USN strives to be a community of accepting and understanding individuals–a pandemic does not change that. Honesty, selflessness, and a connected community are things that USN students have always valued, and now, they are more important than ever. To uphold those values, we are asking all high school students to affirm this statement, confirming that they are committed to creating a safe environment.
We, members of the University School Community, accept the responsibility for our freedom by committing to holding ourselves, our friends, and our community accountable for healthy choices pertaining to COVID-19. We agree to the guidelines the school has laid out for us, including mask wearing, frequent hand washing, and maintaining social distancing in the classroom as well as during non-scheduled times. We understand that holding ourselves and our peers to high standards is critical for the well-being of our community.
We understand that school will be different, and that for the betterment and safety of our community, we may need to sacrifice or alter some activities or routines that have been held in the past. We will also be cognizant of the fact that social distancing should not be limited to school hours: we will take responsibility for all of our actions, inside and outside of the Edgehill building, including honestly completing any symptom screenings necessary for attending school.
We will acknowledge and respect the choices of others in regards to how and when they choose to reenter the community in-person. We will support and encourage behavior that is meant to keep more vulnerable students, families, and faculty safe and healthy during these times. Accordingly, we will commit to mental health, making sure that all members of the USN community have access to and are aware of all available resources. Further, we will extend the USN culture of mutual caretaking to these individuals as well.
We will treat the involvement of remote learning as equal to in person learning, while recognizing that it is a privilege to learn in person and that we must treat it that way if we want to continue. Additionally, we will respect the integrity of learning and adhere to the USN honor code whether we are in school or at home. We will also keep in mind the fact that faculty are trying to uphold these rules and respect their efforts to maintain a safe environment within our community.
We understand that given the uncertainty of these times, we must be more flexible and open-minded. We will show empathy towards peers, teachers, and administrators alike. USN strives to be a community of accepting and understanding individuals–a pandemic will not change that.