Fay@Home

List of 17 items.

• Your regular testing program indicates that cases of COVID-19 on campus have been almost nonexistent. Why are you transitioning to a remote program?

  We have made the decision to transition to a remote program for the three weeks between Thanksgiving Break and Winter Break because we believe this is the best way to maintain the health and wellbeing of all of our students, faculty, and staff. We predict that many families will  travel during the Thanksgiving Break, and the short window between the two breaks would make it difficult to ensure accurate testing and quarantine of all those who travel to areas identified as “higher risk” by the Massachusetts Travel Order. The onset of flu season in New England is another compelling reason for us to transition to a remote program for this period. These factors have led us to conclude that it would be difficult for us to control the spread of illness in our community during that three-week period.

• What materials will my child need for Fay@Home?

  Before we depart for Thanksgiving Vacation, all students will bring home the materials they will need for the three weeks of Fay@Home, including textbooks and workbooks, notebooks, math manipulatives, science supplies, and sketchbooks and art supplies.

• What technology will my child need for Fay@Home?

  All students will need a device with Internet access for attending class and submitting work. Upper School students can continue to use the laptops they have been using since the start of school; Lower School students will take home their currently assigned Chromebooks; Primary School students will be loaned a Fay Chromebook. Our Tech Team will be available throughout the Fay@Home session to troubleshoot and provide support.

• Will students be changing teachers or class sections?

  In the Primary and Lower School, class assignments will not change. In Upper School, students may be temporarily reassigned to new sections to address scheduling conflicts or accommodate students in different time zones.

• Will grading systems change?

  No. Students will still receive letter grades and effort grades as they do for in-person learning.

• Will my Primary/Lower student be able to work independently? How will my child be ready to do a remote program?

  In the coming weeks, our Primary and Lower School teachers will be working with the students to help them prepare for the transition to Fay at Home. They will practice logging on and uploading their work to either Seesaw or Google Classroom as appropriate.

• My child has been assigned to Distance Learning from November 30 to December 18. What will that program be like?

  You can learn more about Fay's Winter Term Distance Learning Program here.

• What will the athletic program look like?

  Fay at Home students will participate in a modified athletics program: K-4 will have two required PE classes per week, and grades 5-9 will have three required P.E. classes per week. These classes will be a combination of synchronous and asynchronous experiences so students are able get outside and move.

• What if my child needs extra help from a teacher?

  Scheduled sessions will be available so students can ask homework questions and get additional assistance from teachers.

• Will Learning Services continue?

  If Learning Services is already a regular part of your child’s schedule, your child will still meet with their learning specialist for an equivalent time each week.

• Is dress code required?

  Dress code is not required for Fay@Home, though students should dress appropriately for learning.

• My boarding student was on campus this fall. Will they be participating in Fay@Home or Fay’s Distance Learning Program?

  Fay@Home is offered to all day students and to any boarding students who live in time zones that make it possible to participate in a full-day, live, synchronous program. If your boarding student lives in a time zone where such participation is not possible, they should select Fay’s Distance Learning Program. We will be sending out a selection form to all boarding students in the coming weeks.

• Will in-person teaching and learning resume in January?

  Yes. Assuming that conditions in Massachusetts continue to be favorable, we fully intend to resume in-person teaching and learning for all day students and all boarding students who are able to come to campus. Our protocol for returning in January will be very similar to our reopening plan in September, with required testing for all students, faculty, and staff within 72 hours of the start of classes.  Our plan for returning in January is as follows:

  
  

  • Monday, January 4 - Testing on campus available for boarding students
  • Tuesday, January 5 - Professional development day for faculty and staff; testing available on campus for day students
  • Wednesday, January 6 - Professional development day for faculty and staff; boarders return to campus between 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm
  • Thursday, January 7 - Return to campus for faculty, staff, and students; in-person classes resume for all day students and boarding students who are able to come to campus

  
  

  Please note that we will continue to monitor local conditions closely, and if necessary, our remote program will continue in January.

• Will there be any refunds?

  Boarding students will receive prorated refunds for room and board for the three-week period between Thanksgiving Vacation and Winter Vacation. There will be no other refunds.

• Will meals be available?

  No. Dining Services will be closed from November 20 through January 4.

• Will in-person Thanksgiving Camp or Winter Vacation Camp be available?

  No. In-person Thanksgiving Camp and Winter Vacation Camp have been cancelled for this year.

• Will the Early Learning Center be open?

  Yes. The Early Learning Center will remain open on its regular schedule.