Previous Amerigo Updates

May 19, 6:30 PM CST

Below are today’s COVID-19 updates. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

Learning Resources during the Summer Break

To help our students continue build onto what they’ve learned over the course of the school year, Amerigo is providing our students with learning resources to help them keep up with their academics, English skills and university guidance.

Most of these resources are available at no additional cost, and offer great opportunities for students to keep learning throughout the summer. These resources include English Language Learning platforms, essay writing resources, college planning meetings and more.

Click here to see a list of available resources: https://www.amerigoeducation.com/sites/default/files/documents/Learning%20Resources%20during%20the%20Summer%20Break.pdf

Click here to see a Chinese language version of the list: https://www.amerigoeducation.com/sites/default/files/documents/中文%20Learning%20Resources%20during%20the%20Summer%20Break.pdf

Amerigo Virtual Graduation Kudos Boards

To celebrate our Class of 2020 Graduating Seniors, our campuses created online Kudos Boards – places to share special messages, photos and videos for graduates. Take a look at the messages posted, and feel free to add your own!

Lexington: https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/BXbh3l0N

Los Angeles: https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/4P1Xfpop

Boca Raton: https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/EEhvFHr0

Chicago: https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/AroexPPt

Napa Valley: https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/QMwdOj8a

Twin Cities: https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/wuIk6SEf

May 18, 6:30 PM CST

Below are today’s COVID-19 updates. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

Spend Your Summer With Amerigo

If your child is planning on spending part or all of their summer with Amerigo due to travel restrictions, please note that applications are due soon. There are three options for Summer Programs, including:

1. Summer Stay Program: Including airport transportation, health insurance, 24-hour supervision from on-site staff and space in a double-occupancy room

2. Summer Stay + Meals: All of the items listed above, as well as continental breakfast options, lunch and dinner 7 days per week

3. Summer Stay + Meals + Get Ahead: Includes everything listed above, as well as daily test preparation for the SAT and TOEFL, English Language Support courses and the opportunity to take for-credit coursework.

Click here for more information on all of the above programs.

Amerigo Virtual Graduation

Please join us for an Amerigo Virtual Graduation, where we’ll celebrate this year’s graduating senior class. The event will be held online at 10 pm CT (Chicago Time) on May 22^nd.

Click here for an English language invitation.

Click here for a Chinese language invitation.

May 11, 6:30 PM CST

Many of you have reached out with interest in signing your child up for our Summer Stay program. In today’s updates, you will find a few additional details as well as the relevant links to help guide you through the registration process.

The deadline to register for the Summer Stay program is May 15^th. Spaces are limited. First come, first serve. To help our team to plan our staffing and resources, we want to encourage you to register before May 15^th. If you are still waiting to see whether you child can return home on a flight in early June, but worry it may get cancelled, we recommend you register for the Summer Stay program for two weeks. If the flight gets cancelled, you can extend it for a longer period; if the flight flies according to the schedule, you can cancel the Summer Stay program before the start date and get a refund (minus the student insurance cost that had to be paid in advance).

We understand that this is a time of great uncertainty. Please know that staying in the US this summer continues to be an option that causes the least interruptions to your child’s educational experience, as it remains unknown when international flights will resume between the US and many countries. If your child travels back to your home country, there is a chance he/she may not be able to return on time for the new school year.

What is the process for registering for the Summer Stay Program?

Step 1: You or your child should register by filling out this form: www.Shorturl.at/HMNSY

Step 2: You and your child will receive an email confirming with you on the program details including the model of the program, the dates, and the cost.

Step 3: After you confirm, you will receive an invoice from Amerigo for the payment.

Step 4: You will make payment by either bank transfer or Square Payment Link.

To read the English version of FAQs, please click on the link: https://www.amerigoeducation.com/sites/default/files/documents/Get%20Ahead%20Summer%20Stay%20Program%20FAQ%20Parent%20%26%20Student%20FINAL%20%282%29.pdf

To read the Chinese version of the FAQs, please click on the link: https://www.amerigoeducation.com/sites/default/files/documents/%E4%B8%AD%E6%96%87Get%20Ahead%20Summer%20Stay%20Program%20FAQ%20Parent%20%26%20Student%20CHINESE%20final%20%281%29.pdf

May 8, 6:30 PM CST

• We are excited to share with you that we are holding an Amerigo Virtual Graduation for our seniors at 10 pm CT (Chicago Time) on May 22^nd. You’re invited to Amerigo’s first ever Virtual Graduation Celebration for all of our graduating seniors.

• This event, which is open to students, families and friends, will celebrate the students’ incredible achievements via an online video Zoom meeting.

• Dan Porterfield, the renowned President and CEO of the Aspen Institute, will offer the Commencement Speech.

• Michael Cho, a graduating senior at Amerigo Twin Cities, will be the senior speaker.

• Please join us to celebrate this important milestone with all our graduating seniors.

• Click here for an English language invitation.

• Click here for a Chinese language invitation.

May 4, 6:30 PM CST

Here at Amerigo, our primary focus will always be the safety of our students, while also ensuring that they remain on top of their academic coursework.

However, we also are working to make sure that our students are staying connected and having fun, all while following recommended social distance measures. Each month, Amerigo plans several virtual events intended to help students stay engaged and entertained throughout the pandemic.

Below are some of the virtual events offered this month.

• Trivia Thursday: Beginning this week, students and staff can take part in a weekly team trivia competition with a wide range of questions. It is a fun way to gain new knowledge and learn from each other.

• Domino Challenge: Students are encouraged to assemble a small team and create an intricate dominos set-up, then record them knocking it down.

• May Calendar: Each month, Amerigo puts out a calendar full of daily challenges for students to take part in.

May 1, 6:30 PM CST

Below are today’s COVID-19 updates. Please reach out with any questions.

TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition Update

Last month, we shared that ETS was going to launch TOEFL Special Home Edition. At home administrations are currently available around the clock every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday through June 30, 2020. Learn more about the details at https://www.ets.org/s/cv/toefl/at-home/.

Over the past two weeks, Amerigo students were given the opportunity to take an online TOEFL prep course with two ELL teachers. We introduced the TOEFL Special Home Edition to students who wanted to take it.

For students who are overseas, please contact your ELL teacher if you want help registering; but you and your family will need to follow instructions for setting up the room and comply with the ProctorU guidelines to ensure test validity.

According to the latest update, the TOEFL iBT^® Special Home Edition test is not available in Mainland China. ETS is working closely with relevant organization to accommodate test takers impacted by test cancellations, including adding test dates once regular testing resumes.

