When we experience emotions like sadness and anxiety, research suggests that expressing them through visual and performing arts is one of the most effective ways to address them. -- Ed. We ask that everyone continue to refer to https://www.wm.edu/coronavirus for the most up-to-date information on anything related to W&Ms institutional response. Until then, may this community and those we love be healthy and safe. Work through the stress by creating. Amber D. One of the best, safe activities for kids to do is get outside and play or exercise. I wish you all the best as you finish your classes and exams and prepare for a well-deserved break in just a few weeks. If you are away from campus and have belongings in your room for which you have a critical need (medications, laptops) you must make plans to collect them by Wednesday, March 25, 5:00 p.m., as follows: If you need for someone else to retrieve your critical items for you: Email living@wm.edu from your official W&M email account and provide the following information: We will plan a full move out period from April 18-May 18, 2020. Offices that have face-to-face interaction should arrange meetings by appointment and observe W&Ms requirements for the use of face coverings, physical distancing, etc. Our goal is to host a grand celebration in May 2021 for the Class of 2020, with all the joy and the cherished traditions that make W&M Commencements special. You and your families have been resourceful, understanding and patient partners with our faculty, staff and administrators. Helping Young Children and Parents Transition Back to School These employees will be contacted over the next two weeks with instructions for testing before students return to campus. Restoring student motivation after COVID | Harvard Graduate School of Introduction. I should be coming in every day having my kids in my classroom, she explained. As we move into these last days of the semester, I am deeply grateful to and for you for your resilience, your creativity and your fortitude. Plus, how the pandemic shows us that schools are more important than ever. Here Are Messages to Students During Covid 19 From Teachers Topic: School Culture & Colleagues, Supporting Students Life & Wellbeing Here's What I Want My Students to Know When We're Not Together We miss you, we miss you, we miss you. It is imperative that we learn from them. A successful on-campus fall semester depends on intentional acts of caring and respect for each other and for the community as a whole. All events and gatherings in university facilities as well as university-sponsored events on and off campus are suspended through at least April 3. Our largest expenditures are on salaries for the faculty and staff who support teaching, learning, researchand our varied university operations, from student financial aid specialists, to career services, to facilities. Supporting Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Maximizing In - ed Currently, we project losses ranging from $13 million to $32 million through August 2020. Here are two web resources that provide additional information: Connecting remotely to campus IT resources. As the economic picture becomes clearer, in the coming weeks and months, we will keep the community apprised of further steps that may be needed to safeguard W&Ms financial health and the financial health of those in our community. Students must comply with mask expectations. Middle and high school teachers juggling instructional platforms in which half the students learn online and the other half learn in person, simultaneously. For more inspiring messages, check out these inspirational quotes about hope and healing. I want to acknowledge how much we are asking of all employees, whatever your roles. We recognize that these decisions have weighty consequences personal, financial and more. No university-sponsored travel (domestic or international) will take place, unless required to meet obligations of externally sponsored research or state scientific advisory services. COVID-19 poses an unprecedented threat to public health; so too this pandemic threatens the financial health of millions of households and institutions around the globe. ; Do not travel As we continue making decisions with the best information available, adjustments like the ones announced today will be part of the semester. By diligently adhering to the practices of physical distancing, good hand and personal environment hygiene, appropriate mask wearing, daily monitoring of symptoms as well as testing, quarantine if warranted, and isolation of individuals who test positive for the coronavirus we can significantly reduce the risk of spreading the virus through on-campus activities. Our dearest wish was to celebrate your Commencement in-person and on campus in October. "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 In this effort, we have good partners. Responses will be tallied as they come in, but not saved by individual student. Even in distress, so many of you have taken the time to send a kind note to a faculty member, staff member, student leader, or administrator. You are missed! Please note that future health conditions in our region may require adjustments to these proposed dates. Room and board costs will be adjusted accordingly. Extending the time between phases of return allows us to welcome new students in our community safely, helping them form connections. "Don . That includes mental health and wellness, and we acknowledge the need for the entire university to have downtime. Rebate amounts for meal plans reflect adjustments for university costs incurred. This too shall pass. These appropriate measures aim to slow spread and reduce incidence of COVID-19, which had risen at the end of this month. Masks should be worn when moving around on campus. Please join me for more discussion on this and other topics at our next Town Hall meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 5. We take care of each other. more. "It is better to be a failure at something you love than to be a success at something you hate.". Amy SebringVice President for Finance and Technology. Please review the 2020-21 Resource Guide (pdf) for more details, but a summary of essential points include: For Fall 2020, use of space at William & Mary is dedicated to core mission activities and restricted to the immediate campus community. Teacher, Natalie Wieland, holds up the medals she plans to gift her students when they finish their AP exams. Do not test the resolve of this university to take