Dear Farragut Families,

Admiral Farragut Academy is committed to offering the best possible educational experience for students and families in these unprecedented times. Recently, Florida Governor DeSantis mandated that schools open next month (August). In addition, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has come forward and encouraged schools to open for the overall (emotional, developmental) well-being of students. Therefore, Farragut plans to move forward with our “in-person” class offerings. For those students who will not be able to join us at the start of the year, we will accommodate them in an independent online manner. We anticipate many of our boarding students will fall into this category. If families are looking for an additional option, we would welcome the inquiry, as we have always accommodated distance learning students. Please contact the Admissions Office directly by email admissions@farragut.org or phone 727-384-5504.

Through a partnership of board members, school leaders, teachers, and health experts, we are creating a “new normal” plan for the new 2020-21 school year. The group, working as Farragut’s Re-entry Committee, is prioritizing campus safety, health, and academic flexibility for both students and families. In the upcoming weeks, the CDC will be coming out with an update on recommendations for schools reopening which we will implement.

At this time, there are too many moving parts, recommendations, and guidelines that are still being assessed by our country, state, and local health experts to make any definitive changes to the academic day or calendar. Many schools that have come out with plans are having to continually adjust or retract them. Based on this, we have decided to wait and send our updated academic schedule and calendar until the end of July which is closer to the start of the year. All incoming families will receive this announcement via email.

In the meantime, please visit our Preparing for the 2020-21 School Year or COVID-19 landing pages to understand what the upcoming year may look like. Here is some of the most updated information.

CAMPUS SAFETY

The 40-Acre Campus has Space to Spread

We will make good use of Farragut’s sizable waterfront location. The site is practically designed for social distancing. Consider:

• Classrooms open directly to the outside (few interior corridors).
• Doors can/will remain open for extra ventilation as weather permits.
• Teachers can hold outdoor classes year-round.
• Classes are small.
• We have added new spaces for student dining so they are able to social distance beyond the Mess Hall.
• Solo activities include sailing, kayaking, and paddleboarding.

Safety and Wellness is Priority #1

Our commitment to the safety and well-being of students, faculty, and staff is imperative.

• AFA’s protocols and policies follow the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines and direction from our state and local government.
• Full-time health staff is on-site.
• Disinfectant dispensers and handwashing stations are strategically  available throughout campus.
• The Student Health Center has been remodeled to quarantine boarding cadets if needed
• There will be two designated campus gates that will be open and closed during school operating hours.
• Visitors — including parents — will be restricted to those who are essential and will be required to wear a face-covering and complete a health screening form.

Hygiene is Paramount

• Daily campus cleaning/disinfection will follow strict protocols, including documentation of completion.
• Bathrooms and high touch areas will be cleaned twice a day by our cleaning staff.
• Each classroom will have adequate supplies to clean desks and chairs between classes. 
• Teachers will be instructed on what “high-touch” areas should be cleaned frequently.
• Pump hand sanitizer stations have been placed in all classrooms, entrances, hallways, and Lower School carpool lines.
• Bathrooms will be monitored to ensure supplies are available for proper hand hygiene.
• Farragut-owned vehicles will be sanitized between drivers as well as daily. 
• SAGE Dining will follow its comprehensive plan for disinfecting the Mess Hall.
• All SAGE employees will wear face coverings while in shared spaces (both indoors and outdoors) on campus and whenever social distancing is not possible.
• Students, faculty, and staff at the start of school will be educated on proper hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette. These valuable tools will be reinforced throughout the school year.

HEALTH MEASURES FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES

Schoolwide

• All families must complete the Family Symptom Checker before arriving at school each day.
• There will be no Upper or Lower School field trips until it is deemed safe for the students to travel by bus or van.
• Large gatherings such as formation and drill are being reimagined to allow for social distancing. Gathering times will have proper procedures and protocols.
• Our nursing staff will monitor absenteeism to identify illness trends among students.
• As for competitive sports, we’ve suspended the 2020 football season. The status of other sports still is to be determined but if allowed, will follow as many guidelines as possible.
• Students are encouraged to bring their own reusable water bottles, which may be filled at filtered-water dispensers throughout campus. Traditional water fountains will not be available.

