Reopening for the 2020 21 School Year

Welcome Back Reopening All Campuses for Fall 2020

In the face of this year’s unprecedented circumstances, The Windward School created a plan to adjust Windward’s operations to accommodate socially distanced, inperson instruction for every one of its 941 students in Grades 19. This was no small feat for the School.

Knowing that resuming inperson instruction was crucial, the leadership team spent countless hours examining solutions for 2020–21 that could both accommodate the student body and adhere to state health guidelines related to COVID19. It was clear that the School needed more square footage if it was going to accommodate all students in Westchester and Manhattan.

First, Windward determined that the new Westchester Lower School campus that was under construction at 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains was critically needed as the property offered 110,000 square feet. Although the new building was scheduled to open in Fall 2021, all classroom spaces were rapidly readied by the construction team so the School could welcome nearly 300 students in a socially distanced inperson instruction environment. The focus was to expedite the construction plans for the academic spaces of the building meaning the build out of other facilities, such as the new gymnasium, were paused. Windward’s building partners were able to prepare the classrooms at the new campus incredibly quickly. By opening the new building early, all Westchester Lower School and Westchester Middle School fifthgrade students could participate in their classes inperson rather than the alternative plan of a hybrid inperson/remote instructional model at the original campus at 13 Windward Avenue, due to the significantly smaller square footage at the building.

The new campus at 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue opened on October 28 for inperson instruction for Westchester students in Grades 15. Because offering inperson instruction as quickly as possible was a foremost priority to serve our students’ unique learning needs, inperson instruction first began at the original Westchester Lower School campus at 13 Windward Avenue in September.

To address the needs for Windward’s Manhattan students for fulltime, inperson instruction, the School secured a lease at 202 W 97th Street for Manhattan Lower School students in Grades 24. The building required intensive facilities preparations and technology upgrades, but Windward truly believed that no challenges were too great to overcome in order to best serve its students. MLS students began remotely on September 14, before transitioning to fulltime, inperson instruction at the Opening the new W 97th Street location a week later on September 21. Westchester Lower Manhattan Middle School School campus one year and Westchester Middle School students began early and acquiring a inperson instruction at temporary rental location their respective campuses for the First Day of School in Manhattan were two of on September 14. The Windward School’s

Opening the new leading priorities to Westchester Lower School campus one year early and ensure every student had acquiring a temporary rental an opportunity to return location in Manhattan were two of The Windward School’s to inperson instruction leading priorities to ensure this school year. every student had an opportunity to return to inperson instruction this school year. Despite the obstacles created by the pandemic, The Windward School has been driven by its mission and vision to provide a safe, viable option for Windward families who wanted their students to resume inperson instruction. Windward was pleased to welcome back 941 students this fall and continue to provide the highest quality academic program during this unprecedented time.