Academy Operations Update

March 23, 2020

Dear Friends of St. John’s Northwestern,

We hope this message finds you healthy as COVID-19 impacts our country and our way of life.

We are in the middle of the most significant public health crisis most of us have experienced. It is a challenging time for all of us, including our beloved Academy.

In response to the Governor of Wisconsin’s direction to close all schools, our Academy staff and faculty took decisive action to return our cadets safely home. Working with the Parents Club, homestay options were secured for the international cadets where returning home was not feasible. The infirmary acted quickly to package medications for students in time for their departures. The Academic department took immediate steps to convert our in-person classrooms to virtual learning formats. These swift actions, and countless more, showed the resiliency of this Academy staff, and I am profoundly grateful for their efforts.

However, more decisive action is needed in order for St. John’s Northwestern to weather these challenging times, and thrive when we reopen. In light of today’s circumstances, my senior staff and I have carefully examined the Academy’s processes and how best to operate in today’s “new normal.” As a result, we made the difficult decision to lay off some employees in Resident Life, Campus Services, Professional Development, and Marketing. When we reopen, we plan to bring some of these employees back as needed.

Taking action now allows our institution to be agile and resilient, regardless of the circumstances we face now and in the future. Life in the face of COVID-19 is challenging. St. John’s Northwestern will prevail. Change is hard and difficult to accept sometimes, but it is also constant. We want to assure you that the Academy is willing and able to bring its cadets back on campus when it is safe to do so, and we look forward to that day. Until then, I thank you for your support and understanding. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me, Headmaster Eric Wozniak, or any member of our senior administration team.

Together, we will persevere.

Respectfully Yours,

Tom Stocks, S69
President