Maryvale's 2020-2021 Reopening Plan - Going Virtual

Dear Maryvale Families,

We want to begin with a heartfelt thank you and true appreciation for your daughters and how well they are doing with distance learning. We understand that their success is a collaborative effort between our families and our teachers, and we are so grateful for how supportive you have been during this time. It has also lifted our spirits this fall to see that our sense of community and sisterhood at Maryvale is alive and well — as we've observed in Community Homeroom, after school clubs and the recent student council elections.

Campus Reopening Update

Since our last communication, we have received approval and clearer guidance from the Baltimore County Department of Health on how to safely reopen our campus — in a hybrid fashion with a gradual rollout. We are incredibly happy to share with you that beginning on Monday, Oct. 5, we plan to welcome students back onto campus in small groups by division or grade level.

We will welcome everyone back in phases to ensure that students, parents, faculty and staff understand and abide by social distancing protocols established by Maryvale's Campus Reentry Team under guidance from the CDC, as well as State and local health officials.

Click here for the tentative campus reopening schedule until the end of the 1st quarter, which is Monday, Nov. 2. School will be closed for all students, faculty and staff on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Key Metrics to Watch

Our reopening plan has been reviewed and approved by the Baltimore County Department of Health, pending any significant changes in metrics. Maryvale is following metrics published by the Maryland Department of Health and Johns Hopkins University and Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center. We are focusing on Baltimore County metrics as well as positivity rates in the surrounding counties where our students live and cases within the Maryvale community. Please note, all campus reopening plans continue to be subject to change.

Athletics and the Arts

Upper School athletics and other extracurricular activities, such as performing arts, are approved to begin in small groups. On-campus athletic workouts will begin for Upper School students on Monday, Oct. 5. Your daughters will soon receive individual signups through email. In order to comply with social distancing guidelines for all fall sports (Cross Country, Field Hockey, Soccer and Volleyball), each of these sports will be limited to 10 participants per day. Student athletes will only be allowed to participate in one sport for the fall season. Workouts will take place outside from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, weather permitting.

Information about performing arts will be provided in the coming weeks. Logistical details of our reopening plan, including arrival and departure times, are also forthcoming.

Protect the Sisterhood Pledge

Maryvale's Campus Reentry Team is making every effort to bring students back to campus as safely as possible but in order to open and stay open, we are requesting that you partner with us in protecting the Maryvale community. We have created the Protect the Sisterhood Pledge to serve as a reminder that we are all in this together. Click here to review the Pledge.

The Pledge outlines guidelines for limiting the chances of COVID-19 exposures on our campus. We are also asking that if your daughter is participating in large gatherings where social distancing isn't possible, such as large athletic tournaments, family weddings and sleepovers, that she uses distance learning for two weeks following those events. It is our hope that in looking out for each other, we can keep everyone healthy and avoid the closures that other local independent schools, as well as colleges and universities, have already experienced.

Thank you for your partnership as we navigate these uncharted waters together. We love seeing your daughters on Zoom but we can't wait to see them on campus, to build the #NewNormalSameSisterhood together!

Warmly,

Tracey H. Ford

President

Dr. Victor Shin

Upper School Head/Assistant Head of School

Jennifer Nicholas

Middle School Head/Academic Dean

A reminder that all students, faculty and staff are required to complete the Magnus Health COVID-19 Daily Screeningwhen they report to campus. The screenings must be submitted each morning no later than 7 a.m. for Middle School students and 7:30 a.m. for Upper School students. Timely submission of health information is vital so that preparations can be made prior to the start of each school day. Please reserve 1 to 2 minutes to complete this screening each morning.You can review this instruction sheet as you setup the app on your smartphone. In an effort to make drop off as efficient as possible, we ask that you take a screenshot of the green "Go" that you receive to show when arriving at campus.

Click here to read the Maryvale 2020-2021 COVID-19 Parent and Student Handbook.

*Dates are subject to change

Sept. 17: Virtual Upper School Back to School Night

Sept. 24: Virtual Middle School Back to School Night

Nov. 25-30: School Closed; Thanksgiving Break

Dec. 21-Jan 1: School Closed; Christmas Break

Jan. 18: School Closed; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Jan. 22: School Closed: Faculty/Staff Professional Development

Feb. 15: School Closed; Presidents’ Day

April 1-9: Easter Break

May 31: School Closed; Memorial Day

June 3: Eighth Grade Celebration; Baccalaureate

June 4: Class of 2021 Graduation

June 7-9: Upper School Exams

Maryvale's Reentry Team is focused on making Maryvale stronger than ever. Members include:

