Remote Learning

For our youngest learners, our goal for remote learning is to keep our Lower School students engaged, learning, and growing. We also aim to provide them with meaningful opportunities to connect with their teachers and classmates.

Expectations

• Each day, students will receive a greeting from their teacher in the form of a “Morning Message” and lessons for the day over Seesaw (grades K-3) and PowerSchool Learning (grade 4). Fourth grade parents and students: watch this video on how to access and navigate PowerSchool Learning.
• Students will have daily opportunities to read, write, share ideas, explore, play, and move.
• Teacher and student connection is a powerful piece of the learning experience, and our teachers are prepared to continue to build relationships through daily videos and phone check-ins with students, while also delivering meaningful instruction that allows all students to grow as learners. 

Primary Tools Required

Grade JK–3: Seesaw app
Grades 1–4: Reflex Math 
Grade 4: PowerSchool Learning, CCDS e-mail, Google Drive 

• JK-K: Focus on skill development through games and mini-lessons, to be delivered to parents via Seesaw.
• Grades 1-2: Focus on review of existing content, with new lessons to be delivered to parents via Seesaw. Reflex Math will be used to support math lessons for students.
• Grade 3: Other online tools and Reflex Math will be used to support math lessons for students.
• Grade 4: PowerSchool Learning, CCDS e-mail, and Google Drive will be used for content delivery and formative assessment directly by students. 
• All Lower School students: All LS Library online resources are available through the LS Library page and work from home, with required logins as noted. Watch this video on how to access the LS Library page and the Online Resources Table.
• Specials: Extensions and suggested activities will be delivered weekly via Seesaw.  

Questions

Please e-mail your child’s classroom teacher as we work through this transition.  

Expectations

• The 7-day cycle and class bell schedule will continue as before, but we are not creating synchronized lessons during those scheduled times. 
• Lessons will be posted in advance allowing students to schedule their day in a way that works within the family’s structure.
• In order to have predictable access to their teachers, every teacher will be available “online” during the first 30 minutes of each scheduled class. 
• This access will allow students to get their questions answered individually or in groups as they work through the course content and prepare for assessments. 
• Teachers will clearly communicate how they will be available—e-mail, class discussion, collaboration spaces, etc.  
• Students are not required to attend office hours—they are for extra help and questions, not for primary instruction. 
• Classwork, homework, and assignment due dates are posted in PowerSchool Learning. Watch a video on how to access and navigate PowerSchool Learning.
• Student work will be turned in digitally, with faculty feedback and grading to occur online for students as well.
• Students should continue to use their paper or digital planner as part of their practice; it is of increased importance when learning from home. 
• As per usual, if a student has a unique situation causing a delay, they are expected to communicate with their teacher to discuss alternative due dates. 
• Students are expected to keep iPads charged and ready to use daily.

8th Grade Exams

Eighth grade final exams are cancelled. Instead, eighth graders will have to complete a final assignment for their classes.

Tools Required

PowerSchool Learning (PSL): primary tool for communication, details of assignments, course expectations. Watch a video on how to access and navigate PSL.

Google Classroom, CCDS e-mail: Digital and online tools already in place for delivery of content and lessons remotely. These tools are already in use and students are comfortable using them.  

Questions

Please feel free to communicate with your child’s advisor as we work through this transition. 

Expectations

• Updated to new 5-day cycle to support remote learning.
• Lessons will be posted in advance allowing students to schedule their day in a way that works within the family’s structure.
• In order to have predictable access to their teachers, every teacher will be available “online” during the first 30 minutes of each scheduled class. 
• This access will allow students to get their questions answered individually or in groups as they work through the course content and prepare for assessments. 
• Teachers will clearly communicate how they will be available—e-mail, class discussion, collaboration spaces, etc.  
• Students are not required to attend office hours—they are for extra help and questions, not for primary instruction. 
• Classwork, homework, and assignment due dates are posted in PowerSchool Learning. Watch a video on how to access and navigate PSL.
• Student work will be turned in digitally, with faculty feedback and grading to occur online for students as well.
• Lectures and demonstrations will be recorded using screen casting or other technology and subsequently posted to PowerSchool, OneNote, or other established location.
• Students should continue to use their paper or digital planner as part of their practice; it is of increased importance when learning from home. 
• As per usual, if a student has a unique situation causing a delay, they are expected to communicate with their teacher to discuss alternative due dates. 

Grading Policy 

• The Upper School will use an 80/20 model for grading second semester. The midterm grade will count for 80% of the semester average, while the grade for remote learning will count 20% of the semester average.
• The second semester grade will be averaged with the first semester average to give us a final grade for the year.
• This will help keep students invested, but we also know that many of them are processing the current pandemic and remote learning in different ways.
• Our ability to assess the learning both explicitly—tests, quizzes, labs—and implicitly—class discussion, eye contact, one-on-one touchpoints—is much harder to accomplish remotely, so we feel valuing it at 20% is the right number. 

