Returning to Heathwood · the disease, the recommendations of experts, and the needs of our community, and will adjust our plans accordingly. Your feedback on how we’re doing, and

1Heathwood Hall Return-to-Campus Plans and Protocols 2020-2021

Returning to Heathwood

Plans and Protocols

2020-2021

The plans and protocols in this

manual are based on state and

local health and safety guidelines,

as of August, 2020. Given the fluid

nature of the situation, these plans

could be subject to change. For

the most up-to-date information

about Heathwood’s response to the

pandemic and for any modifications

to our curriculum or program, visit

the COVID-19 page on our website:

www.heathwood.org/about/covid-19.

Returning to Heathwood

Plans and Protocols

2020-2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The 5 Pillars of Safe On-Campus Learning ..............4

COVID-19 Protocol ............................... 5

2020-2021 Daily Schedules .............. 6

Connected Learning ...........................8

Student Dining ...................................... 9

Emotional Wellbeing .......................... 9

Extended Care ....................................10

Athletics & Arts ...................................10

Frequently asked Questions ........... 11

Heathwood Health Pledge ............. 13

2020-2021 Academic Calendar ... 14

Helpful Contacts ................................ 14

Chris HincheyHead of School

George ScoutenHead of Upper School

Maria Croley MaddenHead of Middle School

Stephanie ScanlonHead of Early Childhood

and Lower School

Jessie GarlinghouseHead of Extended

Learning

Dear Heathwood Families,

Heathwood Hall’s abiding commitment to providing a robust and supportive educational environment compels us to do all that we can to welcome students back to campus for the 2020-21 academic year. Accordingly, our leadership team, faculty, and sta� have worked diligently throughout the summer to plan and prepare for an on-campus experience that is both as safe and as robust as possible.

In the following pages, you’ll find an overview of our plans and policies for on-campus learning, as well as information on connected learning for students who, through illness or exposure to COVID-19, must spend time away from campus. More detailed information can be found on our website at www.heathwood.org/about/covid-19, which will be continually updated with all the latest Heathwood news as well as the most recent information and guidelines from health organizations such as the CDC and SC DHEC.

Please know that while we feel an on-campus experience is in the best interest of our students, we recognize that every family’s situation is unique, and we welcome your feedback as we continually strive to strike the right balance between keeping the Heathwood community safe and providing students with the best possible education. Please also know that, as we have done throughout the pandemic, we will be continually assessing the progression of the disease, the recommendations of experts, and the needs of our community, and will adjust our plans accordingly. Your feedback on how we’re doing, and how your family is doing, will be a welcome and enormously helpful component of our evaluative process, as it was last spring during remote learning.

While much about the months to come remains uncertain, the events of recent months have made us more grateful than ever for the Heathwood community. It is the strength of our community that gives us confidence that Heathwood will be able to provide the best possible learning experience for our students, whatever the next few months may bring. We have been and continue to be amazed at how our teachers have risen to the challenges of new modes of instruction and seen them not as setbacks but as opportunities to become even better at what they do. We’ve been in awe of our students’ resilience and adaptability, and their willingness to ask for help when they need it. And we draw insight and inspiration from you, the Heathwood parents with whom we partner in everything we do. Along with other key advantages — the size of our campus, the amount of space we have that is both outdoors and under cover, and our ability to limit enrollment as needed to provide for adequate social distance — our strong, committed community may well make it possible for Heathwood to safely remain open even if other nearby campuses are forced to close down.

Thank you for your input over these last few months, and thank you for the trust you’ve placed in Heathwood Hall. We look forward to seeing you and your children back on campus soon.

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Heathwood Hall Return-to-Campus Plans and Protocols 2020-2021

Use of Face MasksIn most instances masks will be required for all adults and kindergarten through 12th grade students while indoors, as well as outdoors when physical distancing cannot be observed, and students in all divisions will be trained in how to maintain safe physical distance in various situations.

The School will provide five washable masks for each student. Division Handbooks will outline acceptable colors and patterns for masks provided from home.

Physical DistancingWe are creating physical distance in classrooms by spacing desks in the LS, MS, and US six feet apart. New recommendations of three feet by the American Association of Pediatricians give us some flexibility to distance at slightly less than six feet when scheduling or programming would otherwise be compromised.

