Annual report 2020–2021 | 23
Elementary Remote Learning Program
With over 800 K-6 students from six elementary schools and nearly 100 staff members, our Elemen- tary Remote Learning Program provided a unique and dynamic community for those who elected to learn remotely. Children, educators, and families demon- strated a new dimension of resilience, creativity and compassion as they navigated this journey in true partnership with each other. There were three strong currents which held us together and drove our work this year: 1) a prioritization of supporting the social and emotional well-being of our students and community at large; 2) reflecting on our practice and growing our capacity to be more trauma-informed and culturally responsive educators; and 3) utilizing student-centered, strength-based methodology and reinterpreting curriculum for best remote practice.
Highlights from this year include: • All School Meetings where we had mystery readers, guest speakers, student presenters, performances, art exhibitions, and interactive games. • Student Council produced newsletters, emceed All School Meeting, organized community service, and planned creative school spirit days! • Older classrooms were paired with younger classrooms throughout the year to participate in virtual book buddies. • RLP partnered with the Sweet Blackberry Foun- dation to explore lesser known stories of African American achievement . This inspired myriad book studies and research projects in our virtual classrooms. • Educators engaged in ongoing professional learning with each other and educator leader Dr. Kim Parker to design inter-disciplinary units weaving together anti-racist teaching , social justice and curriculum standards. • Our PTSO organized rallies to celebrate RLP staff; a show of the partnership between home and school that enabled our students’ successes.
• Kindergarten: writer’s workshops; yoga and mind- fulness; creative use of groupings for targeted instruction and social connection. • First grade: Animal Research Projects; mastery of technological skills; thoughtful responses to literature. • Second grade: powerful self-portraits; social connection in breakout rooms; bridge engineering challenge; use of BookCreator. • Third grade: Biography Study focused on the lives of people from diverse backgrounds; Wingmasters visit; student-created “Rube Goldberg” style simple machines. • Fourth grade: Culture and Identity Unit; writing tailored to real world audiences; they became published authors; “field trip” to the National Museum of the American Indian. • Fifth grade: social justice book groups; American activist projects; student podcasts; virtual field trips; creative Snow Day Science Labs! • Sixth grade: virtual field trips; roller coaster engi- neering and construction; theme days for each day of the week; designed virtual museums.
Valery Gransewicz Principal Carolyn Imperato Assistant Principal Kerrie French Assistant Principal
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