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Fall 2021 Semester Plan

We are tracking the emergent COVID-19 variant(s) situation in order to keep the campus community safe as we work towards our goal of a robust in-person student experience this year. We are happy to share the following information to help with your planning and look forward to welcoming our students to campus in a few short weeks.

If you missed the first Family Fireside Chat of the 2021–22 school year, watch the recording here. We want to make sure you understand how we strive to mitigate the risks associated with learning and living in the midst of COVID-19 at a boarding school, as well as our plans for operating on campus this year.

Please read the Aug. 5, 2021 letter from Head of School Brian Hargrove.

PRE-ARRIVAL INFORMATION:

Pre-arrival COVID-19 testing requirements

  • All students are required to have a COVID-19 vaccine to begin the 2021–22 academic year.

  • Students will not be permitted on campus unless they have submitted their vaccination record or a qualified religious or medical waiver, or they have registered for the on-campus travel quarantine. 

  • Please note: Students who are not vaccinated should expect additional masking, PCR testing requirements, and potential restrictions in program participation while on campus. The cost for PCR testing is at the family’s expense. No unvaccinated student can be on campus without first contacting the NMH O’Connor Health and Wellness Center. Please email nurses@nmhschool.org or call 413-498-3407 with questions about vaccines.

Action Required for Students and Families 

  • Upload Required Vaccination Records:
    Proof of your student’s full COVID-19 vaccination is due to the NMH O’Connor Health and Wellness Center as soon as possible, and is required for all students. If you have not done so, please upload your student’s proof of vaccination now. Upload your student’s vaccination information as part of your student’s immunization record in the Magnus Health Portal. Log into NMH Connect, go to “Resources,” and select “Magnus Health Portal.” 

    • Religious/Medical Waivers: If your student has a qualified religious or medical waiver and has confirmed it with the NMH health center staff, the waiver must be submitted it to the O’Connor Health and Wellness Center by uploading it to the Magnus Health Portal (see instructions above) as part of their immunization record. 

    • NMH accepts the CDC-recommended vaccines, which include the Pfizer vaccine for age 12 and up and the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson (Jannsen) vaccines for age 18 and up. NMH also accepts the WHO recommended vaccines for international students.

    • Students must complete their vaccination series at least 14 days prior to their arrival, therefore we recommend students complete the series by Aug. 1. Please review this COVID-19 FAQ for arrival dates and their corresponding vaccination deadlines.

    • Please review this COVID-19 FAQ for additional information and student vaccination uploading instructions.

  • All students should plan to obtain a negative COVID-19 PCR test 72 hours prior to their return to campus or a negative COVID-19 antigen test 24 hours prior to their return to campus. Test results can be uploaded in the Magnus Health Portal. To upload them, log into NMH Connect, go to “Resources,” and select “Magnus Health Portal,” or bring your results to campus and share them with health center staff at the Welcome Cottage on Lamplighter Way. 

  • New International Students: Please Share Your Arrival Details by Aug. 10
    All new international students are required to arrive on campus on Aug. 25 between 9 am and 1 pm. To assist in our planning, please complete this form by Aug. 10 to provide your specific arrival details. 

  • Read and Accept the Student Handbook, Community Social Contract, and the COVID-19 Pandemic Policies by August 16.

    • Families should log into NMH Connect. Click on “You have: # Form(s) to Review” to find the Handbook Acknowledgement Form. Click the green “Review” button on the right to begin. 

    • Students must also log into NMH Connect. Click on “You have: # Form(s) to Review” to find the Handbook Acknowledgement Form and the Community Social Contract Form. 

  • Two weeks before returning to campus, students and their families should strive to mitigate exposure to COVID-19 by avoiding large crowds and indoor crowds, practicing physical distancing, and wearing masks in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high risk of transmission. Assigned return dates are listed below.

  • Families intending to drop off their students on campus on the assigned dates are expected to register in advance; please register here. Please adhere to campus safety and mask-wearing expectations for families dropping off their students.

Required on-campus quarantine Aug. 13-25:
International students who are unable to complete a vaccination series before arrival must be registered with the dean’s office to attend the on-campus travel quarantine Aug. 13–25. If you missed the window to reserve a spot, and your student needs to attend this on-campus quarantine, please contact Tracey Rogers at trogers@nmhschool.org or 413-498-3423. 

  • Students will be housed on campus in a designated quarantine dormitory supervised by NMH faculty. The additional fee is $1,800 and includes housing, meals, supervision, and limited programming.
  • NMH will arrange COVID-19 PCR testing and vaccinations for these students. There will be an additional fee for COVID-19 testing.

ARRIVAL ON CAMPUS:

Family expectations 
Safety first! Family members accompanying their students for drop off (including day student families attending the Aug. 26 required day student meeting and Day Family Picnic) will be expected to register with NMH in advance and share whether or not they are fully vaccinated. We will expect that all unvaccinated family members and campus guests wear a mask in all school buildings including dormitories. 