Large group gatherings such as LS and MS Town Halls, US Morning Meeting, and Chapel will be significantly altered to reduce attendance, include remote participants, and change traditional locations.

Physical distancing among students and between students and faculty/sta� will be encouraged at all times, whether inside or outside.

Personal Health and HygieneSchedules will include frequent hand washing breaks, and hand sanitizer will be available throughout the campus.

Temperatures of all Early Childhood students will be taken by a school employee daily. All other students and employees should take their own temperature at home each day and follow the protocol on the next page if they have a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or above.

Students and employees who are symptomatic with any illness or who have possibly been exposed to COVID-19 will be required to stay home.

The 5 Pillars of a Safe Return to Campus

Facilities SanitizationWe are increasing the size of our custodial sta� and the amount of time they spend cleaning throughout the day.

During the day, the custodial sta� will rotate through the buildings to address high-touch areas – sink, door, and water fountain handles, handrails, light switches, countertops and other surfaces, etc.

Each evening a thorough cleaning and sanitizing of every classroom, restroom, and gathering space on campus will occur, following CDC guidelines and using EPA-registered products for disinfection.

There will be disinfecting wipes or solutions in each classroom for teacher and student use during the school day.

The Dining Commons, gyms, locker rooms, weight room, and all restrooms will receive heightened attention during the day as well as evening cleanings.

Families Following Safety Guidelines When Not on CampusResponsible and thoughtful behavior of our students and our Heathwood families when they are away from campus (evenings and weekends) is essential to a safe return to campus.

In order for Heathwood’s approach to best protect our students and employees - and maintain the continuity of on-campus services - it is essential that our families follow CDC and DHEC health and safety recommendations aimed at reducing COVID transmission.

These include, above all:• Wearing masks and maintaining physical

distance when out in public• Avoiding large group gatherings• Keeping students home from school if they test positive,

have symptoms, or have been exposed to anyone who has COVID-19. (See flow chart on the following page.)

While COVID-19 is highly contagious, safety precautions such as mask-wearing, physical distance, and

cleaning high-touch surfaces have proved highly e�ective in preventing or minimizing transmission.

Accordingly, Heathwood has developed a comprehensive plan for a safe return to campus.


NO TEST

YES

COVID-19 DIAGNOSIS

COVID-19 SYMPTOMS**

YesStay home 10 days since symptom onset and 48 hours symptom free

Stay home 10 days since symptom onset and 48 hours since recovery (fever free without fever- reducing meds and symptom improvement)

Stay home for 48 hours symptom free without the use of medication

Symptomatic or Asymptomatic

Stay home 10 days since diagnosis and 48 hours since recovery

**COVID-19 SYMPTOMS: most often fever (though not always) accom-panied by 2-3 of the following symptoms:

• chills

• cough

• shortness of breath or di�culty breathing

• fatigue

• muscle or body aches

• headache

• new loss of taste or smell

• sore throat

• congestion or runny nose

• nausea or vomiting

• diarrhea

TESTED: POSITIVE

TESTED: POSITIVE

POSITIVE

TESTED: NEGATIVE

TESTED: NEGATIVE

NEGATIVE

NOT TESTED

NOT TESTED

Spent 15+ minutes within 6 ft. of, or had direct physical contact* with, someone who tested positive

Live in the same household as someone who tested positive

Stay home for 10 days since tested and 48 hours symptom free (if symptoms are present)

Stay home for 10 days since tested and 48 hours symptom free (if symptoms are present)

Stay home for 14 days since last exposure

Stay home for 14 days after household member is cleared from isolation

*Direct physical contact = sharing utensils, drinking after each other, touching/hugging/ kissing, sneezed or coughed on

COVID-19 EXPOSURE

What is quarantine?

As per SC DHEC, quarantine is used to separate people who are close contacts of someone with a contagious disease, like COVID-19, from others for a period of time to see if they become sick. This is to prevent the spread of disease. When someone is quarantining, they should stay home and avoid contact with other people until the quarantine period is over. This includes avoiding contact with people in their household as much as it is possible.

