positive messages from teachers to students during covid
In other words, asymptomatic students will await test results wherever they live. All rights reserved. Our Wonderful Students: I hope this message finds you and all you love doing well. It's a hive of human activity and constant, emotional interaction - buzzing with movement, noise, rapid changes, ups, downs and, in many cases, actual bells to tell everyone when to stand up and go. Additionally, if you have questions directly related to the impact of COVID-19 in the Williamsburg/Peninsula area, state and local health authorities have set up two Call Centers: Pass/Fail Expansion. From a learning perspective, we know that the best-case scenario is to have students on campus in person. Just more than a week ago, I wrote to you with the difficult news that William & Mary would need to finish the semester remotely. The same subscription form can also be used to opt-out if you no longer wish to participate. We have posted programs, videos and articles to enhance your wellness and resilience, including live wellness and fitness programs. For Fall 2020, the university is preparing for an early opening and a primarily in-person semester, adapting our curriculum and operations consistent with Virginias public health guidelines for higher education. If you have any questions, please contact the Testing Coordination Team at [[COVIDtest]]. Emergencies. Assuming you returned the kits as promptly as expected, we do not anticipate the turnaround from lab to results will affect your ability to move in or begin classes as scheduled; however, we want you to know accurately when your test results will be available to view. Resources for. If you have tested positive for COVID-19 within the 90 days prior to your return, please fill out the form at, As COVID-19 vaccine testing and deployment accelerates, the Virginia Department of Health is developing a protocol to administer inoculation across the Commonwealth. Please watch your email for a link from the Testing Coordination Team. So I write to provide some answers and let you know how to find additional information. See www.wm.edu/conversation for more details and upcoming dates. Working closely with our local and state health officials, as well as our Virginia university partners, W&M is closely monitoring all guidance related to health and safety practices and protocols. It will be updated on the, Week of August 3 Continuing students can make changes to their schedule based on updated course offerings and modalities. All residential students also have agreed to adhere to specific Covid-19 Health and Well-Being Policies as part of theirhousing contract. Walk slowly through your neighborhood or in your backyard and discover what Spring looks like. Cindy K. Its easy to feel helpless in situations like this, but we can make small differences. Ralph Northamannouncedyesterday he was lifting enhanced restrictions on the region. We have begun to see the positive effects of self-quarantine measures in flattening the curve of COVID-19 infection. Marjorie Thomas, Dean of StudentsMark Hofer, Director of the Studio for Teaching & Learning Innovation. As William & Mary comes together to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, we write as president, vice president and as members of the W&M community to express our gratitude. Yet it is within our control to limit the spread of this virus. ", Tom Sizemore, star of 'Saving Private Ryan,' 'Heat,' dies at 61 after brain aneurysm, Josh Hartnett is done talking about his break from Hollywood but ready to make fun of actors: 'We're the worst', Michael B. Jordan admits muscle gain for 'Creed' has been harder as he's gotten older, Billy Bush suggests Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes start their own show after ABC exit: 'They've got something that works', How to watch every Oscars 2023 Best Picture nominee. We'd love to know what messages are giving you strength, today and every day. Spring is upon us, and we are looking ahead to the end of classes and the beginning of final exams. An archive of messages sent to William & Mary students about the university's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. ; Do not travel First, I send my sincere thanks to students, faculty and staff who have worked tirelessly and honored our Healthy Together Community Commitment in order to make the fall semester a success in the face of considerable challenges. The following are available for consultation and referral as needed: Undergraduates: Shelly Laurenzo, Office of Academic AdvisingGraduate School of A&S: Chasity Roberts, Assistant to the DeanGraduate School of Ed: Jim Barber (returning students), Dot Osborne (new students)Other Graduate Schools: Contact your school registrar. Cognitively: studying together speeds and deepens learning in myriad ways. Our goal is to be able to resume learning in-person in the fall, so long as it is safe to do so. We must continue to do all we can to keep our community healthy. Additionally, if you do not have WiFi connectivity or access to the internet and currently have a cellular phone, you may want to contact your carrier to determine if your phone has the ability to serve as a mobile hotspot. With great strength of purpose, William & Mary students and their families, faculty and staff embraced the work of safeguarding our community while ensuring that our learning and research mission remains strong. ; Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask. I also understand that COVID-19 has drastically hurt chances to see your friends and to get more involved; just stay positive and things will be back to normal soon. I am confident we will be able to create a strong and