• Heather Andrew, Director of Information Technology, Maryvale Preparatory School
• Deb Baker, Senior Vice President, Nursing, Johns Hopkins Health System
• Mary Ellen Gallagher Barthelme ’72, Chair, Board of Trustees, Maryvale Preparatory School
• Kelly Bonsack, School Nurse, Maryvale Preparatory School
• Scott Cerasoli, Trustee, Maryvale Preparatory School
• Tracey H. Ford, President, Maryvale Preparatory School
• Patricia Kirby, Trustee, Maryvale Preparatory School
• Mark Lindenmeyer, Vice President, Enrollment Management, Loyola University Maryland (retired)
• Elizabeth Lowe, Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications, Maryvale Preparatory School
• Jen Nicholas, Middle School Head / Academic Dean, Maryvale Preparatory School
• John Novotny, Trustee, Maryvale Preparatory School
• Theresa Rodgers, Assistant Head of School for Business Operations / CFO, Maryvale Preparatory School
• Dave Schroeder, Director of Plant Operations, Maryvale Preparatory School
• Dr. Victor Shin, Upper School Head / Assistant Head of School, Maryvale Preparatory School
• Debbie Shaw, Executive Assistant, Maryvale Preparatory School
• Amy Swam, Director of Human Resources, Maryvale Preparatory School
• Marty Voelkel-Hanssen ’75, Vice Chair, Board of Trustees, Maryvale Preparatory School

The following letter was sent to Maryvale families on Sept. 4, 2020:

Dear Maryvale Parents and Guardians,

It was wonderful to see your daughters on campus this week! We are looking forward to an incredible school year! We appreciate your ongoing partnership.

This Tuesday, Sept. 8 is the first day of classes. Zoom links will be posted on each course's Bulletin Board.

Click here for a sample of the academic schedule for the 2020-2021 school year. The schedule allows for in-depth academic programming and a balance between home and school. It also includes daily office hours, both before and after school, so that teachers can provide individualized support as needed. Frequent advisory meetings are built into the schedule to maintain community among our students.

Distance learning plan

• The school day will run from 8:30 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. There is an activity period following the last class, which runs until 3:30 p.m. Faculty will hold office hours most school days from 7:55 a.m. to 8:25 a.m., 2:50 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and by appointment. If a student plans to attend office hours, she should notify her teacher and parent on the same email.
• Each class will begin with a Zoom session. During that time, faculty will take attendance and discuss the plan for the day. Students should be on time for all classes.
• Zoom classes should be treated like on-campus classes. Students must wear their Maryvale polo shirts and log on to Zoom ready to learn for each class. Students may wear an approved Maryvale sweatshirt over the polo shirt for class. Students should not be in bed or lying down during classes.
• Faculty will be utilizing a variety of instructional methods during allotted class times.
• Maryvale faculty may assign homework to continue the learning process. Middle School students can expect up to 20 minutes of homework per class, Upper School students can expect up to 30 minutes of homework per class and students in AP classes can expect up to 40 minutes of homework per class.
• If parents or students have any questions, please contact your teacher first.
• Thoroughly review each course syllabus.
• Parents should report student absences to Julie Lanahan at the beginning of the school day.

Be prepared to receive additional information on our gradual hybrid plans as our learning format evolves this school year.

Mark your calendars

• Virtual Upper School Back to School Night: Thursday, Sept. 17
• Virtual Middle School Back to School Night: Thursday, Sept. 24

Additional information is forthcoming!

Maryvale's administration is excited for a wonderful and exciting school year in the New Normal. Same Sisterhood.

Sincerely,

Dr. Victor Shin

Upper School Head/Assistant Head of School

Mrs. Jessica Vitrano Randisi '01

Upper School Assistant Head/Dean of Students

Mrs. Jennifer Nicholas

Middle School Head/Academic Dean

Ms. Kalea Selmon

Director of Diversity and Inclusion

Mrs. Gracie Smith

Associate Academic Dean

The following letter was sent to Maryvale families on Aug. 28, 2020:

Dear Members of the Maryvale Community,

As we welcome our sixth graders back to campus today for student orientation, we are encouraged by the positive metrics which were shared by Governor Hogan in his Aug. 27 press conference on public school reopenings.

The newly issued guidance reinforces our decision to host in-person orientation sessions in small groups, so that we may conduct vital technology training for new students, provide opportunities for meetings with advisors and teachers and distribute classroom materials to facilitate distance learning.

Governor Hogan's request for public schools to re-evaluate their reopening plans, by the end of the first quarter, to include some in-person learning is aligned with our existing plan to re-evaluate the implementation of our hybrid learning model by the end of September. Key metrics published by Johns Hopkins, as well as the state's new county-specific benchmarks reflecting the levels of community transmission, will help to guide our decisions around in-person learning.