COVID-19 Protocol

Reporting Symptoms and Diagnoses to the School

Parents should notify Heathwood school nurse Kristin Cartin immediately if your child, or anyone with whom your child has had close contact:

• Exhibits symptoms of COVID-19• Is awaiting test results for COVID-19• Receives positive test results for COVID-19• Has been exposed to a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 or to a confirmed outbreak of COVID-19• Has traveled internationally, on a cruise ship, or to a coronavirus hot spot within the U.S., as designated by DHEC or the CDC.

Nurse Cartin may be reached at 803-231-7728 or [email protected].

TESTED


TIME A Day B Day C Day D Day E Day F Day G Day

8:10 - 9:05 A B C D E F G

9:10 - 10:05 B C D E F G A

10:10 - 10:35 GROUP MEETINGS

10:40 - 11:35 C D E F G A B

11:40 - 1:20 DLUNCH

ELUNCH

FLUNCH

GLUNCH

ALUNCH

BLUNCH

CLUNCH

1:25 - 2:10 E F G A B C D

2:15 - 3:05 F G A B C D E

3:05 - 4:00 EXTRA HELP

EXTRA HELP

EXTRA HELP

EXTRA HELP

EXTRA HELP

EXTRA HELP

EXTRA HELP

The greatest change for both programs is that students will remain with their individual classroom cohorts throughout the day. Related Arts classes will be held once a week in the homeroom classroom. This change allows us to preserve core instructional time and e�ectively manage our sta� and material resources safely.

On-Campus Schedules

Seven - Day On-Campus Rotation: Middle and Upper SchoolThe schedule shown on the right was designed specifically for the 2020-21 school year with the above goals in mind. While it may not be the schedule used for future years, it will be the schedule we follow while on campus as long as health o�cials are recommending the use of physical distancing.

Mornings Playtime/workshop time, one 30-minute related arts class, one 30-minute instructional period, one 30-minute recess, snack time

Lunch EC2 (11:00), EC3 (11:45), EC4 (12:30)

Afternoon Rest time, second recess, additional playtime/workshop time (all afternoon times vary by grade level)

Mornings Morning meeting, two instructional blocks (40 min and 60 min - which can be broken into smaller chunks as needed), one 20 minute recess

Lunch 11:00 - 11:30

Afternoon Three 30-minute instructional blocks, one 30-minute related arts class, one 30 minute recess, snack time, and closing meeting

Early Childhood

Lower School

The MS and US have worked together to create an on-campus schedule that achieves the following objectives:

1. Provides a common schedule for the MS and US.

2. Provides longer classes to allow for instruction while also allowing for staggered handwashing, locker visits, and bathroom breaks.

3. Provides more uniform blocks of time so that there is more balance in meeting time across periods and allows the sharing of teachers more e�ectively.

4. Provides the ability to stagger lunch, with multiple release points in the MS and US so that our dining facilities and outdoor seating are not overwhelmed.

Middle and Upper School


TIME MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

8:30 - 9:30 A E ASYNCHRONOUS WORK A E

9:45 - 10:45 B F ASYNCHRONOUS WORK B F

11:00 - 11:30 ADVISORY CLUBS CHAPEL ADVISORY ADVISORY

11:30 - 12:30 LUNCH LUNCH LUNCH LUNCH LUNCH

12:30 - 1:30 C G ASYNCHRONOUS WORK C G

1:30 - 2:30 DOFFICE

HOURS/ EXTRA HELP

ASYNCHRONOUS WORK/OFFICE HOURS/EXTRA HELP D

OFFICE HOURS/

EXTRA HELP

2:30 - 3:00 EXTRA HELP

Remote Schedule: Middle and Upper Schools Based on the feedback we gathered from teachers, from students, and from families, our remote schedule, should we be teaching from home, will be as follows.

