Student Life

List of 7 items.

• Athletics and Physical Education

  The safety of our students, coaches and community remains our top priority. Our programs will follow guidelines from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDH), New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA), New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS), and New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC), as well as specific guidance recommended by The Masters School Health Advisory Team. I have listed these guidelines below. Our coaches and instructors will review them with our students on the first day of in-person instruction. Regrettably, given the current landscape and the guidance provided by the Health Advisory Team, there will not be any interscholastic competitions this fall. Our teams will continue their tactical, technical skill and fitness-based training while building toward intrasquad competitions. 
  
  

  Student Guidelines

  • Students may not attend athletic practices or PE classes if they did not physically attend school that day, and all students must have a confirmation of clearance from the AUXS Safety App.
  • Students must wear a school-approved mask at all times while exercising.
  • Students will wash hands or use hand sanitizer at the beginning, during breaks and at the end of every practice or class.
  • During physical activity, if students experience any difficulty with their masks, they must immediately remove themselves from the activity and maintain six feet of social distance from their peers so that they can remove their masks for a break. Once recovered, they must immediately put their masks back on before returning to activity.
  • All students should have a second mask available in case the first mask becomes dirty, wet or lost.
  • Students will maintain six feet of social distance while training unless the core activity requires closer contact. Masks must be worn at all times.
  • Students must bring their own clearly labeled and filled water bottle in order to participate.
  • Students should bring their own personal bottle of hand sanitizer to be used during mask and hydration breaks.
  • Students should wear appropriate workout clothing, and individual clothing/towels should be washed and cleaned after every workout immediately upon returning home. There will be no access to locker rooms.
  • No bags, equipment or personal items may be left in school buildings.
  • Students should tell instructors immediately if/when they are not feeling well.
  • No hugging, high fives, shaking hands or fist bumps will be allowed.

  Coaches and Physical Education Instructors

  • Coaches/instructors must complete all required Masters School faculty and staff annual training and comply with all mandated health reentry protocols, including the completion of the daily AUXS Safety App questionnaire and the required RT-PCR COVID-19 testing and flu shot.
  • Coaches/instructors must wear a school-approved face mask at all times while on campus.
  • Coaches/instructors must communicate guidelines and expectations to students in a clear and consistent manner from day one.
  • Coaches/instructors must ensure that students are maintaining six feet of social distance unless the core activity requires closer contact. Masks must be worn at all times.
  • Coaches/instructors must confirm that all students have brought a filled water bottle.
  • Coaches/instructors must ensure that students place their water bottles/bags/personal items six feet apart.
  • Coaches/instructors will provide regular mask and hydration breaks for students and will ensure regular hand sanitizer usage and six feet of distance during breaks.
  • Coaches/instructors must communicate all instances of student injury or illness to the athletic trainer and/or the Health Center. Coaches/instructors must call the athletic trainer and/or the Health Center before sending the student for immediate care.
  • Coaches/instructors must keep accurate records of class and practice attendance in case contact tracing is needed.
  • Coaches/instructors will regularly clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces and equipment.
  • Coaches/instructors should not allow hugging, high fives, shaking hands, fist bumps or team huddles.
  • Pinnies will not be used.
  • Coaches/instructors will ensure that all students vacate the field at the end of practice/class.

   

  Each team/class will have a designated location that includes individual spaces where they will leave their bags, water bottles and other belongings. All of our coaches/instructors will bring extra masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, cleaning solutions and extra filled water bottles. Our athletic trainers will be on site to provide additional supervision for all of our students.

   

  Athletic Team Practices

  Our athletic teams will meet in person Monday through Friday from 2:45-3:45 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, our teams will have designated indoor spaces where they can meet for non-physical training.   

   

  For students who remain remote, coaches will provide athletes with five days of asynchronous content, and coaches will check in with all of their remote athletes on a weekly basis.

   

  PE Cocurriculars

  Our remote fitness classes that met during the month of September in the afternoons on Monday and Wednesday, and Tuesday and Thursday, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. will now take place in person from 2:45-3:45 p.m. on those same days. Please note that this is a change from their previous time slot of 4:30-5:30 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, our teams will have designated indoor spaces where they can meet for non-physical training.  

   

  Our remote yoga classes that met on Tuesday and Thursday from 4:30-5:30 p.m. have been moved to in-person classes from 2:45-3:45 p.m. However, we will continue to run an afternoon yoga class from 4:30-5:30 p.m. for those students who remain remote. 

   

  Thank you for continued support as we navigate our safe return to in-person athletics and physical education programming. Should you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Director of Athletics Logan Condon.

   

• Visual Arts

  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.
  
  
  

• Performing Arts

  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 

   

  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

   

  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. 

   

  Guidance for Performing Arts

   

  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:

   

  • Activities such as acting that involve projected speech
  • Playing woodwind instruments
  • Playing brass instruments
  • Singing
  • Activities such as dancing that involve elevated respiration rates

   

  This guidance includes:

   

  • 12 feet of social distancing during these activities, whether indoors or outdoors
  • Mask-wearing throughout these activities, whether indoors or outdoors
  • Bell covers for brass instruments; full instrument covers for wind instruments, whether indoors or outdoors
  • Maximum of 30 minutes of consecutive rehearsal time before two cycles of air recirculation are required to divest the space of aerosols whether indoors or outdoors
  • Limitation of shared instruments, props, scripts, and music
  • for instruments, such as a piano keyboard, that must be shared, Sanitizing before and after each student use

   

  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.