We welcomed our teachers back to campus on Wednesday. Bolstered by enhancements including summer professional development, technology updates and innovative planning, our faculty are energized and focused on the upcoming first few weeks of distance learning. This time will be critical to our success in a hybrid model and will allow us to transition seamlessly in the event of positive COVID-19 cases on campus.

We look forward to welcoming your daughters back to campus and to a great school year ahead as we navigate the #NewNormalSameSisterhood together.

Sincerely,

Tracey

Tracey H. Ford
President

The following letter was sent to Maryvale families on Aug. 14, 2020.

Dear Maryvale Families,

As parents ourselves, who worked throughout our children’s middle and high school years, we acknowledge and understand the burden of the COVID-19 crisis on you and your family. We were hoping that this summer would bring some stability to the situation so that we could begin the new school year with both hybrid and distance learning options. Unfortunately, conditions have changed and an ongoing lack of clear and definitive guidance from the Baltimore County Department of Health and the Maryland Department of Health, even as we write this letter, has forced us to make the very difficult decision to begin the 2020-2021 school year on Tuesday, Sept. 8 via distance learning. As you may be hearing from friends and neighbors, or siblings’ schools, many other independent schools are coming to the same conclusion.

We, just as you, were looking forward to and had been anticipating for months beginning the 2020-21 school year with in-person instruction with our Lions and are profoundly disappointed about our virtual-only start. We hope that you will understand the painstaking, assiduous time, planning and preparation that we have spent developing both our distance learning and hybrid learning models, as well as preparing the campus and buildings for a return that supports social distance guidelines.

We have heard the concerns from many of our parents about making the best decision for their daughter and their family; this was not a decision which we made lightly. This week Maryvale’s Board of Trustees met and seriously considered several key factors:

• No guarantee of rapid COVID-19 test results and lack of timely contact tracing from State and local health departments, which would be essential to keep Maryvale’s campus open.
• Baltimore County and City, areas in which the majority of our students live, remain at infection rates among the highest in the state, according to the Johns Hopkins University and Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center.
• COVID-19 spikes which followed the 14-day time period after the Memorial Day and July Fourth holidays. We are anticipating that we will see a similar pattern following large gatherings during the upcoming Labor Day weekend.
• The lack of guidelines for schools with regard to the use of indoor spaces.
• The most recent communications from Peter Baily, Executive Director of the Association of Independent Maryland & DC Schools (AIMS) on Aug.13, who noted frustration and dismay about a lack of clear guidance for independent schools from state and local health departments.

Encouraged by your overwhelmingly positive assessment of Maryvale’s distance learning this last spring, we have made a number of financial investments and improvements to this offering over the summer. All faculty participated in professional development and new platforms to enhance learning have been added. All of this is detailed on the Maryvale Reopening Plan FAQs on our website.

With a virtual start to our school year, we are committed to finding ways to engage with our Lions in person, on campus this fall because we know how important individualized academic support and counseling is for your daughters. Additional information about on-campus academic support, small group faith and community-building activities is forthcoming.

We will begin the 2020-21 school year by welcoming our girls to campus in small cohorts and using outdoor spaces as much as possible for our Orientation Week, which is scheduled to begin on Friday, Aug. 28. A Community Commitment Pledge will be shared widely for Orientation Week, reinforcing important behaviors that will make reopening campus - and keeping it open - possible. More information about orientation is below and you will receive your daughter’s detailed schedule early next week.

As we approach the end of September we will reevaluate timing for a possible campus reentry and will keep you apprised. We remain optimistic for a resolution to COVID-19 and return to campus. That will require, however, every Maryvale family agreeing to and supporting ways that will help ensure the health and well-being of our students, faculty and families.

COVID-19 is proving to be a formidable opponent for us all and we were looking forward to being back with your girls on the Maryvale campus for the start of this new school year. Until that happens, we hope that your trust in Maryvale remains steadfast. As parents ourselves, our care and concern for your daughters - academically, emotionally and spiritually - continues to be at the heart of every decision that we make.

We look forward to seeing you all again soon as we live our faith together in our #NewNormalSameSisterhood!

Mary Ellen Gallagher Barthelme ‘72
Chair, Maryvale Board of Trustees

Tracey H. Ford
President

Orientation Week Schedule

Friday, Aug. 28: 6th grade
Monday, Aug. 31: 7th and 8th grade
Tuesday, Sept. 1: 9th grade
Wednesday, Sept. 2: 10th grade
Thursday, Sept. 3: 11th grade
Friday, Sept. 4: 12th grade

Next week you will receive specific times and additional information for each orientation. All students are required to wear a mask and social distancing will be enforced. New students will need to bring their devices to campus for technology training. Please note that each class will be broken up into smaller cohorts for orientation.

