Thacher's covid-19

Back-to-School Playbook

Leveraging Our Unique Assets

We cherish the opportunity to share a campus and pledge to do everything we can to provide and sustain an in-person, on-campus learning environment for our students.
For more than 130 years, Thacher has adapted to changing circumstances and demonstrated its resilience. Indeed, even in this document, we draw on the wisdom of Sherman Day Thacher, whose wise policies helped the School persevere through another pandemic 100 years ago. In addition to our timeless values of Honor, Fairness, Kindness, and Truth, we will draw on these unique strengths to help us navigate the challenges posed by covid-19.  
  • Honor Code: We trust our students to do the right thing when no one is looking and they almost always live up to that trust. Our commitment to the community is not situational nor dependent on punishments and rewards. Our success in this period will depend on our students embracing their responsibilities to the community and to holding each other accountable for our duty to protect each other.
  • The Outdoors: Connection with the outdoors is a central element of a Thacher education. Our setting and climate will allow us to take advantage of the opportunity to use outdoor spaces for our work and our leisure, reducing the risk of transmission.

  • Our Size: Just as being an intimate, mostly residential community allows each of us to be known and valued, it also affords us a degree of agility and flexibility that will be critical in calibrating our practices and policies in response to changing conditions.

  • Our Location: Our relative isolation provides us with the ability to manage ingress and egress from campus more easily than is possible at institutions in other settings. 
  • Senior Leadership: In every facet of School life, we have long relied on our oldest students to articulate and uphold the cultural values that guide student behavior. We are confident that our seniors will be effective and influential in maintaining the standards that will keep our community healthy and safe.
Managing the risks associated with covid-19 and resuming our on-campus program will be a collaborative effort, requiring us to be mindful of the impact of our actions on the entire community. Importantly, our strategy and preparations are not solely oriented to a safe return in the fall, but rather to developing the resilience to continue our operations even if we have positive cases on campus. Below, we seek to outline the adjustments that we will make in order to sustain the precious opportunity to live, learn, laugh, and play together at Casa de Piedra.
 

Blossom Beatty Pidduck, Head of School

We know now more than ever just how precious is the opportunity to live, learn, play, and grow with one another. As a community, we will pull together to do everything in our power to protect and preserve that opportunity. At times, we will no doubt have to remind ourselves of the vigilance and stamina necessary to safeguard our community’s health. But that is all part of why we chose Thacher in the first place. 

Version Details

This resource was last updated: August 10, 2020

Recent updates:
  • Details of subsequent updates will be itemized here.
Note: This document expresses our plans with an air of certainty, but the reality is that the success of our plan depends on monitoring and responding to evolving circumstances that are often beyond our control to manage. Thus, at any time we may need to make changes to our operations and revise the practices and guidelines presented in this document. If and when that occurs, we will note those changes above and via the usual communications channels.
Do you have a question that we have not answered? If so, please let us know via email and we will do our best to answer.

Conceptual Framework

Thacher recognizes that the care and education of our students is a sacred responsibility. In reopening our campus to our students, the School acknowledges that it takes on an additional sacred commitment: to do our part to safeguard the health of our students and their families, the adults who work at the School and their families, and the broader community of Ojai and Ventura County. This playbook seeks to convey how seriously we take that responsibility, and the many steps we have taken and will take to fulfill our commitment.

Our approach to managing the threats posed by covid-19 rests on five key principles: sequestration, suppression, protecting at-risk individuals, safe start, and responsive vigilance. This playbook will provide expansive details on the specific practices and policies that we will employ in pursuit of these priorities. For now, we’ll provide a brief overview of each:

Sequestration: We will take steps to reduce the likelihood of the virus being introduced to the campus community. While we recognize that we can’t hermetically seal off the campus from all contact with the outside, we will employ a number of measures to limit the risks associated with people coming and going from campus. We will also maintain the ability to tighten or loosen sequestration measures in response to changing conditions in Ojai and Ventura County. The nature of our location and campus access points gives us a significant advantage in achieving our sequestration goals.

Suppression: While we expect that our sequestration measures will dramatically reduce the risk of infection, we will also take proactive steps to limit the likelihood of transmission of the virus from one individual to another. Knowing that individuals can be contagious without showing symptoms of illness, we will revise our routines to maintain physical distancing and minimize opportunities for transmission between individuals. We will also use testing tools to detect and respond appropriately to any incident of infection in our community.

