Hello Putnam Ave. Families,
I hope that you are continuing to find balance as well as prioritizing focusing on your families and doing things that bring you joy during these troubling times. We are writing today to follow-up on last week's update as well as to acknowledge that on this past Tuesday, 4/7/20, you should have received an email from Dr. Salim regarding the emergency closure.
As you can see from the District Distance Learning Plan, our goal is to support you in creating a routine for distance learning that engages students, reinforces what has already been taught, and allows for exploration. To quote the district distance learning plan, during this time we are focused on “maintaining connections between educators and students, providing opportunities for productive learning, and building a bridge across social distancing by partnering with families to ensure that student needs are understood and supported.” To reach this goal, we have done the following in terms of:
- Learning Expectations: On Monday, we shared with families a refined suggested daily schedule that includes a daily menu of options.
- Weekly Menu of Learning Options: On Mondays families are receiving from the grade-level team leader a weekly suggested schedule with a menu of learning options for each day. Our hope is that students and families select from the menu what interests them and spend time on those tasks.
- Daily Learning Options: Each day offers 2 core classes as options and then options for PE, practice in Math or Reading, and a Specialty. You should do as little or as much feels right for you and your family and should pick and choose options accordingly.
- Timing: In terms of timing, core classes have tailored their assignments to be completed in no more than 60 minutes; specialty assignments are geared toward no more than 45 minutes; and practice in math or independent reading are limited to 30 minutes. Please make sure that students are not exceeding the estimated amount, and feel free to reach out to teachers if your child is struggling with the timing; we appreciate the feedback! Our goal is that students and families are taking care of themselves and making decisions about the work that makes sense for them.
- Communications from Teachers: Our grade level team leaders are sending a weekly email on Mondays to provide you with an overview of the week as well as checking in during the week. Teachers are uploading assignments to Google Classrooms by Monday morning as well. Advisors are also reaching out regularly to maintain contact with advisees and to check in about portfolio. Lastly, our Special Educators, Interventionists, and Support Educators are reaching out regularly to families and students on their caseloads.
- Interaction with Teachers: Our teachers are holding daily office hours for at least 30 minutes a day so that students are able to engage in two-way interaction. In the next few days, stay tuned for a master list of office hours to be shared with you (via email and on the Putnam Ave. Distance Learning website).
Please take care of yourself and spend time with and focus on your loved ones. Keep balance at the center. Make sure that you’re taking time for yourself and your family...practice kindness, perfect your scrambled eggs game, check out learning through Minecraft, play a boardgame, visit the MFA for a new exhibition: Writing the Future - Basquiat and the Hip-Hop Generation, or listen to story time from space. Remember to make self-care and finding opportunities to seek out joy despite these unprecedented times a priority.
Best,
Mirko Chardin
Founding Head of School