May Student Calendar

As a way of keeping our students engaged and entertained throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, each month, Amerigo is offering students a calendar full of daily challenges that they can complete in their own apartment. This month’s calendar includes fun challenges like Paint or draw your version of Mona Lisa or Starry Night and Write a Song about Your Campus. Click here to read more.

Updates from Amerigo Students

As part of their English Language Learning courses, our Amerigo students have been writing about how their emotions have been affected by the pandemic and how they are spending their time in quarantine. Below is an update from one student.

“Before this whole COVID thing came up, I thought going outside and traveling wherever I want are the most normal and free things to do. I never expected myself to stay indoors for months. We go out for school and meals often and it seems not a big deal. Booking a flight to China also seems easy, despite the long journey. At least I wouldn’t be stuck in somewhere because flight tickets are extremely hard to buy and expensive. Even if I can successfully get a ticket, there is a large possibility that the flight will be cancelled. Now I realized that even staying safe and healthy is a thing to be appreciate of. This experience taught me that I should be more aware of the nice things around me, even so tiny that it happens every day – well, who knows when it will just suddenly stop happening? I will be more thankful of the grace of God.”

April 29, 6:30 PM CST

Below are today’s COVID-19 updates. Please reach out with any questions.

After speaking with many of you regarding your child and family’s needs over the summer break, we have adapted our Amerigo summer program to provide three unique options, allowing you to choose the one that works best for you and your child.

Students remaining with Amerigo this summer can select from the following options:

Basic Summer Stay

• This option includes airport transportation, health insurance, 24-hour supervised oversight by on-site staff and space in a double occupancy room

• $850/week

Summer Stay + Meals

• This option includes all items of the Basic Summer Stay, as well as continental breakfast options, lunch and dinner 7 days per week

• $950/week

Summer Stay + Get Ahead

• This option includes all items of the Summer Stay + Meals, as well as daily test preparation for the SAT and TOEFL as well as English Language Support, Monday to Friday. Students interested and eligible in taking for-credit coursework with Carmel Catholic High School will be enrolled in approved coursework as well

• $1,250/week

The deadline to register for any of these programs is May 15. Click here to read an English language FAQ document, click here to read a Chinese version. The registration form is available here. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to your Director of Campus Operations.

April 27, 6:30 PM CST

Below are today’s COVID-19 updates. Please reach out with any questions.

Students continue to thrive in the new normal

Now that we’re a few weeks into online learning, we are very proud to share that our students continue to do well with their physical, social and emotional well-being and their academic performance. We want to thank all the parents for the critical support that they have provided to their child and to us as we face this unique challenge together. Over two-thirds of Amerigo students continue to remain on our ten campuses. Many parents have sent us heartwarming thank-you notes, and some have chosen to turn down flights home because they trust the good care Amerigo has been able to provide.

In addition to caring for our students and making sure they complete their homework; our campus teams continue to create opportunities for students to reflect on and explore their feelings about the pandemic.

Below is a student’s writing facilitated by an ELLC using the prompt “something you had previously taken for granted.”

"After all this time I realized how important is for you to have people that you love and that loves you back around, I’m really thoughtful those days and sometimes I think I’ve should appreciated more my family, my friends and specially being thankful for the simple things in our life, just going for a walk, a hug and thousands of things that we don’t notice on our normal days.

This experience for sure will change the way I see things and I treat people, I will pay attention to the little things in life, I’m sure the whole world is going to change and realize things that we didn’t notice before. As I said before I really want to change and become a better person, at least that’s what I consider right for me. "

April 24, 5:15 PM CST

Below are today’s COVID-19 updates. Please reach out with any questions.

Navigating University Admission Changes Webinar Recap

This week, Amerigo Director of University Advising Katie Blue hosted a webinar for the parents of Grade 11 and Grade 12 students titled “Navigating Changing Admissions Policies.”

This webinar focused on the new university admissions processes brought on by COVID-19, as well as a look as to how rising seniors can continue to prepare themselves in the coming months.

In this webinar, Katie addresses:

• Testing issues regarding SAT/ACT, AP and TOEFL

• Advice for seniors heading off to university

• Insights for juniors applying to university in Fall 2021

• How juniors can prepare for university admission

• Additional helpful resources

Please click on the link to view the recording: 

https://zoom.us/rec/share/2ddZaLHt_FlLSbORsnz8AKoNQqfGeaa8gCQW-PAKxRmIZL5zkNJbyeFZb2UZlLNA  

Password: 2K&7?@@7 

Click here to read a detailed recap in English.

Click here to read a detailed recap in Chinese.

Future Webinars

Thursday, April 30^th at 6:00AM, Central Standard Time:  SAT/ACT Optional University Admission Policies - With more U.S. universities moving to test optional admission permanently, or as a response to the COVID-19 crisis, this session will take a look at what test optional admission means, how applicants are reviewed, and how you can prepare for this admission processes in the coming months. Please make sure to register in advance to receive a link to attend. Registration link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TmsL4tLxQoelPp_N03advQ

April 22, 6:30 PM CST

Below are today’s COVID-19 updates. Please reach out with any questions.

Amerigo Spelling Bee

Amerigo hosted a virtual Spelling Bee for all students, with 31 students choosing to participate in the first round. On Thursday night, the six top-placing students will participate in the finals. Some of the more difficult words students spelled correctly were “mischievous,” “chauffeur,” “nuisance” and “magnificence.” The first-place finisher wins $100, the second-place student wins $50 and the third place wins $25.

A Note from our Los Angeles ELLC

Sara Brathwaite, our ELLC at Amerigo Los Angeles, shares her insights about what has changed since moving her classes to online instruction – and what has stayed the same.

“About one month ago, students and teachers at Bishop Montgomery High School started a whole new journey together: one of teaching and learning online.  In that month, a lot has changed. Although I continue to teach three classes a day, I now do so from the kitchen table instead of my classroom. Instead of greeting each student with a cheery "Good morning" as they enter my classroom, I greet each one as we do our daily tech-checks at the start of our online class. 

However, many things remain the same. I continue to connect with students daily through one-on-one chats and small group conversations, but I now use the breakout room feature on Zoom in lieu of face-to-face conversation. I still try to encourage and praise students, but now I do it through WeChat messages instead of chats in the hallway.  I continue to provide support to students, but now I do so through virtual study meetings as opposed to physical ones. 