swift action to prioritize the health and well-being of our campus and the Williamsburg community. We strongly discourage all personal travel, domestic or international, and may require employees who do travel to self-quarantine upon return. Below I share the additional details and guidance promised earlier today in the message you received from President Rowe and me related to directives from the Governors Office. Volunteers at William & Mary must provide this critical support remotely. This week, Governor Northam issued a stay-at-home order, running through June 10, 2020. Employees should request an exception for health reasons through Human Resources. On Tuesday, July 28, Gov. William & Mary employees are preparing for students to return to campus in early August. Recently I shared with you detailed instructions for registering with Kallaco so we may send you an off-campus COVID-19 test based on your move-in date or the date you will resume in-person classes. "For me it was a massive morale booster to meet lots of dogs and cats." Teachers say there has been a collective spirit among staff Glad to be back If there's something children have learnt from. The upcoming tests will also be processed by William & Marys new partner lab, Wisconsin Diagnostic Laboratories, facilitated by VCU Health System. of Education. We wish you the greatest success during this extraordinary period and into the future. Five coordinated teams will focus on short-term solutions for mission-critical areas of the university: curricular flexibility, operational resilience, how we might de-densify campus spaces, how we might expand career pathways for graduating seniors and recent alumni. With students due to return from spring break and reports of presumptive cases in our region, we are taking further steps to ensure we meet these goals. Students who lived on campus in the fall but have a fully remote schedule for the spring semester may request a release from their housing contracts. We bring together exceptional people to learn and pursue knowledge at the highest levels. I just really miss them. Cory L. I hope you are all safe and healthy. There can be no large parties this fall. We will hear from faculty and undergraduates who will join me (virtually) to share their reflections on this weeks transition to distance learning. In order to donate, you must indicate your decision to do so no later than Sunday, April 5, which will provide W&M time to process the donation. We'd love to know what messages are giving you strength, today and every day. the same household is COVID-19 positive. Professor Jal Mehta isn't surprised that some students and teachers are finding positives during remote learning. The CRT also recommends that community members limit personal travel. The deadline for student training has been extended to Friday, Aug. 28. International Students will receive specific testing instructions in the next week to 10 days. As we embark on a new semester tomorrow, the importance of ourHealthy Together Community Commitmentcannot be overstated. This baseline training, designed for students, faculty, staff, contractors and vendors, introduces skills to promote the health of yourself and others. We will let you know the exact dates in a few weeks so you and your families can plan accordingly. Our researchers have pooled their PPEs and shared them with local hospitals resources we hope will extend the safety of our courageous local healthcare providers on the front line. Wear a high-quality mask if you must be around others at home and in public. On April 28, a video was shared on YouTube featuring the principal, teachers and staff members of the Van Holten Primary School. Please expect specific details about your rebate next week, from Amy Sebring, Vice President for Finance and Technology. Cases and Outbreaks in Schools - Template Letters | CDE Do not gather socially in larger groups in your residence halls, across campus or in locations in the community. Principal's Message As we gather new information, we will continue to use these goals to guide our best judgment. Exceptions have been made for a small number of A&S COLL freshman classes to begin and continue in person, and the individual graduate and professional schools are communicating directly the start date of their in-person classes. At this time room selection for returning students for the 2020-2021 Academic Year will proceed on schedule online, including Priority Housing. 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. We will continue to share updates as new information becomes available, create opportunities for feedback and find ways to connect virtually. 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. "Thank you very much for doing that video. Note that phased planning has updated some messages since their original issuance. We know how challenging learning has been during the pandemic. All in all, just make life spicy. "You are only confined by the walls you build yourself." Andrew Murphy. I miss each and every one of the kids in the pre-school, Pre-K, and kindergarten classes where I work. We will continue to assess possible timelines in consultation with local public health officials, closely tracking the Commonwealths and our nations response. If possible remove all of your belongings at this time and complete the online check out process. In the spirit of both/and, we will honor them in both May and October, both virtually and in person, in ways that are traditional, new, and joyful. A Prayer for Teachers and Educators during the COVID Crisis So we will continue to share more details as they become available. Human Resources will send you an email detailing how to launch the training. As we begin to plan for next year and ways in which we can flatten the curve of financial impact for our community, the Board and administration concurred that freezing tuition and mandatory fees for all students at the current years level was critical, as were other prudent decisions to freeze new hiring and limit other costs.What has been especially evident to us is the very thoughtful and capable manner in which the university community has responded to this emergency. Teacher motivation is closely linked to student motivation, and teachers who are motivated to teach can trigger students' motivation to learn. The COVID-19 pandemic creates a unique challenge for our students, their families, faculty and staff as we strive to meet our educational mission. This is the second time in its history that a BOV committee met virtually under rules established by the Attorney General in response to the State of Emergency in Virginia. And I see this same resilience in my students this week.. Entertainment Television, LLC A Division of NBCUniversal. If you are experiencing dire financial need this semester, the university may be able to help. Room Selection. W&M requires all employees and all students registered for courses to sign the Healthy Together Community Commitment and complete public health training. Other measures being taken to mitigate risks as students and employees return to campus this fall will be discussed at a community Town Hall scheduled for July 20. Help Students Process COVID-19 Emotions With This - Greater Good As we face the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic and plan carefully for a 2020-21 academic year in-person and on campus, a commitment to community-wide actions is essential. 