COVID-19, CAMPUS PROTOCOLS


On this page, you will find learning options and safety protocols. Any changes in campus/online structure will be communicated through email and posted on this page.
 
Regarding online or on-campus learning:
  • Parents may choose virtual or on-campus learning for their sons throughout the school year. If your student must remain at home, please email director of admissions and enrollment management.
  • Students on campus must wear masks properly and abide by social-distancing and hygiene protocols.
  • See the COVID-19 Updates Resource Board for weekly updates.
  • The fluidity of the COVID-19 situation may require MUS to make modifications to plans. Our top priority remains the health and safety of students and their families as well as our faculty and staff.

Health Safeguards

List of 5 items.

  • Face Covering or Mask

    We require students, faculty, and staff to wear properly fitting face coverings that cover the mouth and nose.

    Students should bring at least two masks with them to school every day so they can change after several hours. If a student comes to school with no mask or an unacceptable mask, we will provide a mask for that day. Continued failure to wear a proper face covering will be treated as a dress-code violation.


    Mask Guidelines:
    • Masks should be in a solid color or simple pattern – no slogans, ads, or distracting artwork. Appropriate college- and sports-theme masks are acceptable.
    • Masks can be made of cloth. Two- or three-ply cotton or polyester outside with cotton lining is recommended. For extra protection, some masks have a pouch for a filter (coffee filters can be used).
    • The mask should seal all the way around the nose and mouth area (top of the nose to below the chin).
    • Disposable medical masks are acceptable.
    • Masks with vents are NOT acceptable.
    • Neck gaiters are NOT acceptable.
    • Look for a mask that allows you to breathe and is comfortable enough that you will not be constantly touching or adjusting it.
    • The mask should be washable or disposable.

    Click THIS LINK for examples of acceptable masks.

  • Guest, Parent Campus Access

    Parents and guests will be allowed on campus by appointment only. All must wear face coverings and observe health precautions.

  • Hygiene and Cleaning

    Hand sanitizer is widely available, and students are encouraged to practice healthy hand hygiene.

    All classrooms are furnished with disinfectant wipes or spray, and students will wipe down their desks when they change classes.
    Frequently touched surfaces will be wiped down with a disinfectant periodically throughout the day, including restrooms, doorknobs, and counters.

    We will not use shared devices or implements in classrooms, labs, art studios, or the library.

    End-of-day cleaning will include enhanced measures, including the use of electrostatic sprayers to distribute disinfectants more uniformly over uneven surfaces. The sprayers will deliver Waltz D, an EPA-registered, environmentally friendly disinfectant approved for use against the novel coronavirus.

  • Physical Distancing

    In all classrooms, desks are placed in rows spaced 6 feet apart, and all face in the same direction. Unless impractical because of the weather, teachers can keep windows and doors open.
    Students enter buildings through designated doors and will follow one-way designations in the hallways. Click HERE to see diagrams showing entry points and traffic flow.

    To reduce traffic, students will keep books and supplies in backpacks and use lockers only for coats, athletic equipment, sack lunches, etc. They are not to visit lockers between classes.

    Upper School study hall (S3) is held in the Dining Hall.

    Teachers can make use of outdoors spaces for classes.

    Students will not be allowed to congregate before or after school. After classes they will be directed to go to their supervised after-school activities or to leave campus.

    Social distancing will be enforced in the Dining Hall service area and in several dining areas. Seniors and juniors will eat in the Dining Hall. Seventh and eighth graders will eat in Todd-Snowden Gym. Freshmen and sophomores will eat in Ross Lynn Arena.

    We will reconfigure chapels and assemblies to allow for distancing, incorporating digital tools and methods when necessary.

    Some events will be recorded or streamed so wider audiences can view them or participate.

  • Protocols

    Mr. David Ferebee, our contact tracing coordinator, has developed protocols for dealing with COVID-19 exposure. Read them HERE.

Dress, Tech, Expectations

List of 3 items.

  • Dress Code

    Due to the pandemic, we hold some classes outdoors, and students do not change clothes for P.E. After Convocation Day (the first day of the school year), students may wear dress shorts with a belt, athletic shoes with socks, and a polo or button-down shirt with collar. The shirttail must be tucked in. Students attending classes online must wear a collared shirt (no hoodies or hats) and be groomed according to the grooming section in the U Book, which states that a student must be clean-shaven. We expect all students to uphold this regulation. The U Book also states that students who refuse to conform to the dress and grooming regulations will face disciplinary action.
    Note: On Convocation Day, students must wear coat, dress shirt, tie, long pants, and a face mask. Other coat-and-tie days will be announced. 

