Tuesday 17 March 2020
Dear Parents,
I want to thank all for their cooperation in getting the distance learning process underway. One parent wrote:
I’m “at work” in my dining room while my two eldest are meeting live “in class” with two teachers from SJHS…seriously, the most loving, nurturing and supportive teachers I have ever heard…love this school (though I wish they were in it and not in the dining room…sigh…).
I would add to above,
professional
. I am most impressed by the seamless transition our teachers have made from face-to-face instruction to remote learning.
It’s great to be ahead of the curve, but we are looking past the first wave. [Mrs Broderick: that’s a mixed metaphor, Dr Fitz.] Though the Governor’s Office has said closing the schools has already made a positive difference in slowing down the virus, on Monday 41 tests came back positive--up from 26 the day before. The Governor has since lowered the size of group activities from 250 to 50. All restaurants and bars must be closed by 8:00 p.m. While all Connecticut schools will be closed until March 31
st
, the CDC is warning that it may be for much longer. We are planning for a quality St Joes education throughout the duration.
Kudos to the diocese’s recent promotion of innovative “blended-learning” methods, which anticipated many of the skills necessary to implement remote learning strategies. One caveat, individual participation is essential to the success of remote learning—and the state’s certification of the program. We, too, wish the students were here and not in their dining rooms. But the world is a different place today, and we are not about to give up on tomorrow.
Meanwhile, I’ll spend this St Pat’s Day baking soda bread and watching The Quiet Man quietly.
Cheers,
William Fitzgerald
Head of School