So yes, in the past month, the where and when and how of teaching have changed.  But for me, the heartbeat of teaching - the love and care for students - has remained the same.” 

Updates from Amerigo Students

As part of their English Language Learning courses, our Amerigo students have been writing about how their emotions and how they are spending their time in quarantine. Below is an update from one student.

“The main challenge that I am facing now is to self-quarantine. I’m not feeling bad about this, but I feel it’s awkward to have some social distance from my friends and family. The good point is that I can save time by lessening spending time on going to school. I am trying to overcome this situation by considering that I am saving my time so that I can work on many different things. Every day, I eat good food to feel better, I spend more time on SNS to shorten the distance, and I focus on studying more than before.”

April 20, 6:30 PM CST

We understand the current COVID-19 pandemic presents unique challenges to juniors and seniors. Katie Blue, Director of University Guidance at Amerigo will host two webinars providing helpful information to the students and their families on how to navigate the uncertainty.

The webinars will be conducted in English. Please use the links below to sign up.

Thursday, April 23^rd at 6:00AM, Central Standard Time: Navigating Changing Admission Policies: With the recent challenges to the college admission process brought on by COVID-19, universities are signaling modifications to the admissions process. While new application policies will continue to be developed well into the summertime, this session will look at the challenges, changes and predictions for the future of the admission landscape. Additionally, this session will discuss how rising seniors can continue to prepare themselves in the coming months. Register here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_U4TzOwFeR5-tqIdMFHO6LA

Thursday, April 30^th at 6:00AM, Central Standard Time:  SAT/ACT Optional University Admission Policies - With more U.S. universities moving to test optional admission permanently, or as a response to the COVID-19 crisis, this session will take a look at what test optional admission means, how applicants are reviewed, and how you can prepare for this admission processes in the coming months. Register here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TmsL4tLxQoelPp_N03advQ

Please reach out if you have any questions.

April 17, 6:30 PM CST

Below are today’s COVID-19 updates. Please reach out with any questions.

Week in Review

Our students are keeping busy at the residences, attending online courses, taking part in university guidance and continuing their English Language Learning. A couple of campuses have spring break this week, so students on those campuses are able to relax.

Here are some important communications that were made available this week.

• Get Ahead FAQ Document

• Get Ahead FAQ Document – Chinese Language

• Read previous posts here

SAT Update

The below update was announced on Wednesday by the College Board regarding the SAT:

June SAT and SAT Subject Test Administration

To keep students safe, and in alignment with public health guidance and school closures across 192 countries, we will not be able to administer the SAT or SAT Subject Tests on June 6, 2020.

Future SAT Administrations, Including September

If it’s safe from a public health standpoint, we’ll provide weekend SAT administrations every month through the end of the calendar year, beginning in August. This includes a new administration in September and the previously scheduled tests on August 29, October 3, November 7 and December 5.

Students can register for these administrations starting in May. We’ll contact students directly when we have the exact date. Eligible students can register with a fee waiver.

Students can get early access to register for August, September, and October if they’re:

• Already registered for June

• In the high school class of 2021 and don’t have SAT scores

The College Board is exploring the possibility of making the SAT available online. Amerigo will continue to provide test preparation support to our students.

Insight from Student

As part of their English Language Learning instruction, Amerigo students have been writing about how their experiences in lockdown. Below, one student shares their story.

“I think this is a very interesting and challenging time period. Often at this time, there will be a lot of wonderful things. I think all the online courses and all kinds of learning are also helping us to experience the maximum growth in the whole time. I think we have the ability to be the darling of all ages.”

April 15, 6:30 PM CST

Below are today’s COVID-19 updates. Please reach out with any questions.

April 15 Scorecard Update

Given the fact that we have been providing regular updates on the parent WeChat groups, DCOs will not be providing a scorecard for your child this month. For some campuses, you will receive Progress Reports or Report Cards as they have been provided by the school. If you have questions on your student’s academic performance or other aspect of development, please reach out to your DCO. The campus teams will reach out to parents with any specific issues related to your child.

Get Ahead Program

Our Get Ahead program provides students with the opportunity to remain in the United States over the summer at an Amerigo residence, alongside fellow Amerigo students and staff.

All Amerigo students can participate in this program. The Get Ahead program is happening at these two campuses:

• Chicago North Shore Campus: June 1 – July 31

• Los Angeles Campus: June 15 – July 31

Registration ends on May 1 and is available on a first come-first serve basis. Students may register for two-week increments, or for the entire summer. The cost of the program is $1500 per week if reserved in two-week increments, or $1250 per week if reserved in increments larger than two weeks. Refer a friend or relative (not a current Amerigo student) and receive a $500 gift card once they enroll.

A detailed FAQ document is available here. A Chinese language version is available here.

The online application to the program is available here and the PDF version is available here. You or your child can register by filling out the online form or sending the completed PDF form to marketing_cn@amerigoeducation.com. If you are interested, we recommend you register as soon as possible since space is limited.

April 13, 5:30 PM CST

Below are today’s Amerigo COVID-19 updates. Please note that moving forward, we will publish updates on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. If an urgent matter comes up on days we are not publishing, an announcement will go out to the parent WeChat groups and this website.

U.S. News Updates

• Experts in New York City and Chicago believe it’s possible that the cities have passed the peak virus days, and new cases are slowing down.

• Medical resource use is an accurate prediction of the nation’s COVID-19 cases. This website, created by the University of Washington, finds the United States had a turning point on April 11. Click here to read more.

Get Ahead Program

As previously shared, for students who are not able to return home for the summer, we are now offering the Get Ahead program. This program provides students with the opportunity to remain in the United States during the summer at an Amerigo residence, while taking part in enrichment opportunities, including advanced high school courses, test preparation and athletics, if conditions permit.

Amerigo is working diligently to develop the program, responding to the needs of our students and their families. This detailed FAQ provides additional information about program dates, fees, program content, minimum duration of participation, transportation and application deadline. Click here to read more. Click here to read the Chinese language version.

April 10, 6:30 PM CST

Across our Amerigo campuses, our students are keeping busy attending online classes.

As part of their ongoing English Language Learning coursework, students at some campuses have written essays about what personal goals they would like to achieve over this period of quarantine.

Below is a quote from one student’s essay:

“During quarantine, I have a lot of free time to do whatever I want to do, which means I have more time to rest. However, it also makes me lazier. My weight is over a healthy standard. I have to do some exercises. So I want to set a goal of doing exercise at least once a day.

