Addressing the learning needs of our students during these unprecedented times caused by the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) requires that we offer Distant Learning to serve our students. We have created a Central Google Site which unites the Google Sites of each of our teachers. Each site documents the activity of our teachers as they deliver instruction, assign, receive, and evaluate student work, and inform parents of the activity and progress of their children’s learning. The direct communication with students and their parents occurs via Zoom, Google classroom (for our Jr. High students) and Seesaw (for our TK to 5th Grade students). Teachers use the dashboards of the web-based programs and Apps used by the students to monitor student practice and learning. Online textbooks and a variety of Apps already included in our student devices are used by the teachers and the students to interact, explore new content, deliver explicit instruction and demonstrate mastery of new skills.
Roll Out Plan
The following process was put in place to assure students and parents would have what they need to engage in Distant Learning:
A Google survey was sent out via Parent Square by administration to parents to assess the technology and Internet access of our families
Teachers and teacher assistants decided on the materials needed by each student and all these materials were organized individually for each student together with an iPad and charger.
Parents were invited to pick up their children’s materials on Tuesday, August 18 via a message in Parent Square in a staggered scheduled organized by last name. The materials were handed out to parents outdoors following the COVID-19 requirements of distance, face mask, and hand washing and disinfection of surfaces touched. Teachers had the opportunity to talk to parents briefly in- person.
Distance Learning began on Wednesday, August 19 at 8:30am. We began with a Morning Prayer zoom assembly that was 20 minutes long. Teachers begin interacting with their students via
Zoom and began their sessions providing socio-emotional support as well as an introduction of digital citizenship and online rules.
Ongoing Progress
The Administration (Principal and Vice Principal) begins every morning at 8:30am with a 15 minute Morning Prayer assembly. Instruction begins at 8:45am in every grade through zoom and continues with the following schedules.