Final Exams

Instead of taking a final exam, students will be required to complete a final assignment. 

Tools Required

PowerSchool Learning (PSL): primary tool for communication, details of assignments, course expectations. Watch a video on how to access and navigate PSL.

OneNote Class Notebook, Screencast, Office365 tools, CCDS e-mail: Digital and online tools already in place for delivery of content and lessons remotely. These tools are already in use and students are comfortable using them.  

Questions

Please feel free to communicate with your child’s advisor as we work through this transition. 

In an effort to continue to provide your child with support during remote learning, the ERP will offer tutoring support at all division levels.

Schedule

Tutoring is scheduled to occur on your student’s regularly scheduled day, and your child’s tutor will work directly with you to schedule a time of day when your family will have a device available for tutoring. Your child’s tutor will reach out to you via e-mail or phone to confirm the schedule and discuss specifics regarding the online platform to be used for tutoring.

ERP Policies

In an effort to maintain as much consistency as possible, we are trying to keep tutoring policies the same, including those of missed sessions. We acknowledge the challenge we may encounter when it comes to connecting with your child at a mutually agreed upon time. 

• If you or your child does not answer/show up for the agreed upon tutoring session, the tutor will send you and your child (if in MS and US) an e-mail and/or text reminder that it is time for tutoring. They will then attempt to contact your child again.
• If tutors are unable to connect a second time, you will be billed for a missed session.
• Following a missed session, the tutor will follow up via e-mail to confirm whether you want to continue with online tutoring or opt out if it is not working for your family.

Questions

• All School ERP Director: Ginna Clute, ginna.clute@charlottecountryday.org
• Lower School ERP Director: Pryor Rayburn, pryor.rayburn@charlottecountryday.org
• Middle School ERP Director: Laura Hayes, laura.hayes@charlottecountryday.org
• Upper School ERP Director: Lauren Folger-Sweeting, lauren.folger-sweeting@charlottecountryday.org

We know that these are uncertain and unsettling times that can create fear and anxiety among our children. Our counselors at all three divisions are available to speak with students during school hours. Please e-mail your division counselor:

Lower School

JG Bailey, jg.bailey@charlottecountryday.org

Middle School

Janani Buford, janani.burford@charlottecountryday.org

Upper School

Samantha Bosco, samantha.bosco@charlottecountryday.org

For students going through the college process, colleges and universities are taking steps to provide different ways for prospective and admitted students to learn more about a specific school, whether it's a virtual campus tour, an online admitted student open house experience, or a group chat/conversation with someone in the admissions office. The best way for students (and parents) to find out what interactive options are available, visit the school's admissions web page.

Helpful Resources

• NACAC College Admission Status Update: provides real-time information as colleges/universities provide updates on changes in admission events and deposit dates.
• ACT Updates
• College Board SAT Updates
• College Board AP Updates
• List of Colleges/Universities that have extended deposit date to June 1.

Questions

All college counselors are available to Upper School students during school hours:

Katie Elsasser, Director of College Counseling
Catherine Odum, Associate Director of College Counseling
Jonathan Woog, Associate Director of College Counseling

• All students are expected to participate daily in remote learning. 
• When not in class online, encourage your children to take a break from screens.
• Maintain a routine.
• Use some form of a planning tool/organizer to map your weekly schedule.
• Help your child craft a realistic daily schedule with blocks of morning and afternoon time for classwork.
• Be sure to block out exercise, meal, snack, and recreation times as well. Find a rhythm that works for you.

How might remote learning impact grades? 

For Lower School, academic skills will continue to be evaluated and assessments results will be communicated to parents when needed.

For Middle and Upper School, we will review workload, online performance, and assessments. Assessments linked directly to learning objectives will enable teachers to continue to assign grades. We will continually assess and revise as necessary to meet the needs of our students throughout this unprecedented time.  

What’s the difference between “synchronous” and “asynchronous?” 

Synchronous means students and teachers occupy the same digital space and interact live, at the same time.  Asynchronous means students are engaged in work daily but not interacting with the class and/or teacher at the same time.  

Our remote learning instruction will follow an “asynchronous” model, where teachers post lessons and course materials in advance for students to work independently, yet still aligned with the school calendar. In order to maintain the personal connection that faculty feel with their students, we are planning optional “synchronous” experiences in the schedule to connect with teachers.  

What are the expectations around the Honor Code and how will it be enforced? 

The Honor Code remains in place. Teachers will be even more deliberate about clarifying expectations around assignments and assessments. When in doubt, students should either err on the side of caution or e-mail their teacher.  

Upper School Related

What about IB and AP testing? Will these be delayed?

IB exams have been canceled for this year and AP exams have been modified. 

Is the SAT/ACT cancelled?

Please refer to the SAT and ACT websites for updates. The May 2 SAT test has been cancelled and the previously scheduled April 4 ACT has been rescheduled to June 13.