supportive community. Expanding W&M's reach, educating for impact and evolving to excel. We have the advantage of being a close-knit community already. Be kind to your little brother and your older sister. Classes will resume online starting Monday, March 23. Large student gatherings of any kind both on- and off-campusare not permitted. Check out the hottest fashion, photos, movies and TV shows! The ability to physically distance within a space does not eliminate the above requirements. Plus, how the pandemic shows us that schools are more important than ever. W&M's COVID-19 Response Team has outlined significant risk reduction measures W&M is taking to prepare for the fall. High School Musical Tickets On Sale Now. Building Relationships With Young People . COVID-19 Messages to Students (2020) | William & Mary An archive of messages sent to William & Mary students about the university's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Without your compliance, our fall semester on campus will be over before it starts. Please contact the Dean of Students Office for assistance. Masks should be worn when moving around on campus. These include final papers, individual or collaborative projects, and cumulative exams. So teachers want students to know that they should stay home and stay safe so that everything can return to normal as quickly as possible. On-campus services (residence halls, dining, etc.) Slots are first come, first served. You can read additional information for students and employees below and on our Path Forward website. Therewill berepercussionsif you do not abide by oursafety protocols. Our testing and other public health protocols are based on ongoing epidemiological modeling being developed by VCU, UVA and VT as Virginia's academic medical centers. COVID-19. With the exception ofOctober 19, when well start at 9:00 AM, testing will be available for students from 7:30 a.m. 4:00p.m.each day. The university has made systematic adjustments to reduce risk of transmission: instituting a phased return of undergraduate students; requiring a negative test before returning students can be on campus; implementing a comprehensive plan to reconfigure and de-densify campus; making maximum use of our beautiful campus outdoors and more. If you test positive for COVID-19, stay home for at least 5 days and isolate from others in your home. All tests will be conducted at Kaplan Arena, which has ample room for testing stations, safe physical distancing and parking. Virginias Phase 3 reopening does not change W&Ms campus-specific guidelines. Group Gatherings. All invited speakers must present in a virtual format, whether invited for university-wide presentations or at invitation of professional and graduate schools, departments, professors or student groups. Parking Students with a 2019-2020 parking decal will receive a rebate of $54. With our determination and steadfast efforts, we are also mourning: a lecture, a birthday, the long-awaited symposium, a team road trip, and so much more. If you are faculty, staff, contract worker, vendor or other: As noted above, these requirements apply to all faculty, staff, students, contract workers, vendors and other visitors to campus. By providing as much transparency as possible, I hope to sharpen our focus on what matters most and to ease some of the uncertainty we all feel. Please consult the following procedures. For undergraduates, there will be six spring break days: On these spring break days, classes will not meet and no due dates for assignments or exams will be scheduled. So I hope you will consider renewing your annual support for the areas of the university where you traditionally give. 16 After teachers and students cycle through the depression phase, Starting tomorrow, March 12, through April 3, we will implement interim policies for events and travel. Pandemic conditions require William & Mary to adapt how we teach, learn and work in order to mitigate health risks for our community. As William & Mary moves into the Fall 2020 semester, the COVID-19 Response Team provides the following summary of the universitys testing protocol for students and employees. Well be providing each of you with a date for your test, and then youll schedule the time of day. As William & Mary expands student and employee testing for COVID-19, we wanted to offer guidance to the community about what to do in the case of a positive result and introduce you to the new case management system. "It is better to be a failure at something you love than to be a success at something you hate.". The pandemic has required us to adopt new behaviors, and we share in this challenge together. We must remain vigilant so that we can move quickly to identify positive cases and potential exposures. Editors note: Phased planning has amended some information included in the Aug. 10 message. We will also post updates and FAQs regularly on W&Ms Commencement website. All requirements apply to both indoor and outdoor co-curricular activities and spaces. We wish you the greatest success during this extraordinary period and into the future. As the semester winds down, I write to share my gratitude for your steadfast and creative efforts over the past nine months of pandemic. Quarantine may occur anywhere the student feels most comfortable, e.g. From exercise, personal training, and yoga videos to mindfulness and creative art, we will be offering a wide range of resources to help you manage the stress and emotions that are a part of this new challenge. At present, all new expenditures have been unallocated. There are many ways to help ensure the integrity of the learning and assessment processes. Like many of you, we continue to follow closely the unprecedented