It’s official — students and teachers won’t be returning to school buildings this year, making a reality what many teachers and administrators had suspected for weeks now.  

On April 21 Governor Charlie Baker ordered all public and private schools to remain closed for the rest of the year as a coronavirus prevention measure. 

Tabor Academy preemptively made the announcement on April 16 that it would continue classes virtually through the end of the year, hold a virtual Commencement in May with hopes for a waterfront ceremony later and cancel Baccalaureate and reunion. 

Campus will remain closed to students through May 22, the date its classes were set to end. The Orientation at Sea program for incoming students is cancelled, and Acting Head of School Julie Salit is waiting to make a decision on summer programming in June, July and August. 

She acknowledged the decision was particularly difficult for Tabor seniors.  

“We will celebrate them in some virtual way on May 29, the originally scheduled Commencement day, as well as plan for them to reunite at some point this summer, if possible, for a ceremony on the waterfront,” Salit said in the statement 

Salit said she will continue monitoring the virus’ progression to decide on summer programs and will and share decisions as they are made.

“The safety and health of our students, families and staff members remains the number one priority,” Old Rochester Regional Superintendent Doug White and Assistant Superintendent Michael Nelson wrote in a statement after the Governor’s announcement. 

The administrators said they will continue with and work to improve remote learning opportunities. 

Lisa Horan, a Kindergarten teacher at Sippican School and ANCHOR coordinator wrote on social media in response to the reaction, “I know it is the right decision but my heart hurts.”

Tonya Lavigne-Joyce, from Rochester commented, “my heart hurts for the students, especially the seniors. Hopefully all their events can be postponed and not cancelled.” (For more on ORR senior events, see story here).  

At Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School, administrators leaned on the words of Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley, who said the April 21 decision will prompt new guidance from him this week on continuing distance learning and the next phase will be reopening the schools, though the timing for that is uncertain. 

Old Colony Superintendent Aaron Polansky called re-opening “a process that we hope will happen in the coming months.”

He said extending the closure will give administrators more time to decide how to reopen. 

“When we have more information on how we will safely reopen schools, we will share it. For now, I hope everyone will be sensitive to the range of emotions that may surface among families, students, and teachers and continue to help students with remote learning.”

Polansky also gave a special shoutout to his school’s seniors. 

“For our seniors, we continue to plan in an effort to celebrate all of you as part of our end of year activities. Though these celebrations may be different, please note that you are routinely in our thoughts,” he wrote.

The governor’s announcement also likely cancels the spring sports season, which was scheduled to begin on an abbreviated basis when school resumed.