Move-In Day is one of the most important days for Gatton Academy students, seniors and juniors alike. The start of a Gatton career, for juniors, brings anxiety and excitement for the world of possibilities that’s opened up for them. Their first steps through a dorm room door labelled with their name, meeting students they’ve only talked to online, and making Florence Schneider feel like home, brings new students face to face with a sense of reality they didn’t know they’d been lacking. For seniors, a wave of nostalgia comes with the return to the Gatton Academy, recalling countless memories of laughing in the company of friends, long nights spent hard at schoolwork, and the welcoming environment in which they learned to thrive.

Though the tradition of how move-in day operates has largely remained the same throughout Gatton’s history, the coronavirus pandemic required us to take extra precautions to ensure everyone felt safe, including family members that came along to help and the students that would be living in the building for the next few months. Even so, the feelings and experiences that students have had in years prior remained virtually the same.

As a member of the Class of 2021, my move-in day happened in August 2019, pre-pandemic. I remember pulling up to the building in a truck nearly spilling over with what I’d need. A group of students lined up in front of the building in the summer heat was the first thing I saw. I later learned that these were senior leaders. As soon as we’d parked, they rushed our truck with open arms to help move things in. It only took one trip to bring everything in, with the help of about 12 people. The sense of community that I’ve learned to expect from my time at Gatton started right there and then; it felt so comforting to know that so many people, who I’d never even talked to before, were there waiting for me as soon as I arrived. It also felt pretty nice to have to carry only one box. 

For the class of 2022’s move-in day, we had to be mindful of the dangers of spreading COVID, as well as respecting all families’ varying degrees of comfort with strangers touching their things. Juniors were only allowed two family members to come along with them, as opposed to larger number we’d welcomed before. Each junior and their family helpers were required to pass a temperature check before they could come into the building. In addition, instead of having all the senior leaders storm their vehicles to help them bring things in immediately, families were first asked if they wanted help from senior leaders. The Gatton seniors who helped had to live on the same wing as each of the incoming juniors, and were required to wear gloves while handling their items. Everyone was required to wear a mask: juniors, their family members, Gatton staff, and senior leaders. This requirement will extend well past Move-In Day; everyone in the Gatton building must wear a mask unless they are in their own dorm room.

Move-In Day for the Class of 2022 went off without a hitch. First impressions are always important, especially for such an intense program like Gatton. Families are entrusting this program to take good care of their kids for the next two years; students are putting their faith in their decision to come to Gatton. Our efforts to welcome, but not overwhelm, incoming students paid off, and everyone was able to safely establish their home in the Florence Schneider dorm. 

Many changes will come along with this unpredictable semester. Even so, the returning seniors and staff are going to do everything in their power to keep the Gatton traditions intact as much as possible. Some things will have to be sacrificed, like dances and events with large spreads of food, but even so, we’re glad to be back in person and are willing to do anything we can in order to stay. This will be no small task, but we are ready for the challenge. Gatton is excited to be back, and can’t wait to see what this year has in store.

-Natalie Heath