Protecting At-Risk Individuals: We recognize that some members of our community face heightened risks from the coronavirus. Thus, we will incorporate into our practices more expansive protections for those individuals, including the opportunity to teach and attend classes online. As with all our measures, we will have the ability to tighten or loosen those protections in response to the overall climate of risk. 

Safe Start: We recognize that the process of repopulating the campus entails elevated risk. Our protocols are designed to manage that risk by requiring an at-home quarantine period, testing prior to arrival, implementing additional testing rounds upon arrival, and following heightened suppression practices during the first few weeks of on-campus learning. Our strategy is to minimize the possibility of any asymptomatic individuals unknowingly bringing the virus to campus and passing it on to others. 

Responsive Vigilance: The School will conduct a daily review of our risk environment by monitoring case loads, infection rates, testing results, and other key data points from our local community, Ventura County, and California. We will also remain agile and responsive in tightening or loosening our sequestration and suppression measures in response to changing conditions. Our practices will also be attuned to risk factors that vary with the time of the year, with particular attention to the weeks following our opening in September and in January. 
 
We recognize that no single policy or tool can shield us from all risk, and that there is a significant possibility that we will have to manage the presence of the virus on campus at some point during the course of the year. However, by adapting our operations appropriately, we can dramatically reduce the likelihood of the virus reaching campus, as well as the potential threats it will pose if it does.

Planning Process

Since early March, the School has dedicated substantial resources to our response to the threat posed by the novel coronavirus. This work has involved a broad cross section of the School’s faculty, staff, and administration, working in partnership with a number of outside resources. We have incorporated guidance from the Center for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, the California Department of Public Health, and the Ventura County Health Care Agency. We have drawn on our friendships with colleagues at other schools and universities, on the wisdom and resources of a broad range of professional organizations, on the advice of nationally recognized experts, and on our deeply committed and supportive board of trustees. We have convened a Medical Advisory Board that includes leaders from the local medical community to advise on the development and implementation of our response plan. We have retained the services of Justin Arnold, a skilled and experienced project manager, to coordinate the School’s covid-19 response efforts. While this work is ongoing, this playbook seeks to synthesize what we have learned so far into actionable policies and protocols that will help us to mitigate the risks posed by the virus.

Medical Advisory Council

The Medical Advisory Council formed in May 2020 in order to offer counsel to the School on its response to covid-19.
Membership
  • Sabina McMahon, assistant head of school for student life, The Thacher School
  • Jeff Hooper, assistant head of school, The Thacher School
  • Vicki Edwards, director of the Valley View Clinic, The Thacher School
  • Dr. Maria Banman Barrell, physician, president and COO, Primary Medical Group
  • Dr. Ira Silverman, physician, 
    Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Ventura County Medical 
    Center
  • Dr. Sheri Dickstein, family physician, Ventura County Medical Center, Faculty, Ventura Family Medicine Residency Program
  • Dr. Uldine Castel, physician, CMO, Primary Medical Group and Ventura County Public Health
  • Dr. Tony Rogers, physician, Santa Barbara Public Health Department 
Primary Duties
The Council will provide advice and guidance on policies and practices that the School develops in response to covid-19. The Council will offer counsel on the School’s plan for resuming in-person, residential education, with particular emphasis on the following areas:
  • Protocols for viral and antibody testing for all campus residents and visitors,
  • Mitigating risk of infection and transmission among campus community,
  • Protocols for responding to potential cases of covid-19 within the community, and
  • Communicating with Ventura County Health Care Agency in regards to the School’s plans for returning students to campus and its operations during the pandemic.
While the Council will play a critical advisory function, the School retains ultimate responsibility for designing and implementing policies and practices in response to covid-19. 

Timing
The Council will meet periodically as the School develops operational plans in anticipation of students returning in Fall 2020, and reconvene as needed during the school year. 
The link above will take you to the primary location for news and updates about Thacher's ongoing response to the conronavirus. Users will need to log into their myThacher account to view this resources.

Section 1

Community Health

Minimizing Risk on Campus

We will make substantial adjustments to our operations in order to reduce the risk of the virus being introduced on our campus and to limit its impact if it is. Drawing on the best available information about the transmission of the coronavirus, we will emphasize those practices that have the greatest impact on reducing risk. An important part of our strategy is to ensure that the campus is free of the virus as we start school, so we will take extra precautions during that time.
 

