Spring 2021 Return to Five Days Onsite
As of April 5th, students in all grades, K-8, have classes in-person, Monday through Friday. All of our mitigation practices, including student cohorts, masking, and distancing, remain unchanged.
Fall 2020 Reopening
Over the summer, we developed plans for three different scenarios: 5-Days In-Person, Hybrid, and All Remote, with schedules that are aligned and coordinated to allow smooth transitions between models with minimal disruption to student learning as conditions require. On August 14th, Scott Baytosh, Head of School, announced that we would begin the year under our Hybrid model provided area conditions do not significantly worsen. Since September 8th, all students have been on campus for two to four days each week. Grades K-6 are in-person four days each week and students in grades 7-8 are in-person two days per week. Students are participating in synchronous online lessons on their remote days.
Lower School
Students in grades K-4 are receiving full-day in-person instruction Monday through Thursday. Parents have the option of keeping their student fully remote and those students participate in onsite classes via ROBI (Remote Only Bobcat Interface), a moveable iPad stand with a speaker and microphone. ROBI makes it possible for fully remote students to not only see and hear, but also be seen and heard. They are able to be moved around the classroom to participate in class and small group discussions.
On Fridays, all students are remote. Kindergarten through second grade uses time on Fridays for one on one or small group work with teachers via Zoom as well as time for cross-grade club offerings. These clubs include Cooking Club, Virtual Field Trip Club, Art Club, and Science STEAM Club. Third and fourth graders have academic synchronous classes on Fridays as well as time for one on one and small group work with faculty and clubs. Club offering for third and fourth grade include Garage Band Club, Logic Solving Club, Spanish Club, Art Club, and Kids Can Change the World Club.
While onsite, ACDS students and faculty are adhering to recommended mitigation guidelines including mandatory mask wearing, cohort groupings, social distancing, and frequent hand-washing. Read more about our practices in the Hybrid Guide linked above.
Middle School
Students in fifth and sixth grade on our campus four full-days per week and seventh and eighth grade student participate in full-day, in-person classes two times each week. They receive synchronous instruction on their remote days. Teachers have Zoom office hours on remote days for students to check-in and receive additional help. Fridays provide an opportunity for students to interact cross-grade and cross-cohort during extracurricular clubs including Student Council, Social Leadership, Garage Band Club, Math Counts, Cooking Club, and Art Club.
Parents have the option of keeping their student fully remote and those students participate in onsite classes via ROBI (Remote Only Bobcat Interface), a moveable iPad stand with a speaker and microphone. ROBI makes it possible for fully remote students to not only see and hear, but also be seen and heard. They are able to be moved around the classroom to participate in class and small group discussions.
Our middle school athletics program continued this fall with Cross Country and Tennis, and this winter students are participating in basketball skills, ping pong, and a conditioning club. To ensure student safety, they are competing inter-squad rather than against other schools.
While onsite, ACDS students and faculty are adhering to recommended mitigation guidelines including mandatory mask wearing, cohort groupings, social distancing, and frequent hand-washing. Read more about our practices in the Hybrid Guide linked above.
What Parents are Saying – Spring 2020
“Emily and I would like to say thank you for your work. Max and Evelyn are happy and challenged…We just wanted to say we think you’re doing great under difficult circumstances. Emily and I want them to get a full school year in and it seems to us we are headed toward that goal. Keep it coming.” – Ian B., 2nd & 4th grade parent, April 2020
“The remote learning is a great tool, and we are quite impressed with how smoothly ACDS made the transition. Truly a great accomplishment to keep the students focused during some stressful times. A special thank you to Scott and all those directly involved with launching the web-based learning!” – Sean M., 8th grade parent, March 2020
“Just wanted to send a quick note and thank you for all of your hard work this week. Thank you for the awesome curriculum you all have provided and the glimmers of happiness provided with the Zoom calls and connecting points. It really helps having a structured day for our kids and to also see you and their classmates faces. Alex was sad to get off the virtual field trip today but had such a blast while on it! He loved it and was excited when I told him he gets to do that every Friday!”
– Jennifer A., 1st grade parent, March 2020
“Within just days of schools being ordered to close in mid-March, ACDS was up-and-running effective distance learning. Not just virtual “enrichment” lessons on previously taught subjects, but ACDS teachers were actively continuing curriculum as if our daughter was still in school, sitting in her classroom. ACDS teachers adapted to daily on-line, live lessons and interactions with students by using the most current technology for a seamless and cohesive transition. The school year continued and new learning continued, which created a positive experience for our daughter. We cannot thank the ACDS staff and leadership enough for making distance learning lemonade out of COVID lemons.” – Heather L., 5th grade parent, April 2020
“I’ve been meaning to write something more elegant, but I am sure you understand the time constraints. Bottom line. You ROCK!!!! I am so impressed with how quickly ACDS was able to pivot to online instruction. The teachers are improving their proficiency every day.” – Lawrence N., 1st grade parent, March 2020
