Media and News Archive

Going Forth Together – Message from Jim Best – 3/8/20

Dear Dalton Community,
 
I want to tell you what Dalton has been doing in response to COVID-19. And I want to tell you what you can do—and what you can expect—going forward. Click the title (above) to read more...
But I also want to make sure to tell you that we're going to make it through this—together. We're preparing, we're cleaning, we're working double-time. We've always been a resilient, adaptable, compassionate community. That's our strength, now and in the future. Your care, your patience, your understanding—these mean everything to us right now.  
 
All right. Let me share what Dalton has been doing: 

We're planning.

I've convened a task force that has been meeting daily to monitor and discuss local and national reports, share information and strategy with our peer schools, and oversee the school's contingency planning. I've asked every department at the school, from academics to advancement to admissions to the business office, to assemble a plan that would allow them to operate remotely. We hope we don't have to use those plans; but if we're being responsible stewards of the school and the community, we need to have them at the ready.

We're deep-cleaning.

In fact, we've hired extra crews to clean our facilities on evenings and weekends, in addition to the intensive work our outstanding Building Services crews have been doing. We owe them a tremendous debt of thanks. 

We're staying open—and making some strategic cancellations.

We look forward to welcoming your children to school tomorrow. However, after careful consideration, we've decided to cancel several school trips scheduled for the weeks ahead. We'll continue to evaluate upcoming curricular and extracurricular activities on a case-by-case basis and notify participating families in the event of cancellation. 

Here's what you can do, and what you can expect: 

  • Follow accepted guidelines for limiting exposure to the virus. Dalton's COVID-19 webpage (on the website under Resources) offers a range of links and other information.
  • Vacation wisely. If you're traveling on Spring Break, be sure to read Interschool's travel guidelines; Dalton's COVID-19 webpage is also helpful. Travel restrictions are changing rapidly; consult the Centers for Disease Control for up-to-date information. One crucial takeaway: If you travel to a country listed by the CDC as Alert Level 2 (Japan) or 3 (China, Iran, Italy, South Korea) or are knowingly exposed to the virus, we ask that you self-quarantine at home for 14 days after leaving the country.
  • Consider making a family backup plan. If we're compelled to close the physical school and conduct classes and programs remotely, you'll want to have a sense of how your family can make that arrangement work. You can be sure that we would do everything possible on our end to help. If we do have to make a major change in the way we operate, your child's Division Director will reach out to you immediately and serve as your primary point of contact.   
One last note: I have to take a moment to thank our faculty and staff for stepping up. They've essentially been working double-time, teaching and keeping the school humming while also planning for the possibility that all of this amazing work might at some point need to happen online. Simply put: They make Dalton proud.
 
I'll stay in close touch. For now, let's be smart, be kind, focus on what we can control, and go forth knowing that we have a strong community at our back. 
 
Sending courage,
 
Jim
Back
(Grades K-3) 53 East 91st Street
New York, NY 10128
General: (212) 423-5200 | Admissions: (212) 423-5463
General: info@dalton.org | Admissions: fpadmissions@dalton.org

(Gr. 4 Dalton East & PE Center) 200 East 87th Street
New York, NY 10128
General: (212) 423-5200 | Admissions: (212) 423-5262
General: info@dalton.org | Admissions: admissionsmshs@dalton.org

(Grade 5-12) 108 East 89th Street
New York, NY 10128
General: (212) 423-5200 | Admissions: (212) 423-5262
General: info@dalton.org | Admissions: admissionsmshs@dalton.org