Lower School

• Daily screening by families: A list of health screening questions will be provided for Farragut families to answer each school day. Answers of “no” to all questions mean it’s safe to bring their children to campus. The questions are not turned in. Rather, by bringing their children to campus, families are attesting that their children are illness/symptom-free. All faculty and staff opening doors and/or unbuckling/buckling students during the carline will wear a face covering and use hand sanitizer between cars.
• Students will need to have their own individual supplies.
• Grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 will be required to wear cloth face covering when:
  • inside the classroom;
  • in the Mess Hall/East Lounge/West Lounge or any other eating space while getting their meal prior to eating;
  • in all employee offices; and
  • outside when social distancing is not possible.
• Grades Pre-K and Kindergarten will wear masks in the same areas as grades 1-7 “as much as development will allow” per the AAP recommendations. 
• As much as possible, students will be kept with the same classmates during the day — including recess and lunch.
• There will be no clustering of desks, and students will spread out wherever and whenever possible.
• All teachers will take advantage of the open campus and utilize the space for teaching opportunities that allow for social distancing and mask removal.

Upper School

• Daily screening by families: A list of COVID-19 related health screening questions will be provided for Farragut families to answer each school day. Answers of “no” to all questions mean it’s safe to bring their children to campus. The questions are not turned in. Rather, by bringing their children to campus, families are attesting that their children are illness/symptom-free.
• All Upper School cadets will wear a cloth face covering when:
  • inside the classroom;
  • in the Mess Hall/East Lounge/West Lounge while getting their meal prior to eating;
  • in all employee offices; and
  • outside when social distancing is not possible.
• All Upper School cadets will have assigned seats in class to allow for minimal exposure and ease of contact tracing in the event a student or teacher tests positive for COVID-19.

Boarding Students 

• Upon arrival, boarding cadets will be assigned to a dorm room in Farragut Hall with another boarding cadet arriving within the same time frame. The boarding cadets will be tested by our Director of Student Health for COVID-19. (The Health Center has the ongoing ability to test for COVID-19 for our boarding population.) Boarding cadets will be limited to interacting with other cadets on his/her wing during the post travel quarantine time. The Interaction between boarding cadets will be dependent upon the other boarding cadets COVID-19 test results.
• Daily screening of boarding cadets: A list of COVID-19 health screening questions will be provided to each boarding student with instructions to report to the Student Health Center for evaluation should he/she answer yes to any of the questions. Cadets will also be asked at the formation prior to breakfast if they are experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19. Any cadet answering yes will be sent to the Student Health Center. In both instances, the nurse on duty will evaluate the cadet and take further action as deemed necessary. 
• Family screening of 5-Day Boarders: A list of health screening questions will be provided to families of 5-Day Boarders to answer regarding boarding cadets. Answers of “no” to all questions mean it’s safe to bring their children to campus. The questions are not turned in. Rather, by bringing their children to campus, families are attesting that their children are illness/symptom-free. Any “yes” response should result in the affected Boarder remaining at home. In such a case, the family is required to notify the Director of Student Health and follow the CDC protocol for the return to school.
• Boarding cadets, for the foreseeable future, will be required to remain on campus at all times and may only be signed out to a parent or legal guardian. In signing out your child, we trust parents/guardians will continue all recommended precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while your child is away from Admiral Farragut Academy.
• Farragut-owned vehicles will be sanitized between drivers as well as daily

PROTOCOLS FOR EMPLOYEES

• Daily employee self-screening. All faculty and staff will complete an attestation form regarding their current health prior to arrival on campus daily.
• All staff/faculty and students are expected to stay home if they are exhibiting any signs of illness. If symptoms arise during the school day, the individual will be sent home promptly.  
• Our nursing staff will monitor absenteeism to identify any illness trends among employees.
• Employees must wear a face covering when around other people and it is not possible to socially distance (staying at least 6 feet from each other) whether inside or outside — but especially in any of the 3 Cs: Closed spaces, Close contact, and Crowds.
• Traditional eating spaces are reserved for students, NOT employees.
• Employees will limit the use of shared tools and equipment. When sharing is required, employees will clean tools and equipment before/after use. 

