Lincoln Academy plans to open with a combination of in-person and virtual learning to start in September. Day-to-day details of the plan depend on the changing public health status in Lincoln County, Maine, and the US, as well as Governor Mills’s recommendation that schools be prepared for several scenarios–fully in person (with masks and social distancing), fully virtual, and a hybrid–with plans to transition as needed among the three plans.

The planned hybrid scenario will include a minimum of one day on campus for all students. We will have an extended orientation program in early September before academic classes begin. This will include “Technology Boot Camp,” training in new health and safety protocols, and a chance to get acquainted with the incoming Class of 2024. All students will participate in this orientation, though not all students will be on campus at any one time.

Class interactions happen through Canvas without real-time interaction with the teacher. Students engage in class materials and complete work at their own pace, typically within a given timeframe, often using discussion boards to engage with their classmates.

Interactions between teachers and students happen in real time, at the same time, but online through a platform like Zoom or Google Meet. Synchronous sessions will happen primarily on Wednesdays, but teachers may choose to schedule other synchronous sessions for small groups or individuals.

Yes. Everyone will be required to wear masks at all times inside Lincoln Academy buildings. You may not come to school without a mask.

Students will be expected to complete a daily check-in making sure that they are not experiencing any symptoms related to COVID-19. Parents should fill out a google form each evening (or in the morning before 7 am) every time their student has an i-person day. This form will be emailed to families.

In our new reality, we must take all symptoms related to COVID-19 seriously. Students who have even mild symptoms of sore throat, body aches, chills, fever, or cough are asked to stay home and report your condition to the Health Center using the online portal. We expect that absences will be more frequent and longer than in past years, and we will make every effort to accommodate students who miss school. All courses will be delivered using the Canvas Learning Management system in a virtual format, which will facilitate teaching and learning during student absences.

In the case of a positive COVID test within the LA community, campus would immediately shift to all-virtual learning for a minimum of 24 hours while the school completes contact tracing in conjunction with the Maine CDC and assesses risks to the community. Reopening after any closure will follow CDC protocols and happen only after it has been determined that it is safe to return to school.

The LA residential staff has been working all summer to create a safe space for residential students to return. This includes creating an isolation wing for any student who falls ill, and plans to care for sick students safely. The Health Center is working closely with Lincoln Health to set up support systems to test, diagnose, isolate, monitor, and care for any member of the residential community who falls ill.

LA is preparing school spaces to help the community stay safe at school this year. These preparations include: replacing shared tables with individual desks in classrooms, increasing sanitization of spaces and surfaces, restricting visitor access to campus, limiting access to certain classrooms and dorm spaces, increasing air flow throughout school buildings, adding plexiglass shields at reception desks, de-densifying classrooms, adding handwashing and hand sanitizing stations, and reducing sharing of equipment such as books, computers, and lab supplies. Students will have lunch in classrooms instead of in the Dining Commons.

We expect that teachers will have extra Professional Development days at the end of August to prepare for a very different-looking school year. Student Orientation will run from August 31-September 11, and regular instruction will begin September 14.

At this point, we plan to follow the Important Dates Calendar as originally scheduled:

• Thanksgiving Vacation – November 11/21-11/29
• December Vacation – 12/19 – 1/3
• February Vacation – 2/13 – 2/21
• April Vacation – 4/17 – 4/25
• Commencement – 6/4
• Last Student Day – 6/10
• Last Faculty Day – 6/11

At this point we plan to begin school with the hybrid plan where all students attend in person two days a week and have three days of virtual instruction. During the days where students are not on campus, they are expected to engage in virtual learning during school hours every weekday. Classes will be taught in weekly modules on Canvas, with academic work assigned and submitted online. This will accommodate students who cannot attend in-person classes, and will ease the transition if we need to go to all virtual learning during the course of the year.

In-person time will be used for hands-on work, practice and problem solving, and other academic activities that work best in an in-person format. In addition to class time, there will be time for individualized student support and time connecting with peers and teachers. In-person days will include advisor meetings, extra-curricular activities, technical support, and a chance to pick up or return equipment and assignments that cannot be completed virtually. All assigned work will be available on Canvas for remote students.

If students and their families have specific health concerns, they may choose not to attend the in-person instructional days at school. This is a decision that should be weighed carefully in consultation with the health center, the students’ advisor, and the student’s guidance counselor. We are asking students to commit (via a survey to be sent by August 21st) to either virtual or hybrid learning during the first month of school.

Hybrid Learning will take place in three formats: in-person lessons, synchronous (live) virtual lessons, and asynchronous (independent) academic activities. Teachers will post the work for each week on Canvas with clear explanations about the format for the work and the learning expectations. All work will be available virtually. If health and safety conditions force us to shift to a fully virtual model, in-person classes will be replaced with synchronous virtual instruction. Teachers will also hold virtual office hours during the week. 

Students are expected to engage in school work during regular school hours on any given day, whether that day is an in-person or virtual learning day. Students should not make other regular commitments during the school day, including paid work during the hours of 8 and 2:30. The school will take attendance during both in-person classes and virtual synchronous sessions.

Using the Canvas modules will help ensure consistency in instruction and facilitate transitions that could become necessary if there is a local outbreak of COVID-19.