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. We must be attentive to the changed circumstances of families and organizations in Virginia and around the world. to date, no student on campus has tested positive, state of emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic, Read the descriptions of high-level categories for course delivery, detailed plans for Check-In and New Student Orientation, All generative questions and ideas are welcome, Flourishing during Unexpected, Uncertain, and Unwanted Change, https://www.wm.edu/offices/wellness/ohp/general-wellness/silvercloud/, https://www.wm.edu/offices/it/remoteresources/index.php, monitoring the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, support for the online instructional, remote learning, Undergraduate Residence Halls close on November 25 at 10 a.m. Be sure to carefully review the, Remaining on campus after November 25 at 10 a.m. is not an option, Students living in the Graduate Complex or Tribe Square are permitted to remain in their current apartment, but must verify they are staying via the, Spring semester course delivery attributes will be in Banner by Friday, November 13. We will continue to communicate regularly, to provide as much clarity as feasible, as soon as possible. No one should take these early results as license to relax our vigilance. As the COVID-19 pandemic has unfolded, Commencement 2020 has been front-of-mind for our graduating students and their families. For employees, they will help transition to remote work or leave, coordinate notification to departments and arrange cleaning and disinfecting. It is important to realize, however, that elimination of all risk is not possible. The semesters in-person classes abruptly ended due to health orders put in place as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. When traveling to Williamsburg, all students should practice prevention to mitigate risks of contracting COVID-19 (wearing a mask, social distancing, regular hand-washing). Telework through July 31: current restrictions and/or guidelines for telework, campus events and on-campus building access continue. A Letter to My Students as We Face the Pandemic During the period of time where the university and its campuses are not open to the public, we will continue to provide essential services as best we can. We will continue to gather for virtual Community Conversations on a weekly basis. William & Mary faces considerable financial impact now as a result of the pandemic. Do not be the person who causes us to shut down this semester. For a close-knit community that treasures our ceremonies, Commencement stands out as among our most cherished. Copyright 2021. Wearing masks is a personal preference as we come back into this school year. We are deeply cognizant of the financial vulnerability felt by our students and families and we will continue to provide support, beginning with the following actions. Just days before New Jersey GovernorPhil Murphyannounced schools in the state will remain closed for this academic year, staff from a Bridgewater elementary school virtually banded together to spread an uplifting message to their students. , It is my sincere hope that each of you will tap into tools and resources that you have found work best for you during trying times. Do not be selfish your actions impact the entire community. Please read the, Freshman and sophomore students are still required to live on campus. Spring is upon us, and we are looking ahead to the end of classes and the beginning of final exams. Thank you all for working so hard to protect your own health and that of the community this semester. This fall, faculty and staff adapted to telework, new research requirements, blended learning, and a transformed campus environment; more than 500 staff and administrators took on entirely new jobs, working flat out to create a robust testing, quarantine & isolation, and case management program, mentoring for students studying off-campus, and more. I have heard from so many of you over the last week and our sense of shared purpose is strong. W&Ms leadership will bring our best thinking to when and how we can come together in this important ceremony of passage perhaps in summer, or fall. Please watch your email for a link from the Testing Coordination Team. Integrity is one of William & Marys core values and a hallmark of this community. Many of W&Ms protocols in the spring will mirror what proved successful in the fall, though W&M continues to refine processes and evaluate response to the ever-changing public health landscape. By opting-in, you will receive periodic texts from campus administration asking what you think, how you feel or what you want related to a particular question. Students who experience symptoms over the course of the semester should make an appointment with the Student Health Center for a clinical assessment and testing if necessary. Because safeguarding the health of our community is a central concern, we (in consultation with our VCU Health System partners) considered several options to meet these different requirements. We track the Virginia Department of Health guidelines daily.Bringing our campus back together safely is an enormous task and also a hopeful one because it is a key step in the path forward to a post-COVID-19 William & Mary. We know we can help by providing as much clarity as we can, as soon as we have it. Special Celebrations and New Traditions Planned for this May We must also find meaningful ways to celebrate the Class of 2020 this spring. Please stand by for updates and alerts from W&Ms Emergency Management Team (EMT) as they track the storm. Thank you for your continued patience and flexibility as we determine the best path forward. 