IN CONCLUSION

It is important to note that we have been conducting business as usual these past five weeks.  We have held our Little Captains Summer Camp and are currently conducting our Summer@Farragut Boarding Camp. In total, we consistently had about 150 people on our campus daily. Hosting these camps has resulted in COVID-19 positive individuals in both camps. These individuals were exposed off-campus and alerted us immediately before returning to campus. I am pleased to report that due to our policies and procedures, we were successful in contact tracing, testing, isolating, and quarantining, thus eliminating the threat and spread. We anticipate we will function the same way during the school year. We will be asking our families to keep children home when sick, report contact with COVID-19 positive people, and join our community in keeping our students and everyone on campus as healthy as possible.

With that being said, I expect we will continue to deal with COVID-19 cases within our Farragut Community. We will need to work together to communicate contact or illnesses, and test and quarantine when requested. If we all take responsibility we can control the spread if it should be brought to campus we can continue to make our campus safe.

In these unprecedented times, Admiral Farragut Academy is committed to offering the best possible educational experience for students and families. My hope is we can work together to offer a positive educational experience in a healthy environment. We Are Farragut!

Robert J. Fine, Jr.
Head of School

Dear Farragut Families,

During these difficult times, I want to reach out and thank everyone for their patience and understanding.

As anticipated, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis came out this weekend and officially closed all public and private schools and mandated schools continue distance learning for the remainder of the school year. Following suit, Admiral Farragut Academy will finish the academic year online.

This will go down as our COVID-19 quarter, and we will make sure it does not impact your child’s academic future in a negative way. The learning curve for the adults and students has been a challenge, but a good challenge. As the students move forward they will look back at this experience in a positive way.  

Over the next few weeks we will be sending out information on a few different topics: 

• Celebrating the end of the 2019-20 school year. We are working on the logistics and/or possibilities of virtual award ceremonies and other end-of-the-year celebrations. We know these events are an important part of a student’s life and maturation and we want to make it as special as possible, but also keep with the rules of COVID-19 and our new norm. More information on these events coming soon. 
• Safety upon our return to normalcy is our number one priority. We are working to finish up some safety issues on campus to ensure we are fully prepared to have children and employees on campus again after the quarantine is over. For example, improvements include continuous disinfection regulations, access to hand sanitizer throughout campus, and rethinking classroom set up and crowded spaces to allow for social distancing, etc.
• Our day summer camps are set to start on June 1st and we still plan on this date. Our 12-week extended boarding Summer@Farragut camp is set to start May 22nd, and will be followed by our traditional Summer@Farragut 1- to 6-week camp that starts June 20th. There may also be some additional camps we will be adding to our summer program, more on this coming soon.
• We will be opening the 2020-21 academic school year on campus and on time as planned on August 19th. We will open with our new safety and health procedures in place.  We plan to have these in place for our summer programs which will then carry over to the start of school in August.  

As always, I appreciate everyone’s patience during these difficult times. We look forward to having our students and teachers back on campus soon!

Dear Parents,

I hope this note finds each of you healthy and well in these challenging times. Everyone in the Admiral Farragut Academy community is demonstrating remarkable resilience, strength, and agility in the midst of this global pandemic. I have received numerous reports by parents of people in our Farragut Community going above and beyond for each other.

As we come to the end of our first week of distance learning I have some important updates in addition to several reminders:

1. Admiral Farragut will comply with the governor’s mandate of extending the distant learning timeframe to April 30th. So please make appropriate plans to continue until that date at the very least. We will keep you updated as we move forward.
2. A short survey will be sent to you at the end of next week for you to provide important feedback to the school in relation to your child’s experience with his/her’s online learning environment. We are in this together and we want to ensure we are meeting the needs of each student.
3. Next week we will continue to follow our original school calendar by taking the Spring Weekend off from online schooling. Friday, April 10th, and Monday, April 13th, we will not hold school or academic time.

Once again, I applaud our entire school community for making this unforeseen transition to distant learning as smooth as possible. We continue to be here for our students and hope you are well and stay safe and healthy.

Sincerely,

Robert J. Fine, Jr.
Headmaster
Admiral Farragut Academy

Dear Farragut Families,

In light of the evolving reality of COVID-19, I do hope that everyone has been enjoying the break. Many things have changed since I last saw everyone on March 13th. As you likely know, through communication from Captain Fine, we will be moving to Distance Learning starting March 30th.

What To Expect?

• As we implement our Distance Learning Plan, our main goals are to continue to support student learning and progress and maintain open lines of communication with students and families.
• On Thursday, March 26th, parents and/or students will be receiving communication from their teacher(s) regarding protocols to initiate Distance Learning.
• Depending on the grade, there will be different levels of communication and use of technology.