TIME KINDERGARTEN 1ST TIME 2ND 3RD 4TH

8:30 - 8:50

Guidance 1x week;

other times devotional

Morning Meeting8:30 - 8:50

Morning Meeting

8:15-8:45 Morning Meeting

and devotional

8:15-8:45 Morning Meeting

and devotional

8:50 - 9:10

Morning MeetingGuidance 1x week;

other times devotional

8:50 - 9:10

Guidance 1x week; other times devotional

9:00-9:30Live Instruction

9:00-9:30Live Instruction

9:30 - 10:00

A A9:30 - 10:00

A Live Instruction Live Instruction

10:15-10:45

B B10:15-10:45

B A A

11:00-11:30

C C11:00-11:30

C B B

11:30 - 12:30

LUNCH LUNCH11:30 - 12:30

LUNCH LUNCH LUNCH

12:30-1:00

Related Arts Related Arts12:30-

1:15

MENU/ACTIVITIESINDEPENDENT/

Extra Help


Extra Help


Extra Help

1:00-1:20

Storytime/Closing Meeting


1:20-2:00

Related Arts Related Arts Related Arts

1:30 - 2:00

1:30 Extra help - by appointment

1:30 Extra help - by appointment

2:00-2:30




2:30Give time for Unstructured

Play

Give time for Unstructured Play

2:30-3:00

Extra Help by appt.

Extra Help by appt.

Extra Help by appt.

Below represents ONE DAY (Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri.) for each grade level out of a weekly schedule. Wednesday is X-Day

Green - LIVE (Whole class)

Yellow - LIVE (Small groups) OR TEACHER RECORDED and/or INDEPENDENT WORK (flexible) PLUS CONCURRENT LIVE OFFICE HOURS (with Associates) This time allows teachers to meet with small groups and support individuals daily. Students will be assigned a group and will rotate through live small group instruction, recorded sessions, and independent work. An associate teacher will be available in a separate Google Meet during this period to assist students as necessary. K, 1st, and 2nd will be in smaller groups of four or five students. 3rd and 4th will be in groups of six to eight students.

Purple - Independent worktimes (flexible). Most will include short 2-5 min video introductions or instructions. Many will be non-screen based activities.

Blue - SYNCHRONOUS or ASYNCHRONOUS Related Arts classes

Dotted Lines indicate where break times occur

3rd and 4th grade Guidance lessons will occur on Wednesday X-Days

While we intend to hold classes on campus for all Heathwood students this year as long as circumstances permit, it is possible that remote learning will at some point become necessary. In that event, we will follow these schedules.

Early Childhood, Kindergarten, Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School Remote Schedules


For individual students who need to be away from campus for an extended period of time, we will o�er Connected Learning.

Connected Learning is designed to bridge the gap during a student’s two- to four-week absence from school. The components of Connected Learning may include some live-streamed content, some recorded content, as well as independent work, all uploaded in a timely manner. All learning will be managed through each division’s Learning Management System (Plus Portals or Seesaw) just as it is for those who are on campus. Assignments, lesson plans, and expectations will be clearly articulated for the students and families. Connected Learning will not be as robust or comprehensive as either our on-

Connected Learning

campus or our fully online program, and it should not be viewed as a semester- or yearlong substitute for on-campus learning. We have made a thoughtful and deliberate decision not to o�er a fully live-streamed program to keep students connected. We believe that having students sit in front of a computer screen all day to try and identify periods of essential instruction as they occur live is not sound educational pedagogy for young learners. We are also aware that many of our families with multiple children would have diªculty on their end if all of their children need to be engaged in live-stream programming, continuously, every day of a quarantine period. Heathwood Hall has chosen to instead focus on the students’ needs and provide the essential core curricular instruction that will allow

the students to work at their own pace to maintain steady progress in their learning.

Connected Learning will look di�erent from Remote Learning in the sense that Remote Learning is designed to provide a more comprehensive online educational experience that includes related arts and electives to the greatest possible extent.

We are not able to o�er on-campus learning and Remote Learning concurrently at the same level that we can o�er them independently without sacrificing the quality and integrity of our program. That said, for those families who are uncomfortable sending their children back to campus, we can support them through the Connected Learning model for a limited amount of time.


Lunch

• All Divisions: The Flik Dining Services menu will be available for review in three-week cycles with student-friendly choices and variety in both options and serving sizes. The containers used to hold food are eco-friendly. Bottled water will be provided initially, with expanded beverage choices coming once everyone has acclimated to the new routines. Lunch will be served daily, and as in the past, all families with children enrolled in kindergarten through the twelfth grade are required to purchase lunch. Lunch purchase is optional for EC students.

