Dear Families,
Welcome. It is with great pride and excitement that I write my first letter to you as acting director of Lower School. While I am beginning this role during a pandemic, and life and school may look different for us, the core of what I love most about this work still remains: relationships, trust and community. Students on the playground negotiating the rules of a game has now become a virtual debate about a show or video game. Collaboration in small groups now may be in "breakout rooms," and students sharing their learning experiences are in the form of Seesaw assignments. What I am looking forward to the most is hearing the laughter and voices of our students.
Although we will not have the opportunity to talk and connect face-to-face during parent "Drop and Stops," morning drop-off or dismissal, we will find opportunities to connect and build relationships and community, even if through Zoom. Listening and partnering with you doesn't just happen face-to-face. What I have come to realize is that although it may be different, we can still connect, build relationships and share in community.
As we begin this new school year, I am looking forward to meeting new families, connecting with returning families and welcoming our students back for the 2020-21 school year. I am honored to work within a dynamic professional community where we are guided by our Quaker values and keep students at the forefront of our work. This summer has been filled with incredible work from all personnel of the PC community. Among the preparations for this upcoming school year, our Lower School is currently under renovations to create safe teaching spaces for students and faculty. Teachers are meeting regularly and engaging in various forms of professional development and curriculum planning in preparation for in-person, hybrid and distance learning. Early this summer, division and assistant directors worked with the Leadership+Design group in a design process to develop new schedules for each division. As a team, we crafted the following query to guide our process:
How might we develop a schedule that builds community rooted in equity and justice?
The schedule design process included a review of survey data gathered through distance learning and empathy interviews with faculty, parents and students. This process highlighted the need for a schedule that can easily pivot to distance learning while providing opportunities for building relationships and social-emotional learning.
In understanding the range of developmental needs and safety of our students, we created a cohort model for Lower School, as has been recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and departments of health at all levels. Each homeroom/cohort will have enough space to allow for appropriate physical distance. Recognizing that the youngest children will have the most difficulty with physical distancing and masking, cohorts for grades pre-K to 2 will have 10-12 students; cohorts for grades 3-5 will have 13-16 students. Specials teachers will travel to each cohort, based on a weekly schedule that will limit exposure between groups of students and faculty.
Schedule for In-Person Model
We prototyped various scheduling options and decided the following model balances the needs of our community and, most importantly, our students. In this new scheduling model, students will remain in their cohorts and in their classroom spaces. Specials teachers will rotate into classrooms.
Morning Schedule
- Meeting for Worship
- Morning meeting
- Core academics
- Friendship groups
Afternoon Schedule
- Recess and lunch
- Special classes
- Centers
- Closing Circle
Movement Breaks
- Morning
- Midday – Recess
- Afternoon
Specials Rotation
- Students will have the same special over the course of an entire week.
- Specials will rotate each week to complete a seven-week specials cycle.
- A seven-week specials cycle completes one full rotation.
- Students will complete five rotations over the course of the year.
This schedule will also provide an opportunity for specials and homeroom teachers to collaborate and create interdisciplinary projects. Review this sample schedule to see a day in the life of a Lower School student.
Schedule for Distance Learning Model
We are in the final stages of our distance learning plans. At this time, should the need arise, our in-person schedule is able to easily pivot to distance learning with attention to synchronous time with homeroom and specials teachers. As we finalize the synchronous times and activities, we will be sharing more information.
Orientation Week
Please refer to this information about orientation week.
Current Work
As a division, we are currently working on the following areas:
- Lower School Hybrid Model
- Finalizing Lower School Distance Learning Plan
- Logistical Information for Orientation Week
Important Safety Information
- Temperature screenings will take place at home; be sure to have a working thermometer.
- Students are encouraged to practice wearing their mask for extended periods of time.
- Avoid large crowds and social gatherings, especially two weeks prior to our first day on campus if we can open in-person.
- Due to the mitigation efforts, we will not be offering after-school care. We will revisit this after the first month of school.
- Find more details on staying safe here; our full Health & Safety Plan will be finalized during the coming week.
Important Upcoming Dates
Week of August 17, Communications
- Homeroom/Cohort List
- Homeroom/Cohort Welcome Video
- Goal-Setting Questionnaire
Week of August 24
- Specials package from teachers (Please, do not open until class gathering.)
Monday, August 31
- Virtual – Individual Family Meetings
Tuesday, September 1
- Virtual – Individual Family Meetings
Wednesday, September 2
- Virtual – Class Gathering
Thursday, September 3
- Live – Small Group Classroom Tours
Tuesday, September 8
- First Day of School – Pre-K to 5
- Lower School start time 8:15 a.m., (In-person model, students may arrive no earlier than 7:45 a.m.)
- Lower School end time 3:10 p.m., (In-person model, all students need to be picked up by 4:00 p.m.)
The safe return to campus for students and teachers continues to be our highest priority. We are hopeful that the positivity rates in Philadelphia and neighboring counties will make it possible to open in person. Clearly, what we do now will impact the safe return to campus, so we ask that you continue to be mindful about wearing masks and maintaining social distancing, not attending large group gatherings, and not traveling out of state in the next two weeks. Changes in behaviors now could help to make in-person schooling more successful in September.
We know these are changing times and appreciate your flexibility and grace as we may need to shift our approach. We are looking forward to seeing all of your children in the upcoming weeks. Have a safe and healthy remaining summer.
Best,
Marcy Sosa
Acting Director of Lower School