outbreak of COVID-19. The best source for updated information regarding the universitys response to COVID-19 remains the online Q&A by the university at www.wm.edu/coronavirus. Its a challenge, a challenge for every one of us, but we dont shy away from challenges at William & Mary. And I see this same resilience in my students this week.. Those who did not make a selection by that date were automatically enrolled in the Gold 19 plan. And we will pick up right where we left off!! Housing Rebates Students will receive a rebate based on their housing type as follows: Main Campus All Room Types $1,200New Campus Doubles & Triples $1,200New Campus Singles $1,350Single Buyouts $1,350All Graduate Housing $1,350Tribe Square $1,350. It is important to honor the painful feelings as well: care for the health of loved ones and one's own health; frustration when William & Mary misses a step in communication; feelings of being unsettled and out of place; worry about finances. Youre crazy amazing. Faculty will be flexible about academic materials (textbooks and the like) that you do not have access to. At last weeks Reconvened Session, the General Assembly approved the Governors recommendation to give state governing boards the authority to conduct business electronically beyond pandemic- related issues. Kimberley Gorelik on March 27, 2020 If your students can't hear you correct their grammar, are you even teaching? Multilingual at Heart. From students donating their rebates to others in need to our makerspaces creating personal protective equipment for first responders and healthcare workers, the people of W&M are finding ways to support one another, their families and their communities during this challenging time. Unfortunately, a number of students on campus this weekend were found to be in violation of those guidelines, the Student Code of Conduct, the Residence Life Housing Contract and state law. The five most-mentioned feelings among all teachers were anxious, fearful, worried, overwhelmed, and sad. We recognize that these decisions have weighty consequences personal, financial and more. Read the descriptions of high-level categories for course delivery: By looking up course attributes in Banner, students will be able to craft a fully remote schedule for the fall semester if that is their preference. Those students may choose temporary housing in Richmond Hall, which has been identified as suitable for isolation (separate, exterior room doors, individual bathrooms, etc.) Search wm.edu Search And pre-arrival testing requirements will be announced by the week of November 16. As you know, William & Mary is adopting a vast array of safety measures to promote a healthy campus this fall. We are seeing significant impacts across our far-flung communities and close to home, here in Williamsburg. It is based on collaborations with Commonwealth public higher education (including peer university public health and medical centers), CDC and VDH guidelines, and the Governors guidelines. You are navigating this challenging spring with grace and compassion. Specific resources and considerations for instructors can be found in this matrix and on the W&M Keep Teaching site. They become our families each year and we love them fiercely, even when they cant follow through or act out or dont do the work. Coordinated through the COVID-19 Response Team, updates to the Path Forward: Fall 2020 have been added to the universitys COVID-19 website. As the coronavirus pandemic continues, teachers and students all over the country have had to adjust to new ways of learning at a social distance. Children around the world thank teachers for helping them keep learning before, during and after COVID-19 school closures. The provost and deans offices will coordinate this transition for all academic programs. And even, in time, with sufficient P.P.E., giving you a handshake or hug. Carry your keys and ID with you every time you leave the room. The Commencement Committee will send additional, detailed communications in the coming weeks to degree candidates and families. We are establishing a testing program that goes above and beyond state health and CDC guidelines and is designed to be responsive to the most at-risk populations within our community. When she went into her classroom to gather her things for the end of the year, she said it was unrecognizable. W&M requires all employees and all students registered for courses to sign the Healthy Together Community Commitment and complete public health training. COVID-19 testing is relatively new and questions are understandable. The deadline for residential undergraduate students to select a meal plan was July 8. Spikes in positive COVID-19 cases at other institutions came in the first few days after students arrived on campus, often as a result of large gatherings where mask-wearing and physical distancing expectations were ignored. Yet to fulfill our commitment to safeguarding the health of this community, it is imperative that we respond appropriately to changing pandemic conditions. Its heartbreaking that we dont get to do those things, she said. With a better understanding of the viruss progress nationally, we will identify a time when we can convene such a sizable group without great risk to health. The university has made the difficult decision to close all W&M residence halls (including apartments and the Graduate Complex) effective March 25 at 5:00 p.m. Any residential students still on campus will need to execute their personal emergency evacuation plan and move out of their residence hall by that time. "I would like to begin by recognising our parents, families, and loved ones, especially my mum and dad, who, may not be physically present