This is not a hard goal, but it is difficult to achieve without self-discipline. So, it is also a great chance to check and improve my self-discipline. In order to accomplish this goal, I will take the following measures. First, I am going to set reminders on my phone, including what kind of exercise to do and when. Second, I will weigh myself every day to make sure I don’t continue to gain weight. Third, I will set a calendar for myself and put a cross on the day I exercised. Finally, I will record all the data during the exercise and summarize the data into a line chart. This way, I can visually see whether my efforts are working and whether the goal should be maintained. I believe that if I achieve it, then I will feel good. Let’s look forward to my achievement."

April 7, 6:30 PM CST

Please see below for today’s updates regarding COVID-19.

April University Advantage Program Updates

Today we’re sharing April updates from the University Advantage Program. While this semester has brought many changes for students, with classes moving to online and students remaining in quarantine at the residence, our university preparation program is still in full swing.

Students are taking part in online preparation, webinars, workshops and essay writing seminars to help them prepare for the college application process.

Click here to see a grade-specific recap of what students have done as part of the University Advantage Program. Click here to read a Chinese language version of the document.

TOEFL iBT Testing Information

Previously, we have shared that ETS, the test provider for TOEFL iBT, has created a special edition “At-Home” version of the TOEFL test. Our campus teams are working diligently to ensure our sophomores and juniors are using this new test version to stay on track. On April 7-10, around 40 juniors and some sophomores will be taking virtual TOEFL preparation sessions with 2 of our great ELL teachers. Following these sessions, the ELL team will provide support any sophomore or junior who is interested in taking the At-Home version and are still in our residences. If you have any questions, please have your student contact their ELL teacher.

April 6, 6:30 PM CST

Today we’re sharing a look into what life is like for our students across our Amerigo campuses as they quarantine, together with one writing from a student and one from a staff member.

Campus Activities Video

It’s busier than ever at each of our Amerigo campuses, with students taking part in safe, small-group activities, online instruction and more. In addition, our campus staff has been hard at work ensuring the campuses are each stocked up with everything students need to remain safe and healthy. Click here to watch a video to learn more.

Student Voices

Please see below for a note from an Amerigo student about their goals during quarantine. We continue to be impressed by our students’ resilience and their determination to make this a positive experience.

“Quarantine is not so bad. At this time, we spend most of our time at home and hardly have any connections with other people. However, I think that it is a perfect chance to focus on myself. Setting a goal will help me improve myself during this boring time. I will start my week with my goal ‘Eat Clean’. I am a person who has a sweet tooth. I can consume one bar of chocolate per day. Also, unhealthy food is always in my favorite list. Not only that, resisting the temptation of unhealthy snacks is impossible to me. I believe that when I am being kept inside my room, I will easily get obese with that eating habit. Thus, I should change my eating routine from now. I will make home-cooked food with all healthy material.”

Amerigo Staff’s Voices

Please see below for a note from Bethany Sangl, Senior Campus Coordinator at Amerigo Napa. Bethany joined Amerigo in October 2017. We are lucky to have her as part of our strong Napa team.

“What a busy couple of weeks it has been for us on the Napa campus! Things have been changing quickly but we have been able to establish a new routine to help students adjust to digital learning and social distancing. Life looks different at our campus now that classes are online and we spend more time at the residence, but it has been great to see students continuing to work hard on their academics and enjoy small-group activities such as movie nights, crafts, baking and board games.

I am so thankful for our team here in Napa who have worked hard to continue to prioritize the safety, health and well-being of our students. Every day, we are vigilant to clean and sanitize all the common spaces in the residence, and we serve meals over a longer period of time so that students can spread out when they eat instead of eating in a large group. We encourage students to spend time outside on walks with staff or in our backyard space to get some fresh air and exercise. Every day, we check in with students to not only make sure they have completed their academic work for the day but also to ask how they are doing. A lot has changed except for how much we care about our students!”

From Amerigo CEO Craig Pines

Craig Pines, Amerigo CEO, shared a letter with the families of students this weekend about how Amerigo continues to support our students. Click here to read the English version, and click here to read the Chinese language version.

April 5, 6:00 PM CST US Time

Today we’re sharing insights from an Amerigo student and an Amerigo Campus Coordinator about how students and staff are using their time during the quarantine and taking social distancing measures to stay healthy.  

A note from an Amerigo student about their goals during quarantine:  

“My goal for the next week is to study for Sift at least 20 minutes every day. Swift is the coding language that iOS programmers usually use. This is for making an app for Mac or iPhone. I’m setting this goal because I want to make a computer program that can be used by someone shortly. Right now, I’m taking a computer science class and I want to be a programmer in the future. That’s why this is my goal and essential to me.” 

A note from Neel, Campus Coordinator at Amerigo Houston:  

“As a Campus Coordinator I have the honor of working directly with your children on a daily basis. It has been remarkable to experience the overwhelmingly positive attitudes they have shown while persevering through this challenging season of life. Everyone is doing their part to keep both shared and private spaces clean. Our kids are very aware of our social distancing procedures and, like Amerigo staff, have done an excellent job of wiping down surfaces, using gloves and masks, and cleaning after themselves. Our team has become creative in finding outlets for fun - communicating with community through social media platforms, playing one another on online video games, creating arts and crafts, and enjoying movie nights. I’ve also been encouraged by our student’s diligence towards virtual learning. They showed such discipline and attentiveness in our supervised sessions that many have earned the ability to study independently from their apartments, helping to limit interactions.” 

We hope these writings from our students and our staff provide you a different perspective of our COVID-19 experience. We will continue to share their voices in our future updates.

Click here to read previous updates from the week

April 2, 7:00 PM CST US Time

Amerigo has developed a document to answer your questions about what will happen if you choose to keep your child in the U.S. until the end of the semester, and what will happen if you choose to have your child fly home. This document is available here.

April 1, 6:30 PM CST US Time

There are no new updates to share with you today.

March 31, 6:30 PM CST US Time

Below are today’s Amerigo Education COVID-19 Updates. Please reach out with any additional questions.  

Academic Support Structure for Students

To ensure that our students continue to stay on track with their academics, we have adapted our academic support structure for students with online learning to ensure their success in spite of new circumstances, no matter where they are. The procedures are below:

For students who stay at an Amerigo residence

• Designated campus staff monitors the students grades regularly.

• Virtual check-ins and one-on-one meetings are in place to encourage students to work through challenges.

• ELLCs hold daily office hours to address questions with homework and assignments.

