Tag: Coronavirus

Springmont School

If you’re considering a private school for the upcoming school year, connecting with the school’s students and professionals and visiting a campus are wonderful ways to see if the school is the right fit for your child. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, schools have recreated their tours and open houses to make sure safety is a priority and to allow prospective families the chance to learn more. “Every school has their own unique flavor, their own unique culture, and you can’t really know a school through a website,” says Lisa Mirsky, the director of admissions at The Davis Academy. “Interactions are such a critical part of getting to know a school. We all had to get creative to figure out how we can provide those interactions safely.” Many metro Atlanta schools offer virtual tours, live video conferences, phone meetings, personal tours and smaller open houses. Find more information in Atlanta Parent’s Guide to School Tours and Open Houses.

Here’s what you need to know to make these reimagined tours work for your family:

Search Sites

Do your basic research. Narrow down the options until you have a short list of schools that seem the most interesting for your child by looking at websites, FAQs, pre-recorded videos and social media pages.

Ask Questions

Create a list of questions you plan to ask each school. What questions do you or your child have that you can’t find answers to on the website? Responses can help you narrow down or rank the school options that you’re interested in.

“The tours that are the most fulfilling to families are ones that are front-loaded with specific questions,” says Andrea Restifo, the director of admission at Springmont School. “I would highly suggest parents comb through websites and social media ahead of a virtual tour so that they know enough about the school to ask questions more pertinent to their family. Parents should not hesitate to ask detailed questions that pertain to their child. For example, if you have a student who is artistic, it’s fine to make mention of this, and ask how lessons and school life might support this strength.”

Know the Difference

Schools may have many different options that you can register for, with each session being important for different reasons. Atlanta Speech School’s Anne & Jim Kenan Preschool and Wardlaw School have open house sessions and tours followed by a Q&A through Zoom. Take a campus tour, participate in a coffee chat, or listen to a panel or webinar to learn more about Woodward Academy. The Davis Academy hosts virtual or on-campus personal tours and will hold a virtual Parent Information Session on Feb. 10.

Springmont School has Q&A Coffees for specific age groups, campus tours and an upcoming open house. “Q&A Coffees are for those who are curious about Montessori and may want some information without committing to a tour or open house,” Restifo says. “Virtual tours are for parents who are looking at a specific academic level and want more details and a personalized experience, and our virtual open house is for families who want information about the school and community overall.”

Take a Virtual Tour

When you’re ready to learn more about a specific school, register for a virtual tour. These sessions give you the chance to tour the school, learn more about the community, talk to school professionals, and ask questions. “We will deliver a high level of detail—even a ‘day in the class’ example—regarding each of the programs offered at Springmont,” Restifo says. “Parents will have the opportunity to meet our Head of School, Division Heads and some teachers as well, while having their questions answered.”

Even before the pandemic, Mirsky enjoyed doing smaller tours. “Large group tours or events don’t allow parents to get specific information. I do personal tours via Zoom during the school day. I have my iPhone in hand, the parents are on the other end, and we’re going into classrooms. They’re still getting that personal experience, and they can see and feel firsthand what’s happening here,” she says.

Be Tech-Ready

Before joining a Zoom or virtual session, make sure you know your tech. “Know where your mute and video buttons are located, as well as where the ‘raise hand’ feature is. Beyond that, they should ensure their volume is at an adequate level and that they are in a distraction-free environment,” Restifo suggests.

Visit Safely

At The Davis Academy, Mirsky schedules private on-campus tours with families after the school day has ended. “They’ve gone on the virtual tour first, so they’ve gotten a feel for the energy inside the building. It’s a lot easier to have that mental picture in their mind already, and then they can weave in the physical aspects of the facility,” she says. “When you walk onto campus, you can see how well-cared for the campus, how important taking care of one another and our resources is to us as a school.”

You can schedule a private tour at many schools, including Athens Academy, Atlanta Academy and GRACEPOINT School. Some schools are holding tours with safety precautions in place. For example, at Covenant Christian School, besides wearing masks, visitors will have their temperatures taken before entering the building. Other schools have on-campus tours after the school day has ended, such as The Galloway School and High Meadows School.

“At Springmont, families who have had a virtual tour may schedule an on-campus, after-hours visit,” Restifo says. “Connections are important, and families are missing that piece. We offer the ability to make that personal connection to a physical space, much like buying a home.”

See Students

Some schools are offering sessions or programs that allow you and your child to connect with students to learn more from their perspective. Atlanta International School’s program allows you to talk to the admission team and student ambassadors. Join Middle or Upper School Golden Bear Guides for an after-school virtual session at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School. At Cumberland Academy and Holy Spirit Preparatory School, after taking a tour, your prospective student can schedule a shadow day with a current student to learn more about the daily atmosphere at the school. “Talk with the teachers and students and ask your own questions. It is so important to hear firsthand how happy the students are, how engaged and how excited they are,” Mirsky says.

Speak with Parents

Talking to parents who have been in the same boat you are currently in when looking at private schools is a great resource to help you decide if the school is the right fit for your child. “We offer perspective parents the chance to speak with and connect with other parents who are in a similar situation,” Mirsky says. “If that’s not offered to you by a school, ask for that connection.”

Call or check school websites for more information and other COVID-19 safety precautions.

The post School Tours and Open Houses: Reimagined for 2021 appeared first on Atlanta Parent.

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As learning environments continue to shift during the COVID-19 pandemic, parents are concerned about their child’s academic progress. Atlanta Parent talked to some area families and education experts for insight on how to make sure children are getting the most from their school experience.