  • Student and Parent Expectations

    To help parents and students understand what is expected of them during online and in-person learning, we have developed standards of behavior. Read the Student Expectations HERE and the Parent Expecations HERE.

  • Technology Information

    The following documents will help students prepare for their technology needs at MUS:
     
     
     
     
    Technical Trouble Help            
     
    Please note that the steps listed in the Setting Up Your Technology for MUS sheet should be completed before the first day of class. The last step on the sheet instructs students to watch seven orientation videos that have been added to their Edpuzzle accounts. This is required. There is about one hour of content.

Academics and Activities

List of 5 items.

  • After School Academic Program (ASAP)

    ASAP continues this year as described in the U Book (page 52) with the following exceptions: It is held in the Lower School Dunavant Lecture Hall, and water stations are available for use. We encourage students to bring snacks. It is open to all grade levels from 3:40-5:30 p.m. on school days. If students cannot leave campus by 3:40 p.m., they will be required to attend ASAP. The cost is $15 per day.

  • Arts Programs

    MUS offers a wide variety of arts opportunities, including Beg To Differ a cappella choir, band and orchestra groups, theater and visual arts – and in the 2020-21 school year, the show goes on.

    We are focusing on the health and safety of our students and keeping up with the ever-evolving studies and recommendations from local and national experts as we follow best-practice guidelines.

    Utilizing digital and video platforms when necessary, we safeguard the health of our students, faculty, and audiences. 

    Music
    We have reduced section sizes to assure that we are able to safely fit our ensembles in our rehearsal spaces, at times including various sports facilities.

    Instrumental playing and singing is practiced either outside or individually and recorded for instructor feedback.

    Concerts look and feel different. From live-streamed events to small coffee concerts – we are keeping performance central to our curriculum while adhering to the safety measures dictated by the CDC.

    Visual Arts
    We have created individual art kits for students that minimize the sharing of high-touch materials.

    Students remain socially distanced in the art studio.

    Visual arts faculty members utilize additional cameras so remote learners get a fuller picture of what is going on.

    Theater
    We plan to move forward with the spring musical while abiding by best-practice guidelines.

    We are minimizing group gatherings, appropriately distancing cast and crew, and staggering rehearsal times and spaces. Some rehearsals have taken place virtually or outdoors.

    We may live-stream productions so our audiences have the option to join us either via at-home “watch parties” or in person.

    Digital Media Production Class
    We are have developed a Digital Media Production class in which students are involved in the planning and creation of digital content for the MUS community – news reports, interviews, virtual performances, and other broadcast opportunities.

    The class covers creative and technical aspects of video production, including writing, producing, editing, and camera work. Email the technical director of theater to express interest.

  • Athletic Programs

    MUS offers athletics to support our mission of building well-rounded young men of strong moral character by promoting teamwork, perseverance, discipline, and pursuit of excellence. We continue to educate through athletics and physical education while keeping our students, faculty, and fans as safe as possible.

    Family Health Concerns: We respect the authority of parents to withhold their sons from participation because of health issues. An athlete is not penalized or eliminated from the team if he must miss practice or games because of his health or consideration of family members’ health. This has always been our policy. We encourage families with concerns to communicate openly with us so we can keep the program running smoothly.

    Spectator Restrictions and Protocols: We fully comply with governmental and health department regulations regarding crowd density, masks, social distancing, and disinfection protocols.

  • Chapels and Assemblies

    We have reconfigured chapels and assemblies to allow for social distancing, incorporating digital tools and methods when necessary.

    Some events are recorded or streamed so wider audiences can view or participate in them.

  • Clubs and Activities

    Clubs and other extracurricular activities continue this year, always incorporating health protocols. 
     

FAQ's

List of 10 frequently asked questions.

  • Q. Is the Daily Health Assessment a requirement for my son to come to campus?

    Yes. For every day that a student is scheduled to attend class on campus, a parent will need to complete our online Daily Health Assessment form by answering a few yes-no health-screening questions, signing the form, and clicking “Submit.”
    If the answer is “yes” to any symptom question, the student may not come to campus and must learn online. Parents should inform the Upper School Office or Lower School Office. To see the MUS COVID-19 protocols, including when students who test positive or exhibit symptoms may return to campus, click HERE.
    If a parent cannot complete this form in the morning,  he or she may do so the previous evening. For each school day your son will be on campus, the window for submitting the form is 5 p.m. the previous day to 7:55 a.m. the next morning.

