2020 – Ashton School

Accreditation visit reports Ashton academic excellence

Every five years the school receives the visit of our international accrediting body COGNIA, formerly known as AdvancED/SACS. Our visit was originally schedule to take place in the Spring 2020 but due to worldwide event it was re-schedule and took place in October 2020. We were evaluated in three domains: Leadership, Teaching & Learning, and Use of Resources.

Within these three domains there are 28 standards that are evaluated to know if school practices are at the level of Insufficiency, Initiation, Improving or so ingrained that they impact everything we do. This diagram shows how each level is color coded.

To have a quick glance at how we did in each of those standards we invite you to pay attention to the right hand column of these three images:

In the 28 standards they acknowledge that our leadership, teaching and learning practices as well as the use of resources are of the level of impact!

Furthermore, the Educational Quality Index is reviewed every 5 years. Worldwide in the last 5 years the average range of all the schools evaluated by Cognia is between 278.34-283.33.

Each school receives its Educational Quality Index after its accreditation visit.

Ashton meets an Educational Quality Index of: 386!

103 points above IEQ rank in the last 5 years out of all Cognia accredited schools in the world.

We can only give thanks and glory to God above all for guiding us and all the members of the great Ashton family.

Blessings!

Accreditation visit reports Ashton academic excellence

Every five years the school receives the visit of our international accrediting body COGNIA, formerly known as AdvancED/SACS. Our visit was originally schedule to take place in the Spring 2020 but due to worldwide event it was re-schedule and took place in October 2020. We were evaluated in three domains: Leadership, Teaching & Learning, and Use of Resources.

Within these three domains there are 28 standards that are evaluated to know if school practices are at the level of Insufficiency, Initiation, Improving or so ingrained that they impact everything we do. This diagram shows how each level is color coded.

To have a quick glance at how we did in each of those standards we invite you to pay attention to the right hand column of these three images:

In the 28 standards they acknowledge that our leadership, teaching and learning practices as well as the use of resources are of the level of impact!

Furthermore, the Educational Quality Index is reviewed every 5 years. Worldwide in the last 5 years the average range of all the schools evaluated by Cognia is between 278.34-283.33.

Each school receives its Educational Quality Index after its accreditation visit.

Ashton meets an Educational Quality Index of: 386!

103 points above IEQ rank in the last 5 years out of all Cognia accredited schools in the world.

We can only give thanks and glory to God above all for guiding us and all the members of the great Ashton family.

Blessings!

National Honor Society Induction Ceremony

Our chapter is proud to have been inducting new members since 2012, and with today’s ceremony indicates the continuing emphasis on excellence that we represent for our school and community. Throughout the year, members of our chapter serve as role models for other students. In addition to the strong academic records which established our eligibility for membership, our chapter members are leaders in many student organizations and we serve our school and community through many activities including Aula HOPE. We are proud of their accomplishments and welcome these new members who bring new energy in support of our continuing work as NHS members.

National Honor Society Induction Ceremony

Our chapter is proud to have been inducting new members since 2012, and with today’s ceremony indicates the continuing emphasis on excellence that we represent for our school and community. Throughout the year, members of our chapter serve as role models for other students. In addition to the strong academic records which established our eligibility for membership, our chapter members are leaders in many student organizations and we serve our school and community through many activities including Aula HOPE. We are proud of their accomplishments and welcome these new members who bring new energy in support of our continuing work as NHS members.

ASPAS PIZZA NIGHT

A Respect Campaign Reflection

This week one of the most exciting events at Ashton School takes place, the Respect Campaign. It’s not only a fun event but one that teaches us values and life lessons.

After an interview to Ms. Rodriguez about the campaign and some juicy information, read to find some students’ perspectives about, what respect means to them?

I invite all readers after taking a look at this piece of work, to think and try to find a personal definition of this powerful and meaningful word.

A chat with Ms. Rodriguez:

As one of the school counselors, what do you think is the importance of the Respect Campaign.

Ms. Rodriguez: The Respect Campaign is a special time where every year our school embraces its mission and vision. We take this opportunity to reflect and reinforce the importance of values and virtues in our daily lives. At Ashton we strive to develop all areas. It is a blessing to support families in the wonderful journey of shaping their children’s minds and hearts.

What motivated the Ashton School to start hosting this activity?

Ms. Rodriguez: Values are one of the many beautiful things I love about our school. The Respect Campaign has been an essential part of every school year plan for many years. This is my 9nth year at Ashton and since my first day this Campaign has aimed to teach students to be ¨respectful and loving to one another¨. To me it is like dedicating a special time to experience our virtue of the year. October is known as the Anti Bullying awareness month and Ashton joins the cause and brings content related to the community.

What is the exact message the school wants to convey?

Ms. Rodriguez: We continue to strengthen its purpose by bringing new activities and ideas to develop skills students need to deal with everyday challenges in their social emotional interactions. We gather feedback from community members and plan accordingly to really impact students with valuable knowledge based on true and meaningful experiences. Counselors and character education teachers press to leave an everlasting impact, teach students to build strong relationships and develop a sense of responsibility for their actions. We want our students to experience the beauty of being kind to one another and perceive themselves as caring, compassionate and truthful.

Why did the school choose Respect for the Campaign? Is there any particular reason. What stands out from this virtue compared to others.

Ms. Rodriguez: In the United States October is National Bullying Prevention Month. The Campaigns purpose is to raise awareness of bullying prevention. At Ashton we strongly believe that values are the best way to raise awareness and prevent bullying. So each year we eagerly get prepared to join the cause and promote what we would like our students to become. Just a few years ago the school chose ¨Respect¨ as the Virtue for that school year and while we were planning for that year’s campaign we decided to call it ¨Respect Campaign¨.We wanted to try a positive title and promote what we want to see in our school. Since then we decided to keep ¨Respect¨ and as soon as the students learn more about respect and understand its true meaning, the other values come as an addition to it.

What is the main difference between last year’s campaign and this upcoming one? Are there any juicy details you may share? Maybe some fun details, to get the community even more excited.

Ms. Rodriguez: What an opportunity to learn and experience what resilience means. Your counselors have been working hard along with the character education teachers and art teachers as special collaborators for this year. There is a ¨Drive in¨ on Friday October 16th where students will have the opportunity to see face to face all staff members. Many surprises are waiting for all of you. What is most important is how we will all remember this day as unique and special by leaving your handprints on a frame to keep in our school as a way to remember these times and how we all together were able to go through it. Seniors have a special message on that day. Lets also make this day memorable for their last year by supporting what they have for us. You will also be able to bring home a kit to work on a bracelet with an important message too.

This day will be part of the Ashton history and memories forever!

Making it personal…

What does Respect mean to you?

The word respect means so many things to me. It is that feeling of morality, politeness, consideration and love towards someone or something. How you treat others and yourself. Respect is who you are, what you say, how you love, act and decide to do. Is what you show and how you relate to others.

– Ms. Rodriguez Elementary Counselor

To me respect is when another person values my individual opinion on a matter and does not discard it for no valid reason just because they have a different opinion or because they are older and “wiser than me”. Unless that opinion is harming you in any way I say that you have to respect what the other is saying and then even though you don’t agree you still accept it.

-Eduardo Sanz 11th grade student

For me respect means to care about others and feel what others feel.This means to be in others shoes,for example you see someone bullying doesn’t matter how,you need to tell them to stop if you see them bullying again tell a teacher or a grown up. But let’s say you are the one getting bullying and you say stop and they continue ,you need to tell your parents or your teacher. In conclusion something I always tell myself is to always treat others the way you want to be treated.

-Reynaldo Caminero 6th grade student

For me respect means that you accept somebody for who they are, even when they’re different from you or you don’t agree with them. It is a concept that refers to the ability to value and honor another person, both his or her words and actions, even if we do not approve or share everything he or she does. It is accepting the other person and not trying to change them. Respecting another person is not judging them by their attitudes, behaviors or thoughts.

-Alexia Pimentel 10th grade student

While writing this article I had many thoughts through my mind. But, the one that stood out the most was, what does respect really mean for me? I agree that everyone might have a different definition or idea of what the word really means but at the end they all come together. Respect for me comes along with listening to others opinions, helping others, being kind towards others, being polite, and showing that you are a caring person. As well as treating everyone the same no matter their skin tone, their nationality, any cultures or traditions they might celebrate, their age, the way they physically look, gender, at the end we are equal. It comes with the ideal of treating everyone the same. Be kind, patient, loving, all those words for me sums up what RESPECT represents. Something I think everyone should understand and carry with them along their lives is that respecting something doesn’t mean you support that idea or agree with it. You just respect their opinion and different point of view. Once again I will like to thank Ms. Rodriguez for her time and those wonderful words she told us. I will love to see my whole school on Friday on the Respect Campaign, first supporting one another, and of course the seniors. This event looks really fun, magical, I’m really excited to see what other things from that day experience I can add to my definition of what respect means to me. On the other hand, I will also like to thank those students who shared with me what respect means to them. Stay safe, always remember how powerful the word respect is!!!

Maria Jose Caminero

10 A

A Respect Campaign Reflection

This week one of the most exciting events at Ashton School takes place, the Respect Campaign. It’s not only a fun event but one that teaches us values and life lessons.

After an interview to Ms. Rodriguez about the campaign and some juicy information, read to find some students’ perspectives about, what respect means to them?

I invite all readers after taking a look at this piece of work, to think and try to find a personal definition of this powerful and meaningful word.

A chat with Ms. Rodriguez:

As one of the school counselors, what do you think is the importance of the Respect Campaign.

Ms. Rodriguez: The Respect Campaign is a special time where every year our school embraces its mission and vision. We take this opportunity to reflect and reinforce the importance of values and virtues in our daily lives. At Ashton we strive to develop all areas. It is a blessing to support families in the wonderful journey of shaping their children’s minds and hearts.

