LSMSA Re-Opening Plan for Spring 2021 (11.20.20)

Good morning Eagles and Eagle Parents:

For the past month, the senior administration and an on-campus ad hoc “Return to the Nest” committee have spent significant time determining the best route for how to handle instruction for the Spring 2021 semester.   After monitoring the successes at our sister institutions across the country as well as universities and boarding schools across the region, we are comfortable with returning the student body to campus for the Spring semester--under very controlled conditions.

As you will see in the attached one-page summary as well as on our online Return to Campus page, we plan to return the student body to campus in cohort sessions...a BLUE SESSION, a GOLD SESSION, and a SENIOR EAGLE SESSION.  The first two sessions (BLUE SESSION and GOLD SESSION) will be four weeks in length and will include a mix of sophomores, juniors, and seniors. These cohorts will be formed based on class enrollments to better allow for social distancing in the classrooms.  No in-person class size is expected to exceed eight students, and each student will have a private room in the residence hall.  While the BLUE cohort is on campus, the GOLD cohort will be at home completing synchronous instruction virtually.

We will repeat the same process in reverse for the second session (GOLD SESSION).

Then, for the final five week session (SENIOR EAGLE SESSION), we will return the Senior Class to campus as one group so that they can experience the final weeks together and enjoy some of the traditions afforded that class annually.  During this time, all sophomores and juniors will be at home completing synchronous virtual instruction.

Between each session, we will close the campus for sanitization, and all students will participate in virtual instruction.

So, all students will have the opportunity to be on campus for a minimum of one session face-to-face.  The seniors will be on campus for two sessions.  And when students are not on campus, they will complete course requirements virtually and synchronously.

This cohort design will allow for social distancing, private rooms, smaller class sizes, and restricted group gatherings.  

We have made changes to residential policies, but we have worked to preserve most elements of the student experience while also prioritizing safety. 

It is our hope to be able to offer athletic team experiences in the Spring.  Coach Dale and our league are in conversation about schedules and about safety standards for the students. We will also be offering our traditional physical education classes, albeit with very strict standards to protect everyone’s health and safety.

Please know that students DO have the option of remaining virtual the entire semester. 

Families are asked to carefully review the Reopening Page on our website. There you can find: 

• The full Campus Reopening Plan
• The amended Spring 2021 calendar
• A list of anticipated questions and answers

Additional questions that you have may be submitted here. Depending on the number of questions submitted, we will send one or two newsletters during the upcoming week. In those newsletters, we will provide answers to the questions that are received. 

On Monday, November 30, we will schedule four ZOOM-based question-and-answer sessions for any parents who may have additional questions they would like to ask. Participation in these sessions is not required, and more information will follow regarding signing up for a session.

After reviewing the materials and considering individual family needs, we ask that each family complete the Spring 2021 Enrollment form in myLSMSA by no later than 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, December 1. This form requires that both the student and one parent/guardian sign into their own myLSMSA accounts to sign the form. 

Thank you for being so supportive this semester.  This has been a terribly difficult time for all of us, and we feel that we deserve the opportunity to pursue a return to campus under very controlled conditions.  Please know, nevertheless, should the state revert to Phase 1 or 2, or if LSMSA, Natchitoches Parish Schools, or Northwestern State University determine a closure is necessary, we will follow suit and return to virtual status.