that is equally supportive of all family choices during this challenging time. We look forward to entering the school year with such a strong and committed community of Belmont Hill families.

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Belmont Hill School has developed the following guidelines and protocols to prepare for an intended return to campus in the fall. Beyond the use of guidelines provided by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), we have been in continual communication with the Belmont Board of Health and medical professionals while also partnering with a number of external consultants to assist with protocols and procedures. Specifically, we have engaged with the consulting group Fusion Cell, a firm that has taken deep experience from pandemic planning on military bases and transferred this expertise to schools. In addition, we commissioned an audit of the HVAC systems in all campus buildings and made improvements to ensure they were operating in accordance with guidelines from the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).

This included the addition of portable medical grade HEPA filters where necessary.

Finally, Working Together for a Safe Belmont Hill was reviewed by our consulting pediatrician as well as the Chief Medical Officer affiliated with Boston Children’s Hospital.

KEY GOALS • Mitigate risk for the safety of our entire community to allow on-campus learning for as long as possible through the implementation and adherence to protocols.

• Continue to deliver the quintessential experience of Belmont Hill excellence in education through a flexible and adaptable learning environment that supports our students’ curricular progression with as little disruption as possible.

• Remain true to our mission focused upon character development and our culture of working together, including our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, during this unique global pandemic.

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CAMPUS-WIDE HEALTH PROTOCOLS Belmont Hill has developed the protocols below based upon current recommendations by the CDC, DESE, and the Belmont Board of Health. The School will continue to review all guidelines from these sources as they are updated.

MASK-WEARING REQUIREMENTS Universal mask wearing continues to be the most effective way to minimize the spread of COVID-19. All faculty, staff, and students will wear masks while indoors or on any form of school transportation. Masks will only be removed outdoors when adequate social distancing is possible. Face masks should fit securely under the chin and over the nose and mouth, while also fitting snugly to the sides of the face. Individuals alone in rooms are allowed to remove masks but need to put them on before anyone enters the room. Mask breaks will be included in the daily schedule and will take place outdoors when social-distance requirements can be met.

Belmont Hill will supply two (2) school-approved 3-ply masks to each student and employee. Additional masks may be purchased at the school store. These masks comply with the World Health Organization guidelines. Face shields are not an approved substitute for a mask. Anyone who wishes to wear a different mask other than the ones supplied by Belmont Hill must have it approved by the Health Office. The goal is to ensure that every mask on campus complies with expected health and safety guidelines. Disposable masks will be on hand in the Health Office as needed for emergency use if a student forgets his mask or it is soiled during the school day.

Masks are to be washed daily with soap and water and a clean mask should be worn each day. Boarding students may wash their masks with soap and water and hang to dry in their room. Disinfectants should not be sprayed onto the mask, as they may cause respiratory symptoms. Click here for CDC guidelines on washing and wearing and removing face masks.

DAILY HEALTH SCREENING Before leaving home EACH DAY, all students will be required to fill out and submit a daily health screening that will be made available through a mobile app (details forthcoming). Families must be collaborative partners in this process in order to keep our community as safe as possible. If a student arrives at school without having completed the daily health screening, they will not be permitted to enter the campus until it has been completed. Members of the Belmont Hill staff will be on hand to assist in this process.

All faculty and staff will also be required to complete the daily health screening each day before they arrive on campus as will other visitors.

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TESTING, TRACING, AND QUARANTINE If any member of the Belmont Hill School community is ill with any COVID-19 symptoms indicated by the CDC (click here for symptom list), the student, faculty, or staff member should stay home and not come to school. Before returning to school, a conversation must take place with the Health Office to determine appropriate next steps. So long as the individual is assumed to be COVID-19 negative, they must be fever free for at least 24 hours without the aid of fever-reducing medicines to return to school. If the person who is ill is suspected to have had COVID-19 exposure, they will be required to quarantine for 14 days.

A student who becomes ill during the school day will be isolated in the designated and fully separate wing of the new Health Office (davidd@belmonthill.org | 617-993-5335).

Parents/guardians will be asked to pick up the sick child immediately. To reduce the risk of infection, we ask that parents/guardians remain in their cars when picking up their sons. Boarding students who become ill after school hours will be appropriately isolated until parents/guardians are able to take the student home. If a faculty or staff member becomes sick during the work day, they should not come to the Health Office, but should call their supervisor, go directly home, and notify the Health Office of symptoms.