• The campus team maintains regular communication with the teachers and counselors at the school.

• Students with difficulties will be supported with more resources from Amerigo central academic team.

For students who have returned home

• A letter outlining expectations is provided to and signed by the parent and student.

• A communication group is established between campus staff, the parent and the student to provide weekly status updates.

• Designated campus staff monitors student attendance, missed assignments and any low grades weekly.

• Designated campus staff reaches out to parents when their student appears to be falling behind in their studies. If needed, Amerigo will follow up with a virtual meeting with the parent and student.

How an Amerigo student describes their experience

Amerigo English teachers (ELLCs) are asking students to take part in writing assignments where they describe their experience during social distancing and online learning.

Below is an excerpt from a student’s writing:

“Now, I feel pretty good. Actually, it is quite boring when I have to stay inside for so long. I feel safe when Amerigo has already taken action in this horrible pandemic. These days, I try to keep myself busy by planning all things I should do in a day. I spend three hours or more studying, and one hour exercising. I usually do some easy workout like walking around my room several times or do some crunches in my bed. Besides, I give myself time to relax. I watch fun videos on YouTube and call my parents and friends. I also organize my room everyday, which makes me release stress.”

March 30, 6:30 PM CST US Time

Below are today’s Amerigo Education COVID-19 Updates. Please reach out with any additional questions.  

Providing Support to Our Students

Over the past two weeks, families and the students have responded differently to the COVID-19 situation. Some families have chosen to fly their child back home, while the majority of Amerigo students continue to remain on our campuses.

Whether a student is on campus or has returned to their home country, Amerigo will continue to provide support to all of our students.

If your child stays at the Amerigo residence, please be assured that our staff has been checking in with him or her on a regular basis and making sure that your student remains on track. If your child has flown home, please reach out to us if you have any questions or if you need more academic support from us.

April With Amerigo

To help keep our students engaged and entertained during this period of social distancing, Amerigo has created an April calendar filled with fun, easy challenges that students can take part in on their own each day. Challenges include making their own comic strip, sending an email to their favorite teacher and doing 30 jumping jacks. See the full calendar at https://www.amerigoeducation.com/sites/default/files/documents/Amerigo%20April%20Calendar.pdf

An update from ELLC, Liz Maginnis

Liz Maginnis, English Learning Language Coordinator at Amerigo New Jersey, wrote the following about her experiences continuing to teach Amerigo students through online instruction:

I once had a student who always walked into my classroom, stopped at the entrance, and let out a deep sigh. One day, I asked her if she was okay and she replied, “Yes, I’m home.” I asked her to explain and she said, “When I walk in here, I immediately relax because it feels like home. I don’t have to worry about anything, and I feel like I am surrounded by family.” Since school has been turned to online learning due to COVID-19, I have thought about this student a lot, and I’m determined to maintain as much normalcy or “home” for them as possible.

My English Language Learning classroom is now held through video calls during a designated time. On the days that we don’t have live classes, the students are watching instructional lectures that I previously recorded and are given an assessment on the content in the video. When they need academic help, they send me a WeChat message, and I help them through WeChat and video calls. At the end of the day, it is important that the students aren’t alone in this. As educators and mentors, we constantly put the needs of our students above our own in order to make sure they feel loved and supported.

The support from Amerigo and my Amerigo New Jersey team has been amazing. All the ELLCs at Amerigo have been sharing strategies and solutions to challenges each of us are facing, and my Amerigo New Jersey team has been a constant source of support for our students academically, emotionally, physically and mentally. I am grateful for my team and the collaboration that is occurring to ensure that our students are supported and safe.

March 27, 6:15 PM CST US Time

Below are today’s Amerigo Education COVID-19 Updates. Please reach out with any additional questions.  

US News

• The US Senate passed a $2 trillion USD economic rescue plan that will offer assistance to Americans. The package provides hospitals with an additional $100 billion USD in funding to help them treat COVID-19 patients.

Online Workshops Offered by Amerigo Corporate Employees

• Amerigo corporate employees are offering students across all Amerigo campuses optional weekly workshops on a variety of fun and engaging topics. These are opportunities for students to learn more about subjects that interest them, in a fun, laid-back environment, and to connect with their peers in other Amerigo campuses. The schedule for optional sessions is below:

• Mondays at 6:30 PM CT: Sports Debates with John Lanctot

• Tuesdays at 6:30 PM CT: Creative Writers Unite with Paula Skaggs

• Wednesdays at 6:30 PM CT: Rap Conversations with Trent Smith

• Thursdays at 6:30 PM CT: Communicative English with Alex Squire

• Fridays at 5:00 PM CT: Stock Market Shenanigans with Tyler Simon

Amerigo Get Ahead Program

For students who are unable to travel home this summer or would rather remain in the United States, the Amerigo Get Ahead Program offers students a summer full of learning and fun. The program includes advanced, for-credit academic courses, college preparation workshops, and if it is safe to do so, cultural trips and service opportunities and more. Students will live alongside other Amerigo students and Amerigo staff members in state-of-the-art residences. More information is available at the links below:

English version

Chinese version

March 26, 6:30 PM CST US Time

Our students have been writing about their experiences during social distancing and online learning as part of their English Language Learning courses. The writing helps the students think about their experiences and helps them process the emotions they are feeling. Today, we wanted to share some of their writing with you to learn more about what their experience has been like.

The following are excerpts from students’ writing:

• Student 1: “Overall, my life in the past couple of weeks has been quite good. I don’t feel isolated or bored while staying inside. Self-entertainment such as reading books or playing video games and online communication are working for me as a substitute for the real world. I consider the main difficulty of this lifestyle for me is that I need to take care of my sleep pattern on my own. The desire to stay up late is incredibly complicated to resist sometimes including the fact that I don’t need to wake up the next morning to actually go somewhere. However, shifting the normal sleeping time just decreases my productivity and makes me feel exhausted all the time. Even despite all the difficulties I am satisfied with the current situation as the main advantage of the worldwide quarantine for me is an opportunity to communicate with my friends more.”

• Student 2: “When the last trimester started, I realized that I have found more enjoyment in my life and everything has become much easier than the beginning of the school year. I had more friends, experienced more cultural and traditional values, as well as had a better English skill. I’m very happy and proud of myself right now. I feel like every challenge and hardships I faced in the past promoted me to be better and to be myself today. My English skills have become much better when compared to the beginning of the year. I have improved a lot in almost all of them; for example, communication skills, teamwork skills, reading and listening skills, writing skills, and also critical thinking skills, etc. In fact, the improvement in all skills are different, but in general, I have overcome many weaknesses in learning languages that I thought they seem to be impossible to change or improve. Namely, my accent and intonation.”

