Sept 17, 2020
Dear Rochambeau Families,

I hope this message finds you in good health and adjusting well to the new school year, acknowledging of course that this Back to School has required perhaps a bit more adaptation than usual.
 
Over the past several months I have written to our community several times to seek your feedback and better understand the needs of all of our families. Today is another such message. 
 
Specifically, I am writing to:
  1. Share with you an outline of our “Hybrid” Learning Plan for on-campus instruction detailed below.
  2. Request that you respond to our Family Survey to confirm your preferred learning choice (Distance Learning OR Hybrid Learning Plan) for each child in your household
  3. Inform you that your choice of instruction for your child (Distance Learning OR Hybrid Learning Plan) will be considered your binding commitment through the end of the calendar year, until December 31. 
 
To be clear, as of today, there is not yet a decision about the reopening date for our campuses. In making this decision, the Board of Trustees has been reviewing the evolving health data and trends, listening carefully to the county, state and national health agency’s advice. To further support the Board’s work, I am inviting you to again provide your feedback through an updated Return-to-Campus survey.
 
In preparation for a time when we are able to welcome students back to campus, I want to call to your attention some of the preparations we have made to our facilities. Click below to read more about:
Key Factors Influencing Learning Models
As we have developed further our Hybrid Learning Plans, we are guided by several factors that are notable.
 
For Preschool / Maternelle:
The constraints imposed by the Maryland State of Education and the Department of Health for the opening of the Child Care Center (which regulates preschool and Kindergarten classes at Rochambeau) force us to make difficult choices within the framework of on-campus instruction. There is an extremely strict definition of “cohorts” that is absolutely not adapted to the needs of a bilingual school like ours. Specifically, “...each class cohort must include the same group of children each day and the same childcare staff who stay with the same group of children each day and do not work in any other classrooms.” This means it is impossible for us to provide individualized and/or small group lessons in our traditional format in subjects such as English, Flsco (French Language support), and support for students with special educational needs during in-person class time. You will see therefore that our scenarios below involve English language and Flsco instruction using a distance learning model.
 
For Elementary:
To ensure a safe environment and comply with the health and safety guidelines, we will maintain students in small and consistent groups, or “cohorts”. Therefore, some subjects which would typically involve close student contact and/or individualized support will be taught using a digital platform. For some students in Elementary this will take place on one dedicated day of the week (Thursdays).
 
For Secondary: 
Our curriculum offers students the possibility for differentiated instruction based on course options (LVB Languages, US math, art, theater, etc.) and language proficiency groups. To ensure a safe environment and comply with the health and safety guidelines, we will maintain students in small and consistent groups, or “cohorts”. Therefore, all these subjects will be taught using a digital platform. For Secondary students these courses remain part of their regular schedule but all students will connect to their teacher online.
Instructional Models - Your choices today
Please note: There are many criteria that impact the feasibility of these plans. There may be further adjustments needed before the start of in-person learning. 
 
As you respond to our Family Survey, these are the instructional options you may select:
 
1. Full-time distance learning for all students (this is our current status)

All students receive instruction on a regular schedule, as determined by the grade level and specific educational needs of the students.

2. Hybrid Learning Plan - Combines on-campus and distance learning with the following details:

Maternelle
  • PS, MS and GS classes will be held from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm every day (5 days per week). Afternoon instruction will take place online and will primarily be focused on language group instruction (English, French language support) and academic support (SLS). 
  • All students will not return to campus simultaneously, but will return to campus in phased groups, starting with the PS classes, and adding 1 grade level per 2-3 week phase (MS followed by GS).  
  • Classes will be maintained in small groups of 10 - 15

Elementary
  • CP/1st grade and CE1/2nd grade students will attend in-person instruction full time (5 days per week)
  • CE2-CM1-CM2 (3rd - 4th - 5th grade) students attend on-campus instruction in their assigned class group in alternating weeks. For on-campus weeks, students attend 4 days of in-person instruction (Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays) and 1 day of Distance Learning (Thursdays). During distance learning weeks, students would follow part of the class through live-streaming and also complete asynchronous work. On all Thursdays, all students participate in distance learning and receive instruction in English, Flsco, SLS, Music, and PE.
  • All students will not return to campus simultaneously, but will return to campus in phased groups, adding 1 or 2 grade levels per 2-3 week phase.
  • Classes will be maintained in small groups of 10 - 15

Secondary
  • 6ème / 6th grade students attend in-person instruction full time (5 days per week)
  • 5ème / 7th grade - Tle / 12th grade students attend in-person instruction in alternating weeks (A / B weeks)
  • Students participating in distance learning are able to join their classes on-campus via live-stream and/or recordings.
  • All students will not return to campus simultaneously. Students will return to campus in phased groups, adding 1 or 2 grade levels per 2-3 week phase.
  • Classes will be maintained in small groups of 10 - 20
  • Class time on campus may be in the presence of the teacher who therefore lectures in front of the students or through an online connection from a distance. That applies, for example, to subjects that would require students to change class groupings.
Please respond to our new Family survey
Today, we ask that you respond to our Family Survey to confirm your preferred learning choice (Distance Learning OR Hybrid Learning Plan) for each child in your household. Your choice now will be considered your binding commitment through the end of the calendar year, until December 31. For instructional plans starting in January, you will have the opportunity to reconsider your choice at a later date. 
 
The Board of Trustees will be meeting next week. So that we may integrate your feedback into the Board’s discussions, I kindly request your response to this Family Survey by Sunday, September 20.
Kind regards,
Hélène Fabre, Executive Director