School Health & Safety

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rowland Hall remains committed to delivering an unmatched program while prioritizing the health and safety of our community. We retooled our programming to fluctuate between in-person and distance learning as needed based on community risk and exposure levels. We require students and employees to complete daily health screenings before coming to campus. We've also added HVAC improvements, new sanitization equipment and enhanced cleaning protocols, quarantining procedures for suspected and confirmed cases, and technology to support distance learning. Finally, we've added policies regarding physical distancing, face coverings, visitors, and group gatherings, and we're staying abreast of the latest scientific research and making adjustments as needed. Read more.

Research indicates that the most important thing schools can do to increase the safety of their community is focus on student wellness and social-emotional learning (SEL). A robust ethical education program, including developmentally-appropriate SEL curriculum, helps students at Rowland Hall learn how to take care of themselves and others.

Our Upper School partnered with Challenge Success in 2017–2018 to assess and improve the well-being and engagement of our students. Some changes made as a result include a weekly late start for grades six through twelve and increased teacher-student consultation time.

A healthy school community makes students feel known and valued, and Rowland Hall is proud of its reputation for cultivating close student-teacher relationships. We encourage all students to approach a trusted adult at school if they need help or have concerns about another member of the community. We emphasize offering assistance to those in need and learning how to grow and learn from our mistakes. Each division has a student support team dedicated to identifying and supporting any individuals who may be experiencing challenges in their academic or personal lives.

Middle and upper schoolers are also encouraged to download the SafeUT smartphone app, which allows users to submit anonymous tips and seek free and confidential crisis services.

We have made significant investments in the security and communication systems at the McCarthey Campus and Lincoln Street Campus.

• We have automatic locking doors and a paging system that allows us to quickly secure our buildings in the event of an emergency.
• We have a communication system, Informacast, that allows us to send alerts to faculty, staff, and Upper School students via text message, email, and overhead paging.
• We have cameras at most major entrances and monitor visitor access throughout the school day.

Training members of our community on best practices in campus safety and emergency preparedness is a core part of our commitment to creating a safe school. We regularly conduct emergency drills in all divisions—including fire, earthquake, and lockdown drills—and local law enforcement has observed our drills and complimented us on our practices.

School administrators attend conferences and workshops dedicated to school safety—such as the Utah Schools Safety Summit in November 2018—and we have an active safety committee that reviews procedures and protocols on each campus. Additionally, all teachers are required to undergo CPR and First Aid training.

Finally, we performed a comprehensive campus safety review in 2017-2018 and will continue to seek expert advice from local and national safety consultants as needed.