with us, but who are, as always, cheering us on from the screens of the Great Hall or on their devices; our lecturers for imparting their wisdom - who have recently acquired the number 1 spot in the recent Because children look to their parents for signs of safety, parents may need to put more effort into expressing confidence and security with words and body language in addition to facial expressions. Please opt-in by filling out the subscription form. Middle and high school teachers juggling instructional platforms in which half the students learn online and the other half learn in person, simultaneously. On-campus space is limited so options for moves are few at this time. These tests are administered at no cost to you. Celebrating together, in person, continues to be our goal. We are working with real-time information, assessing current conditions and predictions for future trends with expert advice guidance from authorities in infectious disease, epidemiology and our regional public health partners. By reaching out after a positive test or by answering our call, you gain immediate help and protect other members of the campus community. Programs or events sponsored by the university or student groups will continue to be limited to 50 people, with required masks and physical distancing. If you see something, say something. As in the fall semester, students, faculty and staff who work closely with others will need to self-quarantine for eight days before returning to in-person activities on campus. The university remains open with modified academic operations. Well, that is a ton of helpful information. May we continue to take care of each other. Further details may be found below. Next week I will launch a swift, cross-university planning process to build scenarios for in-person learning on campus in Fall 2020 and beyond. Ginger AmblerChair, Commencement CommitteeVice President for Student Affairs. Today, Virginia Gov. A cloth face covering will be used immediately before and after instruction and when interacting with others and unable to maintain 6 physical distancing. While W&M is allowing student to upload rapid test results to satisfy requirements for move-in and on-campus activities, the university asks that students still complete the test process with Kallaco, which provides a different type of COVID-19 test. If you are sick or symptomatic when you are randomly selected, please contact the Student Health Center for evaluation and further instructions; do not make an appointment for prevalence testing if you are ill. Should a student test positive for COVID-19, they will be contacted by the Student Health Center. International students will be notified by email about specific testing requirements. Our staff has kept the university running apace, rapidly adapting to new technologies and workflows and providing round-the-clock care to support our students health and wellbeing. Simply browse our wellness departments' resource pages or our App and dive into something that speaks to you. Much like running a race, at the end of every year, she hands out a medal to each of her students as a congratulatory gift after they take their AP exams. And please download the W&M Wellness App to stay current on all events and resources., While William & Mary is operating on a modified academic schedule, all the departments of the Dean of Students Office are available via phone (757) 221-2510 and email. Questions can still be submitted to us at COVIDResponse@wm.edu. These figures stem from lost revenue (study abroad, summer programs, athletics, housing, diningand parking) and new, unanticipated expenses (for software and technology needed to move learning to remote delivery, facilitate faculty and staff working at a distance, increased costs related to facilities cleaning and supplies, as well as emergency support for students in need). The story of 12 students who integrated ATX schools, How to get to Q2 Stadium for 2023 Austin FC season, PHOTOS: Some of Austins most modern homes, Cities offer free tree, brush disposals post-storm, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. We have always enforced violations of our codes affecting the university community, from the nations oldest student-led honor system to the universitys conduct system. Additionally, we will have the capability of scheduling meetings with students remotely via phone or Zoom. In June we will have more details to share about ways we can prepare for the upcoming academic year. W&M will provide each student a free COVID-19 saliva test, mailed in advance of returning. Please talk with your advisor as you consider the options that best suit you. Instruction is moving to remote and online platforms. Find Life & Wellbeing resources on We Are Teachers - Page 1 of 35. So this email aims to add clarity where we are able. As we end the year, its not traditional, and its hard that way too, she added. Just spend responsibly, kids. Students must comply with mask expectations. She said, What I know is: a resiliency develops from this. You can sign up to volunteer on the Virginia Volunteer Health System website. Full or partial remote work at William & Mary will require a telework agreement. Celebrating the work of W&M faculty, staff and students. Our mission calls us to convene together, and we have all explicitly committed to supporting that mission in this time. Looking forward, the Plan Ahead initiative will allow us to pivot to a post-pandemic future in a way that both capitalizes on lessons learned and makes W&M more nimble.Normally, during this part of the academic year, we have the opportunity to acknowledge those who are graduating, being promoted or awarded tenure, and those who are retiring.