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.
Please see LFA's weekly updates to our community here. You will need to login to access our updates.
Notices to the Community
Latest Message from HOS
Dear Members of the LFA Community,
I hope this message finds you well and enjoying the summer. I write to share an update on LFA’s plans for the fall.
To put it mildly, this is a challenging moment in the history of education. The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine along with The American Academy of Pediatrics recently published pieces calling for schools to work towards in-person instruction whenever possible due to the potentially adverse effects of extensive remote learning on children. With that said, COVID-19 presents significant health issues that would challenge any school community. We are aware that other institutions around the country and the Chicago area have released various plans to start the school year remotely, with hybrid models, or with in-person classes. Each school has its unique set of advantages and challenges, resulting in individualized models that reflect the needs of each community.
As a boarding and day school with 435 students, LFA has a close-knit, small student and faculty population, allowing us to maximize the use of our own facilities and campus to ensure social distancing and the safety of everyone. Our plan is designed to fit our class sizes and identity as a boarding and day school. Please know that LFA continues to plan for various scenarios given the dynamic situation of the pandemic. Any changes to our previously announced plans will be announced in a timely fashion to our community.
As of July 30, 2020, LFA is planning to open its campus for daily in-person instruction on schedule. The Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees has given unanimous support to LFA’s reopening plan. We continue to monitor public health guidelines with the guidance of our consulting epidemiologist, Dr. Michael Vernon. Our current plan meets and exceeds expectations from the Illinois Department of Public Health and the CDC. Please note that our plan is subject to change if the medical situation warrants it.
We have done a lot of work since my last update and webinar in late June to make our school as safe as possible. Below are some particularly important updates:
Testing & Quarantine
- Thanks to a partnership with Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, LFA will make baseline testing available for all faculty, staff and students starting in mid-August. Families no longer have to obtain their own tests within 7 days of arrival. We will then conduct serial testing as the year progresses. The turnaround time for tests through Rosalind Franklin is 24 - 48 hours. Testing schedules will be shared shortly.
- Lake County has determined that some of our students should quarantine upon their return. The Dean of Students Office will be in touch with those families directly.
Faculty and Staff Training & Hires
- 20 LFA faculty and staff members trained to be contact tracers this summer through a remote class offered by Johns Hopkins University.
- LFA has hired another full-time nurse, Jennifer Feldman, who was most recently a registered nurse at Woodland District 50 in Gurnee, IL. We have also hired a Director of Health Services, Anna Kliner, who was previously a family nurse practitioner at Erie Family Health Center. We have also contracted with a nursing service for overnight health coverage, if necessary.
Health Protocols & Daily Symptom Checks
- Although not in most reopening guidelines, out of an abundance of caution, we have inspected our HVAC systems and plan to use a UV light device that helps kill viruses where applicable.
- We will use the CrisisGo app to record daily symptom checks with every member of the community. We will use advisory for daily temperature checks.
- At the beginning of each academic year, our students are asked to sign a form that indicates that they understand the expectations and guidelines contained within the Student Handbook. This year, when our students sign that form, we will also ask them to pledge to follow our health guidelines or lose the permission to learn in person.
E-learning and Hybrid Teaching Models
- We have been preparing for the use of hybrid learning tools to serve our students who will start the year remotely due to visa and travel restrictions. Recently, the Academy invested in devices that can bring the classroom experience to our students learning remotely.
- Some of our faculty who are at high risk medically or have complicated child care needs may need to teach remotely. As a result, some students may have a combination of in-person and online courses in order to support our community members with particularly challenging circumstances. We understand the importance of in-person learning and we are currently reviewing students' schedules; we will make every effort possible to minimize the number of remote classes students will take. Spaces will be available for students to learn remotely on campus if needed. I thank you in advance for your flexibility as we help support each other in these challenging times.
Facilities Updates
- We will have two infirmaries this fall. One will be for well visits (in Reid) and the other will be a triage space for students showing COVID-19 symptoms (Mengel Meeting Room in Crown).
- We have identified McIntosh Cottage as our isolation space in case we have boarding students who are COVID-19 positive.
- The dining hall has been reconfigured to accommodate social distancing, and our lunch schedule includes 12 different periods for students and faculty and staff.
- LFA and Sodexo have partnered together to adjust our food service and sanitizing needs for social distancing and proper health requirements.
- In order to increase our learning spaces, we will be setting up several outdoor teaching spaces around campus. This is in addition to other spaces we have converted to learning spaces throughout campus in order to abide by classroom distancing rules and to help lessen the concentration of students in any given space.
Events and Athletics
- Larger gatherings and events have been cancelled, switched to remote environments, or adjusted into small groupings. Please watch for an update from LFA regarding parent events soon.
- The Illinois High School Association has recently announced that they will be following the direct guidance of the Illinois Department of Public Health when it comes to athletics. LFA will organize its athletics program according to IHSA rules once those are released, and we expect to hear from the IHSA within the week.
We recognize that we are in extraordinary times and that our community will have a range of needs. LFA has already shown over the last few months what we are capable of when we are united. I know we will rise to this collective challenge once more. I look forward to the work ahead in service to our amazing students.