• Student 3: “Since I do not need to go to school every day, I have more free time to do the things I like. Firstly, I watch three movies each week. Watching movies is one of my hobbies, but I was too busy to watch them before this break. So, this break gives me a great chance to watch good movies. Secondly, since the start of the third trimester, I really want to do a summary of myself. Since this school year has already passed two thirds, I really want to know what I made progress and what I still need to improve. This break gives enough time to do this work. I looked through my essays which I wrote in the last year. I surprisingly found that my writing skills improved a lot, such as better grammar, more long sentences, and more precise words. When I read my old paragraphs which I wrote in the first trimester, I can’t help myself modifying many wordy sentences. Also, I found that I can use prepositions more properly than before. All in all, it is a fruitful year. Finally, I am learning how to cook during the break. Since Amerigo students need to prepare breakfast by themselves, it drives me to learn how to cook a delicious meal. Although my cooking is not good, I enjoy the process, which is very interesting.”

March 25, 6:30 PM CST US Time

Facilitated Student Activities

• While each of our Amerigo campuses are strictly adhering to the recommendations from the government and medical professionals to keep our students and staff healthy, our students are still able to take part in fun, engaging activities.

• Students take part in small-group, facilitated social activities where we combine learning and entertainment. Some campuses have also pursued opportunities to make a meaningful contribution to a charitable cause, for example the making of blankets. The activities may vary by campus.

• Our Amerigo corporate staff members are hosting regular, hour-long, interactive virtual workshops on academic and recreational activities meant to expose students to new interests and topics. Topics include Sports Trivia, the History of Rap Music, Creative Writing and more.

• Students continue to take part in virtual University Guidance activities – including essay development and virtual events with admissions officers – that allow them to continue to prepare for university.

Parent Engagement

• While our students continue to take courses online, teenagers understandably need extra support when it comes to staying on task and understanding how important it is to continue to excel in their online coursework.

• Whether your student is on campus or at home, we ask you to encourage your child to keep up with their studies.

How Amerigo students describe their experience

Amerigo English teachers (ELLCs) have developed creative writing assignments to help student express feelings and emotions about their experience during social distancing and online learning. We want to share with you students’ writing so you can directly hear from them.

Below is an excerpt from a student’s writing:

These past few weeks have been a roller coaster. As of right now, I am doing well compared to a few weeks prior when I was panicking about every single problem. I was worried about not being able to go home, missing my SAT and AP exams and a bunch of things. Now, my only worry is running out of strawberries in the fridge and smaller problems. In my opinion, I have had a great experience so far, especially when the outside world is going crazy. Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of cooking at home and bonding with my roommates which I didn’t get to do a lot when school was still operating. I am that type of person where I would feel really bad if I act lazy, for instance waking up late and not going outside. Since I could not go outside, I’ve been cleaning a lot, it’s a way to keep me busy and make me feel more productive instead of just laying there and binge-watch my favorite show. But of course, I’ve been doing that also, it’s just not as satisfying as it was after a long day of school.

Over the past 2 weeks, I’ve been learning things that you would not learn at school, adulting. Staying home is honestly a great break from school but taking advantage of those times to learn something that you will use later in life has honestly made staying home not as boring. My cooking skills especially have improved quite a lot and I’ve learned to make tons of delicious meals. I’ve also learned how to manage my money, spending a certain amount for certain things only. When I buy food, I would see how much I should buy, take in consideration of expiration date, quantity, diversity like what else can I use that for and price.

March 24, 5:15 PM CST US Time

• Thank you for checking in. We have no new updates related to COVID-19 for you today. We will continue to monitor the situation at each of our campuses, as well as reliable news sources, and will keep you updated as more information is available.

• Please click here to read previous daily updates.

• Amerigo is committed to continuing to provide top-tier care for your child. For students who are unable to leave the U.S. this summer, we are offering the new Get Ahead program, where students will spend the summer on an Amerigo campus, earning high school course credit and participating in service opportunities, athletics, cultural activities and more. More information is available here, with a Chinese language version here.

March 23, 6:30 PM CST US Time

Below are today’s Amerigo Education COVID-19 Updates. Please reach out with any additional questions.  

Amerigo Updates

• Our staff is working around the clock to continue to do everything possible to keep this experience as positive and productive for our students.

• Amerigo continues to remain fully staffed and is committed to staying open to support you and your child throughout the end of this semester.

• For students who potentially may not be able to return to their home country over the summer break, we are offering a new Get Ahead Program, which will allow your child to remain in the U.S. at an Amerigo residence with our staff and take part in academic courses and university preparation over the summer. Click here to learn more.

• Thank you again to our parents for your continued support and trust.

• Please note some important updates regarding TOEFL test, student visa and US embassies around the world.

TOEFL At Home Testing

• Starting from March 23^rd, TOEFL iBT^® Special Home Edition will be offered online in selected areas to meet the needs of students affected by test center closures. The test is currently available in the United States, Canada, Colombia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Hong Kong (China) and Macau (China).

Updated Information Related to SEVIS-status

• If a current F-visa holding student leaves the U.S. to complete their spring term online, their visa will remain active. While the temporary measures related to COVID-19 are in place, the student will maintain their status as long as they continue to progress in their studies.

• However, if a school were to re-open before the end of the semester, and a student returned home and was not able to return to the U.S., the student could be at risk of not completing the semester and their SEVIS-status could potentially be in jeopardy.

• Because of the changing array of travel restrictions, the U.S. government at this point does not guarantee the student could return to the U.S. at the time that they wish.

• More information is available here. We will keep you updated.

Information for students whose visas will expire this summer

• If a student does not travel outside of the U.S. this summer, he or she will be able to continue to maintain their SEVIS status as an active student, even after their visa has expired. The student will not need to apply for a new visa if he or she remains in the U.S. after the visa expires.

• If a student travels to home country, there is no guarantee that he or she can successfully obtain a new student visa to return to the U.S. Below is the language directly quoted from the U.S. Department of State website.

• “In response to significant worldwide challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of State is temporarily suspending routine visa services at all U.S. Embassies and Consulates. Embassies and consulates will cancel all routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments as of March 20, 2020. As resources allow, embassies and consulates will continue to provide emergency and mission critical visa services. Our overseas missions will resume routine visa services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date at this time.” 

