March 24, 2020

Dear Trinity-Pawling Students,

Last week, as you know, we communicated to your parents that we have made the difficult decision to conduct the Spring Term with remote learning. In this unprecedented time, we are all too aware of how rapidly the COVID-19 landscape is changing our lives. The CDC, the U.S President, the Governor of New York, and state and county agencies have issued orders restricting many activities, including large gatherings. While no case has been reported on our campus, we cannot responsibly resume our boarding program – it would be impossible for Trinity-Pawling to ensure our high standard of care – in light of the current situation and in the interest of your safety.

You may have anticipated this announcement, as colleges, universities, and boarding schools across the country have been making similar decisions. Nevertheless, we know it is very disappointing. Last week, we were planning for your return in mid-April. Now, we realize that the best way to keep our entire community healthy is to maintain distance from one another. We know that our close-knit community is one of our greatest assets, which makes the idea of keeping distance very strange to us at Trinity-Pawling.

The faculty and staff are busy preparing to resume classes on April 1, 2020 through a remote platform. We encourage you to review the remote learning page on the website and information in your student portal. Here, you will also find your Spring 2020 Schedule. We have also tried to anticipate questions that may arise and have posted an evolving set of FAQs on the website. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your teachers, advisors, or me if you have any concerns as we make this transition together.

At Trinity-Pawling, we believe learning takes place best in a community that is grounded in respect, mutuality, and togetherness. What makes this decision so difficult is that I realize that some of this special chemistry will be lost. It is our goal, however, to be able to bring the community together virtually in ways that are creative, dynamic, and personal. The brotherhood is a human connection like no other – and we are determined to keep our connection as a community intact, in spite of the distance.

It is in times of need that bring communities closer together. In this time, we must also make important sacrifices for the greater good of our global community. We, at the School, have the responsibility of making decisions as the situation rapidly evolves. We will make decisions for the common good of our entire community. We will remain committed to our students and their families. We will make mistakes and we will learn from them. We will continue to be caring human beings. In doing this, we keep at the forefront of our minds the mission of Trinity-Pawling: …to educate and instill a value system that prepares young men to be contributing members of society amidst the challenges of an ever-changing world.

Clearly, we are experiencing an ever-changing world. Please know that inherent in this reality is the School's responsibility to help you, our students, adjust, and learn with confidence to navigate these changes in your lives and in your world. It is an honor to have been given this responsibility and please know it is one that we will work to uphold to the best of our ability.

In community,