Primary Contacts

  • For general questions about community health and our covid-19 response, contact Jeff Hooper, assistant head of school at jhooper@thacher.org.
  • For individual covid-19-related concerns, contact Vicki Edwards, director of the Valley View Clinic, at vedwards@thacher.org
  • For general health concerns, contact Director of Health Services Luke Robinson, lrobinson@thacher.org.

Community Health FAQs

List of 10 frequently asked questions.

  • 1.1 How will the School manage the return of students?

    In accordance with our programming for each class and our risk management plan for covid-19, students will return in phases. Seniors will arrive on August 30, Freshmen on September 6, Sophomores on September 12, and Juniors on September 13. As students arrive, we will conduct two rounds of viral molecular testing, with heightened distancing measures during the days between the two rounds of testing. This phased arrival, along with careful preparation by students and a robust testing regime, are critical to our efforts to start the school year with a campus free of coronavirus.

  • 1.2 Will parents be allowed to participate in move-in day?

    Yes. We will have specific arrival times for each student on their move-in day to limit traffic and density in each dorm. Parents may accompany students on that day and help them get settled into their rooms. We’ll require that parents use face coverings and observe physical distancing practices while on campus. We ask that non-Thacher siblings stay home for move-in day to limit risk.

  • 1.3 What expectations will the School have in regards to individual behaviors to limit risks of infection?

    At the individual level, a few key changes can have a tremendous impact in lowering risks for everyone. When it comes to managing the risks associated with covid-19, we are all interconnected, and our ability to maintain the health of the entire community will depend substantially on our collective ability to adhere to four simple behavioral standards. As with everything important that the School seeks to accomplish, we will rely on our seniors to provide the leadership and accountability to establish and sustain adherence to these measures. While we outline below our “standard operating procedures,” we may choose to tighten or loosen these measures in response to changing conditions. 
    • Wear a cloth mask or face covering whenever you are outside your dorm room or residence.
    • Maintain at least 6 feet of distance from all persons except for your close contacts (as established by the cohorts explained in the Student Life section of this resource). Be especially careful to maintain this distance when indoors, and during all interactions between students and teachers.
    • Keep your hands clean and away from your face. Thoroughly wash your hands several times a day. Use hand sanitizer when you are unable to wash your hands. 
    • Assess yourself for symptoms daily using our health app.
    These expectations will apply to all community members while on campus.
     

  • 1.4 Will the School conduct testing for coronavirus?

    Yes. We will use viral molecular testing as a key part of our strategy to detect the presence of the virus in our community, and to respond appropriately to limit transmission. On campus, we will use a rapid-return, point-of-care molecular test that requires a nasal swab. We will employ testing in a variety of situations, as described below.
    • Pre-Arrival Testing. Five days before their return to campus, we will ask that all students undergo viral testing using either a molecular (PCR) test  or an antigen test. We will not be accepting an antibody test. We will be in touch with families directly regarding options for completing this round of testing. If that test is positive, students will stay home and follow the guidance of their health care provider. Faculty and resident family members, staff, and day students will also undergo testing prior to the return of boarding students. 
    • Testing on Arrival. When students return to campus, they will undergo molecular testing in the School’s new Valley View Clinic health facility. Students will return for a second test five days after the first.
    • Ongoing Surveillance Testing: On a regular basis, the School will select a random sample of students, faculty, and staff to undergo routine surveillance testing. These tests will be a tool for us to actively monitor for the presence of infection on campus.
    • Responsive Testing: Any community member experiencing influenza-like symptoms will be tested for covid-19 as well as Influenza A and B. We will also immediately test the close contacts of any individual who tests positive for covid-19.
    Thacher will provide these tests at no additional charge to families. While this aggressive testing regimen presents some disruption to our normal routines, we view it as a critical tool in our efforts to manage risk.

  • 1.5 Should students take extra precautions to avoid the risk of exposure to the virus prior to returning to campus?

    Yes. We’ll ask our students to quarantine at home prior to their arrival on campus. For the fourteen days preceding their return to campus, students must take extra care to avoid infection. Specifically, we require that they avoid crowded indoor spaces, wear masks outside of the home, and limit close contact to their immediate family members. These precautions are critical to our efforts to achieve a “clean start” as we repopulate the campus.