The year will start with “Technology Bootcamp” as part of back-to-school orientation. This will help prepare students for online learning and ensure that all students are comfortable navigating Canvas and other supporting technology platforms. Once the trimester begins, faculty will host small-group online support sessions and offer targeted support sessions for individual students. LA will provide technical assistance with Chromebook loaners and wifi hotspots for those without Internet access. Technical support for parents and families will be provided using recorded videos and regularly scheduled virtual drop-in sessions.

Performing arts classes will continue to meet virtually and in-person to work on core skills. Extracurricular performing arts and H period classes will continue to meet after school during a set afternoon schedule.

The Visual and Performing Arts department has reviewed their procedures regarding materials, physical contact, and ventilation to develop plans for safely continuing instruction. Some classes may be moved to alternate spaces to ensure needed distance and ventilation.

The sharing of equipment will be minimized and, to the extent possible, students will have individualized materials. Protocols for cleaning and sanitization have been developed for items that must be shared in classrooms and art studios.

No. We expect that all final grades (trimester and year-end) will be graded on the standard 100 point scale. Virtual learning will also involve more formative assessment and rubrics for project-based assignments.

The Bath Regional Career and Technical Center (BRCTC) anticipates that students will attend in-person vocational classes two days a week (Mon/Thurs or Tues/Fri) and participate in online learning on the other days. Lincoln Academy’s hybrid learning schedule will allow students to participate in both programs.

These programs will follow a schedule independent from other classes, and we expect students in these programs to be on campus as much as possible this fall. Please note that IDEAL, and Alternative Education will now meet in Hall House, which is being converted this summer from dorm space to classrooms.

No. While there will be required weekly synchronous sessions in each class, classes will not simply be live streamed, as this presents technical challenges, does not account for student accommodations, and is not the best way to deliver virtual content. Teachers are spending time this summer learning best practices for virtual learning in order to “think beyond the Zoom lecture,” so this will improve the overall virtual learning experience for students.

The key to learning in a hybrid or virtual model is good communication between teachers and students. Please make sure your student checks in with each teacher (including their advisor) every week. Students will have a clear schedule that parents can help them adhere to during the week, and not all of their academic work will be on a screen. Information about how to become an Observer in Canvas will be shared at the start of the school year. This account allows a parent or guardian a view into the academic learning environment that students use everyday. It is recommended that all parents set up an Observer account so that they can assist their students, if needed.

Guidance counselors will be available when students are on campus, through email and through virtual sessions via Google Meet or Zoom. In the fall, guidance counselors will be working to support seniors as they plan for life after high school and will be connecting to freshmen to help them transition to Lincoln Academy. They are also a resource for any student requiring support and will support struggling students throughout the year.

Please see the September 15 Lincoln Academy Statement on Fall Athletics for complete information as of mis-September.

Every athlete will need to complete the athletic section of Lincoln Academy’s InfoSnap Registration portal, which will open on August 10 for student registration. In addition, all fall athletes should contact their coaches and do some conditioning to prepare for a shortened season.

Even if we are unable to complete the fall season, as long as school has in-person instruction LA coaches will work with athletes after school in a program that keeps them safe and helps them stay fit and active.

Stay tuned!

We expect that buses will run at a de-densified capacity. We encourage families who have access to alternate transportation to use it so that those who have no alternative can have the safest bus experience possible. The bus schedule is now available at this link.

Time with students’ academic advisors will be prioritized during in-person days in the hybrid model, and advisors will be available to students virtually as well. Advisors should serve as the first point of contact if students are struggling, followed by guidance counselors and social workers. Special Education ed techs will continue to provide support for students, and the Student Support Team (SST) will continue to track students with emotional and academic needs. 

Guidance counselors and social workers will be available for both in-person and virtual appointments. Please check with the Guidance Office (guidance@lincolnacademy.org) or Health Center (hennyr@lincolnacademy.org) for details, or email social workers Tory Wright (twright@lincolnacademy.org) or Lisa Katz (katz@lincolnacademy.org).

Clubs and extracurriculars that can meet virtually can and should continue to meet. In-person days will also allow times for club meetings to take place on campus. The last period of the day on Thursdays and Fridays (1:15-2:05 pm) will be dedicated to club meetings. All students will be encouraged to join at least one club.

For Questions about the fall return plan:

The Academic Fall Planning Committee was made up of administrators and representatives from each academic department. Questions about academics should be directed to Director of Curriculum and Instruction Kelley Duffy: duffy@lincolnacademy.org

Questions about  and health concerns and campus safety should be directed to LA Health Center Director Eric Duffy: eduffy@lincolnacademy.org

Questions about accessing technology for virtual learning should be directed to Academic Technology Coordinator Stephanie Cheney: cheney@lincolnacademy.org

Questions about fall athletics should be directed to Athletic Director KJ Anastasio kj@lincolnacademy.org

Other useful contacts include:

• Jeff Burroughs, Head of School: burroughs@lincolnacademy.org
• Sarah Wills-Viega, Director of Counseling and Studies: wills-viega@lincolnacademy.org
• Laurie Zimmerli, Director of Special Services: zimmerli@lincolnacademy.org
• Jake Abbott, Dean of Students and Director of Residential Life: jabbott@lincolnacademy.org

Other faculty and staff contact information can be found in the Faculty and Staff Directory