Dear Middle School Parents and Students,
What is the MS Plan for Continuity of Learning? Faculty and Administrators have moved mountains over the past two weeks to research best practices and prepare a remote learning plan that ensures student learning continues. Utilizing Google Classroom, Google Meet (a video conferencing platform), and other technology platforms like email and web applications, our teachers will remain in contact with every student with an open line of communication to parents. CLS' campus is closed, but school is very much alive and open. We cannot move CLS' entire academic program to a virtual environment; certain sacrifices in content inevitably must be made. We ask that students and parents remain flexible in the coming weeks as we learn with the students. There will be technological glitches and natural discomfort, but we see an opportunity to improve our teaching practices, increase student resilience, and add to our pedagogical repertoire.
What can parents and students expect from teachers of core classes (English, Math, History, Science, World Language)? Best practices in remote learning dictate: a) synchronous (live) connection with teachers is important, b) coursework and class "meetings" should not happen each day, and c) routine is crucial. Therefore we will have a A/B rotation that contains the following breakdown: * (First Remote Learning day, Wednesday 3/25, is an A day) ** Students will not be on Google Meet for entire two hour blocks. These are the windows for our teachers to schedule their multiple classes. Likely approx. 30 minutes per week, per class.
What about Electives and P.E.?:
What happens next?: On Monday, students should be on the lookout for an email from their advisor listing instructions for an online Google Meet test and check-in at 10:40am Tuesday. The actual meeting code will be sent at 10:30am on Tuesday. This is the only requirement of students on Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday morning begins the Remote Learning Plan described above.
What are the expectations of students and parents to make this partnership as successful as possible?
Expectation of Students:
• Check school email and Google Classroom EVERY SCHOOL DAY. Important reminders about Google Classroom can be found here. • Complete assignments by 9:00 p.m on the assigned course day. • Attend the required weekly Google Meet session provided by each teacher. 1x/week per core class. • Read all emails/instructions from your teachers/advisor carefully to know what work to submit and how to submit it. • Ask questions to your teachers via email or Google Classroom private comments using appropriate email etiquette. Remember, your teachers are trying to help you and the more information you can give them, the better! Screenshots can be helpful here. • All behavior and online interactions are governed by the RUP and the school's handbook. Appropriate dress is expected for Google Meet sessions. • Note - if you are enrolled in Spanish 2 or Honors Geometry in Upper School, your teacher will be operating with Upper School expectations, but the A/B schedule is the same.
What We Ask of Parents:
• Email jcaskey@charlottelatin.org in the event your child is ill or unable to complete assignments or Google Meet session. • Check email every day and ask about your child's Google Class assignments. • Resist the urge to micromanage. Ask questions, but try to promote student agency. Productive struggle is essential to learning. • If you have a question, please email the advisor first before the MS Administration for a faster response. • Help your student to manage the social-emotional aspects of remote learning environment where access to friends, teammates, and classmates is limited. Here is a quick resource. • Be flexible with our teachers, administrators, and your students. We are all trying something new and ask for grace. • Read information and parent education from school counselors and administrators. Mr. Ballaban will conduct online parent feedback sessions using Google Meet.
I stand ready to support our families, students, and teachers throughout this transition. We ask that you join hands with our entire CLS team as we not only continue the learning for our MS students, but also abide by our mission and reinforce what makes our community so strong: flying together.
Head of Middle School
Charlotte Latin School | 9502 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC 28277 |