What motivated the Ashton School to start hosting this activity?

Ms. Rodriguez: Values are one of the many beautiful things I love about our school. The Respect Campaign has been an essential part of every school year plan for many years. This is my 9nth year at Ashton and since my first day this Campaign has aimed to teach students to be ¨respectful and loving to one another¨. To me it is like dedicating a special time to experience our virtue of the year. October is known as the Anti Bullying awareness month and Ashton joins the cause and brings content related to the community.

What is the exact message the school wants to convey?

Ms. Rodriguez: We continue to strengthen its purpose by bringing new activities and ideas to develop skills students need to deal with everyday challenges in their social emotional interactions. We gather feedback from community members and plan accordingly to really impact students with valuable knowledge based on true and meaningful experiences. Counselors and character education teachers press to leave an everlasting impact, teach students to build strong relationships and develop a sense of responsibility for their actions. We want our students to experience the beauty of being kind to one another and perceive themselves as caring, compassionate and truthful.

Why did the school choose Respect for the Campaign? Is there any particular reason. What stands out from this virtue compared to others.

Ms. Rodriguez: In the United States October is National Bullying Prevention Month. The Campaigns purpose is to raise awareness of bullying prevention. At Ashton we strongly believe that values are the best way to raise awareness and prevent bullying. So each year we eagerly get prepared to join the cause and promote what we would like our students to become. Just a few years ago the school chose ¨Respect¨ as the Virtue for that school year and while we were planning for that year’s campaign we decided to call it ¨Respect Campaign¨.We wanted to try a positive title and promote what we want to see in our school. Since then we decided to keep ¨Respect¨ and as soon as the students learn more about respect and understand its true meaning, the other values come as an addition to it.

What is the main difference between last year’s campaign and this upcoming one? Are there any juicy details you may share? Maybe some fun details, to get the community even more excited.

Ms. Rodriguez: What an opportunity to learn and experience what resilience means. Your counselors have been working hard along with the character education teachers and art teachers as special collaborators for this year. There is a ¨Drive in¨ on Friday October 16th where students will have the opportunity to see face to face all staff members. Many surprises are waiting for all of you. What is most important is how we will all remember this day as unique and special by leaving your handprints on a frame to keep in our school as a way to remember these times and how we all together were able to go through it. Seniors have a special message on that day. Lets also make this day memorable for their last year by supporting what they have for us. You will also be able to bring home a kit to work on a bracelet with an important message too.

This day will be part of the Ashton history and memories forever!

Making it personal…

What does Respect mean to you?

The word respect means so many things to me. It is that feeling of morality, politeness, consideration and love towards someone or something. How you treat others and yourself. Respect is who you are, what you say, how you love, act and decide to do. Is what you show and how you relate to others.

– Ms. Rodriguez Elementary Counselor

To me respect is when another person values my individual opinion on a matter and does not discard it for no valid reason just because they have a different opinion or because they are older and “wiser than me”. Unless that opinion is harming you in any way I say that you have to respect what the other is saying and then even though you don’t agree you still accept it.

-Eduardo Sanz 11th grade student

For me respect means to care about others and feel what others feel.This means to be in others shoes,for example you see someone bullying doesn’t matter how,you need to tell them to stop if you see them bullying again tell a teacher or a grown up. But let’s say you are the one getting bullying and you say stop and they continue ,you need to tell your parents or your teacher. In conclusion something I always tell myself is to always treat others the way you want to be treated.

-Reynaldo Caminero 6th grade student

For me respect means that you accept somebody for who they are, even when they’re different from you or you don’t agree with them. It is a concept that refers to the ability to value and honor another person, both his or her words and actions, even if we do not approve or share everything he or she does. It is accepting the other person and not trying to change them. Respecting another person is not judging them by their attitudes, behaviors or thoughts.

-Alexia Pimentel 10th grade student

While writing this article I had many thoughts through my mind. But, the one that stood out the most was, what does respect really mean for me? I agree that everyone might have a different definition or idea of what the word really means but at the end they all come together. Respect for me comes along with listening to others opinions, helping others, being kind towards others, being polite, and showing that you are a caring person. As well as treating everyone the same no matter their skin tone, their nationality, any cultures or traditions they might celebrate, their age, the way they physically look, gender, at the end we are equal. It comes with the ideal of treating everyone the same. Be kind, patient, loving, all those words for me sums up what RESPECT represents. Something I think everyone should understand and carry with them along their lives is that respecting something doesn’t mean you support that idea or agree with it. You just respect their opinion and different point of view. Once again I will like to thank Ms. Rodriguez for her time and those wonderful words she told us. I will love to see my whole school on Friday on the Respect Campaign, first supporting one another, and of course the seniors. This event looks really fun, magical, I’m really excited to see what other things from that day experience I can add to my definition of what respect means to me. On the other hand, I will also like to thank those students who shared with me what respect means to them. Stay safe, always remember how powerful the word respect is!!!

Maria Jose Caminero

10 A

MAP Exam Season

Dear Parents,

As of September, your child will take the Measures of Academic Progress™ (MAP) tests in Reading, Mathematics, and Language Usage. We administer MAP tests to determine each student’s instructional level, to measure academic growth throughout the school year, and to track progress from year to year. This year all students, grades K-11, will participate in this testing process in order for us to add to the multiple forms of assessment that help us track student progress.

MAP tests are state of the art adaptive tests, currently used by top schools in the U.S. and international schools all over the world, including the Santo Domingo community. These tests are different from standardized tests such as the SAT because MAP tests adapt to your child’s unique level of learning. As a result, each student has the same opportunity to succeed and maintain a positive attitude toward testing.

With MAP tests, we receive detailed, accurate information about your child’s growth and learning level. Teachers use these results to tailor instruction to fit your child’s individual learning needs. To ensure that the results are as accurate as possible, it is very important that all students demonstrate their best effort when taking these tests. We also request you make sure your child attends school (virtually) during the days on which s/he will be evaluated, that s/he has a good rest the night before, and has a healthy breakfast the days of the tests.

We strongly encourage you to take a few moments to review the MAP Parent Guide

https://www.nwea.org/resource-library/welcome/family-guide-to-map-growth

which provides valuable information including answers to Frequently Asked Questions, Tips for Parents, Recommended Websites, and more.

We appreciate your support during Map Month Fall 2020. If you have questions, please contact your child’s Homeroom / Advisory Teacher.

Sincerely,

The Ashton School

Test Preparation

Prior to Test Day

Make sure your device has an internet connection
If your child will take the test on an iPad, download the NWEA app. https://youtu.be/Hx1Hk8d_jPw
Disable pop-up blocking on your internet browser https://youtu.be/maCX7CQnqWc
Make sure your device meets testing requirements using the Device Readiness Check
Make sure your child has headphones (K-2nd)
Watch the MAP Growth introduction video
(Optional) Practice the test at practice.mapnwea.org

(Username: grow, Password: grow)

On Test Day

Minimize distractions for your child as much as possible
Provide a quiet testing environment
Allow the teacher/proctor to open the session first
If your child is using an iPad, open the NWEA app
If your child is using a laptop, log in at test.mapnwea.org
Make sure you have a way to communicate with the teacher/proctor during the test (Zoom). If the exam is being taken from an iPad, you’ll need another device for the call
Follow any additional instructions from the teacher/proctor.

For questions and further information you may contact:

Mr. Perez: perez_media@tas.edu.do

Mr. Sanquintín: technology@tas.edu.do

Mr. Then: then_tech@tas.edu.do

MAP Exam Season

Dear Parents,

As of September, your child will take the Measures of Academic Progress™ (MAP) tests in Reading, Mathematics, and Language Usage. We administer MAP tests to determine each student’s instructional level, to measure academic growth throughout the school year, and to track progress from year to year. This year all students, grades K-11, will participate in this testing process in order for us to add to the multiple forms of assessment that help us track student progress.

MAP tests are state of the art adaptive tests, currently used by top schools in the U.S. and international schools all over the world, including the Santo Domingo community. These tests are different from standardized tests such as the SAT because MAP tests adapt to your child’s unique level of learning. As a result, each student has the same opportunity to succeed and maintain a positive attitude toward testing.

With MAP tests, we receive detailed, accurate information about your child’s growth and learning level. Teachers use these results to tailor instruction to fit your child’s individual learning needs. To ensure that the results are as accurate as possible, it is very important that all students demonstrate their best effort when taking these tests. We also request you make sure your child attends school (virtually) during the days on which s/he will be evaluated, that s/he has a good rest the night before, and has a healthy breakfast the days of the tests.

We strongly encourage you to take a few moments to review the MAP Parent Guide

https://www.nwea.org/resource-library/welcome/family-guide-to-map-growth

which provides valuable information including answers to Frequently Asked Questions, Tips for Parents, Recommended Websites, and more.

We appreciate your support during Map Month Fall 2020. If you have questions, please contact your child’s Homeroom / Advisory Teacher.

Sincerely,

The Ashton School

Test Preparation

Prior to Test Day

Make sure your device has an internet connection
If your child will take the test on an iPad, download the NWEA app. https://youtu.be/Hx1Hk8d_jPw
Disable pop-up blocking on your internet browser https://youtu.be/maCX7CQnqWc
Make sure your device meets testing requirements using the Device Readiness Check
Make sure your child has headphones (K-2nd)
Watch the MAP Growth introduction video
(Optional) Practice the test at practice.mapnwea.org

(Username: grow, Password: grow)

On Test Day

Minimize distractions for your child as much as possible
Provide a quiet testing environment
Allow the teacher/proctor to open the session first
If your child is using an iPad, open the NWEA app
If your child is using a laptop, log in at test.mapnwea.org
Make sure you have a way to communicate with the teacher/proctor during the test (Zoom). If the exam is being taken from an iPad, you’ll need another device for the call
Follow any additional instructions from the teacher/proctor.

