May 14, 2021

Dear Trinity-Pawling Community,

Since its founding, the role that the community plays in the education of students at Trinity-Pawling has been integral to the School's life and purpose. Because of this, the School has always been deliberate in nurturing the health of the community, whether it be in the dormitory, in Chapel, in the Dining Hall, in athletics, and, of course, in the classroom. Learning happens best at Trinity-Pawling when it happens in community.

It has been this conviction that has compelled our response to the challenges of this global pandemic. As we close in on the final weeks of this most unusual school year, I am happy to report that we have done our best and we have found success in navigating these unpredictable and often churning waters. The success of this navigation is to be attributed to the community as a whole: students, faculty, and parents. You all have been courageous and sacrificial in your response to the challenges we have faced and continue to face. Because of this courage and sacrifice, we have had a year of academic learning and personal growth.

At the beginning of the school year, I challenged the community to prioritize the common good as we embarked on this unpredictable journey of the 2020-2021 academic year. By appealing to the common good, I was not only invoking the School's founder, Dr. Gamage, in his vision to create a learning environment where the community itself would be an active teacher, but I was also invoking the founding principles of this country. If a democracy is to remain healthy, it must work to promote both individual freedom and the common good.

We have been successful in this navigation because we have been committed to building the common good of this community in the face of a virulent and unseen assailant. As we look to conclude this year, we are also planning for the coming year. The virus we have been combatting will still be a threat next year, but hopefully to a lesser degree. Certainly, the growing number of vaccinations in the country is working to slow the spread of the virus, which is welcome news. Moreover, with the approval of the Pfizer vaccine for ages 12-15, schools should begin to be able to function in ways that will begin to appear more normal.

Because of the communal nature that distinguishes a boarding school education, Trinity-Pawling will continue to focus on building and protecting the common good of the community. With this in mind, the School will require all students and employees to begin the next school year fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. Not having the assurance of such vaccinations would risk the health of the community and, therefore, the efficacy of the Trinity-Pawling experience. It is the School's objective to maximize the efficacy of this teaching and learning experience.

The virus will remain a threat until it is fully eradicated. Until that time, the vaccine will allow the School to return to providing an educational product that is fully in line with our mission and our aspirations as an institution of teaching and learning. Moreover, given the most recent guidance by the CDC regarding the safety of vaccinated individuals to interact without masks and distancing indoors and outdoors, the School believes that this decision will only further augment the Trinity-Pawling learning experience for students. The School will review any requests for exemptions or reasonable accommodations related to the COVID-19 vaccine in accordance with applicable law.

I understand that this decision will not be universally appreciated. To those who are disappointed or even angry about this decision, I acknowledge the disruption this will cause and that it may impact your relationship with Trinity-Pawling School. In the final analysis, however, this decision is in keeping with the purpose of the School to create a safe, healthy, and nurturing environment in which young men can learn, grow, and, hopefully, thrive.

In community,