LS issues guide for absences from on-campus learning

Head of Lower School Amy Woodson offers a guide for families making decisions, clarifying options, and managing expectations regarding teaching and learning in the case of COVID-19-related or other extended absences from on-campus learning.
Each division is handling remote learning in different, age-appropriate ways. Pedagogically speaking, Lower School has always put strong emphasis on screen-free and age-appropriate consumption for device connection. While we still hold those core beliefs, we have come to rely heavily on technology to enable remote learning in grades K-4, including equipping all Lower School students with a dedicated iPad. The availability of the devices and the decision making around when to use them comes with a caveat; just because we have the devices and technology to connect remotely does not mean that having students tune in to watch what happens in their classroom is an appropriate instructional model. 

We are committed to keeping Lower School students on campus as long as we possibly can because we know that is how young learners thrive. Creating a learning environment that mitigates virus spread among teachers and students has been a monumental task. As such, homeroom teachers are prioritizing the students in the classrooms and can't simultaneously focus on students who are remote.

This document is intended as a guide for families making decisions, clarifying options, and managing expectations regarding teaching and learning in the case of COVID-19-related or other extended absences from on-campus learning (K-4). While each situation is unique, the hope is to provide reasonable expectations for teachers to provide student work or instruction while the student is away from school. 
 
COVID-19-related or other long-term absences fall into two broad categories:
 
1. Short-Term Quarantine or Absence: Our general response when children are out of school for several days is to ask parents to encourage reading, keep a journal, play games, use DreamBox, etc. Lower School doesn’t distinguish between excused or unexcused absences. Students may be required to quarantine because they are a close contact or because they have the virus. Families may also opt for short-term absences out of concern. In these cases, the USN Health Team’s protocols are followed. Students are away from school in accordance with guidelines set by the CDC and the Tennessee Department of Health and embraced by USN; our aim is to provide continuity in relation to instruction and community. The duration of each of these scenarios depends on the circumstances and could range from a few days to a couple of weeks.
  • Short-term absence 4-5 days: e.g. A student doesn’t pass the daily Magnus Mobile health screening and is unable to come to campus. Students in this category stay home, and the family notifies the Health Team and monitors symptoms in keeping with USN guidelines. In keeping with what’s in the best interest of the student and the classroom, teachers have the option to send home electronic assignments while the student is absent or to support students in catching up with missed work once they return to school. Remote instruction is not available. Independent reading and DreamBox are encouraged. 
  • Mid-length absence (5+ days): e.g. A student is required to quarantine while his or her classmates are on campus. Health permitting, the student is invited to join Morning Meetings via Zoom. Teachers will share essential, relevant literacy and math assignments electronically (e.g., email, Seesaw, and/or Google Classroom). Real-time instruction via Zoom is not available. Independent reading and DreamBox are encouraged. For enrichment and PE, families are encouraged to access the K-4 lessons from spring 2020, which are available on demand through USN’s Remote rePLAY site. 
  • Classroom Quarantine: If/when an entire class is quarantined due to close contact and/or a positive case, the class toggles to remote learning. Health permitting, remote instruction is led by the homeroom teacher. PE is synchronous with a Zoom link shared through Seesaw, and enrichment is typically asynchronous with assignments posted to Seesaw. At the enrichment teachers’ discretion, a class may be offered live via Zoom during the typical enrichment time if that’s a better fit with the content and the homeroom teacher is able to accommodate the adjustment in schedule. Materials pickup will be offered at teachers’ discretion. If the homeroom teacher is unwell, Lower School administrators will make a plan and communicate directly with families.
2. Long-Term Absence: We have a remote learning pod for a group of families with children in second and third grades. These families have committed to this model for the duration of the school year and a part-time teacher assigned to the pod. We do not have a long-term remote option for other LS grade levels or situations, nor do we have an accommodation to toggle back and forth. 

As in everything else this year, this information is accurate at this time and subject to changing conditions. We will be as responsive as possible with each circumstance.
Back

More USN News

List of 3 news stories.

Archive
USN Mission: 
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.