Aug. 24, 2020 marked the first day of school for Moravian Academy. That first day arrived in a unique setting, unlike anything we would have ever imagined. Nonetheless, behind the masks were warm smiles, as everyone received the opportunity to see each other in person after six grueling months.

From mandatory masks to socially-distanced classrooms, Moravian Academy undertook intensive planning and numerous safety protocols to open all day, five days a week. Students have a daily option to attend school in person or virtually, conducting temperature screenings every morning before stepping foot on campus. Teachers accommodate students simultaneously in both settings, engaging students in lectures, group discussions, and online lab simulations through Zoom and the live classroom.

One-way hallways prevent students from congregating in common areas, and a redesigned schedule includes only four 90-minute classes per day, with lunch eaten in the classroom. Students and faculty hop on to large Zoom sessions from both home and school to attend assemblies. All clubs switched to a virtual setting as well, presenting an exciting opportunity for students to participate in the variety of activities offered by the school.

To facilitate the full-time reopening of school, a group of upperclassmen wished to ensure that all members of the community would have access to both disposable and reusable masks for the school year. Seniors Keith Lutostansky, Nader Rifai, Jason Jiang, and junior Jay Jiang initiated the summer-long fundraiser called “Masks for Moravian Academy,” raising $5,000 to purchase 30,000 masks.

“Jason approached Nader and me with the idea for this mask donation project back in March because he wanted to show his appreciation to the Moravian Academy community in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Keith said. “Since then, the four of us have put in countless hours trying to figure out how to make this work.”

“We set up a GoFundMe, and through the generosity of those who donated, we were successfully able to order and receive thousands of masks,” Nader explained. “We hope to keep every member of our school community safe and healthy, particularly with in-person classes resuming.”

The four also donated over 3,500 masks to faculty and staff last March and April to keep them safe at the onset of the pandemic. As they highlighted in their fundraising campaign, “We hope that our donation can provide protection for the workforce, and prevent the spread of the virus in Pennsylvania, and inspire a sense of hope.”

In addition to the in-person learning environment, sports teams have also finally started practices and competitions. After a long break from clay courts and green, grassy fields, both the girls tennis team and Moravian golf team returned stronger than ever, with records of 8-0 and 8-1 respectively. Girls tennis won the Colonial League championship, and the golf team earned silver at the Colonial League golf championship. The girls soccer team also kicked off its season with a well-deserved senior night game, scoring 3-0, and the boys soccer team holds a 3-1 record. MA cross country hit the road, running meets at Palisades and Salisbury. The field hockey team held its ground, rebounding from close losses to win 8-0 in its most recent match.

Even though this academic year has presented itself differently, the masks do not mask the relentless positivity seen on campus. Moravian Academy aims to embrace the challenges as the community steps forward to provide education in a safe learning environment.

“Our success is the epitome of the culture of this community,” Jason Jiang added. “Our spirit is the embodiment of Moravian spirit.”