If someone in the Belmont Hill community tests positive for COVID-19, contact tracing will be done by the School’s Health Office in collaboration with the Belmont Board of Health. Any individual who has close contact (as defined by the CDC) with an individual inside or outside the Belmont Hill community who has tested positive will be referred for COVID-19 testing and will remain at home under quarantine for 14 days, including following a negative test. If any of these individuals develop symptoms of COVID-19, they will be required to remain out of school until cleared to return by their healthcare provider and the Director of Health Services. It is our expectation that any testing or concern about exposure will be reported to the Health Office. This information will remain confidential but we will engage in contact tracing as needed. In the event of a positive test, a person will need to adhere to state guidelines and receive clearance from a doctor to return to school/work.

If Belmont Hill is notified of a positive COVID-19 case and it is determined that the individual has been on campus, any decisions about temporary campus closures will be made with guidance from the Belmont Board of Health. In such a case, a temporary closure of campus would mean our boys would transition into remote learning immediately until we are able to re-open campus safely.

Parents/guardians and employees are expected to abide by state mandated travel guidelines and restrictions throughout the year. Student or family travel to areas where COVID-19 risk is high must be immediately reported to the Health Office. Parents/guardians and employees should immediately contact the Health Office if they or anyone in their family develops COVID-19 symptoms after traveling.

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IN PARTICULAR, WE ARE ASKING ALL BELMONT HILL FAMILIES AND EMPLOYEES TO BE EXCEEDINGLY CAREFUL ABOUT TRAVEL DECISIONS AND POTENTIAL EXPOSURE RISKS FOR THE TWO-WEEK PERIOD BEFORE SCHOOL BEGINS. FAMILIES SHOULD EXPECT THAT ANY TRAVEL BY BOYS OUTSIDE OF NEW ENGLAND TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE OPENING OF SCHOOL WILL LIKELY RESULT IN A 14-DAY QUARANTINE.

SOCIAL/PHYSICAL DISTANCING We will maintain a minimum of six-feet distancing in our learning and community spaces. In all other locations, six-feet distancing will be maintained when possible. One-way foot traffic and doors marked “enter only” and “exit only” will also be observed.

HAND HYGIENE Hands should be washed with soap and water before leaving for school. In addition, hands should be washed frequently throughout the day. In the absence of soap and water, hand sanitizer can be used. All members of the Belmont Hill community are required to exercise hand hygiene (hand washing or sanitizing) before arrival to school, upon entering and departing a classroom, before eating, before putting on and taking off masks, and before dismissal. When handwashing, individuals should use soap and water to wash all surfaces of their hands for at least 20 seconds, wait for visible lather, and rinse thoroughly. If handwashing is not feasible, hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol will be available throughout campus.

BATHROOM USE Bathrooms will be labeled as to the number of occupants allowed in the space at a given time. Floor markings will indicate where students should wait socially distanced. Hand washing is critical after bathroom use in all cases. Lids have been installed on all toilets across campus, and lids should always be closed before flushing. Directions will be included in signage located in the bathrooms.

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CAMPUS CLEANING To maintain a healthy environment, Belmont Hill will implement increased cleaning strategies throughout campus to clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces. Bathrooms will be cleaned a minimum of twice per day. In addition to daily protocols, deep cleaning will take place on remote-learning days (academic-day protocols are detailed below) as well as on the weekends. Students and faculty will be required to sanitize their workspace whenever they transition to a new space, or use any shared equipment (printers, copiers, etc.). Appropriate supplies will be available for this purpose.

VISITORS TO CAMPUS In order to limit the exposure of the virus to our community, no visitors shall come to campus until screened and monitored by school staff. Families should communicate with the School via email, phone calls, or Zoom conferencing, and avoid entering school buildings.

Parents/guardians should remain in their vehicles at all times during arrival and dismissal.

OFF-CAMPUS ACTIVITIES In order to keep our community safe and our campus open for learning, we are expecting partnership from all of our boys and families in considering their behavior while not on campus. As a day school, it is impossible for us to patrol every decision a family makes, and yet every decision a family makes has a potential impact upon the safety of our entire community. We are asking that all activities that our boys engage in outside of campus meet the spirit and expectations of our guidelines on campus. This includes social gatherings, club and town sports, and other activities that have the potential for contact with larger groups outside of our community. Whenever there is a question of symptoms or exposure risk, families should always err on the side of keeping boys at home and learning remotely. We encourage families to reach out to the Health Office if there is ever any doubt or question about these activities.