Faculty members will also be on campus to greet your daughters.

The Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (IAAM) and the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) today issued a joint statement on the status of fall interscholastic sports, which we are sharing with you now:

In response to the unprecedented challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and with the health, safety and well-being of our member-school campus and athletic communities being paramount, the members of the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) and the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (IAAM) have voted to postpone all fall athletic competitions and championships. This postponement applies to the MIAA and IAAM sponsored sports and impacts cross country, field hockey, football, soccer, tennis, volleyball and water polo. On behalf of our member schools, the MIAA and IAAM Board of Governors will reconvene in mid-October to evaluate the public health crisis and manage competitive options for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year.

Guided by the commitment to preserve and sustain the student-athlete experience as a core component of the educational mission, the MIAA and IAAM have researched numerous options to develop policies and protocols that would support a safe return to play progression this fall prior to making this decision. Ultimately, the persistence of the virus and the potential for exposure among student-athletes, coaches, administrators, support staff, fans and local communities, coupled with the need to safely reopen campuses this fall, made it impossible to execute a return to competition at this time without undue risk.

To enhance the experience for all student-athletes, opportunities for strength and conditioning and sport-specific opportunities may be made available at each member school's discretion in adherence with local and state health and safety guidelines. Member schools are not permitted to participate in scrimmages or competitive play until further notice.

The following letter was sent to Maryvale families on June 12, 2020:

To our Maryvale Families,

The health and well-being of our students, faculty and staff continues to be our primary concern as we evaluate the health and safety protocols that will guide the 2020-21 school year, which will begin with our campus re-opening scheduled for Aug. 31. We understand the COVID-19 pandemic has touched all of our lives in different ways and we are moving forward based on decisions which we hope will be best for our Maryvale families. We want to take a moment to share some updates as well as what we are doing to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 while on campus.

Maryvale's Reentry Team

There are many aspects to the daily life that we all share on campus and all areas are thoughtfully being evaluated with guidance from the CDC and our network of medical professionals. The Maryvale Reentry Team Committees, which includes Maryvale personnel, Board members, medical professionals and valued partners in the community, are working diligently to evaluate and establish these important procedures.

Reopening Campus - Procedures to Protect Your Family

We are planning to reopen the campus on Aug. 31 with a modified schedule that will include a combination of on-campus and distance learning. We are evaluating ways to maintain after school clubs and activities in virtual and other formats. More information about schedules and activities will be shared through a dedicated page on our website in the coming weeks. We will alert you when the webpage is available.

Health and safety protocols that will be in place when the campus reopens include:

• Social distancing of 6 feet (following CDC guidelines).
• Only students, faculty and staff will be permitted in the buildings. Parents will use curbside drop off and pick up. Vendors will be limited to dining staff, security staff and emergency repair workers.
• Masks will be required to be worn by everyone.
• Mandatory daily health screenings will be required before entering buildings.
• Parent and volunteer meetings will be held virtually.

In addition to the protocols above, we are implementing new initiatives to further enhance your daughter's health and well-being at Maryvale:

• Two nurses will be onsite full-time.
• We are creating a second Health Suite, which will feature dedicated space for wellness visits, such as a sprain or cut, and a separate space for individuals exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or other viruses/flus.
• A new full-time Safety Compliance Officer will be onsite to help ensure that students and employees are following the new health and safety protocols. In addition, our new Safety Compliance Officer will assist with disinfecting shared surfaces, including restrooms, lunch facilities, etc., throughout the day.
• Additional hand sanitizer stations will be placed throughout buildings on the campus.
• Cleaning and disinfecting procedures will be enhanced during the day and in the evening. This will include the CDC's clean desk recommendation, requiring that all desk surfaces are completely clear, each night, allowing for sanitation.

Just the Start - Maryvale Family Survey

By no means are the lists above complete. We want to hear from you to learn about your thoughts, feelings and ideas about our planned reopening at the end of August. You will receive our Maryvale Family Survey in your inbox early next week. This brief survey will assist the Maryvale Reentry Team in developing a holistic approach to the reentry experience. Thank you in advance for taking time to complete the survey.

As always, we are here for you. If you have any questions, concerns or just want to say hello, please email us.

We look forward to being on campus with you all again soon!