  • 1.6. Will there be a system in place for monitoring symptoms related to covid-19?

    Yes. Students will use a mobile app that requires an individual daily questionnaire and tracks symptoms, temperature, test results, and contact with others. This application will incorporate our covid-19 policies around testing, isolation, and health care actions.

  • 1.7 Will faculty and staff members also be tested for the virus?

    Yes. We will test all faculty, staff, and faculty family members prior to student arrival. Faculty and staff will also participate in the routine surveillance testing of the campus community. Still, it is important that the distancing practices are rigidly observed in all adult/student interactions, as faculty and staff members are likely to have greater exposure to the outside community and to be at greater risk from the virus.

  • 1.8 How will the School monitor the risk environment and adjust to any changes?

    We will undergo a daily review of several indicators, including volume of testing in the local area, rate of positive tests, and number of hospitalizations in both Ventura County and the Ojai Valley. We will also review these indicators regularly with our Medical Advisory Board. These data will provide the basis for us to calibrate our suppression and sequestration efforts.

  • 1.9 What happens if a student becomes ill?

    Any student who experiences symptoms associated with covid-19 should contact the Valley View Clinic, a new testing and isolation facility on campus (see facilities section for more information). Patients will be isolated and treated in that clinic until we are able to determine if they are positive for covid-19 or have another illness. If covid-19 is ruled out, the student will receive care in our regular Health Center facilities. If covid-19 is confirmed, the student will remain isolated in the Valley View Clinic and the School will conduct contact tracing and testing on the student’s close contacts. Families who live within driving distance may be asked to pick up ill students for isolation and treatment at home.

Section 2

Facilities

New Clinic, New Practices

The School has made considerable investments in new facilities to support our ability to operate safely and respond appropriately to any confirmed or suspected cases. These investments represent an important part of our strategy to develop the resilience to maintain our educational operations even if we have infections on campus.

Facilities FAQs

List of 5 frequently asked questions.

  • 2.1 Where will the school conduct testing for covid-19?

    New facilities known as the Valley View Clinic will be installed on the tennis courts below the dining hall. This complex will provide ample space to conduct testing for the coronavirus. This facility will have its own skilled nursing team led by Vicki Edwards.

  • 2.2 What happens if a student needs to be isolated due to a confirmed or suspected infection?

    Over the summer the School secured several new facilities for this purpose. We will have the space and supervision to accommodate students who need to be in isolation or quarantine. Having this capacity reinforces our ability to follow appropriate protocols and remain resilient in the event that we have positive cases on campus.

  • 2.3 How will cleaning and sanitization practices change?

    Each of our classrooms will be cleaned and sanitized between each class meeting. We will also significantly increase the frequency and intensity of our cleaning regimens for public spaces and restrooms throughout the campus, including the dormitories. 

  • 2.4 What other facilities modifications will the School make?

    Over the summer we will install ultraviolet light (UVC) and electrostatic devices on heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units throughout campus. We will also install air circulation devices in all dorm and public restrooms that include HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters. Additionally, we have upgraded restrooms to enable hands-free use as much as possible.

  • 2.5 How will the School monitor delivery vehicles, contractors, and other campus visitors?

    While we will seek to limit traffic from off campus, it won’t be possible to avoid it entirely. A key element of our sequestration strategy involves being able to monitor campus arrivals. We will install a new, more secure gate and add a check-in station to allow us to screen all campus arrivals. We have also redesigned protocols for campus visitors and contractors to avoid the possibility of them being in close contact with any student or member of the faculty or staff. Any visitor who will have contact with faculty or students will be required to demonstrate evidence of a recent negative test or to undergo testing on campus.

Primary Contacts

For questions about the Valley View Clinic and its operations, contact Vicki Edwards, director of the Valley View Clinic at vedwards@thacher.org

For questions about other facilities matters and campus security, contact Ed Bennett, director of facilities, at ebennett@thacher.org.

Section 3

Student Life

Adapting Together

We will ask our students to collaborate in mitigating risk by embracing key adjustments in their daily routines and practices. While we will need to adapt to this new risk environment, we will also remain mindful of the importance of connection, joy, camaraderie, and levity in our shared experience.