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ACADEMIC-DAY PROTOCOLS SCHOOL CALENDAR We have decided to move forward with our traditional school calendar at this time, knowing that the possibility of adjustments later in the year could be possible as more information is available. The only scheduled exception to this is a decision to start orientation a few days earlier to create more time for these important events.

• Orientation will begin on August 27 and 28 and will be divided into smaller groups; • Acclimation will remain August 31 and; • Classes will begin on September 1.

ACADEMIC SCHEDULE We have devised a schedule (see page 9) that will accommodate learning models that would be effective in three critical scenarios: first with the full student population on campus four days a week, second in a fully remote paradigm, or third in a split-school model where the Upper School would generally attend Mondays and Thursdays and the Middle School would generally attend Tuesdays and Fridays. Students would attend classes virtually on the days they are not on campus in the split-school model. Whether or not the entire student body is on campus on a given day, all distancing will be at six feet for maximum safety. Other schools may be forced to split their student populations purely based on facility constraints, but we are fortunate to have a campus that affords us with the ability to maximize in-person learning in a safely distanced manner. In addition to utilizing non-traditional classroom spaces, we will be adding a number of tents to campus.

While our goal is to maximize as much on-campus learning as is safely possible, we will officially determine our opening-day scenario the week of August 17 with even better data about our own infrastructure, new guidelines that we know are forthcoming, and the most current data about the pandemic in our region. Our full-school model will include four days of in-person learning with Wednesday slated as a remote-learning day.

This will allow students to acclimate to distanced learning right at the beginning of the school year and will also provide an important midweek opportunity for the deep cleaning of classrooms and shared campus spaces. In a week where there is a Monday holiday, we may choose to adjust the Wednesday schedule to optimize learning outcomes, but we will still be learning remotely. The schedule has been designed to serve the dual goals of maximizing student and faculty safety while providing a robust teaching and learning environment. Courses will be scheduled to meet (either in person or remotely) three times per week, with one 40-minute block and two 75-minute blocks, thus minimizing the number of class transitions students make per day and limiting the amount

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of student travel within the School on a daily basis. We anticipate that over the course of the school year we will need to utilize all of our proposed learning models.

NOTE: The opening weeks of school include a number of Monday holidays and specifics for the boys about block rotations will be sent in a later mailing from our division directors in mid-August.

REMOTE LEARNING OPTIONS Any family who would prefer to have their son learn remotely should contact Middle School Director, Lauren Hamilton, or Upper School Director, Don Bradley, to make arrangements. Students who are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms are asked to stay home, but will be able to attend class virtually (see Campus-Wide Health Protocols). Belmont Hill has invested heavily in technology to make remote participation in on-campus classes possible, and families are encouraged to take advantage of this option whenever necessary. While we are engaged in on-campus learning scenarios, the general approach for remote students will be to facilitate synchronous virtual attendance with their on campus classes. Our new learning-management system will also be a helpful addition to the experience of these students. A more complete explanation of the technologies and approach involved in remote learning will be available on our website in the coming days. Additionally, we respect the decision of every family and every boy when it comes to studying remotely.

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5-DAY SAMPLE ACADEMIC SCHEDULE NOTE: In the split-school model, Middle School attends in-person on Tuesdays and Fridays; Upper School attends in-person on Mondays and Thursdays.

MONDAY

TUESDAY

8:00-8:30 CAMPUS ARRIVAL 8:30-9:45 A BLOCK

9:45-10:00

8:30-9:45 D BLOCK

9:45-10:00

M&C Break (A)

M&C Break (D)

10:00-11:15 B BLOCK

10:00-11:15 E BLOCK

11:25 Community Time

11:25 Advisor Homeroom

12:00-12:35 Lunch (C)

12:00-12:35 Lunch (Advisory)

12:40-1:55 C BLOCK

12:40-1:55 F BLOCK

2:15 BUSES 2:30-4:00 US Athletics

2:30-4:00 MS Athletics

VIRTUAL WEDNESDAY ALL CLASSES MEET 8:30-9:10 A BLOCK 9:20-10:00 B BLOCK

THURSDAY

8:00-8:30am: CAMPUS ARRIVAL 8:00-8:30 CAMPUS ARRIVAL Attendance in First Class 8:30-9:45 A BLOCK