Tracey H. Ford

President

Dr. Victor Shin

Upper School Head, Assistant Head of School

Jennifer Nicholas

Middle School Head, Academic Dean

The following letter was sent to Maryvale families on June 1, 2020:

Dear Maryvale Families,

As Maryvale thoughtfully turns its focus to and prepares for the reopening of campus in the fall, guided by mandates and protocols designed to reduce COVID-19 risks, I cannot help but think about a description of COVID-19 as shared by a teacher:

You have 30 students making a craft. One of the students used glitter. How many people will have glitter on them by the end of the day?

I so wish that we were dealing with glitter, but we aren’t. We are dealing with an invisible and highly contagious disease that is transmitted in a number of ways. Therefore, until there is a vaccine or cure, Maryvale will be implementing a number of new health and safety protocols which will make the return to campus feel and look different.

Our academic administrators are working through various scenarios that will allow students to enjoy the normalcy of receiving on-campus instruction. For example, in one scenario, students would alternate between days they are on campus and distance learning. We recognize that our obligation to comply with state and county mandates, in addition to social distancing requirements, can and may, at any time, affect our plans. The health and well-being of our students, faculty and staff is paramount in each scenario and decision.

Our goal, and priority, is to open campus, in some fashion, for the 2020-2021 school year the week of Aug. 31, with on-campus activities early in the week and a staggered first day of classes and schedules beginning on Thursday, Sept. 3 and Friday, Sept. 4.

Before the 2020-2021 school year begins, we are doubling our full-time nurses on staff and we are adding a Safety and Compliance Officer, in addition to our security team. We are in the midst of counting students and square feet in every classroom, lab and common space and will be assigning classes and gatherings based on current social distancing mandates which require six feet between individuals.

Simultaneously, our gifted academic leadership team is putting an academic puzzle together with the goal of unlocking the best possible educational option for students in each grade, given this situation.

Since early March, our faculty have continued to provide individualized attention and innovative teaching to the level that you have come to expect. As a result of COVID-19, Maryvale has had to absorb additional and unexpected costs, such as added personnel, enhanced cleaning and disinfection procedures, new supplies and materials to follow recommended guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus and an expansion of existing technology infrastructure. The unexpected increase in costs necessitates that our tuition for the 2020-2021 school year remains at the level originally established for the year, regardless of whether classroom instruction is delivered in person, virtually, or a combination of the two.

As we consider what is best for Maryvale and the valued community we serve, we are working with several larger organizations, including the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), Association of Independent Maryland and DC Schools (AIMS) and the Archdiocese of Baltimore, as well as academic thought leaders from peer schools here in our region.

We have also formed the Maryvale Reentry Team, whose focus is on making Maryvale stronger than ever. Members include:

• Heather Andrew, Director of Information Technology, Maryvale Preparatory School
• Deb Baker, Senior Vice President, Nursing, Johns Hopkins Health System
• Mary Ellen Gallagher Barthelme ’72, Chair, Board of Trustees, Maryvale Preparatory School
• Kelly Bonsack, School Nurse, Maryvale Preparatory School
• Scott Cerasoli, Trustee, Maryvale Preparatory School
• Tracey H. Ford, President, Maryvale Preparatory School
• Patricia Kirby, Trustee, Maryvale Preparatory School
• Mark Lindenmeyer, Vice President, Enrollment Management, Loyola University Maryland (retired)
• Elizabeth Lowe, Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications, Maryvale Preparatory School
• Jen Nicholas, Middle School Head / Academic Dean, Maryvale Preparatory School
• John Novotny, Trustee, Maryvale Preparatory School
• Theresa Rodgers, Assistant Head of School for Business Operations / CFO, Maryvale Preparatory School
• Dave Schroeder, Director of Plant Operations, Maryvale Preparatory School
• Dr. Victor Shin, Upper School Head / Assistant Head of School, Maryvale Preparatory School
• Debbie Shaw, Executive Assistant, Maryvale Preparatory School
• Amy Swam, Director of Human Resources, Maryvale Preparatory School
• Marty Voelkel-Hanssen ’75, Vice Chair, Board of Trustees, Maryvale Preparatory School

Your input, as parents, is important to us as we examine and consider various scenarios. You will soon receive several surveys seeking your thoughts on topics including the delivery of academic instruction, community engagement, staggered schedules, health considerations and dining options. Please be assured that your thoughts will be given serious consideration.

We’re also evaluating options for our athletics program for the 2020-2021 school year. As you know, Maryvale is a member of the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (IAAM) and we follow their mandate for athletic competition. Once the IAAM issues a decision on and plan for fall athletics, we will communicate this with all families.

Please rest assured that Maryvale’s priority is the health and well-being of our community as well as the continued delivery of a personalized and exceptional education for your daughters.

