Solebury School

SOLEBURY SCHOOL IS A PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 9 THROUGH 12.

SOLEBURY SCHOOL OPERATES ON A TRIMESTER SYSTEM WITH ADDITIONAL EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION AND ACADEMIC PROGRAMS DURING THE TWO WEEKS OF SPRING BREAK AND OVER THE SUMMER (INCLUDING GLOBAL EDUCATION AND TRAVEL). IN FY2021, THE SCHOOL ENROLLED 233 STUDENTS (9TH GRADE: 54, 10TH GRADE: 50, 11TH GRADE: 68, 12TH GRADE: 61). OF THOSE STUDENTS, 80 WERE BOARDING STUDENTS AND 153 WERE DAY STUDENTS. THE STUDENT BODY CAME FROM 5 COUNTRIES (NOT INCLUDING THE US) AND 14 STATES, AND OUR 2021 GRADUATES WENT ON TO ATTEND 50 DIFFERENT COLLEGES IN 14 STATES AND 2 COUNTRIES (A 97% PLACEMENT RATE).CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.SOLEBURY SCHOOL HAS THRIVED (TO THE DEGREE POSSIBLE) THROUGHOUT THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC THANKS TO EARLY ACTION, COHERENT (IF OFTEN CHANGING) COVID PROTOCOLS, EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS, SUPPORT (AND CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT) FOR ALL FACULTY AND STAFF, AND, ABOVE ALL ELSE, A FOCUS ON QUALITY LEARNING AND STUDENT LIFE FOR OUR FAMILIES AND THEIR KIDS. AS A RESULT, WE OPENED THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR WITH THE HIGHEST ENROLLMENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL. ALL THE INVESTMENTS WE MADE IN OUR PEOPLE, PROGRAMS, FOOD SERVICES, TECHNOLOGY, AND FACILITIES PAID OFF AND, BECAUSE OF THE PAYROLL PROTECTION PROGRAM (PPP) - OUR LOAN WAS COMPLETELY FORGIVEN - WE DID NOT HAVE TO GO TOO FAR INTO OUR CASH RESERVES TO MAKE THOSE INVESTMENTS. THE PPP FUNDS WERE ENTIRELY INVESTED IN PEOPLE (FULL SALARY AND BENEFITS THROUGHOUT - NO LAYOFFS). OTHER THINGS WE INVESTED IN INCLUDED ADDITIONAL STAFF TO SUPPORT THE CONTINUANCE OF THE RESIDENTIAL LIFE AND DINING PROGRAMS, PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, TECHNOLOGY (LAPTOPS, MONITORS, SMARTBOARDS, MICROPHONES, AND CAMERAS), TRAINING (WE OFFERED NO ONLINE COURSES PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC SO WE GAVE OUR TEACHERS FULL ACCESS TO TRAINING IN HOW TO BE EFFECTIVE ONLINE OR HYBRID), FURNITURE, PLEXIGLAS, BIODEGRADABLE FOOD CONTAINERS, PORTABLE AIR FILTRATION SYSTEMS, OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS, RESIDENTIAL ISOLATION UNITS, VIRUS TESTING, ETC. WE CREATED A VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE, A VIRTUAL 360 TOUR, ADDED WEEKLY PARENT ZOOM CALLS (PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR STUDENTS WHO WERE NOT ABLE TO GO HOME), VIRTUAL RECRUITMENT EVENTS, ETC. WE ARE STILL IN A PERIOD OF UNCERTAINTY, BUT WE ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE SCHOOL.BECAUSE OF THE NEAR HERCULEAN EFFORTS OF OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF, THE INVESTMENT MADE POSSIBLE BY THE PPP, AND OUR STRONG ENROLLMENT WE HAVE COME THROUGH THIS LAST 20 MONTHS STRONGER THAN WE ENTERED IT. WHAT ENABLED US TO SUCCEED WERE THE INVESTMENTS MADE AND THE WORK DONE TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY AND TO CONTINUE DELIVERING THE HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION THAT OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES EXPECTED FROM SOLEBURY SCHOOL.