8:30-9:45 D BLOCK

9:45-10:00

9:45-10:00

M&C Break (A)

M&C Break (D)

10:00-11:15 B BLOCK

10:00-11:15 E BLOCK

11:25 Community/ DEI Time

11:25 Virtual Chapel (E)

12:00-12:35 Lunch (Advisory)

12:00-12:35 Lunch (F)

12:40-1:20 E BLOCK

12:40-1:55 C BLOCK

12:40-1:55 F BLOCK

1:30-2:10 F BLOCK

2:15 BUSES

10:10-10:50 C BLOCK 11:00-11:40 D BLOCK 11:40-12:40 Lunch Break

2:30

FACULTY TIME

2:30-4:00 US Athletics

4:15 BUSES BUSES 4:15 4:00-4:45 Virtual MS X-BLOCK

4:00-4:45 Virtual US X-BLOCK

FRIDAY

2:30-4:00 MS Athletics 4:15 BUSES

4:00-4:45 Virtual X-BLOCK

4:00-4:45 Virtual MS X-BLOCK

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ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE The exact details of staggered arrivals and other logistics will be forthcoming once we have clarity on transportation choices for all students. The following outline is to give a general sense of what families might expect at arrival time if we are in the full-school model. The goal of arrival and departure is to avoid large congregations of students and to maintain social distancing. Time has been dedicated during arrival to accommodate for daily health screening check-ins. Adult supervision will be provided at arrival and departure checkpoints and in assigned campus locations to assist with orderly procedures. When there is inclement weather, we will utilize campus buildings in a socially distanced fashion to dismiss boys to individual cars.

Students should arrive and depart from the following locations in accordance with the procedures outlined below: VIA AUTOMOBILES: • Students driving to school should park in the student parking lot, exit their car, and immediately proceed to the check-in location near the Residential Quad. The expectation will be that students move immediately into their first classroom for attendance. At the end of the school day, student drivers should proceed directly to their car with any siblings and leave campus. Students should not congregate in the parking lots. Carpooling is strongly discouraged outside of family members.

• Form I and II students who are being driven to school and picked up at the end of the day will use the Upper Parking Lot at the entrance near Robsham, and parents will need to wait in the queue until reaching the main entrance. This queue will flow into the Jordan lot as needed. Upon arrival in the morning, students should proceed to the checkin location near Robsham.

• Form III-VI students who are being driven to school and picked up at the end of the day will use the Main Parking Lot (Jordan Athletic Center Lot — adjacent to the fields). Upon arrival in the morning, students should proceed to the check-in location near the Residential Quad.

• Parents/guardians should remain in their cars during drop-off and pick-up.

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VIA BUSES: All students riding the bus will arrive and depart from the Chapel Parking Lot. Upon arrival in the morning, students should proceed to the check-in location near the Hamilton Chapel.

Transportation demands are far more complex in our new schedule, so afternoon bus departure times will follow Middle School end times, as they represent the vast majority of bus riders.

Buses will depart school as follows: • Mondays and Thursdays: Buses depart at 2:15 pm • Tuesdays and Fridays: Buses depart at 4:15 pm On days when buses depart at 2:15 pm, we are working on alternative arrangements for those Upper School bus riders who wish to attend Upper School sports. On days when buses depart at 4:15 pm, proctored study halls will be offered until 4:15 pm to accommodate Upper School students waiting to take the bus and other students waiting for a ride. While this will be offered, we hope families might be able to make alternative arrangements to limit this extra time on campus whenever possible.

DRESS CODE With masks being worn at all times indoors, we are making adjustments to the traditional school dress code. Students and faculty will be permitted to forego the blazer and tie but should otherwise be in school dress code, including a button-down shirt. Further dressdown days will be implemented as weather or the situation may dictate.

PLEASE NOTE: We ask all students to come in full dress code (tie and blazer) on Orientation Days (August 27 and 28) and Acclimation Day (August 31) as we hope their school photos will be taken. Details about these opening days will come in a subsequent mailing.

CUBBIES AND LOCKERS Cubbies and athletic lockers will not be used in the coming school year. With the planned academic schedule, students will have no more than three classes per day and can keep their materials in a backpack or bag. Similarly, students will not be able to store athletic equipment on campus. For those participating in athletics, sports equipment should be transported in a bag each day for practice. Students should be sure to have adequate personal supplies so as not to have to share with peers at school.