For questions and further information you may contact:

Mr. Perez: perez_media@tas.edu.do

Mr. Sanquintín: technology@tas.edu.do

Mr. Then: then_tech@tas.edu.do

ACCAS and PAHO/WHO Training Program for Schools

We are pleased to announce that ACCAS schools have partnered with the Organizacion Panamericana de la Salud/Organización Mundial de la Salud (OPS/OMS) in the Dominican Republic.

Our school will have access to a series of webinars related to public health measures relevant to the school community.

The P-CES is the Training Program for Schools (stands for the Spanish “Programa de Capacitación para Escuelas”).

The first webinar will be a “Basic Guide for the Home and Community to Prevent the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other Respiratory Viruses”. It shall be at 10:00 a.m. on September 22nd. The link to this webinar follows:

This will be the first of many other workshops that will benefit parents, teachers and support staff in our schools.

ACCAS and PAHO/WHO Training Program for Schools

We are pleased to announce that ACCAS schools have partnered with the Organizacion Panamericana de la Salud/Organización Mundial de la Salud (OPS/OMS) in the Dominican Republic.

Our school will have access to a series of webinars related to public health measures relevant to the school community.

The P-CES is the Training Program for Schools (stands for the Spanish “Programa de Capacitación para Escuelas”).

The first webinar will be a “Basic Guide for the Home and Community to Prevent the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other Respiratory Viruses”. It shall be at 10:00 a.m. on September 22nd. The link to this webinar follows:

This will be the first of many other workshops that will benefit parents, teachers and support staff in our schools.

7 Tips to make the road a little less bumpy

Enjoy this interesting article from a student perspective:

Being in Online School can have its perks, yet, at the same time can be a bit of a challenge. These are some tips that can make your journey a little bit less difficult. I promise it will be better if you keep all of these things in mind when you start school.

1. Study Place:

For you to be able to take your classes in a comfortable way you need to have a specific space, YOUR space. Create an area where you feel pleasant, where no distractions take place. In order to feel this way, there is one thing that is essential: good lighting. Good lighting benefits your eyesight and can affect your energy levels as well. Try to set up your study place to be kind of appealing, this would help with your motivation towards learning. Just stick to a school themed space, where you can comply with your work. Always check that you are maintaining your posture, this something that is really important, since we are spending several hours per day seated on chairs. This will help you avoid back pains and other factors.

2. Organize Yourself:

Organization is the key for Online school. Be prepared, have your notebook and books handy, have your ipad and computer fully charged. Have all your supplies ready including pencils, pens or whatever you may need. Something that can help you is to have an agenda, where you can take notes of upcoming tests, presentations, your daily homework, reminders, etc. Having this will prevent you from getting lost or handing in work late. Have your calendar printed out or know your classes. One trick I personally do is have the link to my google sites in my favorites, so when I click it, it just takes me there directly. You can add it to any apple device on the Safari browser, this will save you so much time. It’s a life changer. Being organized is without a doubt going to make a difference.

3. Time Management:

Take online school as seriously as you would normal onsite classes. Do all of your homework the day before, don’t leave anything for the last minute. Take care of your time, take into consideration any extra minutes that you get from an early dismissal to work on assignments.

4. Set a Routine

This is extremely important and so easy to achieve. Have a routine, wake up maybe 1 hour or 30 minutes before class whatever works for you. Take a bath, get out of your pajamas, have breakfast, do a workout or do yoga to boost your energy before class. This would help you to get into an extraordinary mindset. These seem like such minor details but believe me they make a real difference. Having this time for yourself before class is going to be the best. Avoid rushing and waking up at the exact time your first class starts.

5. Eliminate Distractions

Personally I feel this is the most challenging tip, no distractions. Being home increases our “need” to use our cellphones and social media. But try to avoid it as much as possible, maybe turn off the ringtone or notifications to help yourself. Take note that it is also important to have a place where nobody bothers you.

6. Be active/attentive during class

It’s not just having your camera on, having your microphone off and being present in class. You need to be really present, ask questions, talk, share thoughts, ideas, express yourself. This will help to keep you engaged during class, and not get as easily distracted.

7. Be POSITIVE:

I must be honest this one at times may be the most challenging. It’s not at all easy to always be positive but try your best to be so. We are all tired of this situation, but, for right now this is our only alternative. Let’s get the most out of it. Have a big smile in each class, greet your teachers and classmates. Remember at the end of the day every subject will help you grow as a human being.

In my experience, I have been following all of these tips since day 1 of my online school trajectory. I specifically highlight tip #4 because it seems kind of unnecessary but since I started setting my routine and doing yoga, I’ve seen and felt the change, I love it. I hope that you liked these tips and take them into consideration at all times! This will definitely make the road less bumpy.

-Maria Jose Caminero – 10 A

7 Tips to make the road a little less bumpy

Enjoy this interesting article from a student perspective:

Being in Online School can have its perks, yet, at the same time can be a bit of a challenge. These are some tips that can make your journey a little bit less difficult. I promise it will be better if you keep all of these things in mind when you start school.

1. Study Place:

For you to be able to take your classes in a comfortable way you need to have a specific space, YOUR space. Create an area where you feel pleasant, where no distractions take place. In order to feel this way, there is one thing that is essential: good lighting. Good lighting benefits your eyesight and can affect your energy levels as well. Try to set up your study place to be kind of appealing, this would help with your motivation towards learning. Just stick to a school themed space, where you can comply with your work. Always check that you are maintaining your posture, this something that is really important, since we are spending several hours per day seated on chairs. This will help you avoid back pains and other factors.

2. Organize Yourself:

Organization is the key for Online school. Be prepared, have your notebook and books handy, have your ipad and computer fully charged. Have all your supplies ready including pencils, pens or whatever you may need. Something that can help you is to have an agenda, where you can take notes of upcoming tests, presentations, your daily homework, reminders, etc. Having this will prevent you from getting lost or handing in work late. Have your calendar printed out or know your classes. One trick I personally do is have the link to my google sites in my favorites, so when I click it, it just takes me there directly. You can add it to any apple device on the Safari browser, this will save you so much time. It’s a life changer. Being organized is without a doubt going to make a difference.

3. Time Management:

Take online school as seriously as you would normal onsite classes. Do all of your homework the day before, don’t leave anything for the last minute. Take care of your time, take into consideration any extra minutes that you get from an early dismissal to work on assignments.

4. Set a Routine

This is extremely important and so easy to achieve. Have a routine, wake up maybe 1 hour or 30 minutes before class whatever works for you. Take a bath, get out of your pajamas, have breakfast, do a workout or do yoga to boost your energy before class. This would help you to get into an extraordinary mindset. These seem like such minor details but believe me they make a real difference. Having this time for yourself before class is going to be the best. Avoid rushing and waking up at the exact time your first class starts.

5. Eliminate Distractions

Personally I feel this is the most challenging tip, no distractions. Being home increases our “need” to use our cellphones and social media. But try to avoid it as much as possible, maybe turn off the ringtone or notifications to help yourself. Take note that it is also important to have a place where nobody bothers you.

6. Be active/attentive during class

It’s not just having your camera on, having your microphone off and being present in class. You need to be really present, ask questions, talk, share thoughts, ideas, express yourself. This will help to keep you engaged during class, and not get as easily distracted.

7. Be POSITIVE:

I must be honest this one at times may be the most challenging. It’s not at all easy to always be positive but try your best to be so. We are all tired of this situation, but, for right now this is our only alternative. Let’s get the most out of it. Have a big smile in each class, greet your teachers and classmates. Remember at the end of the day every subject will help you grow as a human being.

In my experience, I have been following all of these tips since day 1 of my online school trajectory. I specifically highlight tip #4 because it seems kind of unnecessary but since I started setting my routine and doing yoga, I’ve seen and felt the change, I love it. I hope that you liked these tips and take them into consideration at all times! This will definitely make the road less bumpy.

-Maria Jose Caminero – 10 A

Digital tools for parents

Our Art teacher, Ms. Chantal will provide useful tools to help the distance learning at home.

Digital tools for parents

Our Art teacher, Ms. Chantal will provide useful tools to help the distance learning at home.

Secondary School eLearning Schedule and Platforms

Next Tuesday we will be concluding the 2nd Cycle of orientation, reviews and social-emotional interventions and be ready to officially begin new content for the 2020-2021 school year. These first days were also intended to evaluate how the students are responding to the eLearning modality and to implement new online platforms as deemed necessary.

The design of the eLearning plan comes after months of conducting research and studies into best practices for online learning, and considering the feedback from teachers, students and parents as to how the students are engaging with and reacting to distance learning modalities. We have also been ensuring that teachers have the resources to create quality lesson plans and carry out instruction in this new fashion.

The Schedule:

Last spring, when we found ourselves having to implement emergency distance learning, the Middle and High School eLearning platform consisted fully of synchronous encounters where students connected live with their teachers for the entire school day. Our goal was to provide students with a certain sense of “normalcy” during a potentially emotionally challenging time. Students knew that despite the crisis that was quickly unfolding, they could find their teachers in the same place and same time every day. Our full-day synchronous connections did serve its purpose. However, we knew full well that research shows that a longer term distance learning plan would have to include a balance of both synchronous and asynchronous teaching and learning.

During the synchronous encounters, which will still be the primary format, students are able to not only engage directly with their teacher, but with their classmates as well. However, we must also be careful to not overload students with screen time. Asynchronous encounters also allow for more self-directed and self-paced learning. Students also benefit from the experience of exploring on their own and even being able to connect at different times of the day when they are more rested from the synchronous screen time. Nonetheless, even when our schedule calls for asynchronous learning, teachers will be available to connect if a student needs additional guidance. Below is the revised general format for the Secondary School schedule. Your child’s detailed schedule with the specific subjects per day is found in the Classroom Site.

