COVID-19 Information Hub

The January remote academic schedule can be viewed here.
The January 28–March 5 in-person academic schedule can be viewed here.

Online learning is different and, fortunately we are all in this together and our faculty will help you navigate the world of remote learning. Whether on campus or at home, your teachers will help you, support you, and encourage you.

• Students need a reliable internet connection. Students on WiFi should find a location with a good signal.
• Video conferencing can be power-hungry, so students should have a power outlet near their workspace so they can plug in.
• Students must turn their camera on and keep it on during class sessions.
• Students will use Microsoft Teams for live class sessions, office hours, and advisor meetings. Students who do not have Teams installed on their computer should manually download and install from this page: https://teams.microsoft.com/download.
  The first time Teams is used it will request access to your computer’s camera and microphone. Additionally, it may request “Screen Recording” and “Accessibility” access. Students should approve these requests and restart Teams when prompted. This is a one-time setup action that will not repeat once permission is granted.
  Students should launch and sign in to Teams with their school email address and password. If you forgot your password you can reset it here.
• Students should try to be in a quiet place for class periods, as best they can.
• Students should sit at a desk or at a table.
• Students should be dressed appropriately during live meetings. A plain t-shirt, shorts, or jeans are fine, but please avoid sleepwear or beach apparel.
• Students should blur their background [this is a feature available in Teams] unless they are in a distraction free area.
• Students should not eat or drink anything other than water when on camera.
• Students should remove distractions like social media and texting during live meetings.
• Students should be respectful and courteous at all times. Remember, you are in class.
• Students should be aware that live class sessions will be recorded and archived for other students to view.

REMEMBER, WE ARE ALL HERE TO HELP YOU, NEVER HESITATE TO ASK.

AUDIO TROUBLESHOOTING

• Students should use any headset or earbud style headphones for live meetings; you do not need specialized models with a microphone.
• You should not use your computer speakers because this can create feedback or an echo for other people.
• Faculty will show students how to mute and unmute themselves to make contributions to the discussion.
• When not speaking, students should remain muted to help keep the audio channel clear.

VIDEO TROUBLESHOOTING

• If the video is not working, students should make sure that any other programs using the camera are closed or try restarting their computer and logging back into the meeting.
• For video best practice, students should set up the camera so that the light is in front of them and their device is angled to show their face.

GENERAL TROUBLESHOOTING

• Technical support requests should be sent to: help@suffieldacademy.org. Please be as specific as possible when asking for assistance.

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January 11        Winter trimester resumes in remote learning
January 11-14  Returning boarding students require negative COVID-19 PCR test
January 15        Boarding students return to campus
January 25        Boarding students retested on campus
January 25-27  Returning day students require negative COVID-19 PCR test
January 28        In person classes resume

Spring Break:
March 5  Spring break begins for all students 
March 22  Classes resume [online or on campus]

Suffield will continue to emphasize mask-wearing, frequent hand-washing, and physical distancing. These will be vitally important as students move more frequently indoors during cold weather months. We will also continue to use COVID-19 testing to ensure the safety and health of our community. View the December 15, 2020 letter outlining winter trimester guidelines here.

Suffield is following guidance from the medical profession, the CDC, and the state of Connecticut related to COVID-19 testing, physical distancing, PPE and other equipment, and quarantine spaces on campus. The safety and security of students, faculty, and staff is the school’s most essential priority.

The essence of Suffield—a structured, challenging, nurturing school—remains firmly entrenched. Realities of physical distancing have altered some areas of community life in various parts of campus including classrooms, dining spaces, and residential areas.

All on-campus members of the community (students, faculty and staff) are tested weekly. Suffield uses a saliva PCR test administered by Yale University Laboratories.

Yes, all students and employees will need a negative PCR COVID-19 test result 72 hours prior to arrival on campus.

In these cases students are expected to go home or to their designated emergency contacts immediately.

Students and employees who are coming from locations deemed high risk by the state of Connecticut will be required to quarantine in a low-risk location for 14 days before coming to campus, or have a negative COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours. We ask that extreme care be exercised before students return to campus.

Suffield is offering traditional winter sports and COVID-19 safety guidelines will be followed. All activities will be assessed individually and may have different safety protocols as a result. For example, wrestling is considered a higher risk than squash and may have a different structure as a result.

In November, the State of Connecticut placed a ban on all team athletic activities until at least January 19, 2021. Once we are permitted to resume organized athletic activities we expect to remain at level one of our athletic protocols for the winter trimester. This includes mandatory mask wearing when possible and appropriate physical distancing.

Factors that could lead to schedule changes are outlined below.

• Changes to the health conditions on campus, in north central Connecticut, or in the state and region
• Changes to Connecticut State, DPH, or Federal Guidelines
• Availability of COVID-19 testing

Yes, both visual and performing arts programs are taking place on campus and in the remote learning program.

The school is prepared to move entirely to remote learning at any time. Our overarching goal is to ensure the educational trajectory of our students remains positive regardless of their physical location.