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. As we continue to chart a path forward together, I feel honored to be part of this community. All residential students also have agreed to adhere to specific Covid-19 Health and Well-Being Policies as part of theirhousing contract. 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. Every institution has continuity plans with scenarios for epidemics, W&M included. Teachers Share Uplifting Message to Their Students Amid Coronavirus You can read additional information for students and employees below and on our Path Forward website. The clear throughline in everything that has been shared with me over the past week is care for others. So I ask you to read what follows with care. You are navigating this challenging spring with grace and compassion. Supervisors on the main campus and VIMS campus will be communicating with employees this week, confirming that they will be working on campus, remotely or in a blended fashion as students begin returning to campus, as well as schedules for those modes of work. Test kits will arrive in time for students to self-administer the test, mail it back along with the required consent form, and get test results before they are due to arrive on campus. . All courses will be delivered in a format that provides meaningful interaction between faculty and students and that reflects William & Marys high quality of teaching and learning. The five most-mentioned feelings among all teachers were anxious, fearful, worried, overwhelmed, and sad. As COVID-19 cases rose sharply in Williamsburg this week, I shared the wrenching news that we would need to close dorms and find the students still on campus places to stay where they can more safely self-quarantine. During the first lockdown in Spring 2020, teachers, students and parents had to face the challenge of maintaining learning processes via remote schooling in Germany, as in almost all European countries ().Short-term modifications without sufficient experience were necessary and forced all providers and . Having concluded this process, the university has made the decision to offer rebates to all students with a university housing contract, meal plan and/or parking pass, regardless of the use of institutional aid. In barely more than a week, William & Mary faculty and staff in every school reinvented their spring semesters, adapting long-standing habits and materials into new platforms. For some, there may be real sacrifices, unexpected challenges or burdens that are hard to see. An outstanding university workforce is built slowly, over time, to achieve the quality of expertise and human understanding and the commitment to community that distinguishes W&M faculty and staff. And remember: We're not gonna' let COVID-19 beat us. The COVID-19 Response Team is pleased that health metrics in Hampton Roads have improved over the past few weeks. Completing the address confirmation and questionnaire is necessary, but your test may not ship immediately. I am confident that will be the case in the coming days and weeks. Teacher Appreciation Day Messages | Agency of Education This month we are adding a third effort: planning ahead for next year. We will continue to work through these and other consequential steps in measured ways. By Friday, we will provide additional guidance on planning underway to support students, families, staff and faculty. Wieland, also a half marathon runner, treats her classroom as a training site as well with her students progress. You will have a limited amount of time to collect your belongings and leave campus. Reflections on teaching, learning and technology during the COVID crisis, and hopes for the future . High School Musical Tickets On Sale Now. We are seeing significant impacts across our far-flung communities and close to home, here in Williamsburg. I did the best I could to get my work done. This note has only one piece of business, an invitation, and then reflections on insights that have been shared with me this week from many different sources. More details about each event will follow. Staff throughout the university are offering many services virtually and also ensuring that our campus remains safe and ready for our return. The adorable footage featured not only the teachers and staff members, but also their own children and furry friends as they practice social distancing. Connect with your friends in small groups, outside (where the ventilation is good), and with masks on. Stay tuned for more information on the return-to-campus testing requirements. Hold one another accountable. I ask each of you to do so as well. Katherine Rowe President Ginger Ambler Chair, Commencement Committee and Vice President for Student Affairs. Teachers all over the world have an obligation to educate not only their learners but the general populace on the dangers of the pandemic and the measures to take. Our neighbors,parentsand friends have pulled together to support this community through words of encouragement, guidanceand continued investment. Besides saying they miss their students, nearly every teacher used the word love in their response. I write to provide additional information about W&Ms plans for the fall semester. UNICEF/UNI327202/. "You are braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." A. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. We are doing so, thanks to the assistance that Student Affairs and the Reves Center are providing, and the hospitality of many campus neighbors. While students majoring in health sciences and/or people with medical experience are preferred, opportunities are available for anyone willing to serve. That order responds to national public health projections that COVID-19 cases in VA may peak in late May. You should make efforts to schedule your testing appointment around your class schedule, but if you cannot avoid a conflict, you will be excused from class. Please bring your student ID, and wear a mask. Testing frequency and population percentage will evolve based on campus trends and available testing methods. Your source for entertainment news, celebrities, celeb news, and celebrity gossip. Questions About COVID-19 Response. Please dont hesitate to send more questions to covidresponse@wm.edu. Programs or events sponsored by the university or student groups will continue to be limited to 50 people, with required masks and physical distancing.