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
8:00-10:15	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	8:00-9:00 Asynchronous learning
10:15-10:30	Break	Break	Break	Break	9:00-10:00 Live synchronous teaching and learning, if the student wishes to connect.
10:30-12:00	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	10:00-12:00 Asynchronous learning
12:00-1:25	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	10:00-12:00 Asynchronous learning
1:25-2:55	Asynchronous learning with teacher available to connect with students as needed	Asynchronous learning with teacher available to connect with students as needed	Asynchronous learning with teacher available to connect with students as needed	Asynchronous learning with teacher available to connect with students as needed	12:00-1:25 Lunch
					1:25-2:55 Asynchronous learning

Important components about the schedule include:

Synchronous (live connections) will start at 8:00 a.m. and continue until 12:00 p.m.;
Teachers will insert short five-minute breaks in between subjects as deemed necessary;
Students will have 15 minutes for recess to use the bathroom and get a snack;
The majority of the day will consist of live (synchronous) connections, but teachers will encourage students to work away from the screen when possible (i.e. to read in his/her favorite spot of the room, to work on a project, etc.)
During the 1:25 to 2:55 asynchronous hours, teachers will be available to connect if a student needs guidance with the instructions;
The work posted for asynchronous Friday will be clear and manageable for students to develop independent learning and research skills.
On asynchronous Friday, the teachers will be available during a 9:00-10:00 office hour where students may connect live for additional guidance.
The lunch break allows for students and parents to have lunch together whenever possible in each home.

The Platforms:

Google Sites will continue to be the platform to access all of our eLearning classrooms. Please do not share the link to our eLearning platform with anyone other than your child.

While we wanted to start with the same video conference platform that was familiar to students and parents (Google Meet) we also left the door open to the possibility of incorporating another platform such as Zoom. As of this 2nd Cycle, teachers have been communicating with you about making this very easy transition. The Advisory teacher will create the “one link” connection and all subject teachers will connect through that link. This eliminates the need to connect to different links for different subjects. Teachers will protect entry into the eLearning classrooms by creating waiting rooms and only allowing entry to their students. If your child will be connecting from a device that is not clearly identified with his/her or your names, please inform your child’s Advisory teacher in advance. Otherwise, the teacher will not know to give your child entry. Please understand that in order to ensure the protection of your child’s identity, this is a necessary measure.

Google Classroom will be the primary resource for the creation of assignments, providing feedback and for students to send their work to their teachers.

Further down the road when your child’s teachers begin to provide feedback from assessments, you will be able to monitor your child’s progress through RenWeb/FACTS, our student information system. Parent training for Secondary School grades will take place on the dates shown below. Feel free to sign up for one of these sessions by clicking on the day and time that you prefer.

Netiquette:

Students have learned the importance of following certain procedures during distance learning. Please review these agreements with your child and help him/her to follow the classroom netiquette. As of the 3rd Cycle, we would like to see students using a school uniform top. It may be his/her regular or sports uniform. Please make sure that your child is always using full and appropriate attire .

The Parent’s or Adult’s Role:

Making sure that your child has a comfortable and appropriate place to engage in learning is essential. The 8:00 a.m. start should allow your adolescent to get a little more sleep, but please make sure that he/she is connected promptly at 8:00 a.m. If you need to be out of the house, inform the adult in the home to not interrupt the student during school hours. Likewise, if you need to speak to the teacher, please make an appointment. Remember that walking into an eLearning classroom while instruction is taking place is like walking into the physical classrooms at school without prior notification. These interruptions are not allowed.

Ongoing Trainings and Support:

During the next several weeks, we will continue to inform our school community about upcoming workshops, webinars and resources that will be made available to parents to support you during these challenging times. This includes support from the Parents’ Association (ASPAS) as they put together online resources for parents and students. Events and dates will be announced as they become available.

We hope this has given you clear guidance as we prepare to launch the 2020-2021 school year, full steam ahead. Please know that we will continue to do our best to help you through these challenging times. We also count on your customary support to work as a team so that the students, parents, and teachers will be able to stay physically and emotionally resilient as we navigate these uncharted waters.

May God bless you and Ashton School mightily.

.

Secondary School eLearning Schedule and Platforms

Next Tuesday we will be concluding the 2nd Cycle of orientation, reviews and social-emotional interventions and be ready to officially begin new content for the 2020-2021 school year. These first days were also intended to evaluate how the students are responding to the eLearning modality and to implement new online platforms as deemed necessary.

The design of the eLearning plan comes after months of conducting research and studies into best practices for online learning, and considering the feedback from teachers, students and parents as to how the students are engaging with and reacting to distance learning modalities. We have also been ensuring that teachers have the resources to create quality lesson plans and carry out instruction in this new fashion.

The Schedule:

Last spring, when we found ourselves having to implement emergency distance learning, the Middle and High School eLearning platform consisted fully of synchronous encounters where students connected live with their teachers for the entire school day. Our goal was to provide students with a certain sense of “normalcy” during a potentially emotionally challenging time. Students knew that despite the crisis that was quickly unfolding, they could find their teachers in the same place and same time every day. Our full-day synchronous connections did serve its purpose. However, we knew full well that research shows that a longer term distance learning plan would have to include a balance of both synchronous and asynchronous teaching and learning.

During the synchronous encounters, which will still be the primary format, students are able to not only engage directly with their teacher, but with their classmates as well. However, we must also be careful to not overload students with screen time. Asynchronous encounters also allow for more self-directed and self-paced learning. Students also benefit from the experience of exploring on their own and even being able to connect at different times of the day when they are more rested from the synchronous screen time. Nonetheless, even when our schedule calls for asynchronous learning, teachers will be available to connect if a student needs additional guidance. Below is the revised general format for the Secondary School schedule. Your child’s detailed schedule with the specific subjects per day is found in the Classroom Site.

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
8:00-10:15	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	8:00-9:00 Asynchronous learning
10:15-10:30	Break	Break	Break	Break	9:00-10:00 Live synchronous teaching and learning, if the student wishes to connect.
10:30-12:00	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	10:00-12:00 Asynchronous learning
12:00-1:25	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	10:00-12:00 Asynchronous learning
1:25-2:55	Asynchronous learning with teacher available to connect with students as needed	Asynchronous learning with teacher available to connect with students as needed	Asynchronous learning with teacher available to connect with students as needed	Asynchronous learning with teacher available to connect with students as needed	12:00-1:25 Lunch
					1:25-2:55 Asynchronous learning

Important components about the schedule include:

Synchronous (live connections) will start at 8:00 a.m. and continue until 12:00 p.m.;
Teachers will insert short five-minute breaks in between subjects as deemed necessary;
Students will have 15 minutes for recess to use the bathroom and get a snack;
The majority of the day will consist of live (synchronous) connections, but teachers will encourage students to work away from the screen when possible (i.e. to read in his/her favorite spot of the room, to work on a project, etc.)
During the 1:25 to 2:55 asynchronous hours, teachers will be available to connect if a student needs guidance with the instructions;
The work posted for asynchronous Friday will be clear and manageable for students to develop independent learning and research skills.
On asynchronous Friday, the teachers will be available during a 9:00-10:00 office hour where students may connect live for additional guidance.
The lunch break allows for students and parents to have lunch together whenever possible in each home.

The Platforms:

Google Sites will continue to be the platform to access all of our eLearning classrooms. Please do not share the link to our eLearning platform with anyone other than your child.

While we wanted to start with the same video conference platform that was familiar to students and parents (Google Meet) we also left the door open to the possibility of incorporating another platform such as Zoom. As of this 2nd Cycle, teachers have been communicating with you about making this very easy transition. The Advisory teacher will create the “one link” connection and all subject teachers will connect through that link. This eliminates the need to connect to different links for different subjects. Teachers will protect entry into the eLearning classrooms by creating waiting rooms and only allowing entry to their students. If your child will be connecting from a device that is not clearly identified with his/her or your names, please inform your child’s Advisory teacher in advance. Otherwise, the teacher will not know to give your child entry. Please understand that in order to ensure the protection of your child’s identity, this is a necessary measure.

Google Classroom will be the primary resource for the creation of assignments, providing feedback and for students to send their work to their teachers.

Further down the road when your child’s teachers begin to provide feedback from assessments, you will be able to monitor your child’s progress through RenWeb/FACTS, our student information system. Parent training for Secondary School grades will take place on the dates shown below. Feel free to sign up for one of these sessions by clicking on the day and time that you prefer.

Netiquette:

Students have learned the importance of following certain procedures during distance learning. Please review these agreements with your child and help him/her to follow the classroom netiquette. As of the 3rd Cycle, we would like to see students using a school uniform top. It may be his/her regular or sports uniform. Please make sure that your child is always using full and appropriate attire .

The Parent’s or Adult’s Role:

Making sure that your child has a comfortable and appropriate place to engage in learning is essential. The 8:00 a.m. start should allow your adolescent to get a little more sleep, but please make sure that he/she is connected promptly at 8:00 a.m. If you need to be out of the house, inform the adult in the home to not interrupt the student during school hours. Likewise, if you need to speak to the teacher, please make an appointment. Remember that walking into an eLearning classroom while instruction is taking place is like walking into the physical classrooms at school without prior notification. These interruptions are not allowed.

Ongoing Trainings and Support:

During the next several weeks, we will continue to inform our school community about upcoming workshops, webinars and resources that will be made available to parents to support you during these challenging times. This includes support from the Parents’ Association (ASPAS) as they put together online resources for parents and students. Events and dates will be announced as they become available.

We hope this has given you clear guidance as we prepare to launch the 2020-2021 school year, full steam ahead. Please know that we will continue to do our best to help you through these challenging times. We also count on your customary support to work as a team so that the students, parents, and teachers will be able to stay physically and emotionally resilient as we navigate these uncharted waters.

