Reentry FAQs

Please click here to view a chart that outlines the criteria that will determine which learning model will be implemented at any given time.

Yes. Continuity of learning is one of our guiding principles. We understand the need to be nimble in the event of an abrupt campus closure, and we need to be prepared to accommodate students who are unable to return to school or whose families’ preference is to keep them home. Hence, The Masters School will offer yearlong remote instruction as an option that will be available to all students under all scenarios and not only during campus closures — whether we are operating in person or under a hybrid model.

Student work will earn grades following the traditional letter system. Fifth grade students will receive word grades such as "good" and "very good."

Masters teachers have spent the summer engaging in professional development around online instructional design. They are prepared to build on the lessons learned this past spring and to implement the research-based methods that they learned during the summer. We have put in place structures for meaningful collaboration and sharing of best practices across the curriculum and across the faculty. In addition, we have scheduled additional professional development days and routine meeting times for academic departments to focus on identifying and deploying effective instructional practices. These additional professional development days began this summer and will continue throughout the school year. 

Please view the Middle School Remote Learning Plan and Upper School Remote Learning Plan for information on schedules and more.

This fall, the College Counseling Office is coordinating a number of virtual evening programs with guest speakers that will be available to families. Invitations with event details will be distributed accordingly.

The Middle School will hold a combination of live and prerecorded virtual Morning Meetings.

The Upper School will hold virtual Morning Meetings. 

The performing arts have particular professional guidelines and limitations for in-person work due to the volume and rate of respiration typically used for acting, singing, playing wind instruments and dancing. Current professional guidance involves increased physical distancing space, more limited periods of time for indoor in-person work, and increased attention to the quality of ventilation and air circulation of any indoor spaces.

 

While a live, in-person outdoor performance in front of a limited audience might be possible in clear weather, the rehearsals required for such a performance will not be possible in person while the School is operating remotely. For the safety of students, faculty and audiences, we will not schedule live, in-person performances this fall. Decisions about activities and events scheduled for the winter and spring seasons will be made as conditions evolve and clarify. 

 

Throughout the summer, our performing arts teachers have continued to research, learn and develop skills and techniques for remote and hybrid learning, while keeping a close eye on professional recommendations in the performing arts world. Students in both divisions can expect even greater engagement, more creative opportunities, and improved design of classes.

Middle School 

Visual Arts is a hands-on experience. Students need to be present with hands, eyes and mind to develop this discipline.

Students will be outfitted for making art regardless of whether they are at school physically or remotely. Our faculty reconsidered materials and equipment to make art-making a much more accessible practice during these times. 

Since last March, our program has adapted to ensure continuity of learning. Using the processes of ideation, expression, collaboration and observation, our students are able to continue their work whether in person or remotely.

For in-person learning, our studio has been reconfigured to ensure compliance with safety protocols.

For remote learning, our domestic students received a kit with all the material they will to continue their work. International students received a list so that they can acquire materials in their home countries. All of our students will continue to create art in an engaging and collaborative way despite the current restrictions.

The current surge in COVID-19 cases in our region, country and world has negatively impacted our preliminary plans to bring our boarding students back on Monday, January 4, 2021.
 
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Masters School has erred on the side of caution, as the health of our students and of all the members of the community is our highest priority. 
 
In addition to the widespread increase of COVID-19 cases, we are mindful of the frequently changing travel guidelines and the heightened risks affecting our families’ ability to safely bring their children home in the event of a school closure. 
 
The current situation requires us to continue to enforce our safety measures, including maintaining a low density on campus and in our dormitories.
 
Our revised plan is now as follows:
 
 Boarding students in Grade 12 will be able to return to campus on Saturday, February 6, 2021. Bringing our seniors back first will allow for a phased return of our boarders to campus while allowing our seniors to enjoy as much time as possible on campus before graduation. During this time, students in grades 9, 10 and 11 will continue to learn remotely. 
Reentry protocols for senior boarders can be found here.
 
Boarding students in Grades 9, 10 and 11 will be able to return after Spring Break. Please stay tuned for the exact date.

 
Reentry instructions and requirements will be communicated closer to the students’ return dates.
 
This revised plan for boarding students will provide us with additional time to observe the virus’ transmission trends during the colder months and make an informed decision to safely bring our boarders back to campus. In the meantime, I am reassured by the strength of our remote learning options and know that our students will continue to seamlessly advance their coursework. We will continue to provide opportunities for community engagement and support for any student in need.
 
Please be aware that this plan is, once again, subject to further revisions as dictated by changing circumstances. Should you have any questions about this plan, please reach out to Director of Residential Life Dena Torino.

 

Boarding students will have access to a robust academic learning plan, arts, athletics, clubs and cocurriculars.

In addition, every boarding student will have the opportunity to participate in virtual social activities and events with fellow boarding students and the School's residential staff. These regularly scheduled events will be designed and executed by the dorm parents in conjunction with the dorm proctors and student leaders. Students will rotate through different cohorts so that they can get to know each other and the residential staff.

 

While we are learning remotely, boarding parents and guardians will be able to meet, via Google Meet, with a member of the residential staff to ask questions, address concerns and receive updates about their child. 

 

Every week, Director of Student Activities Ed Gormley will send the Weekend Scoop, an email that goes to students and faculty outlining fun virtual activities for the weekend.

 

We understand that the option to live with a local guardian may not be possible for every boarding student, and therefore we are looking into the possibility of finding host families for boarding students who may be interested. Although we cannot guarantee availability, we will make every effort to pair a boarding student with a local host family.

Boarding families interested in this option should let the School know by filling out this form.