What Can You Do Now?

• If you do not have access to the internet at home, you should contact your cable company.  During this time, many cable companies are offering free internet service.
• Go On A Virtual Field Trip With Your Child (20 Field Trips To Choose From)
• Read books or put a puzzle together as a family.
• Play board games that incorporate math, counting, and logic – Chutes and Ladders, Monopoly, etc.

What If I Do Not Have A Computer For My Child Or Have Technology Questions?

• We will be loaning out Chromebooks from Monday, March 23rd-Thursday, March 26th. If your child needs a Chromebook please contact Mr. Olesnevich at molesnevich@farragut.org to arrange this.
• Shannon LoRusso is available for minor tech support regarding programs, passwords, etc.  You can email her at slorusso@farragut.org.

What Are The Expectations Of Parent/Guardian/Student?

• Dedicate a consistent distraction-free space for your child to work.
• Try and maintain a daily routine, ie., consistent wake-up time, “school time”, lunchtime, and bedtime.
• Have your child follow their teacher(s) schedule, complete assignments and submit assignments when requested.
• Reach out to your child’s teacher if you have any questions.

How Do I Talk To My Child About The Coronavirus?

• Child Mind – Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus
• New York Times – How to Talk to Children About the Coronavirus
• Kids Health – How to Talk to Kids About Coronavirus

We will reassess and communicate further steps by April 15th, but until then all on-campus, school-sponsored events and activities have been canceled.

Thank you for your ongoing patience and support as we work together for the health, safety, and well-being of everyone in our school community. I will be available to you during the period of the closure via email at afine@farragut.org.  Please let me know if you have any questions. 

Sincerely,

Anita Fine
Head of Lower School

As our spring break has come and gone, the COVID-19 has increased and our Governor has closed all schools until April 15.  As you are aware via CAPT Fine’s communications, Admiral Farragut Academy has decided to move our classes online starting March 30.  Here are some important notes for the coming weeks and how the online classes will work.

• Teachers will send an email to students in their classes this Thursday, March 26.
• All students will need to use and check their AFA email address a few times a day.  Please contact Amy Stabile at astabile@farragut.org if they are not sure of their email address.
• Teachers will continue to share information with the students through the following tools:
  • FOCUS
  • Google Classroom, Sites, email and other sources
    • (The students already use these resources, so this will not be new to them.)
• Teachers will continue to provide content delivery, content practice, and formative assessments.
• Teachers will be available Monday – Friday from 10a – 3p to answer emails or video conference using Google Hangouts.
• If you do not have a Chromebook and you would like to borrow one, please email Amy Stabile at astabile@farragut.org or call with any questions you may have 727-384-5502.

The COVID-19 has been a challenge for everyone and as a school, AFA is committed to making our transition to online learning as smooth as possible.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Jen Grabowski at jgrabowski@farragut.org.

Stay safe and healthy.

Thomas D. McGlinn
Head of Upper School
Admiral Farragut Academy

Continuing to follow the State’s mandate, we are not resuming on-campus instruction until April 15th, and we should expect the Governor’s mandate to be extended as we move forward. So, today, I am informing you that Admiral Farragut Academy will begin distance learning (online instruction) on Monday, March 30th.  

Next week you will receive a series of emails detailing what to expect, what times students can expect to be engaged online, how to pick up a Chromebook if needed, or how to come to school and pick up supplies (books, workbooks) from lockers or classrooms, etc. Please look for those communications early next week.

For our boarding families, we will have our dorms open and students will work from campus in an online setting. We will continue to be flexible for individuals and families if you want to bring your child home.   

I want to thank everyone for their patience and flexibility during this difficult time.

Sincerely,

Robert J. Fine, Jr.
Headmaster, Admiral Farragut Academy

Admiral Farragut Academy will be honoring the Florida Governor’s request to extend our Spring Break an extra week. Classes will resume on Monday, March 30th, whether on campus or in a Distance Learning environment. We will continue to monitor the situation and communicate our plans with you over the next week. If Distance Learning is required, we will communicate plans, strategies, and times of teacher engagement in separate communications.

Meanwhile, we will continue to function as a Boarding School and monitor and oversee any boarder not able to go home. Separate communication will be forthcoming to all boarding families.