• Early Childhood: Students who have purchased lunch will continue to be served an individually plated hot lunch. EC3s & EC4s will eat at separate times in the Dining Commons in a designated area that is set up specifically for their use, while lunch will be delivered to the EC2s classroom each day for the first 1-2 months.

• Lower School: Families will pre-order lunch choices 2 days in advance through the My School Dining app, and all meals will be individually served. Lunch will be delivered to each classroom, and all meals will be individually packaged and will include disposable serveware kits.

• Middle & Upper School: The menu will be posted in advance and reviewed each morning, and while students will be encouraged to consider their lunch choices, they are not required to pre-order. Students will go to the Dining Commons to choose and pick up their lunch in a single-file line spaced out 6 ft from each other. There will be numerous choices for lunch, and students may take up to two containers each day. Some options will include a double portion serving of the entree/protein. There will also be vegetarian options. Students will then take their lunches and eat in assigned classrooms or outside, supervised by adults.

Lunch Information and Emotional Well-being

Emotional Well-being

To fully engage in formal learning, students need to feel physically and psychologically safe. Heathwood’s ongoing commitment to supporting the mental health and well-bring of our students, families, and faculty will remain a top priority.

• To honor Heathwood’s tradition of weekly Chapel, Chaplain Jill Williams will work with students weekly to produce Chapel services to be shown in their divisions.

• The Counseling team and the Division Heads will conduct brief, developmentally appropriate individual check-ins with every student using targeted questions to create connections and a needs assessment for each family.

• The Counseling team will work in tandem with Division Heads and teachers to educate students on our new policies, protocols, and adjustments (i.e., physical distancing, wearing face masks, new schedules and recess routines, and lunch plans).

• The counselors will provide a consistent counselor presence in classrooms for the first few weeks of school.

• Counselors will review for faculty the signs and symptoms of students experiencing grief, loss, trauma, and anxiety.

• Counselors will provide ongoing instruction for students on how to cope with stress and anxiety through programs like Advisory and our mindfulness programs, and by working with our Chaplain.

• Students and parents are encouraged to reach out to share any grief and loss the student may have had or may be experiencing.

• As the pandemic continues to evolve, the counselors will adjust topics and focal points in response to the evolving needs of our community.

• Our Chaplain, Jill Williams, is available to provide support for families.


Extended Care

Early Care for EC/LSEarly Care is a valuable service provided for families who need more flexibility in their morning drop-o�. Early Care takes place from 7:30 to 8:00 AM. In the shadow of COVID-19 concerns, this service will only be available to working families who need an early drop-o� in order to arrive to work on time. In order to safely plan for physical space and sta�ng, families must commit to the academic year and register ahead of time, as we cannot accommodate drop-in attendance this year. Early Childhood students will wait in classrooms, adhering to sta� and square-footage requirements, and Lower School students will be seated six feet apart from one another, engaged in quiet activities, and required to wear masks.

Afternoon Express for EC/LSAfternoon Express plans to operate under its normal hours, from 3:00 to 6:00 PM on normal school days and 12:00 to 6:00 PM on half days. In order to ensure we have adequate space and sta�ng for each day, we are unable to provide drop-in care this year. Only families who are registered for Year-Round Care or Academic Year Care will be allowed to use the service.

Extended Care, Arts, & Athletics

Athletics

On June 8, Heathwood opened its campus to a small group of Upper School athletes and coaches as the first phase of SCISA’s phased reopening. Practices looked very di�erent this summer as we adhered to Phase 1 and later Phase 2 of these plans. Students focused on individual skill development and physical conditioning in pods of ten people or less, including the coach.

Parents and athletes can expect a similar approach throughout the year as we follow the prudent protocols of SCISA and local health oªcials. While we have our athletic events scheduled for the fall, it is still too early to know which matches and tournaments, if any, will be able to be held.

Fine Arts

In some ways, particularly in the visual arts, fine arts programming at Heathwood this year may not be that di�erent from most years. In the performing arts, however, social distancing requirements will compel some changes. Band, drama, and chorus classes and performances will look di�erent this year, but as they did last spring, our fine arts teachers are thinking creatively about how to o�er a rich arts experience regardless of the circumstances.