Student Life FAQs

List of 15 frequently asked questions.

  • 3.1 How will dorm life be organized?

    Dorm life will be structured by cohorts, or groups of 6-10 students who live near one another and share restroom facilities. Within these groups, expectations for suppression measures such as masks and physical distancing will be relaxed after a period of time.

  • 3.2 How will the cohort system work?

    The assistant head of school for student life will work with dorm heads to establish cohort groups. Cohort members will be considered close contacts and as such will not be expected to observe the mask and distancing requirements within the cohort once a period of time has elapsed. Members of a given cohort will not necessarily have the same academic, extracurricular, or dining schedules. The composition of cohorts will depend on the layout and architecture of the dorm and will not necessarily correspond to prefect or advisee groups.

  • 3.3 Will common rooms and kitchens be available for student use?

    While outdoor gathering spaces will be available in each dorm area, common rooms and kitchens will not be open for student use at the beginning of the year.

  • 3.4 Who will be permitted in dorms?

    Access to each dormitory will be limited to its residents and the faculty affiliated with the dorm.

  • 3.5 How will dining hall operations be adjusted?

    In order to limit congestion in the dining hall, students will have assigned times for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Indoor and outdoor seating in the dining hall will be adjusted to allow for adequate physical distancing. The School will also make snacks available to students outside of meal times. Dining hall staff will follow strict safety procedures, including serving all meals, to protect community health.

  • 3.6 What about laundry?

    Our laundry rooms present an elevated risk for transmission due to the multiple touch points and propensity to concentrate a lot of traffic in a small enclosed area. For this reason, in 2020-21 the school will provide weekly laundry service for all residential students at no additional charge. The laundry rooms in all dorms will be closed to student use.

  • 3.7 What will happen with the afternoon program?

    Students will have the opportunity to choose from a number of different options in the afternoons. Our afternoon programming will continue to include choices in the athletic, outdoor, horse, and independent programs. In the fall season, the athletic program will not include interscholastic sports, but there will be a more diverse array of options at both the competitive and recreational levels.

  • 3.8 What will happen on the weekends?

    With the leadership of the Indoor and Outdoor Committees, we will offer weekend programming that conforms with our community safety standards. Town runs will not be available at the start of the year, but advisors will support students in getting access to needed items from town.

  • 3.9 Will students be allowed to leave campus?

    In general, no. A key part of our risk mitigation strategy requires that we isolate ourselves as much as practical from the surrounding community. Therefore, we will not allow town runs or other routine opportunities for students to leave campus on their own. Student requests to leave campus for personal reasons will be considered case by case in the context of our risk environment. Requests to leave campus should be sent to Sabina McMahon.

  • 3.10 What will be the expectations for day students?

    At some times during the year, day students may be asked to live on campus. In this case, the School will provide individual rooms for each day student. When day students are not living on campus, they will be expected to limit their interactions to their immediate families. Day students will have access to shared spaces on campus to study and relax when they are not in class. For this reason, we will consider day students who use these spaces to be “close contacts” with one another. Day students should maintain physical distancing and masking practices in all other interactions and avoid entering dormitories. Day students can also choose to engage in online learning if they wish or if they need to have more extensive social contacts while off campus.

  • 3.11 Will there be formal dinner?

    Our dining hall protocols will not permit us to have formal dinners. We will, of course, resume this tradition when it’s possible to do so safely.

  • 3.12 Will there be advisee dinners?

    Yes. Initially, we will expect that advisee dinners and similar informal gatherings take place outdoors.

  • 3.13 Will there be fall Extra-Day Trips?

    No. Our sequestration strategy will make it impossible for us to undergo fall EDTs. However, camping will remain an important part of our program, and students will have several opportunities to participate in shorter, more local camping trips throughout the fall term.
     

  • 3.14 What should students bring with them when they return?

    In addition to at least five cloth reusable masks, students should pack enough clothes to comfortably manage weekly laundry service. When packing for school, boarding students should think about how they can easily maintain a clean room. Please focus on essentials and limit yourself to as few items as possible. In the event that students need to head home unexpectedly or relocate on campus, they will be more nimble with fewer belongings. Like every year, students should bring the personal items that they would need for camping trips. 

  • 3.15 Will students be able to order food delivery?