This summer, school life will continue – virtually. For example, rising seniors can look forward to the highly regarded summer college “bootcamp” offering from our college counseling team of Ms. Graham and Mrs. Duerr. Outreach is being planned to welcome new families into our community. And we will soon be offering a limited selection of bookstore and uniform items, with online and curbside pickup options. And, as always, our administration and staff are available by email.

You can expect to receive emails throughout the summer which reflect updates and changes as they become available.

Thank you for your patience as we endeavor to adjust to the evolving situation. Whether we are on campus or engaged in distance learning, Maryvale will continue its mission – to educate young women for life!

Sincerely,

Tracey H. Ford

President

September 8, 2020

September 9, 2020

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September 11, 2020

September 14, 2020

September 15, 2020

September 16, 2020

September 17, 2020

September 18, 2020

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September 18, 2020

September 25, 2020

Can students remove their masks indoors? No. Maryvale is following CDC recommendations, which includes that masks are required at all times when indoors. There will be no exceptions.

We are adhering to this requirement in an effort to protect the health and well-being of faculty, as well as students, who will be in our buildings throughout the day. If you feel that you cannot support this requirement, we ask that you choose the all-distance option. There will be no exceptions to masking while indoors.

The American Academy of Pediatrics’ reopening guidance points out that three feet can be sufficient for social distancing. Are there plans to update or modify the six foot recommendation to allow for flexibility and three foot distancing when possible? Maryvale is taking a more conservative approach and will not waiver in the CDC’s original recommendations of six feet apart for social distancing because it is designed to further protect students, faculty and staff. Our administration and facilities team has literally spent days conducting an audit of each space on campus and our reopening plan reflects this.

Maryvale has a great plan for reopening campus for the 2020-2021 school year. However, if families do not follow the guidelines outlined, then everyone on Maryvale’s campus is at risk. What will school administrators do if they learn that families are not following the rules, such as not reporting if they fly on a plane and not quarantining after travel? This is a question which greatly concerns the administration, faculty and staff. The only ongoing way for Maryvale to possibly open in a hybrid fashion and remain open is if families cooperate with and support the protocols which have been mandated. These guidelines were painstakingly developed with the support of healthcare professionals. Adherence to these guidelines is our best option to try to reopen Maryvale’s campus in a hybrid fashion and remain open. It is every family’s responsibility to keep the faculty, staff and other families as healthy as possible. Anyone who cannot abide by the school’s hybrid learning protocols must seriously consider opting for the distance learning-only option. We will not waiver from the policies we have communicated. We greatly appreciate your partnership in this effort.

We are in the process of revising our parent and student handbook to include disciplinary measures which will be taken if and when the school learns of noncompliance. Families will have the opportunity to review this handbook in advance of the planned reopening of campus in late August for the start of the 2020-2021 school year.

What happens if a student or employee tests positive for COVID-19? In the event of a positive COVID-19 test within the Maryvale community (faculty, staff or student), the school will close for a minimum of two to five days while we await direction from the Baltimore County Health Department. During that time we will revert to a complete distance learning model. This may result in faculty, staff and students quarantining for a defined period. As CDC and Baltimore County Health Department guidelines evolve, we will adjust our processes accordingly.

What happens if someone living in a student or employee’s household tests positive for COVID-19? If someone living in a student or employee's household tests positive for COVID-19, the student or employee must use distance learning for a period of 14 school days.

If a parent travels by plane during the school year does the student still need to engage in distance learning for two weeks? No. We recognize that many parents must travel for businesses and other purposes. Therefore, the 14 school day distance learning quarantine is required only if the student travels by plane or train.

Will families who travel out of state have to self-quarantine as recommended by the state? This is a requirement for some other area private schools and a question that healthcare providers are asking. The recommendations and requirements continue to evolve in this fluid situation. At least two weeks prior to the planned reopening of campus for the 2020-2021 school year, Maryvale will refer to current guidelines and at that time communicate those to families. We can all also expect that modifications will continue until the COVID-19 crisis is resolved.

Since the reopening of Maryvale's campus this fall will look different, does that mean that it’s likely that fall sports tryouts will not begin in mid-August, if at all?

The Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (IAAM) and Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) issued a joint statement on July 16, 2020 on the status of fall interscholastic sports:

In an ongoing effort to mitigate health risks while supporting student-athletes, the IAAM and MIAA will be delaying the start of the fall preseason until on or after Tuesday, September 1, 2020.

At this time, we anticipate that league play will commence on or after September 21, 2020. Revised schedules will be issued to keep within the projected timeline for fall athletics.

