Dear Parents of Upper School Resident Students,
This is quite a different world to the one of just weeks ago. Even as we left for break, it was not 100% certain we would have to move to distance learning, but here we are. We hope that wherever you are in the world, you are safe and not suffering from what Americans refer to as cabin fever. It would be interesting to know what ways other cultures express this phenomenon! For example, I am sure that in Hawaii, they do not refer to cabin fever! Perhaps it is referred to as island fever there, as it is on other islands! If you know of ways this is expressed in other cultures, I'd love to know!
To update you on the upcoming weeks: Faculty have spent a great deal of their break not just writing comments for the third quarter grade reports but also familiarizing themselves with the new Schoology Conference App that we will be using to make sure that learning continues during the upcoming weeks. I will include below information that was shared with students on Schoology as they prepare for the new look of "return to classes" on Wednesday. We are very aware that the "school" experience means so much more than just the acquisition of knowledge. It is interaction with friends, classmates, favorite teachers, advisors, counselors, and so many more. It is the support that comes from that daily chats in the Canteen, or the study group on the River Campus. We are looking at ways to reduce the stress of having that interaction be made so difficult (even impossible) during this difficult time, and we will work on ways to allow students to get together virtually. That said, it is possible that during this time students will feel an increased level of anxiety and stress, and their feeling of separation make grow stronger as the time out grows longer, and I encourage you to reach out to your child's advisor, our counsellors (Ms. Cussen and Ms. Genduso) and to anyone else on campus that can be of support. We all continue to be available by email, phone, Skype, WhatsApp, Schoology, etc.
Here are some details as outlined for the students:
We will run our regular weekly schedule. This means that on Wednesday, March 25, we will begin with G day and start with 3rd period at 9:15 a.m. (Eastern Time).
A few notes: - FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE IN TIME ZONES THAT MAKE LIVE PARTICIPATION DIFFICULT:
- We are asking teachers to record each class meeting and to save it to the Schoology Conference App page. It will be under the tab "completed" for conferences. These recordings remain for 7 days, after which time they are automatically deleted.
- We HIGHLY recommend that students make every effort to attend at least SOME of the classes live. This is particularly true if there are breakout sessions that are going to be used to work on group work or presentations, etc. Students should communicate directly with their teachers to determine what classes might be most valuable to be sure to attend.
- Attendance will be taken EVERY class period other than study hall. We ask that for students who are in time zones that make attendance impractical, the student let Mrs. Dale from the Deans' Office know at dalee@bolles.org when they have accessed the class and viewed the class in its entirety, and we will then remove the absence from the record.
- Study halls will not meet.
- Lunch times will run as normal, so you will start class at the same time you have been all year.
- You will NOT have class for the entire 60 minutes for each class.
- The guideline teachers have is to aim to meet for two 60-minute classes per rotation, 1 30-minute class per rotation, and 2 classes of a much shorter duration.
- During the time you are not meeting via Schoology Conference App, you will likely have other assignments including: time for reading/watching/listening, engaging with peers via discussion boards and docs, "homework"/learning tasks, etc. Honors and AP courses may be assigned some additional work as needed.
- We will all be available to you still! Teachers, advisors, librarians, college counselors, deans, administrators. We are all still here!
- Advisors will continue to receive updates about your work in class and will be in touch with you and your parents if the need should arise.
- Advisors will continue to work with you on scheduling for next year. A good way to look beyond this time away from campus!
- Teachers will be letting classes know about how assessments will work for students who cannot do them live with the class. They will also be providing updated expectations for tests and exams as we move throughout the quarter."
- Teachers will be available during Zero Hour and Activities Period, but you will need to email them or Schoology message them to let them know that you would like to meet with them. They can then set up a conference for you to meet through the Schoology Conference App.
- During the time we are out and working virtually, teachers will also be available by appointment at other times. Office Hours may include help via email, 1:1 Schoology meetings, small group Schoology meetings, or a combination of these methods. You must email the teacher to let him or her know that you would like to "meet".
Assuming you are well enough to participate, the expectation is that you continue to keep up with all of your classes. In order to do this, you will use the
Schoology Conference App.
To access the app: - Go to your Schoology Course (English I, Contemporary World History, Econ, etc.)
- Click on the Conferences app on the left side menu, in the column under "Materials".
- Click on Approve
- Click on the title of the course conference when you see the "in progress" message next to it to join.
In meetings yesterday morning with faculty from each of our campuses, Tyler Hodges and Mike Drew reiterated several times that the coming weeks are not about perfection. They are about flexibility. They are about getting through this together while at the same time continuing with a Bolles education – in a new context. A teacher sent me an email earlier today, and the closing brought tears to my eyes. "We will be #BOLLESSTRONGER when all is said and done." I am so very grateful to be a part of this amazing community!
Warmly, Moya Marks Head of Upper School, San Jose Campus The Bolles School utilizes "global emails" to communicate with parents and alumni. To streamline communications, these emails are sent on Tuesdays only, except in urgent cases.
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