  • Q. What are the protocols for students who are exposed to COVID-19, test positive for the illness, or exhibit symptoms?

    Mr. David Ferebee, our contact tracing coordinator, has developed protocols for dealing with these situations. Read them HERE.

  • Q. What are the options for school structure this year?

    Option 1: Full on-campus learning
    Option 2: Concurrent learning with lower density - half the student body on campus, half learning concurrently online; alternating every two days
    Option 3: Learning completely online

  • Q. What determines when the school transitions from one learning option to another?

    We closely monitor the local situation, and we take into consideration information from the Shelby County Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in determining when it is in the best interest of our school community to move from one option to another.

  • Q. What are the requirements for face-coverings or masks?

    We require students, faculty, and staff to wear properly fitting face coverings that cover the mouth and nose. Students should bring at least two masks with them to school every day so they can change after several hours. Failure to wear a facial covering properly will be treated as a dress-code violation, and a student could be sent home.

    Mask Guidelines:
    • Masks should be in a solid color or simple pattern – no slogans, ads, or distracting artwork. Appropriate college- and sports-theme masks are acceptable.
    • Masks can be made of cloth. Two- or three-ply cotton or polyester outside with cotton lining is recommended. For extra protection, some masks have a pouch for a filter (coffee filters can be used).
    • The mask should seal all the way around the nose and mouth area (top of the nose to below the chin).
    • Disposable medical masks are acceptable.
    • Masks with vents are NOT acceptable.
    • Neck gaiters are NOT acceptable.
    • Look for a mask that allows you to breathe and is comfortable enough that you will not be constantly touching or adjusting it.
    • The mask should be washable or disposable.
    Click THIS LINK for examples of acceptable masks.

  • Q. May I choose for my son to learn online full-time?

    Yes. Parents may choose total virtual learning for boys who must stay home because of health concerns. Families may change their choice at any time during the year. If your son must remain at home, please email Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management Buck Towner, buck.towner@musowls.org.

  • Q. Will my son need a laptop?

    Technology plays a major role in your son’s school life this year. A laptop is an important tool at home and at school. For laptop specifications, please be sure to review the supply list for Upper School HERE and Lower School HERE.

  • Q. What counseling and learning support is offered?

    We recognize that many students may face social, emotional, or learning challenges during this time. Our counselors are available to help.

    Mrs. Amy Poag (Grades 7 and 8): amy.poag@musowls.org or (901) 260-1326

    Mr. Joe Abrahams (Grades 9 and 10): joe.abrahams@musowls.org or (901) 260-1408

    Mr. Eddie Batey (Grades 11 and 12): eddie.batey@musowls.org or (901) 260-1366

  • Q. Will after-school care be offered?

    Yes. Our After School Academic Program (ASAP) will be offered in the Lower School Dunavant Lecture Hall from 3:40-5:30 p.m. on school days. It is open to all grade levels. If students cannot leave campus by 3:40 p.m., they will be required to attend ASAP. The cost is $15 per day. 

  • Q. What is the procedure if a student needs technical help?

    The following documents will help students prepare for their technology needs at MUS:
     
    Accessing Technology at MUS
     
    Setting Up Your Technology for MUS
     
    Helpful Apps for your Phone
     
    Technical Trouble Help            
     
    Please note that the steps listed in the Setting Up Your Technology for MUS sheet should be completed before the first day of class. The last step on the sheet instructs students to watch seven orientation videos that have been added to their Edpuzzle accounts. This is required. There is about one hour of content.

    Information is posted on the Academic Tech Resource Board once a student is logged in to OwlHub (the login area of the school website). They should review this information before seeking technology troubleshooting help from their teacher. 

    If help is still necessary, students should then submit a request and email     help@musowls.org to get assistance. The request must include full name, graduation year, a mobile phone number where the student can be reached, and details about the specific problem with attached pictures or videos, if possible. Students should also "CC" their teacher on the help email to prove that a help ticket has been submitted.

CONTACT US

Need help? Email us.

Main Number: (901) 260-1300
Upper School: (901) 260-1320
Lower School: (901) 260-1360
 

SCHOOL NEWS

List of 7 news stories.

More News

Memphis University School

6191 Park Avenue  |  Memphis, TN 38119  |  Main: (901) 260-1300