May God bless you and Ashton School mightily.

.

Lower Elementary eLearning Schedule and Platforms

Dear 1st-3rd Grade Parents:

Next Tuesday we will be concluding the 2nd Cycle of orientation, reviews and social-emotional interventions and be ready to officially begin new content for the 2020-2021 school year. These first days were also intended to evaluate how the students are responding to the eLearning modality and to implement new online platforms as deemed necessary.

The design of the eLearning plan comes after months of conducting research and studies into best practices for online learning, and considering the feedback from teachers, students and parents as to how the students are engaging with and reacting to distance learning modalities. We have also been ensuring that teachers have the resources to create quality lesson plans and carry out instruction in this new fashion.

The Schedule:

Last spring, when we found ourselves having to implement emergency distance learning, the Lower Elementary eLearning platform primarily consisted of asynchronous encounters where students and parents navigated their Google Sites Classrooms to find teacher-created videos and assignments. In addition, there were some small group and full group encounters along the way. After conducting surveys and town hall meetings, plus receiving feedback through the chat groups, the data showed that parents wanted there to be more direct connection time between the students and the teachers, known as synchronous connections. That is the primary reason why most of the teaching and learning now consist of synchronous encounters.

During the synchronous encounters, which will be the primary format, students are able to not only engage directly with their teacher, but with their classmates as well. However, we must also be careful to not overload students with screen time and a rigid schedule. Research on distance learning clearly shows that it is important to provide a balance of both synchronous and asynchronous encounters for students. The feedback from these first few days confirms these findings in that while students are learning how to stay attentive for these extended connection times, as lunch time approaches the fatigue sets in. The asynchronous encounters allow for more self-directed and self-paced learning. Students also benefit from the experience of exploring on their own and even being able to connect at different times of the day when they are more rested from the synchronous screen time. Nonetheless, even when our schedule calls for asynchronous learning, teachers will be available during office hours throughout the day. The teacher is literally one click away during those set office hours and any student who needs more teacher-directed guidance may connect with her. Below is the revised general format for the Lower Elementary School schedule. Your child’s detailed schedule with the specific subjects per day is found in the Classroom Site.

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
8:00-10:15	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	8:00-9:00 Asynchronous learning
10:15-10:30	Break	Break	Break	Break	9:00-10:00 Live synchronous teaching and learning, if the student wishes to connect.
10:30-12:00	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	10:00-11:00 Asynchronous learning
12:00-1:00	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	11:00-12:00 Live synchronous teaching and learning, if the student wishes to connect.
1:15-2:15	Live synchronous enrichment time for students as needed	Live synchronous enrichment time for students as needed	Live synchronous enrichment time for students as needed	Live synchronous enrichment time for students as needed	12:00-1:00 Lunch
3:00-5:00 (At a later date)	Possible small groups for ACE (pending more clarification from authorities)	Possible small groups for ACE (pending more clarification from authorities)	Possible small groups for ACE (pending more clarification from authorities)	Possible small groups for ACE (pending more clarification from authorities)	1:15-2:15 Asynchronous learning.

Important components about the schedule include:

Synchronous (live connections) will start at 8:00 a.m. and continue until 12:00 p.m.;
Teachers will insert short five-minute breaks in between subjects as deemed necessary;
Students will have 15 minutes for recess to use the bathroom and get a snack;
The majority of the day will consist of live (synchronous) connections, but teachers will encourage students to work away from the screen when possible (i.e. to read in his/her favorite spot of the room, to work on a simple project, etc.)
During the 1:15 to 2:15 enrichment hour, teachers will be available to connect if a student needs guidance or extra help with certain concepts;
The work posted for asynchronous Friday will be clear and manageable for students to develop independent learning and research skills.
On asynchronous Friday, the teachers will be available during two office hours where students may connect live for additional guidance.
The lunch break allows for students and parents to have lunch together whenever possible in each home.

The Platforms

Google Sites will continue to be the platform to access all of our eLearning classrooms. Please do not share the link to our eLearning platform with anyone other than your child.

In order for parents to have an idea of the materials that their child will need for the upcoming Cycle, you will find a “preview” like the one shown below one day before each Cycle begins.

While we wanted to start with the same video conference platform that was familiar to students and parents (Google Meet) we also left the door open to the possibility of incorporating another platform such as Zoom. As of this 2nd Cycle, teachers have been communicating with you about making this very easy transition. The Homeroom teacher will create the “one link” connection and all subject teachers will connect through that link. This eliminates the need to connect to different links for different subjects. Teachers will protect entry into the eLearning classrooms by creating waiting rooms and only allowing entry to their students. If your child will be connecting from a device that is not clearly identified with his/her or your names, please inform your child’s Homeroom teacher in advance. Otherwise, the teacher will not know to give your child entry. Please understand that in order to ensure the protection of your child’s identity, this is a necessary measure.

Parent training for Lower Elementary grades will take place on the dates shown below. If you need training in the use of Zoom, feel free to sign up for one of these sessions by clicking on the day and time that you prefer.

We have also implemented Seesaw for students to show their work, allow teachers to give feedback and allow for more family connection between the teacher and the home.

Seesaw parent training for Lower Elementary grades will take place on the dates shown below. Feel free to sign up for one of these sessions by clicking on the day and time that you prefer.

Your child will enjoy a variety of books to be used during English Language Arts class, both through physical and digital books. The digital platform is called Raz-Kids. It is a very user-friendly resource, but if you have any questions, you may coordinate a time to meet with your child’s Homeroom Teacher.

Further down the road when your child’s teachers begin to provide feedback from assessments, you will be able to monitor your child’s progress through RenWeb/FACTS, our student information system. Parent training for Lower Elementary grades will take place on the dates shown below. Feel free to sign up for one of these sessions by clicking on the icon and select the day and time that you prefer.

Netiquette:

Students have learned the importance of following certain procedures during distance learning. Please review these agreements with your child and help him/her to follow the classroom netiquette. As of the 3rd Cycle, we would like to see students using a school uniform top. It may be his/her regular or sports uniform. Please make sure that your child is always using full and appropriate attire .

The Parent’s or Adult’s Role:

During the first two Cycles, you may have needed to provide some guidance for your child, but as we move forward, you should allow for more independence. Allow your child to engage with the teachers and classmates without your direct support. If you need to be out of the house, inform the adult in the home to not interrupt the student during school hours. Likewise, if you need to speak to the teacher, please make an appointment. Remember that walking into an eLearning classroom while instruction is taking place is like walking into the physical classrooms at school without prior notification. These interruptions are not allowed.

Ongoing Trainings and Support:

During the next several weeks, we will continue to inform our school community about upcoming workshops, webinars and resources that will be made available to parents to support you during these challenging times. This includes support from the Parents’ Association (ASPAS) as they put together online resources for parents and students. Events and dates will be announced as they become available.

We hope this has given you clear guidance as we prepare to launch the 2020-2021 school year, full steam ahead. Please know that we will continue to do our best to help you through these challenging times. We also count on your customary support to work as a team so that the students, parents, and teachers will be able to stay physically and emotionally resilient as we navigate these uncharted waters.

May God bless you and Ashton School mightily.

Lower Elementary eLearning Schedule and Platforms

Dear 1st-3rd Grade Parents:

Next Tuesday we will be concluding the 2nd Cycle of orientation, reviews and social-emotional interventions and be ready to officially begin new content for the 2020-2021 school year. These first days were also intended to evaluate how the students are responding to the eLearning modality and to implement new online platforms as deemed necessary.

The design of the eLearning plan comes after months of conducting research and studies into best practices for online learning, and considering the feedback from teachers, students and parents as to how the students are engaging with and reacting to distance learning modalities. We have also been ensuring that teachers have the resources to create quality lesson plans and carry out instruction in this new fashion.

The Schedule:

Last spring, when we found ourselves having to implement emergency distance learning, the Lower Elementary eLearning platform primarily consisted of asynchronous encounters where students and parents navigated their Google Sites Classrooms to find teacher-created videos and assignments. In addition, there were some small group and full group encounters along the way. After conducting surveys and town hall meetings, plus receiving feedback through the chat groups, the data showed that parents wanted there to be more direct connection time between the students and the teachers, known as synchronous connections. That is the primary reason why most of the teaching and learning now consist of synchronous encounters.

During the synchronous encounters, which will be the primary format, students are able to not only engage directly with their teacher, but with their classmates as well. However, we must also be careful to not overload students with screen time and a rigid schedule. Research on distance learning clearly shows that it is important to provide a balance of both synchronous and asynchronous encounters for students. The feedback from these first few days confirms these findings in that while students are learning how to stay attentive for these extended connection times, as lunch time approaches the fatigue sets in. The asynchronous encounters allow for more self-directed and self-paced learning. Students also benefit from the experience of exploring on their own and even being able to connect at different times of the day when they are more rested from the synchronous screen time. Nonetheless, even when our schedule calls for asynchronous learning, teachers will be available during office hours throughout the day. The teacher is literally one click away during those set office hours and any student who needs more teacher-directed guidance may connect with her. Below is the revised general format for the Lower Elementary School schedule. Your child’s detailed schedule with the specific subjects per day is found in the Classroom Site.

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
8:00-10:15	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	8:00-9:00 Asynchronous learning
10:15-10:30	Break	Break	Break	Break	9:00-10:00 Live synchronous teaching and learning, if the student wishes to connect.
10:30-12:00	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	10:00-11:00 Asynchronous learning
12:00-1:00	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	11:00-12:00 Live synchronous teaching and learning, if the student wishes to connect.
1:15-2:15	Live synchronous enrichment time for students as needed	Live synchronous enrichment time for students as needed	Live synchronous enrichment time for students as needed	Live synchronous enrichment time for students as needed	12:00-1:00 Lunch
3:00-5:00 (At a later date)	Possible small groups for ACE (pending more clarification from authorities)	Possible small groups for ACE (pending more clarification from authorities)	Possible small groups for ACE (pending more clarification from authorities)	Possible small groups for ACE (pending more clarification from authorities)	1:15-2:15 Asynchronous learning.

