Choate Return to On-Campus Learning

Simbah

It was completely unfair to announce that we weren’t going back so close to the start time and I don’t know who is posing as me on the petition list but that is very inappropriate a person from Greece

PLEASE! You have no idea how this is impacting my daughter.

Free Kodak

I wholeheartedly agree with the points made in the petition and gladly add my support. I believe the conditions and protocol are there for in person learning at Choate. If we are "solving for zero" we will never return.

The school had more than ample time since March to prepare and did so. Implement the plan you came up with and make best efforts to get the kids back in the environment they need so badly for learning and socialization. We all put enormous faith in Choate, trusting the school with care and well being of our children. Please rethink this decision for the good of the students. Thank you.

There's no substitution to in-person learning. Do not let a day pass in providing our kids with what they need and deserve.

I favor the return to on campus learning as originally represented earlier this summer.

The entire Choate community deserves a vote in this decision: the parents, the Board, the students and yes the faculty. Taking all these cohorts into account, I can assure you the votes are there to open as originally planned in September.

Prior opening plans sounded very well developed and thought through to protect both students and staff. Let's use them, rather than be guided by less careful organizations in other parts of the country. Even if school were to close again, I'd rather we tried and got at least several weeks of on campus experience.

-- LAWRENCEVILLE issued an excellent Covid conduct contract that actually empowers their students to be leaders while returning to campus: https://lawrenceville.myschoolapp.com/ftpimages/928/download/download_5262472.pdf -- ANDOVER is allowing seniors and freshman to return to campus, then staggering in the remaining students; See their smart reopening plan + schedule here: https://www.andover.edu/2020plan -- EXETER is showing leadership and prioritizing its students: https://www.exeter.edu/opening-school-fall-2020 Choate students are at a disadvantage over students are ALL SEVEN other boarding schools in the Eight.

Please reconsider the reopening date to include a quarantine and safety procedures as originally planned. Early October allows for no time to do so effectively while maintaining academic momentum and reacclimatizing to a safe campus and dorm life.

Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.

I am a Chate alum ('88), a parent of two current Choate students (John, '21 and Annalise, '23) and a member of the Choate Parent Advisory Committee (a committee which was not consulted prior to your decision.) I am also an ongoing donor to your annual fund. Dr. Curtis and the Board of Directors - Please reconsider your decision. Why are we the ONLY school in the Eight not resuming in some form?? This last-minute decision does not put our students first. Andover has allowed seniors and freshmen to return to campus with a staggered return for the rest of its students. Lawrenceville has issued a brilliant student Covid conduct contract that actually empowers their students to be leaders during this crisis. Boarding schools are NOT the same as college campuses, because the students and environments are much more controlled. And you are NOT listening to the scientific data which supports a return to campus in September. ALL the remaining schools in the Eight are listening to the science and prioritizing their students. Not Choate. Now, ALL of our students are put at a disadvantage over students at the other 7 schools in the Eight, especially our seniors who are applying to colleges. How will their grades and transcripts be affected? Not well. How will science/STEM students able to work without the Lab and showcase thier achievements for colleges over their counterparts are Andover, Exeter, etc? How will arts/theater students create anything meaningful in isolation and without our incredible facilities? And our senior athletes now have ZERO ability for college recruiting -- those who had already planned with their Choate coaches on small group scrimmage videos that specific elite college coaches are waiting for. They worked hard for four years - for nothing. Academically, how will teachers write compelling recommendation letters for seniors without personal interaction and material created within the campus context? Choate parents everywhere must now scramble to host re

#choatebacktoschool = happy and healthy students

Your decision was NOT based on science but on media-propagated irrational fear. Covid19 infection rates nationally are actually DROPPING as I write. Please reconsider your decision. Please be heroic not political.

These kids deserve more. Teaching kids to be leaders takes leadership!

Choate needs students on campus in September!

Yes!!

You must open the school as planned.