Kids go to school for many reasons, but academics are at the core. Since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in spring 2020, the school experience has been very different for metro Atlanta’s students. This school year, while many private schools were able to return to in-person learning, some had periods of at-home or hybrid instruction. Most public school districts have reopened or have given parents a choice of remote or in-person learning; others have not announced plans for a transition to in-person learning. This has left parents to wonder and worry about how children will fare academically.

Research is showing this period of time will result in reduced and slowed academic gains, and those losses will be far more significant for children who are already at a disadvantage due to inequities in educational systems. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, analysis of Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) testing results in Georgia show a decline in math scores when comparing 2019 to 2020.

Dr. Chenyi Zhang, a researcher and associate professor of early childhood and elementary education at Georgia State University, encourages families to try to see beyond the short-term and focus on learning motivation. “Instead of thinking, what can we do to make children have higher test scores, let’s ask ourselves, what can we do to make their process of learning a specific subject more enjoyable and happier. A positive learning experience will lead to great learning outcomes.”

That perspective has been key for Martha Barbieri, a Decatur mom who is attempting to work full-time from home while also supporting a kindergartner and a fourth-grader through virtual learning. “I was really anxious about our kindergartner early on because she has so much to learn and so little school experience,” said Barbieri. “But to my surprise, watching her class online has allowed me to see how she interacts with her teacher and with the other students. I’m observing her learn in real-time. Yes, some things might not be happening as quickly as they would in person, but she’s positive and engaged, and that is what matters the most to me right now.”

The challenges are different for every family and for every child. On the opposite end of the school-age spectrum, Sallyann Rossiter is confronting how to support her son who is a senior at St. Pius. “He is heading to college in the fall, so this is when he needs to learn to manage his time and to be independent,” Rossiter said. “But these strange times are leaving more room for apathy on his part, so I find myself looking for ways to be a little more involved.”

For Rebecca Treacy-Lenda of Roswell, the priority is to make sure her ninth- and tenth-grade daughters are engaged and getting what they can from their experiences. “I’m not super concerned about them catching up, or what that even means,” she said. “We are in a pandemic, and we need to focus on doing the best we can.” For her family, that has also meant paying attention to each child individually. One of her daughters is learning virtually while the other attends some classes in-person due to the hands-on nature of the courses. “Those classes are what bring her joy, and they just don’t work entirely virtually. So we are working together as a family to make that option safe for her and us.”

Those kinds of choices, made collaboratively among families during these difficult and dynamic times, offer a learning opportunity. “The quality of interpersonal relationships determines our wellbeing and development,” said Zhang. “Parents may want to think about how to make all the interactions between them and children more enjoyable and productive, rather than simply about what children can do.”

Zhang notes that this time period can be a chance to develop perspective-taking skills. “Explain the rationales behind your family decisions and invite children to think from different perspectives while acknowledging their concerns,” Zhang said. “[Having discussions such as] ‘I understand you are not happy about the new learning arrangement. Nor am I. But do you think your teachers want to do that? They must want you to be back in school as well. However, it is a special time that we all need to make collective changes. If we do X, what do you think would happen? How does that make Y feel?’ Perspective-taking allows children to understand and practice compassion, to consider what we can do to contribute to others, rather than what others should change to meet our needs.”

Compassion will surely be key as the consequences of the pandemic ripple across the coming years – and in real time. “I have students who are working overnight to help support their families, I have students who are logging in to school from their jobs during the day, and students facing overwhelming anxiety,” said Karen Tolmich, who has a college-age and a tenth-grade son and teaches in Gwinnett County – both in-person and synchronously with students who opt for virtual learning. “While students might miss some content, I believe that they are learning how to adapt and overcome obstacles, and those skills will definitely be useful later in life. This isn’t what we are used to, but we have to keep teaching and learning and try to adapt.”

Resources and Real Advice

Whether your child is learning remotely or at school, use these strategies to enhance their educational experience.

• Visit gastandards.org to learn about state academic standards. Check your school’s website for further guidance on their academic programs. This knowledge can help you gauge your child’s progress.
• Integrate topics and skills being taught at school into everyday family experiences.
• Get all the information. Make sure you’re receiving all communications from your school system, your school and teachers. Check parent and student portals and review them with your child as appropriate. Don’t hesitate to reach out to a teacher if your child needs help.
• Recognize children’s emotions and concerns before explaining the necessities of the school’s learning situation. Take time to protect your own emotional well-being – because you reflect your feelings to your children.
• Reframe conversations to avoid putting your child on the defense. Instead of, “why did you get this grade?” try, “what was this assignment about, and what were you learning?”
• Use school breaks and holidays to pursue curiosity. Academic gains do not have to happen in a classroom setting. Ask children what they want to know more about, and find ways to support their interests, whether it’s a camp, museum or a documentary.

Tips for Parents

For parents who work from home, supporting students who are also learning from home presents unique challenges. Try these tips:

• Post a weekly schedule during school hours. Have breakfast and lunch at the same time each day, outdoor “recess” time, etc.
• When your child logs in at the beginning of each day, take a few minutes to have her review what she completed the day before and what she will be working on for the day.
•  You are not the teacher or the technology guru for your child. When she has questions, make sure she is comfortable asking her teacher. Keep the communication lines open.
• Have independent activities for your child to do when she finishes schoolwork early, like Brain Pop, the Libby reading app, Mystery Doug and Osmo.
• Try to work on the same schedule as your child. When school work is over, work time and screen time should be over for you as well.
• Consider designating a half or full day each week where you and your kids plan a hike or a picnic during schoolwork hours.

– Sherry V. Crawley

The post How are Your Kids Coping with School in 2021? appeared first on Atlanta Parent.

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