• Click here for more information.

Xenophobia in the News

• We regret the views and behaviors of a very small number of people in the U.S. We are taking all measures to keep our students away from these instances. These limited actions don’t reflect the value of Amerigo, which embrace human dignity of every student and team member.

• Amerigo has been viewed by our school partners as an important contributor to the schools’ cultural diversity and is a welcomed member of the community. We continue to be well-regarded at each of our campuses. We have received messages from school leadership, as well as staff and faculty to inquire on the well-being of our students.

• Please take reports of Anti-Asian sentiment at face value. While its possible events are occurring, many of the reports online come from social media, and were fabricated for attention.

• With so much uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, false information and fake news are rampant on social media. Please take a moment to confirm that any information you see is true and coming from a valid source before sharing it.

March 20, 6:00 PM CST US Time

Thank you for the trust that you have put in our Amerigo team. We appreciate your understanding as we do everything we can to take care of your children and our team members.

Our students are busy studying as they keep up with their online learning. We have no confirmed cases in our Amerigo communities and we are following all recommended protocols to keep our students and staff safe and healthy. We will keep you updated.

Please note that you will see the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases rising in the U.S. every day. This is because the number of people being tested is increasing daily, due to the test kits becoming more widely available.

Linda Hu, Amerigo’s China Regional Director, traveled from the U.S. to Shanghai yesterday. We will give you a detailed first-hand account about her experience traveling back to China next week.

We’re wishing you all a safe weekend. Please reach out with any questions or concerns.

March 19, 6:05 PM CST US Time

Here at Amerigo, your child’s health and safety comes first, above everything else. Thank you for the trust that you have put in our teams. We take that very seriously, and we are doing everything that we can to take care of your children and our team members. We are an education organization and, when it comes to situations like this, we want to ensure that we are all educated, which is why we have developed our policies and procedures based on the advice of experts in the medical and government communities, both inside and outside of the US. We will continue to provide you with open and transparent daily updates regarding the ongoing COVID-19 global crisis.

Planning for Your Child’s Education in the Next 3 to 6 Months

We understand that many parents have questions about what the next few weeks and months will look like for your child. Below are a few scenarios as you’re thinking and planning for your child’s education experience in the next 3 to 6 months, if you choose to keep your child at the Amerigo campus:

• 9^th, 10^th and 11^th Grade Students: If your child is in 9^th, 10th or 11th grade, he or she will continue online learning under the care and guidance of Amerigo staff until the school reopens. If the school decides to remain closed until the end of the semester, our team will continue to monitor and support your child to keep him or her on track to advance to the next grade. 

• Additional Information for 11^th Grade Students: For 11th grade students, even though the SAT and ACT tests have been canceled for March, April and May, both tests are scheduled for June. Amerigo will open up new workshops for interested students and will host an online webinar in partnership with our Amerigo University Network. Amerigo will continue to provide Revolution Test Prep for all 11^th grade students.

• 12^th Grade Students: It is critically important to complete the rest of the semester and meet the credit requirements in order to graduate with a high school diploma. If for any reason a student is unable to meet the school’s expectations to complete their classes, either online or in-person when the school reopens, there are now fewer options to solve this challenge, and it is possible that the student may not graduate. In addition, some universities have informed their incoming freshman to stay in the US as the visa application process is still uncertain for the summer.

Low Risk for Students

High school students are at a very low risk for COVID-19. This reassures us that if our students follow our guidelines and protocols of medical experts, we are doing all that we can to mitigate the spread of the virus. The experts we have been in touch with during this crisis include Dr. Arthur Jeng from Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, Division of Infections Disease, who has validated this research for us.

Campus Activities Update

• We are modifying all of our campus operations procedures to err on the side of overprotection of your children. One area that we have restructured is our community time and campus activities. Where safe, engaging in small group activities is viewed to be important during this time to preserve mental and physical health. As such, at this time, campus activities have been restricted in the following manners:

• Any activity that occurs will be limited to 10 or fewer participants in accordance with CDC guidance.

• Any activity that occurs will follow the social distancing guideline to maintain 6 feet of separation between individuals.

• The only trips that occur will be those planned and supervised by staff. No student will travel off campus without staff supervision.

• With all of the above in mind, if you would still like to restrict your child further from participating in activities, please reach out to us so that we can put it into place. 

• Regarding trips with essential purposes (pharmacy, doctor visits, etc.) we follow guidelines provided by the authorities.

March 18, 6:15 PM CST US Time

Below are today’s Amerigo Education COVID-19 Updates. Please reach out with any additional questions.  

US News Updates

• The US federal government has invoked a law that will increase medical supplies to hospitals.

• The White House issued plans for an economic stimulus.

SEVIS Visa Policy Update

According to the most updated information, students who return home will still be able to maintain their SEVIS student visa status. During the duration of the emergency, students are permitted to take part in remote, online learning while remaining active in SEVIS. We will keep you posted with more information as it’s available.

It’s important for you to work our school and DCO to ensure that your child maintains the right visa status.

Notification for Parents Considering Bringing Their Child Home

If you are considering flying your child home due to the global spread of COVID-19, we fully understand and respect your decision. We would recommend that, prior to purchasing a plane ticket, work with the DCO and check with your local authorities and the destination airport to be sure you’re aware of any re-entry requirements and protocols. They may vary city by city.

A message from Amerigo University Guidance Team

The impact of COVID-19 is wide-reaching and has resulted in the cancellation of SAT and ACT testing through June 2020.

Currently, the SAT test dates originally scheduled for March and May have been cancelled. The SAT originally scheduled for June 6, 2020 will proceed on that date.

The ACT originally scheduled in April has been cancelled and rescheduled for June 13, 2020.

There is no doubt that these cancellations are disruptive to students in the second semester of junior year, but please rest assured that we are doing all we can to closely monitor the situation. We can all anticipate that the implications of cancelled test dates will have a direct impact on the Class of 2021’s university application cycle, and we will do our best to keep everyone update on new policies, deadlines, and testing requirements that might arise from the COVID-19 situation.

In the meantime, Amerigo continues to support the college readiness of our Class of 2021. In the coming weeks, we will open up new workshops for any interested student wanting to build a university application portfolio, continue their personal statement writing, creating their resume, making a summer plan, and creating an application timeline. We will be hosting a webinar for students in partnership with our Amerigo University Network covering financial aid and scholarship for international students, as well as early action/early decision and the implication of those application programs on your admission likelihood.

Finally, we want to stress that the cancellation of SAT and ACT test dates in early 2020 really will only impact the application process for those in the Class of 2021. Those graduating this year and those graduating in 2022 or later should not be impacted by this particular issue.

March 17, 6:00 PM CST US Time

Below are today’s Amerigo Education COVID-19 updates. Please reach out with any additional questions.

US News Updates:

• The federal government has put out guidelines to restrict large gatherings.

• The March and May SAT test dates have been cancelled. Students will have the opportunity to reschedule when it is safe to do so. University admissions offices are aware of these cancellations and will take them into consideration come admissions season.

• A clinical trial for a COVID-19 vaccination has begun.

Student Food and Dining

• Grocery stores are continuing to get new deliveries every day, and although some paper product items sell out quickly, there’s more than enough food available.

• The restaurant restrictions do not impact the catering companies that provide the majority of food to our campuses.

• In the event that anything changes, our campuses all have the ability and supplies to prepare meals for students.

• Although some cities have closed restaurants to sit-in service, delivery and take-out ordering is still available.

Summer Programs

• Through the Amerigo Get Ahead program, students will spend their summer break in the United States alongside Amerigo students and staff members.

• Students will spend their mornings diving further into academics, attending university prep courses at American high schools

• College essay writing workshops will be offered, and, if it is safe to do so at the time, students will tour the campuses of some of the top universities in the country

• During the program, students will have access to fun cultural activities, community service projects and organized sports

• Amerigo will coordinate transportation to students traveling to a different campus for the summer program, and more information will be available closer to that date.

• Accommodation options will be available for students who may experience a bridging period either at the beginning or end of the summer program. More details, including logistics, accommodations and program costs, will be available in the near future.

• As the situation evolves, we will continue to work on the details of the program and share with the parents at the appropriate times.

• We assure you that your child will be able to spend the entirety of the summer here if you so desire.

• If you would like more details or to enroll your child, please contact Raj Patel at admissions@amerigoeducaion.com.

Additional Information About Online Learning

• As you know, our schools have moved on a temporary basis to online instruction to minimize the likelihood that any teachers or students will be exposed to COVID-19. As online instruction is new to some families and students, we wanted to be sure to provide additional information.

• First, the school day will remain very similar to that of the traditional (i.e., in-person) school day. Students are expected to focus on their course work throughout the day, and most schools are instituting attendance checks and quizzes each day at appointed times for each subject to ensure that students are focused and keeping up with the lessons. Amerigo campuses will continue to have support in the form of English language instruction during the school day and after school.

• Second, online instruction will take many forms. Some teachers will have regular, live classes/lectures at appointed times. All teachers will have a series of assignments and assessments that students are expected to complete each week. These assignments will be graded.

• Third, the learning objectives outlined in the course syllabus will remain the same. Students will continue learning the same lessons online, and when face-to-face classes resume the students will be on pace to resume learning in class.

• Finally, Amerigo will actively monitor each student’s progress to make sure they are keeping pace in the online environment and will contact parents if/as necessary, should a student fall behind.

• You can expect to hear more details about your student’s specific online learning experience and what the campus team is doing to keep them on track from your DCO.

March 16, 6:30 PM CST US Time

Below are today’s Amerigo Education COVID-19 Updates. Please reach out with any additional questions.

US News Updates:

• Additional test kits will be released to hospitals this week for those in need.

• The United States government has declared the state of National Emergency, this action allows the President to access tens of billions of dollars to stop an emergency situation.

• Numerous states across the United States have closed public facilities, including schools, universities and public gathering places. In addition, many cities have closed restaurants to sit-in service, but carry-out food is still available.

Campus Protocols

• All Amerigo campuses have implemented new safety precaution protocols to protect our students’ health and safety. Please click here to read more.

• We will continue to assess and review these protocols to ensure that they’re effective and up-to-date as the situation evolves.

Online Learning

• As our partner schools temporarily close campus, all are moving to online learning platforms.

• What does online learning mean?

• This varies by campus and class, but includes the following three formats:

1. Teachers may conduct live sessions that require students to attend and respond to questions in a virtual classroom

2. Teachers record video lessons and post them for students to watch at their own time

3. The teacher posts lessons online and students respond with completed assignments

• Students will continue to get credit through this online instruction.

• As our partner schools move to remote teaching and learning, the Amerigo staff is working to make sure students are attending the sessions and staying up-to-date on their academics.

• Amerigo is supplementing the online coursework with our own academic support, University Guidance Program and English Language Learning support.

• Our campuses are taking precautions, including conducting study sessions in small groups or virtually, to limit the amount of interaction students have. Additionally, group study sessions will not be held, but students are expected to conduct traditional study hours privately in their room.

• We greatly appreciate your support in encouraging your child to continue to stay on top of their academics, in partnership with our campus teams.

• More details will follow in the next couple of days.

Some parents ask Amerigo “Should I have my child fly home?”

• We have been working closely alongside our partner schools’ leadership and medical experts, and we believe that the best thing for your child’s health and academics is for them to remain here in the U.S.

• However, we fully understand and respect each family’s decision on whether or not to bring their child home.

• Regardless of whether your student is on campus or in their home country, we will try our best to support them to complete their studies for this school year.

• Amerigo is committed to caring for our students throughout the semester and this summer, through the Amerigo Get Ahead Program. Learn more here.

How Amerigo’s Health Insurance Works

• Our international student insurance policy covers Amerigo students while in the United States.

• Our insurance covers both minor and major illnesses.

• Like other types of insurance, it does not cover pre-existing conditions. Since COVID-19 is a newly-found virus, it would not be considered a pre-existing condition.

• Like other types of insurance, deductibles and co-pays may apply.

• If a student returns to a country (such as China) after that country has received Level 3 Travel Restrictions, the insurance would not cover a potential COVID-19 diagnosis.

March 13, 6:30 PM CST US Time

FAQs about travel (see home page)

March 12, 6:30 PM CST US Time

Thank you for your support of Amerigo Education. As we all know, we are in a dynamic and challenging global education market. Just today the World Health Organization (WHO) has named the coronavirus (COVID-19) a global pandemic. I wanted to take a moment to share with you our various responses to COVID-19.

We are aware that parents are concerned about the global spread of COVID-19. Please know that we continue to put the health and safety of our students first. Across each of our ten campuses, we are continuously monitoring the situation. All schools and Amerigo campuses are taking the appropriate steps to make sure that students can continue their studies in a safe and healthy environment. Below are several actions we are taking: