The 2020-21 School Year
The Hill is taking measures to maximize the on-campus and in-person experience for students, while also building in the flexibility to adjust our plans, if necessary, to accommodate new information about COVID-19, testing, vaccines, and other factors. While it is impossible to eliminate all risks, we are working diligently to reduce risks by taking reasonable and thoughtful precautions. These measures will include adjustments to our school calendar, new health protocols, reduced density in the classrooms and residential spaces, changes to our dining procedures, the ability to switch between in-person and online learning seamlessly as needed, and more. This page contains information about The Hill’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the School’s efforts to plan for a safe and thoughtful return to our campus in August 2020.
The Hill continues to follow the guidance of local, state, and federal governments, as well as public health agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Campus Reopening FAQs
- Does The Hill School have a plan to re-open campus in Fall 2020?
- How is The Hill School planning to re-open in August?
- What measures will be in place to ensure everyone’s health and safety when they return to campus?
- Is The Hill School following a phased approach to reopening campus?
- What other bodies may influence The Hill School’s return and continuity planning?
- What are the Campus Wellness Levels (CWL)?
- What is the Opening Conditions Campus Wellness Level?
- What if the public health situation significantly improves or worsens?
- Should I drive or fly to Hill for the start of school if I am completing my pre-arrival 14-day quarantine outside of 2-3 hours away from Pottstown?
- May my child complete his/her pre-arrival quarantine on campus in August?
- I am interested in learning more about The Hill's supervised hotel quarantine. What are the details?
Does The Hill School have a plan to re-open campus in Fall 2020?
How is The Hill School planning to re-open in August?
What measures will be in place to ensure everyone’s health and safety when they return to campus?
Is The Hill School following a phased approach to reopening campus?
What other bodies may influence The Hill School’s return and continuity planning?
What are the Campus Wellness Levels (CWL)?
What is the Opening Conditions Campus Wellness Level?
What if the public health situation significantly improves or worsens?
Should I drive or fly to Hill for the start of school if I am completing my pre-arrival 14-day quarantine outside of 2-3 hours away from Pottstown?
May my child complete his/her pre-arrival quarantine on campus in August?
I am interested in learning more about The Hill's supervised hotel quarantine. What are the details?
General FAQs
- Are masks and eyewear required?
- How will you reduce close contact between students throughout the day?
- How will physical distancing be practiced in classrooms?
- What is the full calendar for the year?
- What if I cannot make it back to campus by August 24?
- Why is campus closing for three months for most students?
- Will campus events occur this fall?
- What are the dates of the Autumn Session (Fall and Winter Terms)?
- What are the dates for Saturday classes?
- What happens between January 4 and February 28?
- What is H-Term?
- How/when will students move into their dorm rooms?
- Will parents be allowed on campus to help move items into the dormitories?
- Will I be able to visit my child/children on campus or will they be allowed to come home?
- Will there be a preseason for athletics or a theatre bootcamp?
- Will fall athletics and interscholastic competition occur?
- What will happen to winter and spring athletics?
- When will winter varsity sports begin?
- Will you still have a theatre program?
- What co-curricular programs will happen during Hibernation?
- Even if my child is not a winter varsity athlete, may he/she remain at Hill during some/all of the campus closure period between November 24 and February 28? If so, what is the cost?
- Can I leave campus for a college visit?
- Will I be able to take SAT and ACT tests on campus next year?
- What happens if my child gets sick?
- What should I do if I am having trouble scheduling a physical for my child?
- Is the School requiring a flu shot this year?
- Where will my child go if sick or quarantined, or if campus closes?
- Where will my child go if campus is required to close by the state due to a COVID-19 outbreak on campus or nearby?
- Will students be able to be tested for COVID-19?
- What happens if my child tests positive for COVID-19?
- I am worried about my child’s mental health given all of the changes and requirements related to COVID-19. What is Hill doing to support mental health in the coming year?
- Will there be changes in tuition due to COVID-19?
- If a boarding student moved in early and their masks and/or thermometer are in their room, do they need to bring them to registration?
- The doctor’s office sent my child's COVID test results to the Wellness Center. Does my child need a copy to show at registration?
Are masks and eyewear required?
How will you reduce close contact between students throughout the day?
How will physical distancing be practiced in classrooms?
What is the full calendar for the year?
What if I cannot make it back to campus by August 24?
Why is campus closing for three months for most students?
Will campus events occur this fall?
What are the dates of the Autumn Session (Fall and Winter Terms)?
What are the dates for Saturday classes?
What happens between January 4 and February 28?
What is H-Term?
How/when will students move into their dorm rooms?
Will parents be allowed on campus to help move items into the dormitories?
Will I be able to visit my child/children on campus or will they be allowed to come home?
Will there be a preseason for athletics or a theatre bootcamp?
Will fall athletics and interscholastic competition occur?
What will happen to winter and spring athletics?
When will winter varsity sports begin?
Will you still have a theatre program?
What co-curricular programs will happen during Hibernation?
Even if my child is not a winter varsity athlete, may he/she remain at Hill during some/all of the campus closure period between November 24 and February 28? If so, what is the cost?
Can I leave campus for a college visit?
