2020-21 Back-to-School Guide

The Frederick Gunn School has committed to reopening our campus to students and faculty for the 2020-21 academic year. Students will be welcomed back starting Tuesday, September 8. Classes will begin Monday, September 14. We know far more about COVID-19 now than we did when news of the coronavirus began to impact our way of life in March. In Connecticut and our region, mitigation efforts have so far led to consistently low levels of new cases. We are encouraged by this and we are re-energized by the idea of having our students gather this fall, whether you are joining us in person or as part of our global online learning community, FGS GO.

We hope you find this Back-to-School Guide a useful resource, and have sought to gather information from various departments here in one place for easy reference. As you know, we have made changes in response to the global pandemic to the way we do things and the health and safety of our students, faculty, families and our town are our priority. In support of that, we are requiring all students, employees and visitors to our campus to take the necessary steps to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the State of Connecticut and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This includes wearing masks indoors and at times when we cannot maintain a distance of six feet from others; washing hands often; maintaining social distancing; wiping down shared surfaces after use; and staying home when we are sick. It also extends to new testing and quarantine requirements and health and safety protocols in our classrooms, dorms and dining hall. On these pages you will find more information about our response to COVID-19 and our plans to safely return to campus and begin together our 171^st year as a school. Let’s go, Highlanders!

Reopening Plan

Read our Reopening update that was sent out via email on August 7.

Magnus Health Forms

(Parents of new students will receive an email providing your username and password to access your child’s Magnus Health SMR.)

Calendar

Students start returning September 8.
Classes begin on September 14.

Student Handbook

Watch for the 2020-21 edition - coming in August!

Student Debit Accounts

Every student at The Gunnery has a Debit Account in the School Store, including day students.

Summer Academic Work

Order Textbooks Online

The link to order text books is available now.

International Students

If you have questions as you prepare to return to campus, please email us at intsupport@frederickgunn.org.

Summer Checklist

Prior to September, please be sure that all required forms have been submitted to each department below.

Dean of Students

Registration forms (Authorization to Publish, Emergency Contacts, Additional Student/Family Information, Parent/Guardian Information, Release of Student Information, School Store Debit Account) submitted through HighlanderNation.
Completed Student Life Survey

Academics

Academic forms and required placement tests available through HighlanderNation.
Required Summer Reading

Health Center

All Magnus Health forms completed and submitted directly to Magnus Health

Business Office

Completed 2020-2021 contract (submitted through HighlanderNation) and required tuition payment.

Admissions

Please send a current school portrait scan (or hardcopy) of your child to Jamie Albro (albroj@frederickgunn.org) for inclusion in our student handbook. Pictures must be received prior to August 1. Please do not send cropped pictures as the quality of edited photos does not reprint well in the handbook.

Information for New Families

Welcome to The Frederick Gunn School You will find helpful information and links to required forms here in our Back-to-School Guide so you are ready to go when you arrive on campus in the fall!

Advising

Advisors at FGS are considered the “point person” for their advisees. Specifically, your student’s advisor will be your primary contact regarding your student’s progress, both academically and socially, throughout the year. Student advisors strive to know what’s happening in the lives of their advisees, including making sure that they settling in here at school during the first few days and beyond. Each advisor has at least one advisee, and they will gather as a group multiple times a week.

Students will first hear from their advisors in early August and will be invited to connect over Zoom. Throughout the school year, parents or guardians will formally hear from the advisor for their students in writing four times a year, and informally on a more frequent basis, depending on the communication preferences and needs of your family.

We welcome your input in qualities that you or your parents would like in your advisor. Please feel free to reach out to us at dos@frederickgunn.org if you would like to further discuss advisor placement.

Additional Resources & Information

School Calendar
Campus Map
Laundry Service

Health Forms

Parents of new students will receive an email providing your username and password to access your child’s Magnus Health Student Medical Record. This is where all medical forms for your student are securely managed and saved. You will also receive reminder emails from Magnus Health that will list any documents you will need to sign, complete and submit via the Magnus Health platform prior to August 1, 2020. Once you log in to Magnus Health, you will see these items marked with a small red “To Do” flag if you need to take action. You will continue to receive weekly reminder emails from Magnus Health until all required documentation is complete. Forms include:

Vital Health Record
Annual Physical Form (to be signed by your child’s physician; see Note)
Action Plans (for students with asthma, food allergies, diabetes or seizure disorders)
An Influenza Vaccine Consent Form (a conditional question)
A Physical, Immunization, TB Screening form

Note: The Health Center is waiving the requirement for students to complete an annual physical for the 2020-21 academic year. However, a physical exam dated within the past 24 months is required prior to your student’s arrival for the new school year.

Dean of Students Office

Please take a moment to complete the required summer DOS forms in Highlander Nation prior to August 21. If you have questions about these specific forms, please reach out to Lauren Lord, Assistant Dean of Students, at dos@frederickgunn.org.

Profile update
Media permission
Travel acknowledgement
Student Handbook Acknowledgement Form

Residential Life

All students will receive their rooming assignments on the day they register in September. Please make sure you complete the Student Life Survey to note important information we should take into consideration. We cannot guarantee that specific requests will be met (roommate preferences, single/double requests) but noting this type of information in the survey will help us when making rooming assignments. Day students will also be assigned a room. Please let the Dean of Students Office know if you have any questions or concerns or would like us to have additional information about your housing assignment.