In MS and US Chorus, for example, students will explore playing the guitar and ukulele. We will also build on our musical knowledge as we explore theory, history, and listening skills. In Drama classes, students will build skills and empathy through monologue work, physically distanced movement, and theatre history. While a traditional large-cast musical is not possible, we are planning for both live and virtual performance sin the fall, with smaller castes, and in-person rehearsals limited to 5 students at a time.

Afternoon Express will follow the same health and safety protocols observed during the school day: students will remain physically distanced within their grade-levels and avoid mixing with other groups. Emphasis will be placed on hygiene, and students in kindergarten and up will be required to wear masks.

In order to limit the number of visitors on campus and mixing of grade-levels, Enrichment Activities will be suspended for the fall semester. We are examining opportunities for the spring semester and will announce updates in December.

The Thought Studio for MSThe Thought Studio is Heathwood’s after school program for Middle School students, which operates from 3:05 to 6:00 PM. Students have the option to register for the academic year or drop-in, as space and staªng allows more flexibility in this program. By continuing to use the Dining Commons, students will be able to practice physical distancing while studying inside. All other protocols from the school day, including an increased emphasis on handwashing and the use of masks, will be enforced.


Frequently Asked Questions COVID-19 Communications at Heathwood Hall

Whom should I contact if there is a confirmed or suspected COVID- 19 case within my household?Per our school policy, you must contact Kristin Cartin immediately by calling 803-231-7728 or by email at [email protected]. Nurse Cartin will work with you on your return to campus plan and contact your child’s Division Head so they can enact connected learning for your child.

If my child has a suspected or confirmed case, who will be told?If your child has a suspected case of, or exposure to, COVID-19, Nurse Cartin will contact your child’s Division Head. The Division Head will only share that your child is following quarantine protocols with teachers relevant to your child’s connected learning plan. If your child has a confirmed case, anyone who had close contact with your child will be required to quarantine and will therefore be notified. The School will not share your child’s name or any details that would identify your child.

If my child’s teacher or a member of his or her class has a confirmed case, will I be informed?Yes, if there is a confirmed case in your child’s cohort (including his or her teacher), then you will be informed. For some students, a cohort might be defined as their class, while for others it may be their grade-level or division.

What is considered “exposure” to COVID-19?The CDC defines exposure to COVID-19 as spending 15 minutes or more within six feet (including while wearing a mask), or having direct physical contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. In this case, direct physical contact could mean sharing utensils, sharing a beverage, touching, hugging, kissing, or being sneezed or coughed on.

What are the symptoms of a “suspected case” and how is it di�erent from a common cold?A suspected case of COVID-19 is when someone has either one of the following: fever, shortness of breath or diªculty breathing, loss of taste or smell, new or worsening cough OR any two of the following: sore throat, muscle or body aches, chills, fatigue, headache, congestion or runny nose, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting. If a student has symptoms consistent with a suspected case of COVID-19, the student should stay home for 10 days since onset of symptoms and 48 hours of being symptom-free.

Will I need medical clearance for my child to return to school after he or she has a confirmed case?The School Nurse will work with your family to determine the first day your child is eligible to return to school based on the COVID-19 Protocol flowchart, which can be found on our webpage at www.heathwood.org/covid-19. We recommend scheduling an appointment with a doctor after COVID-19 has run its course (10-14 days + 72 hours symptom free) in order to have a doctor verify that your child is not experiencing any of the various and emerging long-term health impacts associated with a COVID-19 infection.

What happens if a teacher gets sick?If an employee has a suspected case of, or exposure to, COVID-19, he or she will follow quarantine procedures like everyone else. If a teacher has a confirmed case, the School will initiate contact tracing and alert anyone who had close contact (exposure) with this employee to follow quarantine procedures. If the teacher is quarantining, but is well enough to teach, depending on the grade level, subject matter, and particular lesson, it is possible

that the teacher will connect with the class via lifestream while a proctor manages the classroom. In the case of younger students, a substitute teacher will likely lead the class until the teacher is able to return.

Will my child’s temperature be taken at school?Temperatures of all Early Childhood students will be taken by a school employee daily. All other students and employees should take their own temperature at home each day. If your child has a temperature of 100.4 degrees Farhenheit or above, your child must stay home until he or she has been fever free for 48 hours without the use of medication.