    No. As we open the school year, food delivery from Ojai restaurants will not be permitted.
     

Primary Contacts

For questions about student life, contact Sabina McMahon, assistant head of school for student life (smcmahon@thacher.org).

For questions about the afternoon program, contact Michelyne Pinard, mpinard@thacher.org.

For questions about a specific dorm, contact the dorm head:

Casa (ninth-grade girls)
Megan Carney (mcarney@thacher.org)

Lower School (ninth-grade boys)
Tommy Hattori (thattori@thacher.org)

Los Padres (tenth-grade boys)
Tyler Popa (tpopa@thacher.org)

Middle School (tenth-grade girls)
Ann Merlini (amerlini@thacher.org)

The Hill and Sespe (eleventh- and twelfth-grade girls)
Bob St. George (bstgeorge@thacher.org)

Upper School (eleventh- and twelfth-grade boys)
Tim Sullivan (tsullivan@thacher.org)

Key Points

  • Access to dorms will be limited to residents of that dorm and affiliated faculty.
  • Meal times will be assigned.
  • Weekly laundry service will be provided.
  • Alternatives to interscholastic sports will be available.
  • Town runs will not be available at the beginning of the school year.

Section 4

Academic Program

Maximizing Safety and Connection

Although we anticipate that most of our classes will meet in person, we will retain the online learning tools and skills that we developed in the spring so that we can accommodate any student or teacher who is unable to be physically present in class. We will also employ a daily schedule and yearly calendar that are in accordance with our efforts to maintain a safe and healthy campus learning community and allow us to best leverage relationships between students and teachers.

Academics FAQs

List of 10 frequently asked questions.

  • 4.1 Will online learning continue in 2020-21?

    We will offer a full schedule of online classes whenever we are unable to convene classes in person. Once students are on campus, our priority will be to hold in-person classes. We recognize that it may be inadvisable or impossible for some students and some teachers to attend in-person classes. This could be due to medical risk factors or travel complications. Further, there could be periods in which we choose not to have classes convene due to an elevated risk environment. Therefore, we will retain the ability for individuals and entire classes to have an uninterrupted learning experience when they are unable to be physically present in the classroom. 
     
    Students will have access to all course content whether they are taking the class in person or working remotely online. The director of studies and assistant head for student life will maintain a list of students working remotely and will coordinate with students, families, and faculty. Students working remotely should plan to follow their daily schedule as posted on myThacher; they will gain access to in-person classes via Zoom. 

  • 4.2 Will there be guidelines in place for online learning?

    Thacher will publish guidelines and expectations for working online, including an overview of student and family roles and responsibilities, technology guidelines, and contact information for academic or technology support.

  • 4.3 Will classrooms look different?

    Thacher’s academic spaces have been updated to ensure the safety of students and faculty as well as to allow for the highest-quality online learning experience for students working remotely. Classroom capacity has been reduced and some classroom furnishing modified to allow for physical distancing. Still, we will be able to accommodate all of our students for in-person learning. Classroom technology renovations include the installation of additional interactive displays and web cameras. Teachers and students will both use face coverings in the classroom.

  • 4.4 What about other academic spaces on campus?

    Students can anticipate new protocols for shared academic spaces, including the library, project studio, music practice rooms, and the use of classrooms in the evenings and weekends.

  • 4.5 What supplies will students need for classes?

    Thacher will continue to require students to bring their own personal laptop to school. 

    In order to reduce shared contact of frequently used school supplies, all students should arrive at school with a good supply of pencils, pens, and notebook paper. All Thacher math students are required to have graphing calculators. We encourage all new students to purchase their calculators in advance so they can use them during our opening period of online learning. The Math Department requires students to have one of the following TI-84 models:
     
     
    These models are approved for use of standardized tests and recommended by the math dept. Note that other TI models might not be approved for use on standardized testing.
     
    In addition, Thacher will provide each student with their own set of EXPO, Low-Odor dry erase markers and a small personal whiteboard (approx 8.5'' x 11'') with eraser and bill home for the cost of these items. These materials should be brought to class every day.
     
    Costs of school supplies related to Thacher's covid-19 response will be covered by Thacher for Olympus Fund recipients. Please contact Kim Bastian with any questions or concerns.
     

  • 4.6 How will the School calendar be structured?