Important components about the schedule include:

Synchronous (live connections) will start at 8:00 a.m. and continue until 12:00 p.m.;
Teachers will insert short five-minute breaks in between subjects as deemed necessary;
Students will have 15 minutes for recess to use the bathroom and get a snack;
The majority of the day will consist of live (synchronous) connections, but teachers will encourage students to work away from the screen when possible (i.e. to read in his/her favorite spot of the room, to work on a simple project, etc.)
During the 1:15 to 2:15 enrichment hour, teachers will be available to connect if a student needs guidance or extra help with certain concepts;
The work posted for asynchronous Friday will be clear and manageable for students to develop independent learning and research skills.
On asynchronous Friday, the teachers will be available during two office hours where students may connect live for additional guidance.
The lunch break allows for students and parents to have lunch together whenever possible in each home.

The Platforms

Google Sites will continue to be the platform to access all of our eLearning classrooms. Please do not share the link to our eLearning platform with anyone other than your child.

In order for parents to have an idea of the materials that their child will need for the upcoming Cycle, you will find a “preview” like the one shown below one day before each Cycle begins.

While we wanted to start with the same video conference platform that was familiar to students and parents (Google Meet) we also left the door open to the possibility of incorporating another platform such as Zoom. As of this 2nd Cycle, teachers have been communicating with you about making this very easy transition. The Homeroom teacher will create the “one link” connection and all subject teachers will connect through that link. This eliminates the need to connect to different links for different subjects. Teachers will protect entry into the eLearning classrooms by creating waiting rooms and only allowing entry to their students. If your child will be connecting from a device that is not clearly identified with his/her or your names, please inform your child’s Homeroom teacher in advance. Otherwise, the teacher will not know to give your child entry. Please understand that in order to ensure the protection of your child’s identity, this is a necessary measure.

Parent training for Lower Elementary grades will take place on the dates shown below. If you need training in the use of Zoom, feel free to sign up for one of these sessions by clicking on the day and time that you prefer.

We have also implemented Seesaw for students to show their work, allow teachers to give feedback and allow for more family connection between the teacher and the home.

Seesaw parent training for Lower Elementary grades will take place on the dates shown below. Feel free to sign up for one of these sessions by clicking on the day and time that you prefer.

Your child will enjoy a variety of books to be used during English Language Arts class, both through physical and digital books. The digital platform is called Raz-Kids. It is a very user-friendly resource, but if you have any questions, you may coordinate a time to meet with your child’s Homeroom Teacher.

Further down the road when your child’s teachers begin to provide feedback from assessments, you will be able to monitor your child’s progress through RenWeb/FACTS, our student information system. Parent training for Lower Elementary grades will take place on the dates shown below. Feel free to sign up for one of these sessions by clicking on the icon and select the day and time that you prefer.

Netiquette:

Students have learned the importance of following certain procedures during distance learning. Please review these agreements with your child and help him/her to follow the classroom netiquette. As of the 3rd Cycle, we would like to see students using a school uniform top. It may be his/her regular or sports uniform. Please make sure that your child is always using full and appropriate attire .

The Parent’s or Adult’s Role:

During the first two Cycles, you may have needed to provide some guidance for your child, but as we move forward, you should allow for more independence. Allow your child to engage with the teachers and classmates without your direct support. If you need to be out of the house, inform the adult in the home to not interrupt the student during school hours. Likewise, if you need to speak to the teacher, please make an appointment. Remember that walking into an eLearning classroom while instruction is taking place is like walking into the physical classrooms at school without prior notification. These interruptions are not allowed.

Ongoing Trainings and Support:

During the next several weeks, we will continue to inform our school community about upcoming workshops, webinars and resources that will be made available to parents to support you during these challenging times. This includes support from the Parents’ Association (ASPAS) as they put together online resources for parents and students. Events and dates will be announced as they become available.

We hope this has given you clear guidance as we prepare to launch the 2020-2021 school year, full steam ahead. Please know that we will continue to do our best to help you through these challenging times. We also count on your customary support to work as a team so that the students, parents, and teachers will be able to stay physically and emotionally resilient as we navigate these uncharted waters.

May God bless you and Ashton School mightily.

Upper Elementary eLearning Schedule and Platforms

Dear 4th – 6th Grade Parents:

Next Tuesday we will be concluding the 2nd Cycle of orientation, reviews and social-emotional interventions and be ready to officially begin new content for the 2020-2021 school year. These first days were also intended to evaluate how the students are responding to the eLearning modality and to implement new online platforms as deemed necessary.

The design of the eLearning plan comes after months of conducting research and studies into best practices for online learning, and considering the feedback from teachers, students and parents as to how the students are engaging with and reacting to distance learning modalities. We have also been ensuring that teachers have the resources to create quality lesson plans and carry out instruction in this new fashion.

The Schedule:

Last spring, when we found ourselves having to implement emergency distance learning, the Upper Elementary eLearning platform for 4th and 5th grades primarily consisted of asynchronous encounters where students and parents navigated their Google Sites Classrooms to find teacher-created videos and assignments. In addition, there were some small group and full group encounters along the way. In 6th grade there was more synchronous instruction in conjunction with the above-mentioned. After conducting surveys and town hall meetings, plus receiving feedback through the chat groups, the data showed that parents wanted there to be more direct connection time between the students and the teachers, known as synchronous connections. That is the primary reason why most of the teaching and learning now consist of synchronous encounters.

During the synchronous encounters, which will be the primary format, students are able to not only engage directly with their teacher, but with their classmates as well. However, we must also be careful to not overload students with screen time and a rigid schedule. Research on distance learning clearly shows that it is important to provide a balance of both synchronous and asynchronous encounters for students. The feedback from these first few days confirms these findings in that while students are learning how to stay attentive for these extended connection times, as lunch time approaches the fatigue sets in. The asynchronous encounters allow for more self-directed and self-paced learning. Students also benefit from the experience of exploring on their own and even being able to connect at different times of the day when they are more rested from the synchronous screen time. Nonetheless, even when our schedule calls for asynchronous learning, teachers will be available during an office hour. The teacher is literally one click away during that office hour and any student who needs more teacher-directed guidance may connect with the teacher. Below is the revised general format for the Upper Elementary School schedule. Your child’s detailed schedule with the specific subjects per day is found in the Classroom Site.

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
8:00-10:15	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	8:00-9:00 Asynchronous learning
10:15-10:30	Break	Break	Break	Break	9:00-10:00 Live synchronous teaching and learning, if the student wishes to connect.
10:30-12:00	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	10:00-12:00 Asynchronous learning
12:00-1:00	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	10:00-12:00 Asynchronous learning
1:15-2:15	Asynchronous learning with teacher available to connect with students as needed	Asynchronous learning with teacher available to connect with students as needed	Asynchronous learning with teacher available to connect with students as needed	Asynchronous learning with teacher available to connect with students as needed	12:00-1:00 Lunch
3:00-5:00 (At a later date)	Possible small groups for ACE (pending more clarification from authorities)	Possible small groups for ACE (pending more clarification from authorities)	Possible small groups for ACE (pending more clarification from authorities)	Possible small groups for ACE (pending more clarification from authorities)	1:15-2:15 Asynchronous learning

Important components about the schedule include:

Synchronous (live connections) will start at 8:00 a.m. and continue until 12:00 p.m.;
Teachers will insert short five-minute breaks in between subjects as deemed necessary;
Students will have 15 minutes for recess to use the bathroom and eat a snack;
The majority of the day will consist of live (synchronous) connections, but teachers will encourage students to work away from the screen when possible (i.e. to read in his/her favorite spot of the room, to work on a simple project, etc.)
During the 1:15 to 2:15 asynchronous hour, teachers will be available to connect if a student needs guidance with the instructions;
The work posted for asynchronous Friday will be clear and manageable for students to develop independent learning and research skills.
On asynchronous Friday, the teachers will be available during a 9:00-10:00 office hour where students may connect live for additional guidance.
The lunch break allows for students and parents to have lunch together whenever possible in each home.

The Platforms:

Google Sites will continue to be the platform to access all of our eLearning classrooms. Please do not share the link to our eLearning platform with anyone other than your child.

While we wanted to start with the same video conference platform that was familiar to students and parents (Google Meet) we also left the door open to the possibility of incorporating another platform such as Zoom. As of this 2nd Cycle, teachers have been communicating with you about making this very easy transition. The Homeroom teacher will create the “one link” connection and all subject teachers will connect through that link. This eliminates the need to connect to different links for different subjects. Teachers will protect entry into the eLearning classrooms by creating waiting rooms and only allowing entry to their students. If your child will be connecting from a device that is not clearly identified with his/her or your names, please inform your child’s Homeroom teacher in advance. Otherwise, the teacher will not know to give your child entry. Please understand that in order to ensure the protection of your child’s identity, this is a necessary measure.

Parent training for Upper Elementary grades will take place on the dates shown below. If you need training in the use of Zoom, feel free to sign up for one of these sessions by clicking on the day and time that you prefer.

Google Classroom will be the primary resource for the creation of assignments, providing feedback and for students to send their work to their teachers. Parent training sessions will be held and communicated next week.

Your child will enjoy a variety of books to be used during English Language Arts class, both through physical and digital books. The digital platform is called Raz-Kids. It is a very user-friendly resource, but if you have any questions, you may coordinate a time to meet with your child’s Homeroom Teacher.

Further down the road when your child’s teachers begin to provide feedback from assessments, you will be able to monitor your child’s progress through RenWeb/FACTS, our student information system. Parent training for Upper Elementary grades will take place and will be informed through the teacher and parents’ chat.

