[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]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.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
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.
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.
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.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][us_grid][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
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.
[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]El pasado miércoles 22 de julio las delegadas se dieron cita con las directoras del colegio en una reunión virtual para conversar de las inquietudes de cara al inicio del año escolar 2020-2021. Se revisaron las diapositivas que pueden encontrar aquí seguidas de una sesión de preguntas que resumimos más abajo.
Ms. Gygax reiteró lo comunicado al finalizar el año escolar 2019-2020 en el documento llamado “Trusting and Planning Forward” que es la guía de reintegro elaborada por el comité de emergencia tomando en consideración el trabajo de los subcomités que lo conforman. En ese documento se tomaron en consideración los pareceres de la comunidad estudiantil y de padres. Recordamos que esta guía se planteó a inicios de verano como una primera versión. En ese momento y a la fecha nos mantenemos enfocados trabajando para recibir a todos los estudiantes de Pre-Kinder a 6to grado presencialmente en agosto, y los alumnos de 7mo a 12mo bajo una modalidad combinando la educación a distancia y la presencial, siempre que las directrices del Ministerio de Salud y de Educación así lo permitan.
Nuestras aulas e instalaciones han sido intervenidas para hacer esto posible, redistribuyendo el número de alumnos por aulas y separando areas de modo que cada grupo de alumnos se mantenga segregado y se evite el intercambio entre grupos de diferentes grados.
Para lograr esto, el colegio ha invertido en la adquisicion de materiales, insumos y equipos para la nueva normalidad. Asi como para desinfección de areas bajo nuevos protocolos para poder proveer aulas desde donde se puedan transmitir clases de alta calidad de imagen y sonido. Instalacion de cámaras para los grados que tendrán la modalidad híbrida (virtual mitad del ciclo y presencial la otra mitad), mantener la nómina actual de profesores y todos los empleados garantizando su empleo en momentos de solidaridad y nuevos gastos de recursos humanos en personal de tecnologia (la nomina y gastos de recursos humanos representan casi el 70% del presupuesto escolar).
Inversiones que se han hecho para dar cumplimiento a los nuevos protocolos pudieran compensar cualquier ahorro generado en otras areas. Ahorros potenciales igualmente se compensan con beneficios extendidos como fijar la taza cambiaria en el momento de matriculación asi como los que pagaron con una tasa menor ya que actualmente se ha experimentado una alza que afecta nuestros gastos en dólares. El grado de compensación y ahorro, si lo hubiera, solo lo sabremos realmente al final del año escolar cuando hayamos ejecutado dicho presupuesto y se pueda hacer esa evaluación.
Es importante destacar que el cuerpo de docentes se ha entrenado en este tiempo para poder brindar el programa académico. Nuestros profesores han estado capacitándose con el Google Classroom Certification, Global Online Academy y un curso en sobre el aprendizaje/enseñanza a distancia para docentes de escuela primaria, media y secundaria. En la reunión pudimos ver incluso las sesiones de trabajo donde los docentes han tocado temas que van desde mantener el enfoque, la motivación, enriquecer contenido, etc. de la instrucción a distancia. Estamos confiados en que lo que estaremos viendo como clases a distancia, para los grados o familias que así lo requieran, sería una instrucción de alta calidad y contenido.
Igualmente, en estos meses se ha dado conclusión de la configuración del “Parents’ Web” de Renweb/FACTS de modo que el seguimiento a las clases y comunicación con los profesores será también mejor.
Nuestro compromiso es brindarles la mejor instrucción a sus hijos. Hemos mantenido nuestros estándares y si algo ha hecho la pandemia es resaltar aquellas prácticas que debemos aquilatar, valorar y proteger bajo cualquier modalidad de instrucción. Estamos en tiempos que nos retan y desafían como profesionales de la educación, pero contamos con un valioso recurso humano en nuestro cuerpo docente, con familias responsables, entendidas y con capacidad para responder a los retos que tenemos por delante y sobre todo con la guianza de Dios a quien acudimos continuamente en busca de dirección y sabiduría.
Agradecemos el que también nos hayan retroalimentado y ayudado en este etapa del “puente” en tantas formas. Estamos en la antesala del “Nuevo Normal”, les pedimos paciencia para esperar las directrices de las autoridades quienes la semana próxima han dicho que emitirán declaraciones relacionadas con el próximo año escolar. Les recordamos que hasta nuevo aviso, las siguientes fechas se mantienen pues se refieren a encuentros virtuales:
19 de agosto: Reunión de orientación virtual para nuevas familias
20 de agosto: Noche virtual de regreso a la escuela
21 de agosto: reunión virtual personalizada para saludar y conocer los profesores titulares de sus hijos. Las citas para esta reunión se harán de forma similar a la formato de las conferencias de entrega de notas.
24 de agosto: primer día de clases, presenciales y virtuales, según los grados. Reiteramos el inicio de clases presenciales depende de lo que comuniquen las autoridades.[/vc_column_text][us_separator show_line=”1″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]Estas son las imágenes de las diapositivas compartidas por Ms. Gygax en la reunión de delegadas del mes de julio, 2020:
¿Bajo qué modalidad piensan dar inicio a las clases?
A la fecha, 29 de julio de 2020, las autoridades aún no han establecido una modalidad a la cual debemos adherirnos, esperamos recibir noticias la semana próxima conforme el nuevo ministro ha indicado que se pronunciará al repecto. Nuestro documento guía contempla que los alumnos de PK-6to se reintegren presencialmente y los alumnos de 7mo a 12mo asistan 3 días presencial y 3 días virtual. Para estos alumnos, la modalidad híbrida conlleva un ajuste de las materias y horarios manejable que permitirá aprovechar los beneficios que se pudieron tener en formato virtual sin dejar de tener los beneficios de encontrarse física y socialmente presentes en el plantel.
¿Todos los colegios afiliados de AINEP adoptarán la misma modalidad?
AINEP ha publicado la siguiente declaración al respecto:[/vc_column_text][us_image image=”27302″ size=”us_600_600_crop” onclick=”lightbox”][vc_column_text]
¿Podrá una familia decidir la modalidad que quiera para su hijo por razones propias del núcleo familiar?
Sí, entedemos que hay familias que a pesar de tener la posibilidad de la enseñanza presencial, van a optar por una acomodacion a la presencial. Para ellos se coordinará el seguimiento a distancia que variará considerablemente segun el grado del que estemos hablando. De todos modos, para poder reportar ante las autoridades educativas la escolaridad de un alumno, es necesario el cumplimiento riguroso del programa académico.
Comentario adicional: En Secundaria se está implementando el uso de cámaras en las aulas ya que los profesores estarán impartiendo la instrucción desde el salón de clases en horario sincronizado, esto así porque desde el inicio se establece un arranque de clases con un componente a distancia. Para la primaria hemos invertido para hacer del plantel un lugar lo mas seguro posible donde puedan asistir presencialmente, haciendo espacios de uso exclusivo para los grupos y con el mínimo intercambio en las instalaciones.
En Primaria se le está buscando la forma de que los alumnos reciban la instrucción, pero haciendo acomodación a las condiciones de la familia. Entendemos que luego de recibir resultados de la encuesta podremos dar mas detalles operativos de cómo luciría la modalidad de educación a distancia en estos grados.
¿Cómo sería el acceso al plantel?
A fin de mantener el plantel lo más controlado posible, el acceso al mismo se limitará exclusivamente al personal del colegio y a los alumnos. Los padres y personal de apoyo familiar, en seguimiento a los protocolos de la covidianidad, se mantienen fuera del plantel. Se está diseñando la entrada al plantel de modo que utilicemos más de una entrada y posiblemente diferir la entrada de prescolar a las 8:00 a.m.
Ante un contagio en un grupo, ¿Qué sucede?
El propósito de segregar grupos es poder rastrear posibles cruces de contagio. La Dra. ha recibido entrenamiento del Johns Hopkins en la materia de rastreo y nos está asistiendo en el diseño de los pasos a seguir. Cada caso se tratará según se presente. Entendemos que procederá la llamada para el retiro del estudiante que presente síntomas estando en el colegio manteniéndose con la modalidad de educación a distancia hasta que su pediatra autorice el reintegro. Se habilitará un lugar próximo a la enfermería pero aislado del lugar donde van los alumnos a la enfermería a tratar asuntos no relacionados con COVID.
Hemos consultado múltiples fuentes sobre el contagio en edades infantiles que nos dan una perspectiva de confianza de que con el seguimiento a los protocolos de medidas de seguridad e higiene contínua podremos convivir con la realidad del COVID’19 en un marco escolar. Aquí los enlaces a dos de ellas, a modo informativo pues toda decisión que nuestro liderazgo toma debe considerar estudios y data que sean aplicables al tema:[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][us_grid taxonomy_category=”news” orderby=”modified” items_quantity=”3″ columns=”1″][vc_column_text]
Los párrafos de resumen de los artículos citados apuntan a que:
“A medida que muchos países comienzan a levantar algunas de las restricciones para contener la propagación de COVID-19, la falta de evidencia de transmisión en el entorno escolar permanece. Examinamos las notificaciones irlandesas de SARS-CoV2 en el entorno escolar antes del cierre de la escuela el 12 de marzo de 2020 e identificamos que no había transmisión pediátrica. Esto se suma a la evidencia actual de que los niños no parecen ser los impulsores de la transmisión, y argumentamos que la reapertura de las escuelas debe considerarse segura acompañada de ciertas medidas.” -Eurosurveillance
“Según la evidencia disponible, los niños no parecen estar en mayor riesgo de COVID-19 que los adultos. Mientras que algunos niños y bebés han estado enfermos con COVID-19, los adultos constituyen la mayoría de los casos conocidos hasta la fecha.” -CDC
Esperando haber recogido en este documento el sentir e informaciones compartidas en el conversatorio de delegadas y liderazgo escolar, nuestras líneas de comunicación están abiertas para cualquier inquietud que puedan tener:
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]On a weekly basis the school’s Emergency Committee has been meeting in order to review the school’s response to the current Pandemic in terms of Academics, Services to the Community and Operations. This is the time when the group shares best practices learned from different webinars and forums to which we have access through the networks our school has developed.
The team is now in the midst of the preparation of the “Trusting and Planning Forward: A Guide to Reuniting for 2020-2021″. Our priority with the documentation we are producing is to focus on the safety of our families and our commitment to the mission and vision that has carried us through these weeks. As we have reiterated, this experience has promoted the implementation of several practices that we may want to keep as we plan forward. Every stakeholder has been forced out of comfort zones and serious considerations have been discussed as excellent take-aways for the near future.
In order to produce an organized plan of action, seven committees will be drafting and reviewing documentation to present a guide that integrates the following areas to align with our vision and mission:[/vc_column_text][us_separator size=”custom” height=”30px”][us_iconbox icon=”fas|group” style=”circle” title=”Community Services and Relationships” title_tag=”h6″ img=”26496″ el_class=”comittee” css=”%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22font-weight%22%3A%22500%22%2C%22font-size%22%3A%2220px%22%2C%22width%22%3A%2222%25%22%2C%22margin-left%22%3A%2215px%22%2C%22margin-right%22%3A%2215px%22%7D%7D”][/us_iconbox][us_iconbox icon=”fas|group” style=”circle” title=”Extended Learning Development” title_tag=”h6″ img=”26497″ el_class=”comittee” css=”%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22font-weight%22%3A%22500%22%2C%22font-size%22%3A%2220px%22%2C%22width%22%3A%2222%25%22%2C%22margin-left%22%3A%2215px%22%2C%22margin-right%22%3A%2215px%22%7D%7D”][/us_iconbox][us_iconbox icon=”fas|group” style=”circle” title=”Finance Management” title_tag=”h6″ img=”26501″ el_class=”comittee” css=”%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22font-weight%22%3A%22500%22%2C%22font-size%22%3A%2220px%22%2C%22width%22%3A%2222%25%22%2C%22margin-left%22%3A%2215px%22%2C%22margin-right%22%3A%2215px%22%7D%7D”][/us_iconbox][us_iconbox icon=”fas|group” style=”circle” title=”Operations and Facilities Management” title_tag=”h6″ img=”26499″ el_class=”comittee” css=”%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22font-weight%22%3A%22500%22%2C%22font-size%22%3A%2220px%22%2C%22width%22%3A%2222%25%22%2C%22margin-left%22%3A%2215px%22%2C%22margin-right%22%3A%2215px%22%7D%7D”][/us_iconbox][us_iconbox icon=”fas|group” style=”circle” title=”Socio-emotional, Spiritual and Character Development” title_tag=”h6″ img=”26500″ el_class=”comittee” css=”%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22font-weight%22%3A%22500%22%2C%22font-size%22%3A%2220px%22%2C%22width%22%3A%2222%25%22%2C%22margin-left%22%3A%2215px%22%2C%22margin-right%22%3A%2215px%22%7D%7D”][/us_iconbox][us_iconbox icon=”fas|group” style=”circle” title=”Safety and Well-being” title_tag=”h6″ img=”26502″ el_class=”comittee” css=”%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22font-weight%22%3A%22500%22%2C%22font-size%22%3A%2220px%22%2C%22width%22%3A%2222%25%22%2C%22margin-left%22%3A%2215px%22%2C%22margin-right%22%3A%2215px%22%7D%7D”][/us_iconbox][us_iconbox icon=”fas|group” style=”circle” title=”Teaching and Learning” title_tag=”h6″ img=”26498″ el_class=”comittee” css=”%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22font-weight%22%3A%22500%22%2C%22font-size%22%3A%2220px%22%2C%22width%22%3A%2222%25%22%2C%22margin-left%22%3A%2215px%22%2C%22margin-right%22%3A%2215px%22%7D%7D”][/us_iconbox][us_separator size=”custom” height=”30px”][vc_column_text]The purposes of these committees have been defined. For example, the Safety and Well-being Sub-committee will need to be on top of how what we learn about the virus will affect the school’s practices and decision making. In conjunction with the Teaching and Learning sub-committee, the Safety and Well-being sub-committee will design and continually update a decision matrix that informs how learning and operations should commence and shift based on current health and safety guidelines: IF conditions look like this, THEN we learn / operate like this….
In order to do that and design and continually update the policies, procedures and precautions that ensure the health and safety of our entire community, coordination between the committees will also be key.
[vc_row width=”full”][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]In the course of this rough and anxious time, life must go on. Two of our dear teachers have delivered two beautiful children to our world. Johanna Marlet & Alejandro José. Along this great news, also came a challenge which was really difficult for both of them.
Below is an interview with the answers from our teachers who gave birth.
1.) How did you feel before delivering your baby?
Ms. Rudeke: Before delivering our baby, Alejandro José, I was so scared. Alejandro was to be born right during the first peak of the pandemic. I remember praying to God, ¨He had blessed us this far, please keep our baby safe!¨
Ms. Paulino: At first I thought that it would be over soon, but when I saw the news that there were more and more (Covid-19) cases every day I felt anxious and worried. I prayed and began looking for God’s peace and guidance during my process.
2.) What were your thoughts regarding the safety of your child when you heard about the pandemic?
Ms. Rudeke: I think our fears escalated within weeks of his arrival. Doctors’ appointments were canceled. Everything we had ordered for the baby was paused; our brothers, sisters and even parents were forbidden to come visit us… and I think that is when I really started panicking and turned on ‘mommy survival mode’. Basically, fear becomes so overwhelming, there is nothing to be done but trust in God and know that He has control of everything that happens, and so I found comfort in Him.
Ms. Paulino: First I started to look for clinics that had patients with covid-19 and what procedures they had to treat them. Then I asked my doctor about the protocol for pregnant women delivering babies in these scenarios. Then I read medical articles about delivering babies in the middle of a pandemic. I got more and more informed about everything.
3.) How was the process in the hospital, any struggles or fears?
Ms. Rudeke: So, our delivery was ‘planned’ except that it was nothing as we had expected. My most overwhelming experience was not knowing what to do with Victoria. We were blessed my brother and his wife had recently tested negative for the virus. So naturally, she stayed with them during our stay at the hospital. The hospital felt so lonely, no visits, even the nurses and doctors only came in when necessary. But then again, it was so peaceful and I was just so grateful I had Alejandro in my arms. God truly gave us our miracle.
Ms. Paulino: I was nervous at the hospital. I prayed but my doctor and the crew did a great job with me.
4.) What has been the hardest part of it for you?
Ms. Rudeke: I think the hardest part has been not to share our blessing with family and friends, at least not physically. Not to mention all the roles we have to keep up with. I cannot thank my sisters, and my friends who have become sisters, enough. They have been so supportive, even from afar. Without their love and encouragement (and yummy meals) it would not have been as easy.
Ms. Paulino: The hardest part was not being able to see my baby as soon as possible because of the security protocol. They gave her to me the next day before I got home.
5.) What is a message you would like to transmit to all pregnant moms that are going through this?
Ms. Rudeke: For the moms to be, my most comforting phrase, so simple but true, is this… ¨Be still, and know that He is God.¨ -Psalm 46:10. Every single detail in our lives has been designed by Him… so let us set our fears aside and allow our faith in Him to prevail.
Ms. Paulino: Pray. Get well informed. Talk to your doctor and ask anything you have in mind to him/her. Last but not least: Rest in the Lord with all your strength.
My takeaway as I was able to write this fascinating story was that it doesn’t matter how impossible and hard things may look, you need to have trust not only in that everything is going to be all right but also that God has control of the situation, pray to Him and everything will be fine. This is one of the many examples that life is a blessing and as some may say, a miracle. Once again I thank my two teachers for letting me write their story and for touching my heart as well.
Maria Jose Caminero Guerra[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][us_grid post_type=”attachment” images=”26351,26350,26349,26348″ columns=”1″ overriding_link=”popup_post_image”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row height=”small”][vc_column][us_separator size=”small” show_line=”1″ text=”Article by” title_tag=”h4″ align=”left”][us_post_author avatar=”1″ avatar_pos=”left” info=”1″][/vc_column][/vc_row]