What will cause a closure of the entire campus?Heathwood Hall will move to remote learning if there is a government mandate, such as a stay-at-home order. Additionally, if we experience a localized outbreak, have a significant number of faculty who are sick, or we receive a recommendation from local health oªcials, a partial or full closure of campus is likely. When allowed flexibility, we will

Our responses to these questions are current as of August, 2020. Due

to the changing nature of the pandemic, our responses could evolve

over time. We will maintain a current version of this document on

the COVID-19 page on our website (www.heathwood.org/about/covid-19).


likely begin emptying the campus in a tiered approach. We understand that remote learning is most challenging for our younger students, and therefore will attempt to keep our youngest students on campus as long as safely possible.

What would cause my child’s cohort to move to remote learning?If there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 in a cohort - be it a homeroom, grade level, or division - and there is reason to believe the individual was in close contact with a significant number of people from the cohort, it is likely the group will move to a remote setting in order to follow quarantine protocols. Because it is not feasible to maintain the full six feet of space between our

youngest learners, EC2 - K, close contact in those classes must be assumed. A confirmed case of COVID-19 in one of those class cohorts will require that the cohort be quarantined for 14 days.

What if my child is not required to quarantine but we still do not feel comfortable returning to school? Can he or she just do remote learning?For families who are uncomfortable sending their children back to campus, we will support them through the Connected Learning model, which is not as robust as our full Remote Learning program. To learn more about Connected Learning, please visit our website at www.heathwood.org/covid-19.

What if my child has a medical condition that prevents him or her from wearing a mask?Our goal is to accommodate individual needs of students while maintaining the health and safety of the general community. If your child has a medical condition that prevents him or her from wearing a face mask, please contact our School Nurse, Kristin Cartin. We will be requesting a medical waiver (note from your doctor) in order for your child to wear a face shield instead of a face mask.

Is there a tuition di�erence or return of fees if we go to remote learning?In the event of a forced campus closure, Heathwood will prorate fees associated with services that can only be used on campus, as we did in the 2019 - 2020 school year. This includes fees associated with lunch, EC snacks, Afternoon Express, The Thought Studio, and PEAK.

Will parents still be welcome on campus this year?For the health and safety of our community, we are asking that parents limit their time on campus as long as COVID-related protocols remain in place. Normally, we are thrilled to have parents on campus as classroom volunteers, or visiting with students at lunch. But during the pandemic, our ability to remain open is dependent on our ability to limit contacts as much as possible.

If you do come to campus, we ask that you sign in and pick up a visitor’s pass in the front oªce, and that you wear a face mask for the duration of your visit.

What can our family do to prepare for school?Every Heathwood family can help us prepare for a healthy and safe school year by keeping yourself safe and well. Wear face coverings, maintain physical distance when out in public, avoid group gatherings, wash your hands frequently, and monitor the health of all family members. If anyone in your family begins to have symptoms, stay home from school and call your doctor. Keeping our community safe and our school open will be a group e�ort this year more than ever.


The Heathwood Community Commitment to Health and Safety

Heathwood Hall Episcopal School is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for our students and faculty. As we redesign our programs and repurpose our campus spaces to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, it is becoming clear that a major factor in reducing the spread of COVID-19 is the behaviors of our community members, both on and o� campus.

The actions of our employees and families while o�-campus bear significant consequence to the health and safety of our community and our ability to keep our campus open for in-person learning. To that end, we are requesting all members of the Heathwood community to sign a health pledge for the 2020-2021 school year. By following these precautions together, we can decrease the chance of transmission in our community.

THE HEATHWOOD HALL HEALTH PLEDGE

I acknowledge and understand that participation in school activities or programs at Heathwood Hall presents certain risks beyond Heathwood’s control, which may exist whether Heathwood controls or attempts to control such risks, even when Heathwood exercises the utmost care in trying to prevent anyone from getting injured or sick. To show my support and help the school community reduce the chance of transmission, my family and I commit to the precautionary measures listed below.