Information for Returning Families

Welcome back Highlanders! You will find helpful information and links to required forms here in our Back-to-School Guide so you are ready to go when you arrive on campus in the fall! Please be sure to complete all necessary forms prior to your arrival on campus in September.

Dean of Students Office

Please take a moment to complete the required summer DOS forms prior to August 21. If you have questions about these specific forms, please reach out to Lauren Lord, Assistant Dean of Students, at dos@frederickgunn.org.

Profile update
Media permission
Travel Acknowledgement
Student Handbook Acknowledgement Form

Advising

If you would like to switch advisors and did not communicate with the Dean of Students Office prior to the end of the academic year, please email dos@frederickgunn.org as soon as possible. Please also check in with your current advisor and the advisor you have selected for the new academic year.

Residential Life

All students will receive their room assignments on the day they register in September. Please make sure to complete the Student Life Survey to note important information we should take into consideration. We cannot guarantee that specific requests will be met (roommate preferences, single/double requests) but noting this type of information in the survey will help us when making rooming assignments. Day students will also be assigned a room.

Volunteer Opportunities

All Gunnery parents are invited to volunteer for one of our many Parent Volunteer Committees! here are opportunities throughout the year to get involved in admissions events, faculty appreciation projects, parent fundraising, and much more!

Which committees would you like to join? Contact Hope Thorn, Senior Associate Director, The Gunnery Fund and Parent Programs, at thornh@frederickgunn.org or (860) 350-0184.

Admissions Committee

Volunteers help facilitate outreach to prospective and incoming families and support and attend regional receptions, open houses, and campus Revisit Days. Non-local parents are welcome to join!

Parents Fund Committee

Volunteers help raise money for the FGS Parents Fund by soliciting other parents for donations through personal outreach, phonathons, and events on campus. Non-local parents are welcome to join!

Faculty Appreciation Committee

Volunteers help acknowledge and thank faculty and staff members for their hard work by organizing on and off-campus excursions, holiday goody bags, birthday cards, weekly baked goods & coffee and other small gifts or activities. Non-local parents are welcome to join!

International Hosts

Volunteer families provide international students with a welcoming and supportive home environment and place-to-stay during school breaks and Heads Weekends when the students are unable to travel abroad to visit home.

Who to contact with questions:

Dean of Students Office:
Ashley LeBlanc, Dean of Students, dos@frederickgunn.org
James Balben, Director of Residential Life, dos@frederickgunn.org
Lauren Lord, Assistant Dean of Students, dos@frederickgunn.org

Health Center:
Mary Ewing R.N., Director of Nursing, healthdept@frederickgunn.org

Business Office/Student Accounts:
Amber Noe, Director of Student Accounts, noea@frederickgunn.org

Academics Office:
Peg Small, Registrar, smallp@frederickgunn.org

School Store:
Deborah Doody, School Store Manager, doodyd@frederickgunn.org

Technology:
BJ Daniels, Director of Technology, danielsb@frederickgunn.org

Click to View all Recent Town Hall Meetings

Click to view Campus Map

Official Dress Code 20-21

Necessities 20-21

E & R Laundry Services

Computer Recommendations

Campus Visitor Policy

Reopening Update

Visit Head of School Peter Becker's VLog for Video Updates.

Peter Becker's VLog

Town Hall Meeting Recording July 10, 2020

Student Health Advocates Town Hall July 13, 2020

Recent Communications to Gunnery Community

A message from Dean of Students: July 13, 2020 - sent to new parents and students

A message from Dean of Students: July 13, 2020 - sent to returning parents and students

Campus Reopening Update: July 8, 2020 - sent to all parents, students and faculty & staff

Update from The Gunnery Health Center: June 26, 2020 - sent to all parents

Fall Planning Update: June 24, 2020 - sent to all parents

Summer Reading Assignments: June 18, 2020 - sent to all parents and students

Fall 2020 Planning Process: June 2, 2020 - sent to all parents

Update on Fall 2020 Planning: May 18, 2020 - sent to all parents

Important Registration Information: May 18, 2020 and ongoing - sent to all new parents

Fall 2020 Planning Updates: May 4, 2020- sent to all parents

Informational Resources

State of CT Higher Education Subcommittee report

CT Governor’s roadmap for reopening

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Connecticut Department of Health (DPH)

World Health Organization (WHO)

Return to Homepage

In This Section

A Message from Peter Becker

Summer Checklist

Information for New Families

Advising

Additional Resources & Information

Health Forms

Dean of Students Office

Residential Life

Information for Returning Families

Dean of Students Office

Advising

Residential Life

Volunteer Opportunities

Admissions Committee

Parents Fund Committee

Faculty Appreciation Committee

International Hosts

Who to contact with questions:

Click to View all Recent Town Hall Meetings

Click to view Campus Map

Visit Head of School Peter Becker's VLog for Video Updates.

Town Hall Meeting Recording July 10, 2020

Student Health Advocates Town Hall July 13, 2020

Recent Communications to Gunnery Community

Informational Resources