We are four days into virtual school and I am grateful to our students, teachers, and our families for all your efforts this past week.  We know this isn’t easy. Thank you all for helping your children to navigate through this new alternative virtual learning environment.

As a reminder, if you need anything during this time, a member of our community is an email or a call away, including our teachers who are also ready and willing to help.

For work that has been turned in thus far, our teachers will comment and respond to students accordingly. If your child is unable to complete work, this is understandable and will be excused during this time. Please communicate with your teacher if your child is unable to complete an assignment.

Shared below is some important information for the entire Lower School community, including divisional specific information pertaining to Phase 2 of our implementation of virtual school.

Here are a few items to highlight for our community:

• The first day of Phase 2 will be Monday, March 30, which is a “C” Day. Only Grade 5 will be following our new Virtual Comenius Schedule, which will be used for students in Grades 5-12. This schedule will be posted on myMA.
• Students will have two online check-ins each day. These are virtual touchpoints to ensure the students are doing okay and for us to keep building relationships despite the distance between us.
  • The Lower School will be using three platforms for daily check-ins:
    • Primer - Grade 2: SeeSaw
    • Grades 3 & 4: Google Meet
    • Grade 5: Zoom
  • All grades will have a morning check-in from 8:45 - 9:00 am. Students in Grades 3-5 will hold a live First Community Circle at this time on their respective platforms.
  • Students in Primer and Pre-K will have a second check-in at 11:30 am (when our usual half-day program ends).
  • Students in Grades K-5 will have an afternoon check-in from 3:00-3:15 pm.
• Attendance will continue to be monitored and maintained by the Lower School Main Office. Attendance is taken daily between 8:30-9:30 am. Students who are in First Community Circle at 8:45 am will be checked in at that time. Please let your teacher know if you are unable to attend virtual school on any given day.
• Classes may meet either synchronously (real-time) during times scheduled by the teacher or asynchronously. Most classes will still be taught asynchronously during Phase 2 at Lower School. All classes that are taught synchronously will be recorded and posted for those who could not attend the session. Teachers will be using Google Meet or Zoom and sending links for all synchronous sessions.
• In the second phase of implementation for the Lower School, homework is still not assigned. All assigned work at the Lower School has at least two days for completion and all schoolwork will receive feedback.
  • For Grades 3-5, assignments will appear in two places - myMA for parents and in Google Classroom for the students. We will use Google Classroom during the virtual school day (9:00 am -3:00 pm), but it will not be available after 3:00 pm for student use.
  • For students in Primer - Grade 2, lessons and activities will be posted on Seesaw. Assignments for Grades 1 & 2 will also be posted for parent information on myMA.
• “S” Days will be called curioSity days during virtual school. A “curioSity day” is an opportunity for students to take learning to a new level with students directing their learning. It’s a day of deep, self-directed learning where students are not required to follow the Academy’s curricula but rather a time when students can follow their own passions and interests, and where students may conduct their own research. We will still have our daily check-ins and students will share with teachers what they learned during the check-in at the end of the day. Further guidance on this day will come from classroom teachers.
• All virtual school days will be non-uniform days. Guidelines for non-uniform days are published in the Student-Parent Handbook. 
• The school does filter Internet applications when digital devices are at school, but they are not filtered when they are in the home. If you choose to do so, you may set up filters on Internet sites on the school devices while they are being used at home.
• Don’t forget to schedule play time. We do not want students online or in front of a screen seven hours a day.  Just as when they are in school, we want them to have time for recess and play.  
• Email is the best method to contact any member of the school community. Please email before 4:30 pm each day of the week. If you do call the school, the office is monitoring voicemail messages remotely and will return your call or reply via email. If you or your child are  feeling overwhelmed with virtual school, please reach out to your child’s teacher to begin a conversation.
• Important contact information:
  • Technology, iPad Management – Mrs. Polefka (spolefka@mamail.net)
  • Student Support Services - Dr. Zhe (ezhe@mamail.net) or Mrs. Johnson (kjohnson@mamail.net)

Remember to continue practicing sound preventative measures, including remaining home if you are not feeling well, thoroughly washing your hands and keeping them away from your face, staying informed through reliable sources, and maintaining physical distance from others as best as you can.

Thank you for your partnership and perseverance during these unprecedented times.