A message from the Landing School

We are open for classes.

Unlike many post-secondary schools around the country, The Landing School is offering its curriculum on site, with partitions at work stations, staggered start times for all students, and by taking advantage of the already widely spaced shops and classrooms. The administration is confident in this decision due to the facility’s location in a relatively rural setting with a low-density population, and the fact that without dorms students live apart, in rentals throughout the community. As an extra precaution, the staff has also identified those students who are moving to the area from higher risk areas and have tracked and documented quarantine and/or testing prior to opening day.

We have been adapting and developing our plans for operating in this new environment, and have made significant progress. Our top responsibility and our primary priority continue to be the health and well-being of individual students, the student body in general, and the staff and faculty. We are also conscious of the need to protect the health of the wider community by minimizing the risk of transmittal from school members who may be traveling back to the area after being away. With this in mind our faculty has been working hard to keep our students’ education proceeding as effectively as possible.

According to the Harvard Global Health Institute, the states with the lowest rates of infection are Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire, in that order. The Northeast overall ranks among the safer areas in the United States.

The school has adopted strict guidelines related to physical distancing, hygiene, personal protection, and maintenance of clean workplaces, among others. The Landing School has developed its own COVID-19 Operating Protocols, which exceed these requirements. 

General Advice

During this time we encourage the entire Landing School community to practice the following important guidelines:

1. Social Distancing: This is seen as an important and effective strategy to slow or prevent the transmission. We are encouraging students to take the following actions:

  • Take every practical step to reduce exposure to people who may carry the virus.

  • Avoid group events of more than 10 people

  • You should avoid having visitors to your home, but it is okay for friends, family or delivery drivers to drop off food and supplies.

  • Avoid face-to-face contact with others closer than 6 feet.

  • Avoid sharing dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, pillows or other items with other people in your home. After using these items, you should wash them thoroughly with soap and water, place them in the dishwasher for cleaning or wash them in your washing machine.

  • Avoid travel in mass transit, including airplanes. If you need to travel by these means, make plans to do so at least two weeks prior to projected school opening and then practice self-isolation for the following 14 days.

2. Self Isolation:  Depending on where students have traveled during the two weeks prior to returning to school, if they feel there is any possibility that they may have been exposed to the virus, we may request that students self-isolate for the two week period before school resumes.

3. Campus Preparation: The virus has been shown to "survive" on surfaces although there is still debate as to whether this is a primary method of transmission. Regardless we are having the school facility professionally cleaned and sanitized the campus, making it a safer place for students, faculty and staff to return to.

Use Common Sense strategies for avoiding infection and staying healthy:

  • Wash your face and hands often

  • Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth

  • Cough into your elbow or tissue… then wash your hands

  • Stay home if you are unwell

  • Avoid close contact where possible - don't shake hands or hug and kiss others

  • Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables

  • Drink 6-8 glasses of water daily

  • Get plenty of sleep (7 or more hours per night)

We do appreciate that this is an imposition on all of us, but these unprecedented times call for unusual effort. It is important to realize your actions protect not only yourself but your fellow students, and the wider community.

If you have any concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to call or text. You have our numbers and we will be available any time.

Sincerely,

Sean Fawcett
President
sf@landingschool.edu