For everyone on campus, our increased cleaning continues, augmented by two outside professional companies that are sanitizing and disinfecting the entire campus — including classrooms and dormitories.

Please continue to adhere to all precautions and directions that our school medical staff has sent over the past several weeks and review the PDF at farragut.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/workplace-school-and-home-guidance.pdf. We are committed to keeping the entire school community healthy.

Thank you for your continued patience and cooperation.

Sincerely,

Robert J. Fine, Jr.
Headmaster, Admiral Farragut Academy

Dear Farragut Community,

As Spring Break is upon us, and the news of the COVID-19 is everywhere, impacting our universities in the state and public gatherings, I wanted to assure you we are continuing to closely monitor the situation. The health and safety of our community is always a priority and at this time there are no known or suspected cases of COVID-19 within our school community.

While we hope to move forward after our Spring Break, as we have these past few weeks, we will be closely monitoring the situation next week. We do have action plans in place if a closure is in the best interest of the school or is mandated by local officials. If closure is warranted, our dorms will remain open for our boarding students and we will move to online instruction. Being a boarding school, we always have staff working around the clock accommodating our boarders.

If we have to suspend “on-campus” classes, we will communicate that decision on Friday, March 20th. If that were to be the case our students and families will receive separate instructions from our Lower and Upper School Heads on our instructional plans for prolonged online instruction. These instructional plans are adapted for age, class and subject area. Our teachers have an abundance of resources they can harness in order to continue and move forward with our children’s education. If this decision is the course of action, faculty and staff will continue normal school hours of interaction. If families do not have a dedicated device for their child at their home, our Technology Department will work with these families to borrow one of our school’s Chromebooks.

In addition, the school has increased cleaning services as well as hired two outside professional companies to sanitize and disinfect the entire campus including classrooms and dormitories. Please continue to adhere to all precautions and directions that our school medical staff has sent over the past several weeks and review the attached PDF. While the risk to children is low, we would like to keep our entire school community healthy.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation. Have a nice Spring Break.

Sincerely,

Robert J. Fine, Jr.
Headmaster, Admiral Farragut Academy

As promised, we are continuing to monitor the situation with the novel coronavirus (CoVid19).  Recently two probable cases have been identified in the Tampa area. One case in Hillsborough County and one in Pasco County.  I want to assure you that our school is keeping track of this situation through proven and trustworthy sources: our local health department, the Florida Department of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

At this time, the risks to our school community continues to be low.
Updated information from the CDC on coronavirus in the United States can be found at:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html and in Florida at: http://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/COVID-19/.  Additionally, I have attached two printouts from the CDC on preventive care as well as care should you be exposed and become symptomatic.

Much is being learned about this newly emerged virus.  Based on the current information, health officials are recommending local communities and schools should take the same steps to protect against coronavirus as we take to prevent the spread of everyday illnesses like the common cold or the flu:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Keep your child home when sick.
  • No student should return to school until fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications such as Tylenol or Motrin.
• Cover your mouth and nose with the inside of your elbow when you cough or sneeze.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

The 2019 novel coronavirus is believed to be spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, much in the way the flu and other respiratory viruses are spread.  Symptoms can be fever, cough, or difficulty breathing.

The administration meets daily to create a plan of action, preventive care, and ways to share the information with the school and community to keep everyone well informed.

While a new type of illness can be frightening, we can protect our students, teachers, and the broader community by using simple everyday actions that protect people from other types of respiratory viruses.  The teachers and staff are working to encourage these simple and effective habits of frequent handwashing, covering every cough or sneeze, and cleaning classroom tables/surfaces frequently. We have stepped up these measures with our cleaning crews and our day to day habits. This is important not just to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, but to help prevent the spread of other infections that can lead to student illness and absences.

Additionally, with spring break right around the corner, you can access CDC travel advisories at:
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/china#travel-notices

As always, please feel free to reach out should you have any concerns.

Sincerely,
Suzanne Douglass, BSN, RN
Director of Student Health Services
Admiral Farragut Academy
sdouglass@farragut.org

We are aware of the general concern regarding the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV).  The health and safety of students and our school community is our highest priority.

Sincerely,
Suzanne Douglass, BSN, RN
Director of Student Health Services
Admiral Farragut Academy
sdouglass@farragut.org