Academic Schedule
We have designed the academic schedule for 2020-21 to allow for simultaneous in-person and distance learning. The goals of schedule for all three divisions are to: (i) provide (approximate) equivalency in time to our regular academic schedule; (ii) simplify the schedule to reduce stress on students and faculty; (iii) allow for "seamless" transitions between on-campus instruction and distance learning; and (iv) reduce the number of daily transitions to cut down on contact points between and among people. Dr. Greg Martin, Assistant Head of School for Academics and Upper School Head, shares his thoughts on the goals of the modified schedule in this
video
. Both Middle and Upper School will continue with a class schedule similar to the last quarter of the school year with 70-minute classes, while Lower School students (both on campus and distance learning) will also have a full-day of classes including specials. Each division will share more details about these schedules and plans in the weeks to come.
- Lower School Schedule (Sample PDF). Our Lower School will also offer a full-day of classes on a six-day cycle. Specials teachers will come to the homeroom classrooms to minimize transitions. Teachers will share the detailed weekly schedule with parents so those learning from home can plan ahead. Students who are distance learning will have planned breaks from the computer. Students will not engage in swim for at least the first trimester.
Distance Learning
We will simulcast the on-campus classroom experience to students
who
are distance learning so that they can participate in real-time with their teachers and peers. iPads will capture faculty lectures and instruction. Webcams in every classroom will capture students engaged in group discussions and activities. Interactive TVs in every classroom can be used as a whiteboard or to feature students participating through GoogleMeet. When faculty use TVs as whiteboards, this will be simulcast to the GoogleMeet for students learning remotely. By way of example, we envision two primary learning formats:
- Faculty lecture/lessons (PDF). Faculty teaching the lesson will be captured by iPad and this video stream will be accessible to students on GoogleMeet. Teachers will also be able to share the Interactive TV screen with remote learners.
- Collaborative discussion (PDF). A webcam will capture the classroom view for students participating remotely and students on campus will be able to see their peers learning from home in the GoogleMeet screen presented on the Interactive TV.
Dress Code / Uniforms
The realities of the new school year will be challenging for all of us. We have decided to relax the dress code for the 2020-2021 school year as a concession to this difficult reality for our students. We will be keeping windows to classrooms open, so students should plan to dress accordingly. Students will no longer have access to locker rooms to change for PE or athletics, so students should also dress to be able to transition to these activities without changing. Students in Middle and Upper school will be allowed to wear casual clothes (jeans, sweatpants, t-shirts, and Ranney gear). In Lower School, we will encourage students to come to school dressed for PE on those days when it is scheduled. On alternating days, we encourage Lower School students to wear the uniform (we find that it is helpful to students at these ages to have consistency in these expectations). We will, however, be flexible in enforcing the Lower School uniform policy. Polos will be acceptable without the logo.
While we will be more flexible on dress code, we will require students to wear masks at all times, with the exception of when students are eating or outside and socially distanced. We will also require that students come to school dressed with clean, neat attire. Each division will send more details about the dress code for the 2020-2021 school year in upcoming communications.
You can find the latest version of our
2020 Reopening Plan
here.
In upcoming Reopening Roundup communications
we will share answers to frequently asked questions, policies related to athletics, extracurriculars and student life, quarantine policies, daily health certifications and more. For the latest information, please visit
www.ranneyschool.org/covid-19.
Please email
safety@ranneyschool.org
with any questions or concerns.
Thank you for your continued partnership, flexibility and patience. We are truly looking forward to being back on campus in September.
Sincerely,
Dr. John Griffith, Head of School