Netiquette:

Students have learned the importance of following certain procedures during distance learning. Please review these agreements with your child and help him/her to follow the classroom netiquette. As of the 3rd Cycle, we would like to see students using a school uniform top. It may be his/her regular or sports uniform. Please make sure that your child is always using full and appropriate attire .

The Parent’s or Adult’s Role:

During the first two Cycles, your involvement was probably necessary for your little one, but as we move forward, you should provide more independence. Allow your child to engage with the teachers and classmates without your direct support. If you need to be out of the house, inform the adult in the home to not interrupt the student during school hours. Likewise, if you need to speak to the teacher, please make an appointment. Remember that walking into an eLearning classroom while instruction is taking place is like walking into the physical classrooms at school without prior notification. These interruptions are not allowed.

Ongoing Trainings and Support:

During the next several weeks, we will continue to inform our school community about upcoming workshops, webinars and resources that will be made available to parents to support you during these challenging times. This includes support from the Parents’ Association (ASPAS) as they put together online resources for parents and students. Events and dates will be announced as they become available.

We hope this has given you clear guidance as we prepare to launch the 2020-2021 school year, full steam ahead. Please know that we will continue to do our best to help you through these challenging times. We also count on your customary support to work as a team so that the students, parents, and teachers will be able to stay physically and emotionally resilient as we navigate these uncharted waters.

May God bless you and Ashton School mightily.

Upper Elementary eLearning Schedule and Platforms

Dear 4th – 6th Grade Parents:

Next Tuesday we will be concluding the 2nd Cycle of orientation, reviews and social-emotional interventions and be ready to officially begin new content for the 2020-2021 school year. These first days were also intended to evaluate how the students are responding to the eLearning modality and to implement new online platforms as deemed necessary.

The design of the eLearning plan comes after months of conducting research and studies into best practices for online learning, and considering the feedback from teachers, students and parents as to how the students are engaging with and reacting to distance learning modalities. We have also been ensuring that teachers have the resources to create quality lesson plans and carry out instruction in this new fashion.

The Schedule:

Last spring, when we found ourselves having to implement emergency distance learning, the Upper Elementary eLearning platform for 4th and 5th grades primarily consisted of asynchronous encounters where students and parents navigated their Google Sites Classrooms to find teacher-created videos and assignments. In addition, there were some small group and full group encounters along the way. In 6th grade there was more synchronous instruction in conjunction with the above-mentioned. After conducting surveys and town hall meetings, plus receiving feedback through the chat groups, the data showed that parents wanted there to be more direct connection time between the students and the teachers, known as synchronous connections. That is the primary reason why most of the teaching and learning now consist of synchronous encounters.

During the synchronous encounters, which will be the primary format, students are able to not only engage directly with their teacher, but with their classmates as well. However, we must also be careful to not overload students with screen time and a rigid schedule. Research on distance learning clearly shows that it is important to provide a balance of both synchronous and asynchronous encounters for students. The feedback from these first few days confirms these findings in that while students are learning how to stay attentive for these extended connection times, as lunch time approaches the fatigue sets in. The asynchronous encounters allow for more self-directed and self-paced learning. Students also benefit from the experience of exploring on their own and even being able to connect at different times of the day when they are more rested from the synchronous screen time. Nonetheless, even when our schedule calls for asynchronous learning, teachers will be available during an office hour. The teacher is literally one click away during that office hour and any student who needs more teacher-directed guidance may connect with the teacher. Below is the revised general format for the Upper Elementary School schedule. Your child’s detailed schedule with the specific subjects per day is found in the Classroom Site.

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
8:00-10:15	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	8:00-9:00 Asynchronous learning
10:15-10:30	Break	Break	Break	Break	9:00-10:00 Live synchronous teaching and learning, if the student wishes to connect.
10:30-12:00	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	Live synchronous teaching and learning	10:00-12:00 Asynchronous learning
12:00-1:00	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	10:00-12:00 Asynchronous learning
1:15-2:15	Asynchronous learning with teacher available to connect with students as needed	Asynchronous learning with teacher available to connect with students as needed	Asynchronous learning with teacher available to connect with students as needed	Asynchronous learning with teacher available to connect with students as needed	12:00-1:00 Lunch
3:00-5:00 (At a later date)	Possible small groups for ACE (pending more clarification from authorities)	Possible small groups for ACE (pending more clarification from authorities)	Possible small groups for ACE (pending more clarification from authorities)	Possible small groups for ACE (pending more clarification from authorities)	1:15-2:15 Asynchronous learning

Important components about the schedule include:

Synchronous (live connections) will start at 8:00 a.m. and continue until 12:00 p.m.;
Teachers will insert short five-minute breaks in between subjects as deemed necessary;
Students will have 15 minutes for recess to use the bathroom and eat a snack;
The majority of the day will consist of live (synchronous) connections, but teachers will encourage students to work away from the screen when possible (i.e. to read in his/her favorite spot of the room, to work on a simple project, etc.)
During the 1:15 to 2:15 asynchronous hour, teachers will be available to connect if a student needs guidance with the instructions;
The work posted for asynchronous Friday will be clear and manageable for students to develop independent learning and research skills.
On asynchronous Friday, the teachers will be available during a 9:00-10:00 office hour where students may connect live for additional guidance.
The lunch break allows for students and parents to have lunch together whenever possible in each home.

The Platforms:

Google Sites will continue to be the platform to access all of our eLearning classrooms. Please do not share the link to our eLearning platform with anyone other than your child.

While we wanted to start with the same video conference platform that was familiar to students and parents (Google Meet) we also left the door open to the possibility of incorporating another platform such as Zoom. As of this 2nd Cycle, teachers have been communicating with you about making this very easy transition. The Homeroom teacher will create the “one link” connection and all subject teachers will connect through that link. This eliminates the need to connect to different links for different subjects. Teachers will protect entry into the eLearning classrooms by creating waiting rooms and only allowing entry to their students. If your child will be connecting from a device that is not clearly identified with his/her or your names, please inform your child’s Homeroom teacher in advance. Otherwise, the teacher will not know to give your child entry. Please understand that in order to ensure the protection of your child’s identity, this is a necessary measure.

Parent training for Upper Elementary grades will take place on the dates shown below. If you need training in the use of Zoom, feel free to sign up for one of these sessions by clicking on the day and time that you prefer.

Google Classroom will be the primary resource for the creation of assignments, providing feedback and for students to send their work to their teachers. Parent training sessions will be held and communicated next week.

Your child will enjoy a variety of books to be used during English Language Arts class, both through physical and digital books. The digital platform is called Raz-Kids. It is a very user-friendly resource, but if you have any questions, you may coordinate a time to meet with your child’s Homeroom Teacher.

Further down the road when your child’s teachers begin to provide feedback from assessments, you will be able to monitor your child’s progress through RenWeb/FACTS, our student information system. Parent training for Upper Elementary grades will take place and will be informed through the teacher and parents’ chat.

Netiquette:

Students have learned the importance of following certain procedures during distance learning. Please review these agreements with your child and help him/her to follow the classroom netiquette. As of the 3rd Cycle, we would like to see students using a school uniform top. It may be his/her regular or sports uniform. Please make sure that your child is always using full and appropriate attire .

The Parent’s or Adult’s Role:

During the first two Cycles, your involvement was probably necessary for your little one, but as we move forward, you should provide more independence. Allow your child to engage with the teachers and classmates without your direct support. If you need to be out of the house, inform the adult in the home to not interrupt the student during school hours. Likewise, if you need to speak to the teacher, please make an appointment. Remember that walking into an eLearning classroom while instruction is taking place is like walking into the physical classrooms at school without prior notification. These interruptions are not allowed.

Ongoing Trainings and Support:

During the next several weeks, we will continue to inform our school community about upcoming workshops, webinars and resources that will be made available to parents to support you during these challenging times. This includes support from the Parents’ Association (ASPAS) as they put together online resources for parents and students. Events and dates will be announced as they become available.

We hope this has given you clear guidance as we prepare to launch the 2020-2021 school year, full steam ahead. Please know that we will continue to do our best to help you through these challenging times. We also count on your customary support to work as a team so that the students, parents, and teachers will be able to stay physically and emotionally resilient as we navigate these uncharted waters.

May God bless you and Ashton School mightily.

MAP Exams Guide for families

Our verse for the year explained to our youngest students

From IT: A more complete platform

We’re moving our eLearning communication platform to Zoom in the coming days. The links will be on each teachers’ classroom page as it has been up to now with Google Meet. We look forward to enhanced communication with our students with our switch to Zoom. We will share videos to help parents who are not familiar with this resource.

From IT: A more complete platform

We’re moving our eLearning communication platform to Zoom in the coming days. The links will be on each teachers’ classroom page as it has been up to now with Google Meet. We look forward to enhanced communication with our students with our switch to Zoom. We will share videos to help parents who are not familiar with this resource.

Announcement on start of school year 2020-2021

Dear Parents,

We hope these first few days of transition have brought joy to your child’s hearts. For us it has certainly been heartwarming to visit some distance classrooms and see them engaged and happy to be connected with their school again.

As we communicated in June and again during the Back to School Night, we scheduled to start connecting with our students as of August 24th to work on orientation, reviews and provide socio-emotional interventions. This decision was based on Resolution 03-2020 that was in place.

