The school has always been forward-thinking in its implementation of its curriculum and in ensuring the students receive the best instruction possible. For nearly ten years, the school has been connecting remotely with students during weather-related emergency closings.
The school’s strong foundation in technology (e.g., Google Classroom, one-to-one deployment of devices, online textbooks and differentiated programs) and years of experience delivering remote instruction prepared the school for effective delivery of a comprehensive curriculum during the pandemic. This forward thinking approach resulted in our students experiencing uninterrupted academic growth during the state mandated school closures associated with the pandemic.
At the beginning of the pandemic, the school also invested in technology upgrades which allowed classes to be live-streamed and provided real-time interaction between those receiving in-person instruction and those opting to connect to class remotely.
- Webcams were installed in each classroom to allow for high quality, real-time video streaming of each class to students connecting remotely.
- 50” screens to display the students connecting remotely were installed and facilitated interaction, dialogue, and collaboration between those connecting remotely and those present for in-person instruction.
- Wireless microphones were purchased for each teacher to wear, ensuring the sound quality of each lesson being live streamed is crisp and clear, while the voices of the students connecting remotely were broadcasted through the speakers of the classroom’s Promethean Board for all who attended class in-person to hear.
- Teacher laptops were upgraded or replaced to meet the demands of live streaming and instruction simultaneously.
- Each class was equipped with a document camera so that print materials and demonstrations could be projected on the interactive promethean board, making them easily seen by all students regardless of whether they were participating in-person or remotely.
Although thankfully long-term closures are no longer necessary, the school continues to be committed to state of the art technology to enhance its engaging and hands-on approach to instruction.