A very warm welcome to the 42 students of Semester 65! They arrived on Wednesday, September 16th, enjoying sunshine and blue skies on their long-awaited opening day. It was a busy and joyful occasion as students moved into cabins, toured campus, and connected with classmates in-person.

Every semester requires a great deal of preparation, but perhaps no other group has been more involved prior to arriving on campus. In addition to the usual packing list and reading assignment, students also received detailed instructions for completing a quarantine and Covid-19 test. Notably, students also participated in 8 days of virtual orientation before the semester started. A series of Zoom video calls introduced students to their teachers, cabin groups, and fellow classmates.

Due to Covid-19 protocols, opening day looked a bit different this year. Standard precautions included face masks, physical distancing, and required health screenings for students and staff. Arrivals were carefully scheduled to reduce the flow of vehicles and foot traffic on campus. Families stayed inside their cars while students unloaded their belongings (with the help of a cabin parent). And instead of indoor dining, meals took place outside at picnic tables (decorated with beautiful flowers from our farm team). Thankfully, all of these efforts mean that our semester is off to a safe and healthy start.

The students of Semester 65 join us from 13 states and 33 schools around the country. They bring a multitude of talents, skills, and stories to share with our learning community. We are so grateful that they are finally here. Here’s to an amazing semester ahead!