During the press conference on the afternoon of Monday, August 24th, the Minister of Education stated that he would not be opposed if schools that were ready to start wanted to do so. On Wednesday morning we also saw an announcement from the MINERD spokesperson (https://noticiasviprd.com/ciencia/vocera-del-minerd-diulka-perez-reitero-que-los-colegios-que-estan-preparados-pueden-iniciar-la-docencia/) saying that schools that start earlier may end earlier. Earlier in the month, we shared a communication with you which outlined the professional development that has taken place for teachers over the past several months, including the summer weeks. In the weeks to come, we will also continue to provide meetings and workshops for parents in navigating platforms and our learning tools, as we have been doing since last week. All of the above places us in alignment with Article 1 of Resolution 08-2020, which was received today. Likewise, we welcome the orientation and staff development plan that the MINERD says they will share with schools and integrate any resources that we feel will enhance what we have in place.

Therefore, we reiterate our plans to complete the first two cycles to work on orientation and reviews for students, as well as to provide socio-emotional interventions. This will be followed by the start of 2020-2021 academic content as of Cycle 3. As always, we plan to deliver 180 days of instruction in accordance with the standards set forth by Cognia/SACS, our U.S. accrediting body. Based on the information that we now have from the MINERD vocera, it is our understanding that we will be able to conclude our school year in June, unless unforeseen circumstances develop.

We understand that this school year will require all of us to be flexible, adaptive, and resilient. We will continually reach out to you and our students to use your feedback to adjust where possible. Thank you for working together with us for the well-being of the children as we navigate these uncharted territories. We are grateful to all of you and we trust that God’s hand will continue to guide us through these challenging times.

Sincerely,

Ashton School and Ashton School Parents’ Association

Announcement on start of school year 2020-2021

Dear Parents,

We hope these first few days of transition have brought joy to your child’s hearts. For us it has certainly been heartwarming to visit some distance classrooms and see them engaged and happy to be connected with their school again.

As we communicated in June and again during the Back to School Night, we scheduled to start connecting with our students as of August 24th to work on orientation, reviews and provide socio-emotional interventions. This decision was based on Resolution 03-2020 that was in place.

During the press conference on the afternoon of Monday, August 24th, the Minister of Education stated that he would not be opposed if schools that were ready to start wanted to do so. On Wednesday morning we also saw an announcement from the MINERD spokesperson (https://noticiasviprd.com/ciencia/vocera-del-minerd-diulka-perez-reitero-que-los-colegios-que-estan-preparados-pueden-iniciar-la-docencia/) saying that schools that start earlier may end earlier. Earlier in the month, we shared a communication with you which outlined the professional development that has taken place for teachers over the past several months, including the summer weeks. In the weeks to come, we will also continue to provide meetings and workshops for parents in navigating platforms and our learning tools, as we have been doing since last week. All of the above places us in alignment with Article 1 of Resolution 08-2020, which was received today. Likewise, we welcome the orientation and staff development plan that the MINERD says they will share with schools and integrate any resources that we feel will enhance what we have in place.

Therefore, we reiterate our plans to complete the first two cycles to work on orientation and reviews for students, as well as to provide socio-emotional interventions. This will be followed by the start of 2020-2021 academic content as of Cycle 3. As always, we plan to deliver 180 days of instruction in accordance with the standards set forth by Cognia/SACS, our U.S. accrediting body. Based on the information that we now have from the MINERD vocera, it is our understanding that we will be able to conclude our school year in June, unless unforeseen circumstances develop.

We understand that this school year will require all of us to be flexible, adaptive, and resilient. We will continually reach out to you and our students to use your feedback to adjust where possible. Thank you for working together with us for the well-being of the children as we navigate these uncharted territories. We are grateful to all of you and we trust that God’s hand will continue to guide us through these challenging times.

Sincerely,

Ashton School and Ashton School Parents’ Association

Gators ‘Netiquette’

Netiquette:

Let’s agree on our “Gator Netiquette” in order to show respect, courtesy and maximize the online learning experience.
Netiquette combines the words “net” and “etiquette”, making it appropriate to use during distance learning.

Gator Netiquette:

Find a comfortable place to sit and take care of your posture.
Keep devices charged before class.
Keep cameras on when teachers ask you to do so.
Keep microphones on mute until the teacher indicates otherwise.
Don’t interrupt each other. Use the “raised hand” gesture if you’d like to speak.
Speak, write and use facial expressions and gestures that are courteous.
Participate fully.
Don’t share personal info or photos.
While you don’t have to use your uniform, you need to dress appropriately as if you were going to the school campus.
Only post as is relevant to the class.
Be respectful and courteous in your comments.
If you see or hear something or someone online that seems inappropriate, tell your parents or teacher right away.

Gators ‘Netiquette’

Netiquette:

Let’s agree on our “Gator Netiquette” in order to show respect, courtesy and maximize the online learning experience.
Netiquette combines the words “net” and “etiquette”, making it appropriate to use during distance learning.

Gator Netiquette:

Find a comfortable place to sit and take care of your posture.
Keep devices charged before class.
Keep cameras on when teachers ask you to do so.
Keep microphones on mute until the teacher indicates otherwise.
Don’t interrupt each other. Use the “raised hand” gesture if you’d like to speak.
Speak, write and use facial expressions and gestures that are courteous.
Participate fully.
Don’t share personal info or photos.
While you don’t have to use your uniform, you need to dress appropriately as if you were going to the school campus.
Only post as is relevant to the class.
Be respectful and courteous in your comments.
If you see or hear something or someone online that seems inappropriate, tell your parents or teacher right away.

MINERD Announcement

Ashton School Leads the American Math Competition in DR

Last February, 11 students from 11th and 12th grades were participating in the AMM (American Math Competition) at Colegio Bilingue New Horizons. The American Mathematics Competitions are a series of examinations and curriculum materials that build problem-solving skills and mathematical knowledge in middle and high school students.

We have received the summary statistics for our school with the following results:

As a school, the mean score was higher than the mean score of everyone that took the test in the DR. The percentile cutoff scores are also higher than the country (Ashton School mean-43.2, RD mean-41.4, Ashton School top 5% score-72, DR top 5% score-60).
Two students from Ashton School obtained the highest rankings at that grade level in the country: Sergio Moya ( highest score in the country) and Arturo Camarena second highest).

I consider this an achievement for both the school and the students, and suggest it be shared with the community (newsletter, Back to School Night). It is a good opportunity to motivative other students and recognize the effort of these two students.

Ashton School Leads the American Math Competition in DR

Last February, 11 students from 11th and 12th grades were participating in the AMM (American Math Competition) at Colegio Bilingue New Horizons. The American Mathematics Competitions are a series of examinations and curriculum materials that build problem-solving skills and mathematical knowledge in middle and high school students.

We have received the summary statistics for our school with the following results:

As a school, the mean score was higher than the mean score of everyone that took the test in the DR. The percentile cutoff scores are also higher than the country (Ashton School mean-43.2, RD mean-41.4, Ashton School top 5% score-72, DR top 5% score-60).
Two students from Ashton School obtained the highest rankings at that grade level in the country: Sergio Moya ( highest score in the country) and Arturo Camarena second highest).

I consider this an achievement for both the school and the students, and suggest it be shared with the community (newsletter, Back to School Night). It is a good opportunity to motivative other students and recognize the effort of these two students.

Year: 2020

Accreditation visit reports Ashton academic excellence

Accreditation visit reports Ashton academic excellence

National Honor Society Induction Ceremony

National Honor Society Induction Ceremony

ASPAS PIZZA NIGHT

ASPAS PIZZA NIGHT

A Respect Campaign Reflection

A chat with Ms. Rodriguez:

As one of the school counselors, what do you think is the importance of the Respect Campaign.

What motivated the Ashton School to start hosting this activity?

What is the exact message the school wants to convey?

Why did the school choose Respect for the Campaign? Is there any particular reason. What stands out from this virtue compared to others.

What is the main difference between last year’s campaign and this upcoming one? Are there any juicy details you may share? Maybe some fun details, to get the community even more excited.

Making it personal…

What does Respect mean to you?

A Respect Campaign Reflection

A chat with Ms. Rodriguez:

As one of the school counselors, what do you think is the importance of the Respect Campaign.

What motivated the Ashton School to start hosting this activity?

What is the exact message the school wants to convey?

Why did the school choose Respect for the Campaign? Is there any particular reason. What stands out from this virtue compared to others.

What is the main difference between last year’s campaign and this upcoming one? Are there any juicy details you may share? Maybe some fun details, to get the community even more excited.

Making it personal…

What does Respect mean to you?

MAP Exam Season

Test Preparation

Prior to Test Day

On Test Day

MAP Exam Season

Test Preparation

Prior to Test Day

On Test Day

ACCAS and PAHO/WHO Training Program for Schools

ACCAS and PAHO/WHO Training Program for Schools

7 Tips to make the road a little less bumpy

7 Tips to make the road a little less bumpy

Digital tools for parents

Digital tools for parents

Secondary School eLearning Schedule and Platforms

The Schedule:

Important components about the schedule include:

The Platforms:

Netiquette:

The Parent’s or Adult’s Role:

Ongoing Trainings and Support:

Secondary School eLearning Schedule and Platforms

The Schedule:

Important components about the schedule include:

The Platforms:

Netiquette:

The Parent’s or Adult’s Role:

Ongoing Trainings and Support:

Lower Elementary eLearning Schedule and Platforms

Dear 1st-3rd Grade Parents:

The Schedule:

Important components about the schedule include:

The Platforms

Netiquette:

The Parent’s or Adult’s Role:

Ongoing Trainings and Support:

Lower Elementary eLearning Schedule and Platforms

Dear 1st-3rd Grade Parents:

The Schedule:

Important components about the schedule include:

The Platforms

Netiquette:

The Parent’s or Adult’s Role:

Ongoing Trainings and Support:

Upper Elementary eLearning Schedule and Platforms

Dear 4th – 6th Grade Parents:

The Schedule:

Important components about the schedule include:

The Platforms:

Netiquette:

The Parent’s or Adult’s Role:

Ongoing Trainings and Support:

Upper Elementary eLearning Schedule and Platforms

Dear 4th – 6th Grade Parents:

The Schedule: