Even if unable to attend classes on campus, it is essential that children build a strong foundation of basic skills, a deep sense of self and an ability to contribute to a group while capitalizing on their innate curiosity about the world around them. Students attending virtual classes will still encounter a challenging curriculum, where they'll be encouraged to take risks and make mistakes in a supportive environment under the care of committed teachers. Our ultimate goal is to instill and maintain a sense of wonder, and excitement for learning, in all of our children, so they leave the Lower School full of eager anticipation for what's to come.
Taking their typical on-campus experience online, students will continue to receive customized learning through daily one-on-one and small group time with their classroom teachers. Learning specialists will continue to work with students in grades SK-4 within the school day.
Lower School closely mimics the on-campus experience, with students logging into their classroom at the beginning of each morning and co-curricular teachers joining them throughout the day. Their day will follow a schedule similar to the one below.
If we find that we cannot attend classes on campus, we will continue to focus on the development of our Middle School students. As students participate in virtual classes, content knowledge will continue to be presented across the disciplines while focusing on the skills needed to succeed in Upper School. Teachers will continue the interdisciplinary approach, tying lessons across subject areas to help students develop effective collaboration, communication and research skills.
Online, students will continue to receive customized learning through daily one-on-one and small group time with their classroom teachers. Learning specialists will be available to work with those with learning plans, and our Counselor will be available for the social and emotional needs of all of our students.
Middle School is on a Two-Day Block Schedule Rotation of eight periods (four per day). Every student will experience seven, 90-minute academic courses during the two-day cycle. Math, English, Science, Social Studies, their Foreign Language, P.E. and Health, and an Elective. Each grade level also has 1 Block reserved for Social and Emotional Learning Groups, Service-Learning Activities, Grade Level Meetings, or a study period. If there is no organized activity for this time block, students can make one-on-one appointments to meet with teachers during this time.
Even if unable to attend classes on campus, we plan to seamlessly transition to online using the same schedule that was presented for in-school learning. Students would be required to start each period in a live learning environment, where their teacher would be operating from a Lausanne classroom. Each three hour period would then utilize a range of teaching and learning strategies that would be a mixture of synchronistic and asynchronistic. The use of video conferencing software, which includes breakout rooms, will ensure that lessons are a mixture of teacher-led whole-class instruction, group work, and individual work. Ultimately, online learning would closely mirror in-school learning. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that our students fulfill the full I.B. curriculum and that we are preparing each of our students with the knowledge, skills, and understanding to be successful in college.
Their day will follow this fall's on-campus schedule: a seven-day rotation with two cohort classes and an advisory daily. This will allow us to transition smoothly back to in-school learning as quickly as possible.
Just like the in-school scenario, during the last 90 minutes of each Flex period (2:10 p.m. – 3:40 pm.) the majority of teachers will be available to students for one on one support through Microsoft Teams.