I am hopeful this message finds you well - staying healthy, safe and at home.
Although this week is our rescheduled Spring Break, our
Administrative Team has used this time to
evaluate our previous efforts, continuing to prepare for online instruction and further improving the virtual learning experience for our girls. As we gear up to start our second week of virtual instruction on Monday, I wanted to share some changes we hope will better meet the needs of our students and optimize their learning in our new (but temporary) format - changes that came about after carefully reviewing the feedback provided by our students,
faculty and staff, at the end of last week.
| Block 1 |
8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. |
| Block 3 |
9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. |
| Block 4 |
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. |
| Lunch |
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. |
| Office Hours |
1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. |
As with all things new, evaluation and subsequent adjustment are key; this is especially true when implementing a change of this magnitude. Our first three days of virtual instruction showed us that frameworks that work well in traditional learning environments don't always carry through online, so our revised class schedule addresses this, setting out to make the most efficient use of the online learning platform. The amended schedule provides time for students to actively engage with their teachers and peers in real-time, all the while providing them time to engage directly with academic materials.
Secondly, we have developed some guidelines on "netiquette," which we hope will enhance the experience for both students and teachers, alike. It is our hope that by maintaining proper decorum during our online learning sessions, we can promote positive workspaces and maintain the integrity of our new learning environments. These guidelines will be sent via email in the coming days, so please be on the lookout, as we want to make sure all are on board by Monday.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank each member of Team OLLA and our students for their cooperation, patience and fearlessness, in embracing this daunting task. Our successful transition to online learning
is
a direct result of the hard work and
commitment of
each individual. I can't thank them enough for their tireless efforts. It has been inspiring to see everyone work together to ensure the continuity of our mission, "to educate young women, to face the future, strengthened by their faith, prepared and confident in their abilities to achieve their goals."
Every challenge brings about new opportunities, and I
am certain we will emerge a stronger, faith-
filled community from this pandemic. This, too, shall pass, and we will get through it together. Please do not hesitate to reach out, if you or your family needs extra support during this time. You are always remembered in our prayers,
and, true to our sense of family, we are here and ready to serve and help you, to the extent that we
are able.
God bless you,
