COVID-19 Information
Lake Forest Academy is committed to the well-being and safety of our students, faculty, and staff. In response to the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) abroad and in the United States, LFA has created a central hub for our community to access the latest updates regarding the outbreak. LFA continues to monitor this global health situation.
FAQs for Students and Families
Academics
- When will the first assignment be given and what will my schedule look like?
- How will I know what will be expected of me in regards to course requirements?
- Will I get homework?
- How will I be able to contact my teachers?
- How will academic accommodations continue to be supported?
- Will class times be adjusted for time zones?
- What if I am concerned about having access to high-speed internet during the e-learning period?
- How should students approach remote learning?
When will the first assignment be given and what will my schedule look like?
The first day of classes will be Wednesday, April 1 and plans for that day will be sent out on Tuesday, March 31. The first day will be an A-Day and we will follow two full cycles of e-learning. If a course does not meet on that letter day, they will not meet for e-learning. If a course has a double period, they will meet for the double on the e-learning day.
How will I know what will be expected of me in regards to course requirements?
Will I get homework?
How will I be able to contact my teachers?
How will academic accommodations continue to be supported?
For questions about academic support, please email Mrs. Gilbertson, kgilbertson@lfanet.org, or Mrs. Norman, mnorman@lfanet.org. Both Learning Resource Specialists intend to remain in touch with the students that they currently work with and virtually meet with them, if necessary.
Will class times be adjusted for time zones?
What if I am concerned about having access to high-speed internet during the e-learning period?
Lake Forest Academy is committed to helping students access their remote learning resources. If you are concerned about your ability to connect, please send an email to Dean of Students Mr. Tennyson, ctennyson@lfanet.org.
How should students approach remote learning?
For Our Boarders
AP Exams & Standardized Testing
- What about the AP exams in May?
- What is going to happen with standardized testing in April, May, and June?
What about the AP exams in May?
- AP exams will be online and shorter this year. Students will take 45-minute online exams at home. There will be two testing dates for each AP subject. These dates will be posted by April 3 on the College Board website.
- Students may take the exams on any device (computer, smartphone, tablet, iPad). Taking a photo of handwritten work will also be an option.
- The exams are being adjusted to include content typically covered in AP classes through the beginning of March, or about 75% of the overall content. Beginning Wednesday, March 25, you will have access to free review lessons online that will be provided by the College Board.
- If students no longer want to take an AP exam, cancellations may be done with no extra fee. The refund will appear on the May or June student account statement, depending on when the cancellation happens. Please know that cancellations are final and re-registrations cannot occur. The College Board recommends waiting until closer to the testing date to make a decision. Please email kvonogden@lfanet.org if exams will be cancelled.
- Use this link for the most up-to-date information.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to Dean of Curriculum and Innovation Ms. Von Ogden, kvonogden@lfanet.org, with questions.
What is going to happen with standardized testing in April, May, and June?
We are awaiting an update from ACT and the College Board and will plan to provide an update about testing in June as soon as it becomes available. Please do not hesitate to reach out to any of our College Counselors, collegecounseling@lfanet.org, with questions.
Athletics & More
- What about athletics?
- What about Study Halls, Seminar, Small Group Study sessions, Advisory, and Morning Meeting?
What about athletics?
During the e-learning period there will not be athletic practices or PE classes. Please do not hesitate to reach out to Athletic Director Mr. Madeley, dmadeley@lfanet.org, with questions. We cannot overemphasize that getting outside and remaining active is extremely important during this time.
What about Study Halls, Seminar, Small Group Study sessions, Advisory, and Morning Meeting?
During the e-learning period:
- Study Halls will not meet.
- Small Group Study sessions will not meet.
- Seminar courses will meet and have coursework.
- Advisory meetings are planned to still take place and advisors will set up these meetings and check-ins with advisees.
- Morning Meetings and All-School Meetings will not take place as regularly scheduled, but virtual meetings will be announced accordingly.
Notices to the Community
COVID-19 Update - 3.21.2020
Dear Members of the LFA Community,
I am writing with an important update regarding LFA’s response to COVID-19. As you are probably aware, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Lake County Health Department have made recommendations regarding limiting group gatherings and implementing social distancing. The news changes daily and, as of today, there are suggestions that the situation in Illinois may not improve in the coming weeks. Furthermore, yesterday, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker announced a "shelter-in-place" for two weeks throughout the entire state of Illinois.
Therefore, in consultation with senior administration and with the approval of LFA’s Board of Trustees, LFA will suspend in-class instruction and extend e-learning until the end of this academic year. This is not the decision we wanted to make, and we recognize how disruptive this may be to our families. However, after careful thought, we think that this is the best choice for our community.
Our dorms and other school buildings will be closed to students during this e-learning period. A team of LFA administrators and faculty have already been in touch with our boarding students via email or phone to find out their post-Spring Break plans. The Dean of Students Office will continue to communicate with boarders regarding options for their belongings in the coming weeks and months. Currently, LFA’s top priority is that students be safely with their families and guardians. We will make sure dorms stay locked and that belongings are secure until they are retrieved. We are looking at several different options to reunite students with their possessions.
Looking ahead, I have been heartened to hear that prefects, administrators, faculty, and staff are looking for creative ways to keep our community connected during this period. I have no doubt our community’s creativity will help make this period as rich and engaging as possible. This will not hold our community back.