Schedule for arrival dates
We will welcome students starting Aug. 13 for on-campus quarantine, with additional arrival days from Aug. 24 to 29 for specific students. Please read the schedule below to ensure your travel aligns with your student’s arrival date.

  • Aug. 13: Students who have registered for on-campus quarantine arrive and must first report to the O’Connor Health and Wellness Center. Then, they will be directed to the quarantine dorm.

  • Aug. 24, 1–4 pm: Student leaders arrive. Ecoleaders, Global Ambassadors, Interfaith Council Leaders, Peer Educators, Resident Leaders, Service Leaders, Student Congress Chairs, and Student Diversity Committee must report directly to their dormitories. Vaccinations must be completed by Aug. 10.

  • Aug. 25, 9 am–1 pm: New international students arrive and should report directly to their assigned dormitories. Returning international students who have never attended in-person instruction on campus, are also expected to arrive on this date. Vaccinations must be completed by Aug. 11.

  • Aug. 26, 4:30 pm: Required day student meeting followed by a reception.

  • Friday, Aug. 27: All new students and returning 10th-graders arrive. Vaccinations must be completed by Aug. 13.

    • 9 am–1 pm: Boarding students report directly to dormitories.

    • 12–1 pm: Day students report to assigned dormitories.

  • Sunday, Aug. 29: Returning 11th- and 12th-graders arrive. Vaccinations must be completed by Aug. 15.

    • 9 am–1 pm: Boarding students report directly to dormitories.

    • 12–1 pm: Day students report to assigned dormitories.

Arrival process 
With our COVID-informed process, students can expect a warm and focused arrival. Family members are welcome to participate in drop-off and unpacking in the dormitories as long as they register in advance, indicate whether they are vaccinated, and agree to wear a mask on campus if unvaccinated. 

Students will proceed directly to their dorms to meet residential staff and advisors. At dorms, students will register and collect name tags, room keys, and ID cards. Students who must report to the O’Connor Health and Wellness Center in advance of registering at their dorms will be given instructions prior to arrival.

Students and families will have opportunities to meet with advisors, visit the school store, and ask questions. Prior to a late afternoon departure from campus, family members are invited to a reception with Head of School Brian Hargrove and administrators. After the reception, campus closes to families as students head to dinner and orientation activities.

Families intending to drop off their students on campus on the assigned dates are expected to register in advance; please register here

USEFUL INFORMATION

  • Review and complete this pre-arrival checklist. Find all of the tasks students and families must complete before they arrive on campus.
     
  • Watch the first Family Fireside Chat of the school year (if you missed it), which was held on Aug. 10.
     
  • Dormitory and advisor assignments: Students’ dormitory and advisor assignments will be available on Aug. 16 in NMH Connect

  • Course schedules and textbook purchasing: Course schedules will be available on Aug. 9 in NMH Connect. Students will be able to order their textbooks starting Aug. 16 using our new online BNC K-12 virtual bookstore. Here are instructions for purchasing your books online. Students will purchase textbooks online only; books will no longer be sold on campus. Free shipping on textbooks is available for domestic book orders of at least $59. Free shipping is not available to international addresses. Please order your books Aug. 16–21 so they will arrive before classes start on Aug. 31. Domestic students are encouraged to ship their books home, but also may ship them to NMH. Day students should ship their books home. Students will pick up their textbooks at assigned times at the Lower ModThe new and improved NMH School Store will continue to sell all items except for textbooks. 

  • 2021–22 School Calendar: Please adhere to these dates when planning travel for breaks. Please note Fall Family Weekend is Oct. 8–9.

  • What to bring: After last year, NMH students have learned to pack lightly, and this list contains recommendations. Here is laundry and rental information. Students can purchase lightly used and economically priced items (lamps, fans, desk items, storage items, etc.) at the popular Green Sale sponsored by NMH Ecoleaders. 

  • Shipping to NMH: New students frequently ask where to send boxes, trunks, etc., to be stored at NMH until their arrival. Items should be sent to the warehouse and marked as shown below. The warehouse will arrange delivery to students’ dorms. 

    Send to:
    WAREHOUSE
    Northfield Mount Hermon
    One Lamplighter Way
    Mount Hermon, MA 01354
    ATTN: Name of Student, Storage, Fall 2021

     Important shipping notes: 

  • Do not send items to arrive before Aug. 16. 

  • Tape an envelope on the outside of the box and put a contact number inside the sealed envelope. 

  • If you are sending more than two boxes, contact Randy Miller (rmiller@nmhschool.org) before you send them.

  • The above address should only be used until registration. During registration, students will be given their NMH mailing addresses.