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SUPPORT SERVICES Support services of all types will continue to be critical for our boys in this new environment. All Office of Academic Support Services (OASS) appointments and tutoring will be scheduled virtually before or after school or during study halls. Individual private spaces will be provided for students to engage in virtual OASS during study halls as needed. Similarly, our mental-health counselors will be available both virtually for meetings or in person during study halls and other times throughout the day. Group meetings are still possible in appropriately sized spaces. College Counselling appointments will also be able to take place in person or virtually as is preferred by students. All meetings taking place in person will be socially distanced and with masks.

MEALS AND SNACKS The social distancing and schedule changes have required the School to make adjustments to our conventional food-service and snack programs for students, faculty, and staff. The students will eat lunch in their classrooms socially-distanced at six-feet apart or in an appropriate outdoor space. The following represent new meal and snack protocols that have been introduced for the start of the school year for students (procedures for faculty and staff will be communicated separately): • For lunch we will be implementing a cafeteria-to-classroom delivery model of boxed lunches. Each boxed lunch will include a sandwich or salad along with chips, fruit, dessert, and a drink. The boxed lunches will be prepared fresh daily and delivered to classrooms where they will be distributed to the students.

• Beginning Wednesday August 19, and each Wednesday thereafter, the following week’s menu will be posted to the Parent Portal. The menu will include a variety of sandwiches, wraps, and salads. Parents will need to select their student’s daily choices and submit them via the Google Form by the end of the day on Tuesday August 25, and each Tuesday thereafter. If a Google Form is not received for a student by the Tuesday deadline then the basic sandwich option will be provided.

• Our food-service staff and Health Office will continue to work closely with any student regarding food allergies or other dietary restrictions or requirements.

• Students may choose to opt out of the school-provided-lunch program and bring their own lunch to school. Any student deciding to do so will receive a credit on their bill. Please contact the Business Office if you wish to opt out of the program.

• Breakfast and dinner will be available only to boarders and our boarding faculty and their families. Accordingly, all other students should eat breakfast before arriving at school.

• There will continue to be a Milk and Cookies break each day from 9:45 am to 10:00 am.

Cookies and snacks will be delivered to classrooms.

• We will not be able to provide either an Upper School or Middle School snack bar. Students are welcome to bring their own snacks to school (note: snacks can only be eaten during mask breaks when fully distanced). Students are also encouraged to bring personal water bottles to school and to refill them at any of the contactless water-bottle-refilling stations throughout campus.

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BUS TRANSPORTATION The safety of our students while traveling to and from campus on a school bus is paramount.

In an effort to reduce the risk of exposure of our students to COVID-19 we have implemented the following protocols for students being transported to school on buses: • Parents/students must ensure that they have completed the daily health screening via the mobile app prior to their student boarding the bus. If a student arrives at school without having completed the daily health screening, they will not be permitted to enter the campus until it has been completed.

• Students should socially distance themselves from peers and should wear a face covering while waiting for the bus.

• Hand-sanitizer units will be available at the entrance of all buses for students to clean their hands when boarding the bus.

• Bus drivers and students are required to wear face coverings AT ALL TIMES while traveling on the bus.

• Students will be seated no more than one student per bench, alternating sides for each row. This allows students to maintain approximately 3 feet of physical distance (which is in accordance with guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education). Students will be assigned to a particular seat on the bus.

• Windows will be open at all times during operation, unless not possible due to extreme weather conditions.

• Any student that develops COVID-19 symptoms while at school will not be permitted to return home on a school bus and will need to be picked up by a parent or guardian.

• We will work closely with our bus-transportation partner, Bedford Charter, to ensure that all of our buses are cleaned and disinfected daily.

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BOARDING AND RESIDENTIAL LIFE The residential program is essential to the vibrancy of life at Belmont Hill, but it comes with unique challenges in the context of COVID-19. Most importantly, we are fortunate to access the Howe House this year to provide an individual room for each residential student. While safety protocols will clearly alter the feel of the residential experience, we look forward to finding creative ways to build community and fun in this new environment. Whether or not we are in a full-school or split-school model, the expectation is that boarding students will engage in their remote learning during the week on campus from the dorms. While boarders will be allowed to leave campus in some circumstances that have been pre-approved by dorm faculty, we want to minimize frequent departures in our residential community to the best of our ability. Any family who would prefer to transition to day-student status before or during the year should simply reach out to the Director of Residential life to begin that conversation.

