I’ve shared a lot of information on how our district’s public schools have been handling the current crisis. But Southborough public school students also have a vocational option out-of-town. Plus, we have three private campuses with boarders in town. So, I’m rounding up what those schools are doing.
Obviously, under the state guidelines, no one is returning to class prior to April 7th. Here are some other highlights and links.
Assabet Regional Technical High School
School had continued through last Friday, with the decision to close announced that afternoon. On March 18th, the school posted an update with links for optional offerings for student learning during the closure. The administration stressed that while it was optional and ungraded under state direction, it is also “essential for students to remain engaged in learning”:
We understand that students may be reluctant to complete these enrichment learning plan activities but please know that learning never stops, even after graduation, as we all need to become lifelong learners. Please also know that it takes all of us; administrators, academic, technical, and special education teachers, guidance and adjustment counselors, and parents to role model for and encourage our students (children) during this unprecedented situation.
Still, for many Assabet students, on-the-job-training is a key part of the curriculum. The update clarified that the Cooperative Work Placement Program (Co-Op) is on hold:
Since the school district is closed and the current declaration by the CDC is no more than 10 individuals in a group, we have effectively suspended Co-Op until the school district reopens. All students, parents and Co-Op employers have been notified. We encourage students in this program to remain connected with their employers as this allows them to practice the necessary communication skills that promote the accountability of a good employee that an employer expects. Any questions should be directed to the Supervisor of Co-Op, Mr. Bryant LaFlamme at blaflamme@assabet.org.
You can find all of the school’s Covid-19 announcements here.
Fay School
Spring break started on March 7th for the private school with international boarders. That meant that the closure was just an extension of an existing break that looks like it was already scheduled to continue this week.
A page updating its community on the situation indicates that the school and campus were officially closed on March 16th:
Campus is closed to all faculty, staff, students, and visitors, with the exception of faculty/staff and their family members who live on campus and a few select staff and administrators who will be on campus with permission of the Head of School. The campus will remain closed until we determine that it is appropriate to reopen. On-campus events are cancelled until April 30.
Here are their current plans going forward:
March 23-27: Fay faculty and staff participate in remote training for possible transition to a distance learning model.
March 30: Distance learning begins for ELC and Kindergarten – Grade 9.
April 7: Boarders provisionally scheduled to return to campus.
This plan is subject to change depending on the spread of COVID-19, advice from local authorities, and our determination as to whether it is appropriate to resume school operations.April 8: Classes provisionally scheduled to resume for Kindergarten – Grade 9.
This plan is subject to change depending on the spread of COVID-19, advice from local authorities, and our determination as to whether it is appropriate to resume school operations.
You can find all of the school’s Covid-19 announcements here.
St Mark’s School
Spring break started on March 7th for the private school with international boarders. That meant that the closure was just an extension of an existing break that was already scheduled to continue this week:
- The week of March 23 will serve as an extension of spring break for students. Over the course of this week, faculty members will participate in professional development sessions to prepare for the launch of a remote learning model.
- St. Mark’s will temporarily shift to a remote learning model beginning on Monday, March 30. We are thinking very carefully about the implementation of this temporary teaching and learning model and about maintaining academic continuity during this time, and will share more specific details in a separate communication no later than March 27. If students need any support in regard to technology or equipment, they should be in touch with the Help Desk at helpdesk@stmarksschool.org. We are very fortunate to be able to call upon the expertise of faculty and staff leaders in the Academics Office as we develop our specific plan for online teaching and learning during this time.
- We will make a decision by Friday, March 27, regarding the resumption of in-person School activities. As we have seen, it is impossible to determine how quickly or broadly COVID-19 will spread in the coming days and weeks. It may be necessary to extend our period of remote learning.
- As of today, we plan to welcome asymptomatic/healthy students back to campus beginning on Sunday, April 5. Traditional, in-person classes are scheduled to resume on Monday, April 6. As this situation is rapidly changing, these dates could shift. Families will be asked to complete a survey regarding recent travel before students will be allowed to return to campus. Students who have traveled to an area designated by the Centers for Disease Control with a Level 1, 2, or 3 advisories, have traveled on a cruise, or have been in contact with a person being tested for or diagnosed with COVID-19 should self-quarantine for 14 days before returning to campus. Students who do not feel well or who are at increased risk for complications from COVID-19 should contact Director of Health Services Adria Pavletic to discuss their return to campus.
- No athletic practices will take place until students return to campus. The ISL heads agreed on March 12 that ISL schools will not hold practices when their schools are not in session. The ISL heads also agreed to remain in close communication over the coming weeks to develop an approach toward the Spring 2020 athletic schedule. That schedule will clearly need to be adjusted due to delayed student returns at a number of ISL schools.
You can find all of the school’s Covid-19 announcements here.
New England Center for Children
The Autism Education’s Education and Research Day School is closed and home-based services are suspended until April 7th. The residential program remains open “and fully staffed”.
Prior to that update on March 16th, March 13th letter with FAQs included the school’s plan if closure became necessary:
NECC’s residential students will continue to have educational programming during school hours at their residence. Staff will have access to all of the student’s curriculum and instructional materials in that environment. We are planning for remote learning opportunities for our day students by preparing materials to share with parents.
Parents of our day students will be given access to Box folders with their child’s curriculum and instructional materials related to their Individualized Education Program (IEP) objectives. We are prioritizing making materials for at least one objective in each domain area accessible, and we will then add more materials for more objectives as possible. These materials will include a PDF version of a streamlined lesson plan and data sheet from the ACE and related materials needed to implement the lesson. Parents will also be given access to general educational resources such as digital resources and instructional enrichment activity suggestions.
