Reopening Task Forces

In early June, Trinity-Pawling School administrators created multiple task forces that are working both independently and collaboratively to ensure a comprehensive strategy and plan for how we will operate when the School opens for the 2020-2021 year. Each of these task forces are guided by the interplay of the six critical components of our operational strategy listed above. These task forces address the following areas:

Task Forces and Responsibilities

Health

This task force is charged with monitoring the evolving information from the CDC and the State of New York on such critical information addressing:
- Testing protocols and resources
- Tracing and Tracking Procedures
- Variable impacting quarantining and distancing measures
- New information on the virus and its transmission
Mobilization of the on-campus health resources and School response in the event of a positive diagnosis
This task force will ensure that the Health Center and the School as a whole is operating under a singular response strategy for a positive diagnosis, either directly (on campus) or indirectly (off campus).
This task force will also provide recommendations regarding the use of masks or face coverings that is consistent with the current guidelines of the CDC.

Residential Life

Dining

Academics

Pedagogy and Professional Development

Creation of a Professional Development plan for faculty to work toward best practices for synchronous and asynchronous teaching. This assumes that:
- Some students may not be able to return to campus for in-person instruction, but would still wish to be a part of the Trinity-Pawling learning community.
With the Dean of Faculty, work to create a Professional Development Evaluation Plan to ensure that all faculty are learning, growing, and evaluated on their growth under these new conditions.
Work to ensure that faculty have the professional resources to enhance their skills with Project Based Learning.

Technology

Community Gatherings and Social Life

Work to create plans where the strengths of the community can be leveraged for students on campus in ways that are commensurate with distancing guidelines and protocols.
Working with the Health Center, continue to provide dynamic programming and resources that address the emotional health and well-being of the students and the larger Trinity-Pawling community, including parents, during the challenges associated with COVID-19.
Create an engaging plan for social activities for boarding students that are commensurate with guidelines for health and distancing protocols.

Social Distancing

Day Students and Visitors

Athletics

Working with the Founders League and under the auspices of guidelines of the CDC and the State of New York, develop a plan for interscholastic athletics that adheres to the guidelines of distancing and hygiene.
Creation on campus of sports-specific personalized instruction if interscholastic athletics are limited at the time of a particular sports season.
In the event of limitation of interscholastic athletics, develop a wellness plan for physical fitness available for all students.

Calendar Revision

Examine the 2020-2021 School Calendar and assess any potential changes that may involve:
- Adjusting the vacation schedules to allow for longer vacations off campus and the elimination of long weekends.
Ensure that the 2020-2021 School Calendar provides the same number of learning days and weeks of instruction that are normally provided by Trinity-Pawling, with the understanding that the State of New York may force school closures in the event of a second wave of the virus's virulence.

Communication

If you have any questions about the above task forces and their role in reopening Trinity-Pawling for the Fall Term, please reach out to Donna Bellini, Assistant to the Headmaster at dbellini@trinitypawling.org.

A portrait of Headmaster Bill Taylor at Trinity-Pawling School

A Message from Headmaster Bill Taylor

As the need for more task forces emerge, more will be created. As mentioned above, these task forces are designed to be interdependent and reflect the School's belief that learning and preparation are more comprehensive and thoughtful when done collaboratively.

The work of these task forces constitutes the foundation of the plan that will guide our operation in the coming school year. Much progress has already been done to gather the necessary data that will allow these task forces to come together with a comprehensive plan. This plan will allow Trinity-Pawling to deliver an exceptional learning experience on campus that has been constructed in ways that work to accommodate the necessary provisions that must be in place to respond to the challenges caused by COVID-19.

Trinity-Pawling School Boarding and Day for Boys - Grades 7-12/PG