    The school calendar has been adjusted to minimize travel on and off campus. Our time on campus will be divided into two sessions, separated by an extended winter break. Session I will be from September through mid-December, and Session II will begin in mid-January and continue to late May. For assessment purposes, however, the academic calendar will continue to follow trimesters. Families can anticipate grade reports in late November, mid-March, and at the conclusion of the school year.

  • 4.7 Will the daily class schedule change?

    Yes. Returning Thacher students will see a substantial shift in the daily academic schedule. During our phased entry return, we will run a hybrid schedule, with 50-minute classes and some students beginning coursework online. Most students will have two or three of these classes per day. On September 21, once all students have returned to campus, we will shift to our new, longer block schedule, with three 80-minute classes per day in addition to substantial time for community gatherings, affinity and club meetings, advising, and dorm programming. Students can expect to have two or three classes daily, depending on where their free period falls. Each class meets two or three times per week

  • 4.8 What are the advantages of the new daily class schedule?

    Longer blocks allow for deeper student engagement by making time for in-class collaboration, labs, and extended project-based experiences. A block schedule decreases the number of classes students must prepare for each night, slows the pace of the day by minimizing transitions, and prioritizes time for student engagement and immersion. This shift also meets the goals of our covid-19 response (decreasing the traffic of multiple passing times, allowing ample time for classroom cleaning and scheduled, staggered lunches) and represents an exciting advancement in our approach to teaching and learning. Thacher students will receive their schedules in late August.

  • 4.9 Will the grading system change?

    Thacher will return to our standard letter-grade system. Students will receive grades at the mid-term point of each term as well as in formal end-of-term reports. Thacher faculty will closely monitor students’ academic progress and remain in close contact with advisors, the director of studies, and the assistant head for student life if any students need additional support. 

  • 4.10 Will students be able to take the SAT and ACT tests?

    Yes. Although many colleges are waiving testing requirements, we have arranged to conduct both tests on campus as a closed test center. SAT testing will occur on campus on the following dates: September 23, October 14, March 24, and April 27. We will host ACT testing on September 12, October 24, December 12, February 6, and April 17. The College Office has been in contact with juniors and seniors about registration protocols.

Primary Contacts

For questions about the academic program contact:
Tracy Miller, director of studies, at tmiller@thacher.org. 
 

Section 5

Resources

Contacts and Additional Information



For more general information relating to the coronovirus and Thacher's response (including an archive of past School communications on the topic), visit our covid-19 page on the myThacher Resource Board.

Please don't hesitate to contact us with your questions or concerns. The following is a general guide to whom you should contact about what.

Health
  • For questions about Thacher’s covid-19 policies, contact Jeff Hooper, jhooper@thacher.org. 
  • For individual covid-19-related concerns, contact Vicki Edwards, director of the Valley View Clinic, at vedwards@thacher.org
  • For general health concerns, contact Director of Health Services Luke Robinson, lrobinson@thacher.org.
Facilities
  • For questions about the Valley View Clinic and its operations, contact Vicki Edwards, vedwards@thacher.org. 
  • For questions about other facilities matters and campus security, contact Ed Bennett, ebennett@thacher.org.
Student Life
  • For questions about student life, contact Sabina McMahon, smcmahon@thacher.org. 
  • For questions about the afternoon program, contact Michelyne Pinard, mpinard@thacher.org.
  • For questions about a specific dorm, contact the dorm head. 
Casa (ninth-grade girls)
Megan Carney (mcarney@thacher.org)

Lower School (ninth-grade boys)
Tommy Hattori (thattori@thacher.org)

Los Padres (tenth-grade boys)
Tyler Popa (tpopa@thacher.org)

Middle School (tenth-grade girls)
Ann Merlini (amerlini@thacher.org)

The Hill and Sespe (eleventh- and twelfth-grade girls)
Bob St. George (bstgeorge@thacher.org)

Upper School (eleventh- and twelfth-grade boys)
Tim Sullivan (tsullivan@thacher.org)

Academic Program

Downloads

Back-to-School Playbook for the 2020-2021 School Year
The Thacher School
5025 Thacher Road
Ojai, California, 93023

Tel : 805-646-4377
Notice of nondiscriminatory policy as to students: The Thacher School admits students of any race, color, national, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other School-administered programs.