• Cocurriculars

  The Middle School's student leadership groups will meet weekly from 10:10 – 10:40 a.m.  A few of the activities traditionally included in our MASC after-school program will also be offered. 
  
  The Upper School will offer optional cocurricular activities that will take place after the academic day, from 2:45-3:45 p.m. Students will have a variety of options from which to choose.

• Dress Code /Philosophy Modifications

  Middle School

   

  In order to avoid crowded spaces, students will not be able to use lockers either in the Middle School or in Strayer Gym. For this reason, and because students will have physical education classes and sports daily or almost every day, we are modifying our dress code.

   

  Students should dress for school prepared to engage in athletic activity. Thus, students should wear comfortable t-shirts and athletic pants. Joggers, sweatpants and leggings are all permitted. Sneakers with socks are strongly recommended for daily wear. Jeans will be allowed Monday through Friday, but please keep in mind that denim may not be a comfortable material when participating in athletic activities. There will be no place to store extra shoes if a student wants to change. Students should also dress warmly when the temperature begins to drop. We will be going outside on cooler days for lunch, athletics and other classes potentially.

  
  
  Upper School

   

  In order to avoid crowded spaces, students will not be able to use lockers either in the Upper School or in the Strayer/Fonseca Gym. For this reason, and because many students will engage with physical education classes or sports daily or almost every day, we are modifying our dress philosophy.

   

  Students should dress for school prepared to engage in athletic activity. Thus, students should wear clothes that would be appropriate for these endeavors. Sneakers with socks are strongly recommended for daily wear. There will be no place to store extra shoes if a student wants to change. Students should also dress warmly when the temperature begins to drop. We will be encouraging students to go outside on cooler days for lunch, athletics and other classes potentially. Jeans will be allowed Monday through Friday.

   

   

• Dining

  Middle School
  
  

  We will have two lunch distribution locations, the Middle School and Strayer Hall. There will be limited and pre-wrapped options, and each student will receive an insulated lunch box on their first day to help reduce waste. Those lunch boxes will stay at school. Food choices will include sandwiches and salads. Milk and water will also be provided. The Health Center and our food service provider, Brock, have worked together to identify students with allergies, and those students will receive the appropriate food accommodation.

   

  After receiving their lunches, students will eat lunch outside, if the weather permits. Students may bring a towel to sit on or the chair they were given at our first on-campus event in September. Those locations will be staffed accordingly to provide supervision. When weather does not permit us to eat outside (inclement or overly cold), students will eat in the room designated for their section. The room will be supervised by a teacher or administrator.

   

  In order to reduce the risk of virus transmission, talking will be limited to essential interactions while students are eating in indoor spaces. Once masks are back on, students may resume their conversation. We recognize that this measure is less than ideal, and we look forward to the time when we can again engage in social conversations during lunchtime. In order to keep our students entertained, music, stories and videos will be played.

   

  Please note that lunch will be the only meal served during the day. Breakfast and snacks will not be served, so please make sure that your child comes to school having had a nutritious breakfast. You may send them with a nut-free snack if you choose; sharing of food is not permitted. If the elimination of breakfast presents a problem for your family, please contact me.

   

  Parents and guardians may send their child to school with lunch if the food being served does not meet their child’s needs. 
  
  Upper School
  
  

  To reduce the density of students in the designated lunch spaces, we will have two lunch periods, one from 11:25 a.m. - 12:05 p.m., and the other from 12:45-1:25 p.m. A student who is assigned to the first lunch period will have class from 12:15-1:25 p.m.; a student assigned to the second lunch period will be in class from 11:35 a.m.-12:45 p.m. The 40-minute window between the two lunches will allow for a thorough cleaning of the spaces between each lunch period. Students will get a schedule noting which lunch period they have each day. 

   

  We will have two lunch distribution locations, the dining hall and the Davis Cafe in the Fonseca Center. There will be options for students, provided in single-serve containers, and each student will receive an insulated lunch box on their first day to help reduce waste. The Health Center and our food service provider, Brock, have worked together to identify students with allergies, and those students will receive the appropriate food accommodation.

   

  After receiving their lunches, students will eat in designated spaces, including the Fonseca Center’s gymnasium, the dining hall, and areas marked off in the quad above and below the dining hall. Those locations will be staffed accordingly to provide supervision. Proceeding with this plan allows us to reduce density during the lunch block and should provide a better lunch experience overall.

   

  Please note that lunch will be the only meal served during the day. Breakfast will not be served, so please make sure that your child comes to school having had a nutritious breakfast. If the elimination of breakfast presents a problem for your family, please contact Dean of Students Jeff Carnevale.

• September Events

  During the month of September, we will be offering a variety of optional socially distanced outdoor activities on campus. Though these gatherings cannot replace the full experience of our traditional model, they will allow students to make connections and safely interact with peers and faculty until we can all return to campus in person.