Will I be able to take SAT and ACT tests on campus next year?
What happens if my child gets sick?
What should I do if I am having trouble scheduling a physical for my child?
Is the School requiring a flu shot this year?
Where will my child go if sick or quarantined, or if campus closes?
Where will my child go if campus is required to close by the state due to a COVID-19 outbreak on campus or nearby?
Will students be able to be tested for COVID-19?
What happens if my child tests positive for COVID-19?
I am worried about my child’s mental health given all of the changes and requirements related to COVID-19. What is Hill doing to support mental health in the coming year?
Will there be changes in tuition due to COVID-19?
If a boarding student moved in early and their masks and/or thermometer are in their room, do they need to bring them to registration?
The doctor’s office sent my child's COVID test results to the Wellness Center. Does my child need a copy to show at registration?
Day Student FAQs
- Will day students be able to attend classes on campus?
- Will day students be able to take district bussing?
- Will we be able to carpool with other families?
- Will my child need to be medically screened each day?
- Will my child be allowed to visit friends in the dorm?
- Will my child be allowed to stay after their last commitment for dinner, extra help, library time, etc.?
- Where will my child spend their free time while on campus?
- Will my child be able to attend on-campus or weekend activities?
- Will we be able to host boarding students in our homes?
Will day students be able to attend classes on campus?
Will day students be able to take district bussing?
Will we be able to carpool with other families?
Will my child need to be medically screened each day?
Will my child be allowed to visit friends in the dorm?
Will my child be allowed to stay after their last commitment for dinner, extra help, library time, etc.?
Where will my child spend their free time while on campus?
Will my child be able to attend on-campus or weekend activities?
Will we be able to host boarding students in our homes?
- Will day students be able to attend classes on campus?
- Will my child need to be medically screened each day?
- When will day students arrive on campus for in-person learning?
- Why is in-person learning for day students being delayed by 5-7 days?
- Will day students participate in orientation and registration activities?
- When is Day Student Prefect training?
- When must day students begin their 14-day home quarantine?
- Now that day students will start the school year remotely, what are the COVID-19 testing guidelines?
- Will day students be tested for COVID-19 again before starting in-person classes during the week of August 31?
- Will day students be able to use campus athletics facilities or participate in co-curricular activities/practices before their on-campus arrival date?
- Will day students receive a tuition adjustment because of the delayed start?
- May day students now participate in club sports and/or similar group activities until August 14?
- How will day students receive technical support from ITS to ensure a smooth start to remote learning?
- During the remote learning period, must day students attend their remote classes synchronously or may they opt to watch a recording?
- If a day student plans to participate remotely beyond the week of August 31, must they still sign up to be tested for COVID-19 on campus on August 16?
Will day students be able to attend classes on campus?
Will my child need to be medically screened each day?
When will day students arrive on campus for in-person learning?
Why is in-person learning for day students being delayed by 5-7 days?
Will day students participate in orientation and registration activities?
When is Day Student Prefect training?
When must day students begin their 14-day home quarantine?
Now that day students will start the school year remotely, what are the COVID-19 testing guidelines?
Will day students be tested for COVID-19 again before starting in-person classes during the week of August 31?
Will day students be able to use campus athletics facilities or participate in co-curricular activities/practices before their on-campus arrival date?
Will day students receive a tuition adjustment because of the delayed start?
May day students now participate in club sports and/or similar group activities until August 14?
How will day students receive technical support from ITS to ensure a smooth start to remote learning?
During the remote learning period, must day students attend their remote classes synchronously or may they opt to watch a recording?
If a day student plans to participate remotely beyond the week of August 31, must they still sign up to be tested for COVID-19 on campus on August 16?
International Student FAQs
- Will my F-1 expire after five months if I do not hold a U.S. passport or permanent residency?
- When should I plan to arrive to the United States, so I am ready to begin class on August 24?
- Where should international students look for the most up-to-date information and guidance regarding travel to the U.S. for the fall semester?
- When will I be able to move into my dorm room?
- What if I cannot arrive in the United States by August 5, August 23, or even later?
- Where will I go if campus closes?
- Where will I go if I become ill?
- What should I do if I am unable to find a host/guardian?
- Can I remain on campus when closed between November 24 and February 28?
- I am trying to buy a round-trip international airline ticket. What date should I book for my return home after the fall session?
Will my F-1 expire after five months if I do not hold a U.S. passport or permanent residency?
When should I plan to arrive to the United States, so I am ready to begin class on August 24?
Where should international students look for the most up-to-date information and guidance regarding travel to the U.S. for the fall semester?
When will I be able to move into my dorm room?
What if I cannot arrive in the United States by August 5, August 23, or even later?
Where will I go if campus closes?
Where will I go if I become ill?
What should I do if I am unable to find a host/guardian?
Can I remain on campus when closed between November 24 and February 28?
I am trying to buy a round-trip international airline ticket. What date should I book for my return home after the fall session?
Plan to Re-open and Resume Campus Operations for the 2020-21 School Year
July 23 Headmaster's Roundtable
Boarding Student Families
July 23 Headmaster's Roundtable
Day Student Families
Opening Conditions Campus Wellness Levels
All Conditions Campus
Wellness Levels