The IAAM and MIAA will continue to reevaluate the viability of interscholastic competition for the fall season. The Board of Governors of both leagues will meet again in mid-August. Blackout periods and out of season practice policies will be waived until further notice.

The IAAM and MIAA share a common commitment to athletics as an extension of the educational process. Participation in healthy athletic practices provides our student-athletes opportunities to compete, build character, acquire, and improve skills, demonstrate leadership, and have fun. Both leagues hope to honor this commitment and, at the same time, keep athletes and their coaches as healthy as possible.

We will update you in the coming weeks about fall athletics as additional information becomes available.

Will students perform Matilda, as scheduled, this fall? We are currently planning to perform Matilda this fall. We will alter staging to comply with social distancing guidelines. We plan to record and stream the performances. If needed, we can move the Matilda to the spring.

Are students required to wear their uniforms on days when they are engaged with distance learning? Yes, students are required to wear their uniform shirt when engaged with distance learning.

It seems that Maryvale’s expenses should be less in the coming year. As a result, will we be receiving a refund for base tuition or for St. Julie Billiart program tuition?

As a reminder, earlier this summer, Maryvale rolled back the cost of base tuition for the 2020-2021 school year to the same level as the 2019-20 school year.

While it could seem like Maryvale’s expenses may have decreased since COVID-19 arrived in our world, our expenses have in fact increased considerably since March, both during the 2019-2020 school year and also for the 2020-2021 school year. We have and will continue to incur pandemic-related expenses. We also recognize that, until a resolution is reached, COVID-19 will continue to be a part of our world and we anticipate that we will incur additional unexpected costs.

While the delivery of instruction and the number of students on campus may be different, the majority of Maryvale’s budget falls into the category of fixed costs. Examples of fixed costs include insurance for the campus, maintenance and upkeep of the campus, software, and other necessary infrastructure costs. In addition, in order to provide the quality education you have come to expect from Maryvale, we have committed to retaining our full faculty and staff and have, as previously noted, added personnel due to COVID-19. These combined costs represent more than 90 percent of the school’s budget. While there are minor savings in variable costs such as electricity, water and copier expenses, the necessary costs incurred due to the pandemic greatly exceed those savings.

Tuition at Maryvale does not cover the full cost of education. We rely on voluntary contributions to the Annual Fund with a yearly goal of $800,000, all of which is used toward offsetting the difference between what tuition costs and what families pay. The 2019-2020 school year already saw a decrease of over 10 percent in contributions to the Annual Fund and, despite all best efforts, Maryvale is prepared for the reality that contributions may/will again drop in the 2020-2021 year as alumnae and families continue to face economic challenges.

We have also experienced a precipitous drop in auxiliary revenue which offsets tuition including, but not limited to, facility rentals, dining services, school store sales and the ongoing cancellation of several major fundraising events.

As a result, tuition cannot be less, whether students are learning on campus or engaged in distance learning. There has not been a reduction in the cost associated with delivering a Maryvale education.

In the case of the SJB program, the faculty members who are a part of that program are solely dedicated to students in the SJB program. Therefore, the cost of that program has not and will not be reduced.

Why did Maryvale receive a $2 million Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan when the school didn't close? Maryvale applied for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan in good faith, so that we could continue to provide the best quality of education to our students. COVID-19 has had an unprecedented impact on organizations across all industries, including private school education. Maryvale qualified for $1.2 million in PPP funding based on our payroll, which allowed us to continue employing and providing health insurance coverage to our nearly 100 faculty and staff members, despite a multi-month campus closure. While we transitioned to online learning, this unexpected closure resulted in decreased gross revenues as it forced us to cancel two of our biggest fundraising events, suspend our capital fundraising campaign and shut down ancillary sources of income, such as the school store, after care program and summer athletic camps. Additionally, we have added expenses as a result of updating our online learning technology platforms and providing increased financial aid to those families who are also struggling amidst this crisis.

All Maryvale faculty are completing distance/hybrid learning professional development this summer. The list below is a sampling, not an all-inclusive list, of professional development that faculty members have participated in over the summer. Faculty have been taking advantage of other professional development offerings this summer.

• The majority of our faculty are participating in the AIMS Distance Learning Pop-up Course for Educators.
  • Course essential questions: What are the core tenets of your school and how might these translate to distance learning? What are the basic types of learner interactions possible and what is the best way to use them? What are your students’ social-emotional needs during distance learning and how might you best support and encourage them?
  • Course content: distance learning best practices, types of learner interactions, social-emotional learning, equity in distance learning, virtual assessment tools and engagement in an online environment.