A special note to our seniors: I am deeply sorry that circumstances are affecting the celebration of all you have achieved while at LFA. Although we have not made a decision on Graduation yet, I want you to know that we are looking at options for celebrating your amazing accomplishments. I have had many colleagues tell me you are one of our greatest Caxy classes ever. My personal admiration of you grows with each passing day. I am committed to finding a great way to celebrate all of you in the coming months.
Please be on the look-out for further communications. If you need to communicate with us, please write to COVID19@lfanet.org and a member of our COVID-19 response team will get back to you.
Thank you for your support during this challenging moment in our world. The generosity and love of this community on every level continues to amaze me. I look forward to seeing the creativity that blossoms in this time ahead, and I already cannot wait to connect in person with you all in the future.
All my best,
José De Jesús
Head of School
All LFA COVID-19 Updates
Resources
Q & A
What are the symptoms of the COVID-19?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection have reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of:
- fever
- cough
- shortness of breath
The CDC believes at this time that symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure. Source: CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/symptoms.html
Key Dates
- Monday, March 30 and Tuesday, March 31
- Faculty prep days
- Tuesday, March 31
- First e-learning assignments given
- Wednesday, April 1
- First day of e-learning (A day schedule)
Packing Info for Boarders
- For boarders who are on campus:
- For international boarders currently off-campus but nearby:
- For local boarders already at home:
- For non-local boarders already at home:
For boarders who are on campus:
- Please take as much as you can with you when you go home.
- Pack as much of your room as possible. You can find boxes and tape in your dorm or by the ping-pong tables in the lower Student Center.
- Put your name and dorm on all of your boxes and belongings.
- Put "DONATE" on any boxes of clothes, school supplies, etc. that you wish to donate.
- All other items will be stored in a secure location in the dorm or in a portable storage unit until you return.
- Throw out all trash.
- Leave your lock box open with the key in the lock.
- Leave your room key on your dresser or desk, and lock the room when you leave.
- Wash your hands thoroughly before, while, and after you pack!
- Seniors, we can arrange for your items to be shipped to you (international students, please remember that this may cost a significant amount). Details will be provided later in the semester.
For international boarders currently off-campus but nearby:
- Email Mr. Freeman if you would like to return to campus to get any belongings and pack your room. We can have you come to campus but we cannot accommodate you staying in the dorms overnight or for an extended period of time.
- In an effort to maintain social distancing, we will try to schedule visits to minimize the number of people in one area of the dorm at the same time.
- If you cannot return to campus, we will arrange for your belongings to be packed and stored until you return.
- Please take as much as you can with you when you go home.
- Pack as much of your room as possible. You can find boxes and tape in your dorm or by the ping-pong tables in the lower Student Center.
- Put your name and dorm on all of your boxes and belongings.
- Put "DONATE" on any boxes of clothes, school supplies, etc. that you wish to donate.
- All other items will be stored in a secure location in the dorm or in a portable storage unit until you return.
- Throw out all trash.
- Leave your lock box open with the key in the lock.
- Leave your room key on your dresser or desk, and lock the room when you leave.
- Wash your hands thoroughly before, while, and after you pack!
- Seniors, we can arrange for your items to be shipped to you (international students, please remember that this may cost a significant amount). Details will be provided later in the semester.
For local boarders already at home:
- Unless there is something you need immediately, please wait until after the shelter-in-place restriction is lifted to return to campus.
- You must email Mr. Freeman if you would like to return to campus after that time to get any belongings and pack your room. We can have you come to campus but we cannot accommodate you staying in the dorms overnight or for an extended period of time.
- In an effort to maintain social distancing, we will try to schedule visits to minimize the number of people in one area of the dorm at the same time.
- Please take as much as you can with you when you go home.
- Pack as much of your room as possible. You can find boxes and tape in your dorm or by the ping-pong tables in the lower Student Center.
- Put your name and dorm on all of your boxes and belongings.
- Put "DONATE" on any boxes of clothes, school supplies, etc. that you wish to donate.
- All other items will be stored in a secure location in the dorm or in a portable storage unit until you return.
- Throw out all trash.
- Leave your lock box open with the key in the lock.
- Leave your room key on your dresser or desk, and lock the room when you leave.
- Wash your hands thoroughly before, while, and after you pack!
- Seniors, we can arrange for your items to be shipped to you Details will be provided later in the semester.
For non-local boarders already at home:
- If you cannot return to campus, we will arrange for your belongings to be packed and stored until you return.
- Email Mr. Freeman if you would like to return to campus to get any belongings and pack your room.
- In an effort to maintain social distancing, we will try to schedule visits to minimize the number of people in one area of the dorm at the same time.
- If you do return to campus, please take as much as you can with you when you go home.
- If you do return to campus, pack as much of your room as possible. You can find boxes and tape in your dorm or by the ping-pong tables in the lower Student Center.
- Put your name and dorm on all of your boxes and belongings.
- Put "DONATE" on any boxes of clothes, school supplies, etc. that you wish to donate.
- All other items will be stored in a secure location in the dorm or in a portable storage unit until you return.
- Throw out all trash.
- Leave your lock box open with the key in the lock.
- Leave your room key on your dresser or desk, and lock the room when you leave.
- Wash your hands thoroughly before, while, and after you pack!
- Seniors, we can arrange for your items to be shipped to you Details will be provided later in the semester.