Sept. 23, 2020 • E-news For Parents Only Surveillance COVID-19 testing now underway Today we entered a new stage of our COVID testing protocol: surveillance testing. These periodic health screens of residence-based pods, developed under the guidance of the Rhode Island Department of Health, will help us monitor the overall health and safety of the community — and provide important data for our consideration in moving appropriately within the phases of our Reopening Plan. You may track which phase of our plan we are in, with details on each phase, on the reopening page of our website. Enhanced campus monitoring Last week we instated new policies and procedures for those driving onto campus. The Grounds Crew installed a guard house on the Lower Road near the pool parking lot where a member of the Campus Safety staff is now checking in every person arriving on campus. The Main Drive is now closed and everyone must enter and exit the lower entrance off of Purgatory Road.
Please also be aware that immediate family members are welcome to visit campus this fall. We just ask that you please adhere to these guidelines and expectations to ensure the campus community is safe. Family Information Webinar Recording Sunday's webinar helmed by Head of School Alixe Callen — and featuring Associate Head of School for Faculty and School Affairs Beezie Bickford, Director of Health Services June Bjerregaard, Dean of Students Xander Jones, Associate Head of School for Student Life Mervan Osborne, and Director of Operations George Staples — provided lots of helpful updates for families. If you missed it, the webinar is now posted on our reopening page here.
The next webinar is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. Registration is required and can be done here. Have a lingering question or comment about our reopening plan? The Communications Office is always happy to direct any inquiries you may have to the appropriate administrator. Please email anytime us at Communications@stgeorges.edu. Students back aboard Geronimo The Fall 2020 Geronimo voyage got underway on Monday — the first time since March students have been aboard. Read Captain Mike Dawson's updates on what the shipmates are doing and learning here. On the voyage are (pictured above from left to right) Henry Breslin '23, Sloane Mullin '23, Maddie Matthews '23, Elyse Long '23, Charlotte Yerkes '23, Casey Annicelli '22, Jack Bolton '23, and Tyler Kirk '23. News from our classrooms Students in teacher Julie Lang's French 3 Honors class were working on forming questions today in the Academic Center. Conversations in French ensued with students asking for more information and details. The class also discussed formal versus more conversational language. Women in Leadership Club honors RBG On Sunday, the Women in Leadership Club hosted an evening vigil to celebrate the life and legacy of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Students and faculty gathered in the Dragon Quad both in-person and virtually. Club head Maggie O'Connor '21 began with a speech followed by a prayer led by the Rev. Dr. Jackie Kirby. Student leader addresses the community Senior Prefect Makai Murray delivered the first student chapel talk of the school year yesterday with his classmates in attendance, socially distanced throughout the pews. Watch Makai's talk in the Chapel Talk Portal here. Also part of the chapel service yesterday was a beautiful rendition of "Let It Be" by John Lennon featuring sixth-form singers Ethan Augusto, Brady Lyons, Max White, and Thalia Mancini, accompanied by guest guitarist Ryan Trembly and humanities teacher and pianist Devin McGrath-Conwell, which can be viewed here. During Monday's Assembly, Makai also encouraged students to "prioritize happiness." • Last Thursday, musicians Lois Vaughan and Paul Williams (pictured above) returned to campus to perform at chapel service for the second time this year. Student Life Office documents campus fun Yesterday Associate Dean for Residential Life Leah Dullea distributed a new Adobe Spark presentation showing how students are finding camaraderie and enjoyment this fall. Check out the inaugural edition of "SLO Down" here. Speaking of fun, Dragons got to unwind after the first full week of in-person classes on Saturday night with a movie night — "Talladega Nights" — on the front lawn (pictured above) and then got to stretch their legs at a kickball tournament on Sunday. From the College Counseling Office Juniors should keep checking their Canvas calendar to attend the SG Virtual College Fair sessions. This week's visitors are Allegheny College, Bentley University, Boston College, Boston University, Bucknell University, the College of Wooster, Hobart and Williams Smith Colleges, Mercyhurst University, New York University, Rochester Institute of Technology, St. Mary's College of Maryland, the University of Alabama, the University of California-Santa Barbara, the University of Delaware, the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and the University of Southern California. Looking ahead • Honor Chapel: Sept. 29 • SAT (Sixth Form): Sept. 26 and Oct. 3 |