Since students came back to campus in August 2020, Hill’s COVID-19 protocols have been adapting to CDC recommendations and the overall state of the country. But, one thing has always been constant: masks. On Feb. 8, Hill shifted to a recommended masking policy, marking a significant step in the school’s efforts to return to normalcy. Prior to this, students were required to wear masks in crowded areas like Chapel and Dining Hall pantry, but they also had the choice to unmask in classrooms depending on how their teacher chose to regulate their space. Then in a Feb. 26 email from Head of School Zachary Lehman to the Hill community, the mask recommended policy became a mask optional policy, with caveats for specific locations and situations. These include visiting the Wellness Center or Athletics Training Room, traveling off campus to crowded indoor spaces, experiencing symptoms of upper respiratory illness, and more. 

For some teachers, Pennsylvania’s declining COVID-19 cases and Hill’s high vaccination rates have made unmasking in classrooms feel much safer. Athey Family Master of Mathematics and Science Jay Spencer explained that he is comfortable with Hill’s mask-recommended policy and feels that Hill has so far managed COVID-19 cases on campus well enough to do so.

“I think that the school has been monitoring the ongoing rates of COVID in the area, and I think so far they have been managing well. I appreciate the additional flexibility that this will provide,” Spencer said.

Other teachers are not yet comfortable with allowing students to go unmasked in their classrooms, and choose to maintain a masking requirement within their space.

“Masking is still in effect for everyone in my classroom. I do not feel comfortable enough otherwise. Some students assume the policy is mask optional and often arrive in class without their masks, so they need to be reminded,” explained Instructor of French Jeré Andrews.

As Hill’s new policy leaves choices up to students and teachers, it became common to see both unmasked and masked community members within classes, something that would have been rare just a few months ago. Many students choose to forgo masking when they can, while others continue to wear their masks indoors. 

Nhi Nguyen ’24 is comfortable with students around her unmasking, although she herself often chooses to wear her mask while in class. 

“I don’t have an issue with students that choose to take off their mask when they’re allowed to. I think with this new policy, we have more choices. A lot of the time I wear my mask walking around indoors, but that’s just my personal choice,” Nguyen said.