In public spaces, including work, all members of my household commit to the following:

• Increased physical distancing• Minimizing close contact conversations to less than 10-15 minutes• Wearing a face mask when physical distancing measures are not available• Frequent hand washing during and after public activities or interactions• Hand sanitizing after contact with high-touch surfaces• Avoiding large gatherings, where physical distancing

and the use of masks are not required

At home, all members of my household commit to the following:

• Teaching and promoting proper hand-washing and hygiene to children• Monitoring for symptoms of COVID-19 and following

the School’s quarantine requirements• Notifying the School when there is a confirmed case within your family


Helpful Contacts

School NurseKristin [email protected] (803) 231-7728

School NurseDeb [email protected] (803) 231-7728

EC/LS CounselorJenny [email protected](803) 231-7759

MS CounselorStacy [email protected](803) 231-7767

US CounselorElizabeth Grove [email protected](803) 231-7781

ChaplainJill [email protected](803) 231-7779

EC/LS Administrative AssistantNikki Merritt [email protected](803) 231-7748

Head of Early Childhood and Lower SchoolStephanie [email protected](803) 231-7749

MS Administrative AssistantBonnie [email protected](803) 231-7744

Head of Middle SchoolMaria Croley [email protected](803) 231-7722

US Administrative AssistantCindy [email protected](803) 231-7787

Head of Upper School and Assistant Head of SchoolGeorge [email protected](803) 231-7782

Head of SchoolChris [email protected](803) 231-7741

2020-2021 Academic Calendar (Revised 6.16.20 I Dates in Bold are subject to change)

July 30 Fall Sports Practices Begin (TBD)August 10-14 Afternoon Express Open for Employees and

Year-Round Enrollees OnlyAugust 11-13 Faculty In-service

August 14 Orientation for New Students and for Students Entering New Divisions; Senior Portraits

August 15-16 PEAK STUDENT LEADERSHIP TRAININGAugust 17-18 Orientations for New Students and for Students Entering New Division

August 19 School Opens: Noon Dismissal and Oªcial Opening of Afternoon Express

September 7 Labor Day Holiday (Students & Employees)September 9 Convocation (cancelled)

September 16 Picture Day

October 9 Full Class Day; End of 1st Quarter (Grandparents & Special Friends Day postponed)

October 12 Fall Break HolidayOctober 13 Picture Makeup and Retake Day (Including Seniors)October 13 School Resumes

October 30 Full School Day; Details for Parent-Teacher Conferences TBD

November 2 Winter Sports Practices Begin (TBD)November 25 Bob Shirley Holiday (Students & Employees)

Thanksgiving Holiday (Students & Employees) November 30 School Resumes

December 14-17 8th Grade/Middle School Exams; Upper School ExamsDecember 17 Christmas Break Begins: Noon Dismissal;

End of 2nd Quarter; Faculty In-service (Afternoon) December 18 Faculty In-service

2021January 4 School Resumes (Employees & Students)

January 15 Noon Dismissal for Students/ In-Service for faculty (TBD)January 18 Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday (Students and Employees)

January 25 Spring Sports Practices Begin (TBD)

February 12 Winter Break (Students & Faculty) February 15 Winter Break (Students & Employees) February 16 School Resumes

March 1-5 Upper School Winterim; 8th Grade to Washington, D.C.; Lower School Leap Week (TBD)

March 5 End of 3rd QuarterMarch 8 Student Holiday; Faculty In-Service (TBD)March 9 School Resumes

March 18 Full School Day; Details for Parent-Teacher Conference Day TBD

April 2 Good Friday Holiday (Students & Employees) April 5-9 Spring Break (Students & Faculty)

April 12 School Resumes

May 18-19 Senior SymposiumMay 24-27 8th Grade/Middle School Exams; Upper School Exams

May 27 Last Day of School for EC, LS, MS, US; End of 4th Quarter: Noon Dismissal May 28 CommencementMay 31 Memorial Day Holiday (Employees)

June 1-3 Faculty In-service June 7 Summer Camps Open

Academic Calendar and Contact Information

10

3000 South Beltline BoulevardColumbia, South Carolina 29201heathwood.org 803.765.2309

Documents

Returning to Heathwood · the disease, the recommendations of experts, and the needs of our community, and will adjust our plans accordingly. Your feedback on how we’re doing, and