Residential-Life Protocols: • Social distancing of six feet will be maintained at all times and masks will be worn in common spaces at all times. Hallway traffic and stairwells will be clearly indicated to assist with this.

• Hand sanitizer will be widely available as well as sanitizing wipes to be used for common items (TV remotes, ping pong paddles, etc.).

• Only one student will be allowed in a bathroom at a time - shower schedules will be facilitated by dorm staff. Residents will each be assigned a bathroom to minimize usage in any single space.

• Cleaning protocols will be increased, including cleaning after boys leave for school each day. Bathrooms will be cleaned at least twice a day.

• As per usual, students are not allowed to return to dorms during on-campus academic days.

• Proctored study hall in the evening will still be available in a socially distanced space on campus in masks.

• Students are only allowed in their own single rooms - no visitors will be allowed.

• Approval to leave campus must be given by the Director of Residential Life.

• The dining hall provides ample space for socially distanced breakfast and dinner; these meals will not be available to day students until further notice.

• Single-serving snacks and food items will be available in common spaces.

• Dorm families, and their pets, will not enter the student spaces - only dorm staff will interact with the boys indoors.

• Any student who is determined to be ill or exhibiting symptoms will need to be picked up immediately, and a quarantine space will be provided for these students as needed.

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ATHLETICS Given that the ISL has decided that traditional interscholastic league competition is not possible this fall, we have worked to create athletic offerings on campus that can afford our boys a needed chance to exercise socially distanced with peers while also working on critical skill development in their sports of choice. State guidelines have not been formally released regarding athletics at this time, so our athletic plan will be meaningfully shaped in the weeks ahead. Belmont Hill will certainly be in compliance with all relevant state guidelines. What is described here is tentative but intended to give families a sense of the program we hope to provide this fall. In order to best balance safety with the needs of the boys, faculty, and our new academic schedule, sports will be offered twice a week by division after classes. Additionally, we will offer virtual boot camps and yoga on Wednesday afternoons to those students who are interested. While sports are encouraged two days a week for both Middle and Upper School students, families will be allowed to opt out of sports for any reason or concern. With that said, we do want to partner with families to make sure all boys are exercising regularly. We believe our desired athletic program will also offer needed social interaction in a safe way.

We also hope to provide optional athletic programming some Saturday mornings from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm throughout the fall depending on interest. For the fall, our desired plan is to divide the ten weeks into two five-week sessions. Fall and spring sports offerings will be available in the first session, while winter and fall options will be generally available in the second session. Some sports will not be able to run based on safety or facility limitations. All boys will be surveyed for their session preferences in August pending the release of relevant guidelines. We believe this program, which will be grouped by ability, will be incredibly helpful for our boys who continue to seek improvement in their sports of choice while also allowing for pursuing safe activities off campus as needed. Exact offerings, schedules, and plans will be finalized in the days ahead.

The ISL will review the efficacy of interscholastic competition season by season. Even without a traditional ISL season, we will continue to explore the possibility of safe competition against other local schools if possible. We know there may be other club offerings available to our boys off campus, but we remain concerned about the potential exposure risk of all activities outside of school that could jeopardize our ability to maintain school on campus for the whole community. We are asking all families to be sure that any activity they pursue fits within the spirit and guidelines of Belmont Hill’s return-to-school plan. Our school is founded on concepts of character, integrity, and honesty, and we need all of our families to demonstrate these qualities in order to deliver our desired experience this fall.

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PERFORMING ARTS AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Traditional band and choir activities will be suspended until further notice based on the risk of airborne transmission, although strings, percussion, and electronic music remain viable options. There may be some opportunity for outdoor performance throughout the year. Choir and band activities will have virtual opportunities, and all private lessons will happen virtually as well. Modified drama will still be possible on a scaled-down version and can be pursued in the afternoons in lieu of sports activities.

All clubs and extra help will be virtual to begin the year. In a typical week, we have created a virtual X Block at 4:00 pm on the following days: Wednesday for the entire school, MS virtual X on Mondays and Thursdays, and Upper School virtual X on Tuesdays. Some required programs will take place during virtual X for Middle School students. In addition, students should use this time to connect virtually with clubs or pursue extra help with teachers, who will all be available virtually if they are not coaching. In the spirit of limiting the amount of mixing and transitions on campus, we believe these activities are best served in this virtual paradigm.

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