Best,
José De Jesús
Head of School
All LFA COVID-19 Updates
- August 18 - Access to Campus Update
- August 14 - Preseason Information Pt. 2
- August 12 - Preason Information Pt. 1
- July 22 - Plans for Domestic Boarding and Day Families
- July 20 - Information for New Boarders, Returning Boarders, and Proctors
- July 10 - Plans for International Families
- June 22, 2020 Update
- June 9, 2020 Update
- May 18, 2020 - Tuition Freeze
- April 24, 2020 - Update on COVID-19 Preparations
- April 1, 2020 - A Message to the Community
- March 26, 2020 - Supporting Our Students
- March 24, 2020 - To Our Alumni
- March 16, 2020
- March 16, 2020 - A Note to Our International Families
- March 12, 2020
- March 9, 2020
- March 6, 2020
- March 3, 2020
- Feb. 20, 2020
- Jan. 27, 2020
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
FAQs for Students and Families
For Our Boarders
- Dorm Assignments and Move-In Days
- Dorm Preparation and Set-Up
- General Dorm Life
- Sign-Outs/Trips
- Proctor Specific Move-In Date
Dorm Assignments and Move-In Days
- Proof of a negative COVID-19 test result no more than 7 days old is required for all students returning to campus. Please provide your test results to the Dean of Students Office in advance or bring them with you when you move in.
- Returning boarding students participating in preseason should plan to move in on Sunday, August 16.
- All boarders not participating in preseason will move in on Sunday, August 23.
- Your dorm head will reach out to you by the end of July about scheduling an arrival date and time so we keep the number of people in the dorm at any one time to a minimum.
- We realize that visa availability, border closings, travel restrictions, and other factors may make it impossible for you to return on your assigned date. Please let your dorm head know if you will be arriving late, or if your travel plans are still unclear. We will be ready for your arrival whenever that may be.
- The beds, desks, etc. in double rooms will be on opposite sides of the room to enable roommates to practice safe social distancing as much as possible.
- When you arrive on campus, go straight to your dorm (instead of going to Crown to register as has been the case in years past).
- Everyone will be screened for symptoms of COVID-19 and will have their temperature checked before being allowed to enter the dorm. Masks will be required for everyone in dorm public spaces (everywhere except dorm rooms) during the move-in period.
- Please try to keep the number of people accompanying students back to campus to a minimum to reduce traffic flow and maintain appropriate social distancing in the dorms.
Dorm Preparation and Set-Up
- If you are a returning student who left belongings on campus this spring, you’ll find your belongings waiting for you in your new dorm room.
- The LFA Housekeeping staff has expanded and enhanced their cleaning protocols and will be disinfecting dorm bathrooms multiple times a day and other common areas and touch points in the dorm at least once a day.
- Shared spaces (common rooms, bathrooms, kitchens) in each dorm have been modified to comply with social distancing requirements.
- We have added even more hand sanitizer dispensers in each dorm. Students and faculty will have access to disinfectant wipes and spray to clean common spaces and kitchen areas after each use. Dorm first aid kits now include trigger thermometers as well as full personal protective equipment (gloves, N95 masks, gowns, face shields) in case faculty need to assist a symptomatic student.
General Dorm Life
- Students will be required to wear masks at all times while in the hallways and common spaces. Students must observe social distancing at all times while in their rooms, but do not need to wear masks when in their rooms alone or when socially distanced from their roommate. Nor do students need to remain masked while in the bathrooms provided that limited occupancy practices are maintained. (Masks should be worn whenever a visitor is in a dorm room.)
- We recognize that social interaction is necessary for mental well-being and part of what makes boarding school life special. Students can visit other student rooms in their same dorm (and boys can visit other boys’ dorms/girls can visit other girls’ dorms) and may congregate in common spaces if masked and socially distant. There should be no more than one visitor in a dorm room at a time.
- Despite the restrictions imposed by COVID-19, the dorm faculty are hard at work devising ways to continue LFA’s tradition of regular dorm events (quad war competitions, dorm feeds, etc.).
Sign-Outs/Trips
- For the first four weekends of school, boarders may sign out overnight only if they are going home or staying with a parent or legal guardian. After those four weeks we hope to be able to allow signouts to other students’ homes and other destinations, but that decision largely depends on the results of efforts to contain viral spread within and outside our community.
- Students will be allowed to sign off campus during the day depending on what types of signouts parents have approved (van runs only, taxis, day student houses, etc.). Parents, if you have not already indicated which types of travel you are comfortable allowing your child to make, please look for that form on Magnus.
- Students are expected to uphold LFA’s masking and social distancing policies while off campus.
- Students may travel by themselves off campus in taxis as long as the student is wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing and able to perform hand hygiene with an alcohol-based hand rub in a personal-sized container.
- Van runs will continue to be offered at a reduced capacity of 7 passengers at a time. During preseason week and on weekends, we will offer trips to local destinations (Target, Wal-Mart, supermarkets, food plazas with curbside pickup, etc.) to shop for essential supplies. Van drivers will disinfect seats, steering wheel, door handle, and other touch points after each trip.
- We will supplement van runs with lots of on-campus programming, including outdoor games, movies in Cressey (with socially distanced seating), fire pits with s’mores, hikes in the Forest Preserve, online gaming competitions, and more.
- Boarders will still be able to have food delivered to their dorms through GrubHub, DoorDash, or directly from restaurants.
- Your dorm head will provide more details about move-in and about your dorm in the email you should receive from them in the next few weeks.
Proctor Specific Move-In Date
- Please plan to arrive on Friday, August 14 if possible to assist with the setup of the dorms.
- We realize that visa availability, border closings, travel restrictions, and other factors may make it impossible for you to return on your assigned date. Please let your dorm head know if you will be arriving late, or if your travel plans are still unclear. We will be ready for your arrival whenever that may be.
- When you arrive on campus, go straight to your dorm (instead of going to Crown to register as has been the case in years past).
Academics
- 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?
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?
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.
