Teaching and Learning Setup

Below are the specific provisions and guidelines which will be implemented during the pilot testing.

1. Selection Process for Student Participants

The school shall conduct its pilot testing of limited face-to-face classes using two of its Grade 12 sections which will be selected based on the results of the survey conducted by PTA-CSA (Re: The willingness of parents to send their children to school for face-to-face classes). The number of participating students from each section shall be from 5 to 15 only and they shall be selected based on DepEd’s and CSA’s eligibility requirements.

a. Eligibility requirements for participating students (DOH-DepEd Joint Memo Circular 1, 2021)

■ Volunteered with parents consent

■ Preferably residing in the area near CSA’s location

■ Can walk going to school or with available private transport

■ Without existing comorbidities [The school shall also screen the vaccination records of children (routine immunizations) to ensure that those enrolled are protected from vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) and other infectious diseases to prevent additional COVID-19 burden. However, these routine immunizations are not a requirement to participate in the face-to-face classes.]

b. Additional Requirements set by CSA

■ Fully Vaccinated for at least two weeks before the onset of the pilot testing

■ Submission of a medical clearance indicating that s/he is fit to attend classes and has no existing comorbidities

■ One of the top 15 that satisfy all the requirements

c. CSA may do further prioritization of learners according, but not limited to, the following conditions:

■ Learners who struggle to meet the required learning competencies ■ Learners that are documented to be affected by mental health concerns that may be eased by face-to-face interactions.

2. Eligibility Requirements for Teacher and Personnel Participants CSA teachers and personnel who shall participate in the pilot testing are the following: (DOH-DepEd Joint Memo Circular 1, 2021)

■ S/he is 65 years old and below with no diagnosed comorbidities. \■ S/he is fully vaccinated (preferably for at least 2 weeks before the onset of pilot testing)

■ PWDs, pregnant and lactating may be considered eligible if his/her services are indispensable under the present circumstance.

■ A personnel with stable comorbidities may join voluntarily. (The school administrators may decide on his/her participation after careful analysis of risks and benefits.)

3. Teaching and Learning Arrangement

CSA shall adopt the Hybrid Approach of Teaching and Learning during the conduct of the pilot testing. This approach has been clearly explained in the teaching learning continuity plan of the school which has been revisited and improved continuously to integrate evaluation results, current teaching and learning trends and government memoranda/directives.

a. Hybrid Approach (DepEd AKA Blended Learning)

■ Five days in person classes every other week.

■ Five days remote learning every other week.

■ Class hours: Maximum of 4.5 hours per day (8:00 AM - 12:30 PM)

■ Non-participating students of the class will still be in synch with the in-person class (for both synch and asynch sessions).

b. Class Program

■ The existing class program will be adjusted and subjects will be rearranged to allow four periods of classes and maximum use of time (e.g. double periods for Science classes to accommodate both lecture and laboratory work)

■ Class hours as is, 8:00 AM to 12:30: PM (8:00 AM Start of Classes and 12:30 PM Dismissal)

■ All afternoon sessions of the pilot class on days of in-person classes shall become asynchronous.

■ On days with no in-person classes, the students of the pilot class shall observe the status quo class schedule of the Virtual Academy.

■ All in-person sessions shall be streamed live via Class Zoom for the non-participating students of the pilot class.

■ Mobility and interaction restrictions for participating students during in-person classes shall apply (refer to HLP v3).

c. Work Hours of participating teachers

■ Official time is 8:00 AM (with 7:50 AM as preparation time) to 12:30 PM during in-person days. The participating teacher is expected to deliver work (in-person and remotely via online) within the official time. For class days with no in-person classes, the participating teacher shall observe the status quo for WFH official time.

■ Teachers with morning teaching load in non-pilot classes coinciding with the in-person class hours shall hold the affected synch session/s in school.

■ The remaining classes in the afternoon of the participating teacher in days of in-person classes shall become asynchronous sessions. However, the teacher will still be required to attend meetings and required work as scheduled on afternoons in the department calendar.