The Masters School has delayed the opening of its dormitories until further notice and is allowing boarding students to enroll as day students, provided they can live locally with a guardian or host family. 

Families interested in hosting a boarding student should express their interest by filling out this form. 

Please contact Chief Financial Officer Ed Biddle for information on tuition.

Every individual participating in on-campus activities must be tested with an RT-PCR COVID-19 test prior to returning to school. The test should be administered no earlier than Wednesday, December 2 for a return date of Monday, December 7.

 

Students, faculty and staff will have the option to get tested on their own or participate in our on-campus pooled testing.

 

 

The Masters School will offer the option for students, faculty and staff to participate in pooled testing through our testing partner, JCM Analytics. During the next round of distribution of test kits, on Monday, November 2, students, faculty and staff will receive multiple kits to take home.

 

 

 

If you do not wish to or are unable to participate in the on-campus pooled testing, you will have the option to get your own RT-PCR testing. Should that be your preference, the test must be administered no earlier than Wednesday, December 2 for a return date of Monday, December 7.

 

Results should be faxed to Director of Health Services Sue Adams at 914-992-7579 prior to Monday, December 7. We are not able to receive results via email due to privacy laws. Should you have any questions, please email our health professionals at nurse@mastersny.org.

Information for January and beyond will be forthcoming.

 

 

We require students, faculty and staff who are ill to stay home. 

We are also requiring all students, families and employees to follow a set of expectations that are listed in The Masters School’s COVID-19 Community Agreement. While these expectations will make school look and feel different for members of our community, Masters believes that they are consistent with its core values of respect and concern for the greater good. A signed agreement is required for participation in any on-campus events.

Yes. We will have two health centers on campus this year, one for middle school students and one for upper school students. Both will include a separate isolation space for potential COVID-19 cases.

Our custodial staff will continue to follow Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for cleaning and sanitizing spaces frequently. All cleaning supplies and protocols will be in accordance with proper COVID-19 sanitation practices.

All Harkness tables have been removed, and we have purchased more than 700 desks that will be placed in all classrooms. 

Large spaces such as Strayer Gymnasium and Doc Wilson Hall have been temporarily outfitted as additional classroom space.

Every teaching space has been measured and marked to maintain standards for physical distancing.

Once we return to campus, meals will continue to be catered by our food service provider, Brock & Co.

 

Middle and upper school students will eat in separate designated spaces that allow for social distance. 

 

The school nurse will identify students with food allergies so that dining services management can make appropriate accommodations. 

 

Hand sanitizer and wipes will be available at each table, and students, faculty and staff will have to clean their hands prior to eating, wipe down their table space before and after eating, and then cleanse or sanitize their hands before leaving. Tables will be sanitized in between lunch periods.

We are in the process of installing MERV13 filters in all buildings with central HVAC. Fresh-air dampers will be used to increase fresh-air flow, and we will have open windows, exhaust fans and window air conditioning units in locations that do not have central air conditioning.

 

Fresh air via fans in windows and/or open windows will be in every classroom, and all dorm rooms are being outfitted with exhaust window fans.

The performing arts have particular professional guidelines and limitations for in-person work due to the volume and rate of respiration typically used for acting, singing, playing wind instruments and dancing. Current professional guidance involves increased physical distancing space, more limited periods of time for indoor in-person work, and increased attention to quality of ventilation and air circulation of any indoor spaces. Specific guidance can be found at the bottom of this section.

 

While a live, in-person outdoor performance in front of a limited audience might be possible in clear weather, the rehearsals required for such a performance will not be possible in person for the time being. For the safety of students, faculty and audiences, we will not schedule live, in-person performances this fall. Decisions about activities and events scheduled for the winter and spring seasons will be made as conditions evolve and clarify. 

 

Throughout the summer, our performing arts teachers continued to research, learn and develop skills and techniques for remote and hybrid learning, while keeping a close eye on professional recommendations in the performing arts world. Students in both divisions can expect a great level of engagement, more creative opportunities and improved design of classes.

 

 

Middle school students will continue to enjoy a robust and engaging performing arts curriculum at every grade level, including classes in music and theater/movement. They will also continue to have a multitude of opportunities to work in ensembles.

 

Middle school after-school ensembles will run remotely until it is safe to rehearse in person. The singular exception will be Preludes, which will move its season from fall to spring for the coming year.

 

The private music lessons program will continue remotely this fall. 

 

 

Upper school students will continue to enjoy a robust and engaging performing arts curriculum, including classes selected in music, theater and dance. They will continue to benefit from an after-school theatrical offering this fall via remote format for a limited number of days per week.

 

Upper School dance students will continue to have the opportunity to participate in Dance Company with two synchronous and three asynchronous rehearsals per week. Both the fall Theater and Dance options will involve pre-season engagement.

 

Our Upper school dance students will continue to receive physical education credit through participation in dance technique classes. In addition, upper school students may choose to take remote dance as an after-school activity to fulfill their physical education requirement two days per week.

 

Upper school student-directed performing groups will meet virtually during the fall, with faculty advisors checking in weekly with co-presidents as well as with group members at rehearsals. 

 

The private music lessons program will continue remotely this fall. 

 

 

The Masters School Department of Performing Arts is following current guidance provided by professional organizations in music, theater, and dance.

 

This guidance for performing arts applies to:

 

 

This guidance includes:

 

 

In the Middle School, this guidance appears in the form of remote after-school ensemble rehearsals, masked singing outside when possible, and no shared instruments.

 

In the Upper School, this guidance appears throughout our scheduling and spaces, as well as remote student-directed ensembles.