• Others are participating in courses through the Global Online Academy, including:
  • Design Bootcamp
    • design online learning experiences that promote student agency
    • build community in online spaces, including peer to peer relationships and student and teacher relationships
    • design assessments that allow both students and teachers to know what students are learning with an emphasis on evidence of student work
    • incorporate wayfinding and best practices in the smooth and intuitive design of online learning spaces
    • self-assess and reflect upon their pedagogy and practice in online teaching and learning
    • review and provide meaningful feedback on colleagues' work products as well as receive feedback on their own work
  • Designing for Online Learning
    • This course will cover the fundamentals of designing high quality online learning experiences.
  • Designing for Online Learning: Student Agency
    • Course for educators who want to learn how to foster learning experiences that help students to develop and exercise agency.
  • Designing for Online Learning: Wayfinding
    • Course for educators who want to learn how to build engaging, navigable, and student-centered online learning experiences.

• Members of Maryvale’s science department participated in Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s Teacher Research Academy to further develop tools for online laboratory and hands-on experiences.
  • Bioscience
    • This virtual workshop for middle and high teachers focuses on enriching NGSS standards using the lens of biotechnology to inspire student lab experiences. This workshop will provide the opportunity to expand or refresh lab skills, while exploring how lab investigations can be scaled up or scaled down according to SEP/CCC focus, resources, and/or grade level.
    • Teachers will discuss how authentic rigorous lab experiences can be integrated into NGSS, AP and IB curricula. Learn how to source free science materials and local mini grants as well. Participants will learn through virtual laboratory activities and complementary “kitchen science” in microbiology, biology, biochemistry, and molecular genetics. The afternoons will be dedicated to developing mini-units to share with other participants at the end of the workshop that on that can be implemented in future classroom instruction.
  • Physics with Phone Sensors
    • This online workshop will focus on hands-on activities designed to use science and engineering practices to explore core disciplinary ideas in physics. The activities will exploit the amazing set of sensors in the smartphones which all your students own and are expert users. During this workshop you will become experienced in using the sensors in open ended exploration that will enable completely new opportunities for students to explore and learn physics.

• Some faculty participated in AP Summer Institutes to further their AP course knowledge. All classes occurred in a virtual environment.
  • AP Summer Institutes offer the most intensive professional development available for AP educators. Attendees engage in at least 30 hours of content-rich training designed to strengthen how they teach their AP courses. Learn innovative best practices, explore ready-to-use strategies, and increase course knowledge.

• All faculty will participate in Challenge Success’s Grab and Go Strategies for Assessment Learning Online workshop in late August. Below is a description of the workshop. Challenge Success is affiliated with Stanford University’s Graduate School of Education.
  • How do we best assess student learning during this unexpected shift to remote learning? In this workshop, we will share and model a range of assessment strategies that provide meaningful feedback to students in a virtual environment. Participants will leave with relevant, interactive, and fun practices that they can begin using tomorrow.

Peter Bailey, Executive Director of the Association of Independent Maryland & DC Schools (AIMS), sent the following letter on Aug. 13, 2020:

Maryvale's school counselors will continue to be available to provide academic, personal and emotional support to students for the extent of this school closure. Students or parents can request virtual counseling appointments via email and the counselors will follow up to schedule a one-on-one Zoom session with the student. The counselors will remain in close contact with teachers and administrators to identify students in need of services. They will reach out via email to schedule check-ins with identified students.

While the school counselors are here to support students, those in need of in-depth mental health counseling and services should seek treatment from licensed mental health providers in the community, many of whom are also offering virtual therapy through telehealth platforms. If you are seeking a referral to a local mental health provider, Maryvale's counselors are happy to work with you in facilitating that connection. In case of a mental health emergency during a time in which the counselors cannot be reached, please call 911 or see the list of crisis resources below.

Please contact Maryvale's school counselors with any questions:

Claire Doyle, School Counselor

Hillary Horgan, School Counselor

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• Family Boredom Busters
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Summer Resources

• https://www.campanywhere.org/
• https://www.innerrock.com/event-info-1
• https://www.cmhcweb.com/bookings-checkout/mindfulness-stress-workshop-for-teens
• https://outschool.com/#abkae6x15lhttps://outschool.com/#abkae6x15l
• https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rncuRrmRSreCtQQXloI3og
• https://teenlife.s3.amazonaws.com/media/uploads/Online%20Summer%20Programs%20Guide_2020.pdf
• https://www.breatheforchange.com/
• www.parentinginplacemasterclass.com

Click here to see which educational companies are offering free subscriptions due to school closings.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
  • CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
  • Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

For information about handwashing, see CDC’s Handwashing website.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• World Health Organization
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Maryland Department of Health