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Short-term and Transitional Distance Learning Instruction

Short-term and Transitional Distance Learning Instruction



  • A transitional plan will be prepared (Snowflake Studies) to facilitate the first three days of learning outside of Brick & Mortar education.
  • 3 days of prepared lessons
    • If we go to distance learning the three days of lessons will provide time to transition from in person instruction to distance learning.  These three days of lessons will also be used in the case of the school being closed for other reasons such as snow, power outage, hurricane, flooding, etc.
    • Each of the three days will have no more than three hours of assignments for students to complete.
    • All academic subjects will be covered over the three days:
      • Day 1: Reading, Math, Social Studies, Art
      • Day 2: Reading, Writing, Science, Music/Computer
      • Day 3: Reading, Spanish, Religion, PE, Library (except for 7th and 8th grade)
  • Technology
    • All students and parents must submit a technology contract in order to take devices (Ipads, Chromebooks, laptops) home.
    • Once the contract is submitted students should take their device home at night during “brick and mortar” instructions and for the contingency of distance learning.
  • Quarantine
    • Quarantine (teacher) - Teacher needs to be quarantined either because of contact with a Covid positive person or because of Covid symptoms and/or positive test
      • Healthy Teacher - If the teacher is healthy and able to work the teacher will create lesson plans and instructions for a substitute who will cover his/her classes.
      • Unhealthy Teacher - If the teacher is sick and unable to work a substitute will be assigned to the class who will follow the teachers lesson plans.  If the teacher is too sick to submit lesson plans then the Assistant Principal will arrange for lesson plans to be provided for the substitute teacher and/or assist the substitute teacher in developing plans.
    • Quarantine (class) - if an entire class needs to stay home because of exposure to Covid the teachers who teach that class will follow the instructions for distance learning below.  Assignments will be given for Specials classes for grades 1-8.  A special schedule will be created for those classes who switch teachers for multiple subjects.  Preparations will be made for the possibility of one of the middle school classes being put in quarantine, which could mean that all (or most) of the middle school teachers and specials will also be put in quarantine.
    • Quarantine (student) - if a student needs to be quarantined either because of contact with a Covid positive person or because of Covid symptoms and/or positive test
      • If the student is healthy and able to work the student will be responsible for the material covered in class.  All assignments will need to be turned in electronically on time.  If the student has difficulty with an assignment then he/she can reach out to the teacher for assistance.
      • If the student is not able to complete assignments because he/she is sick (absence longer than a few days) then an individual student assistance plan will be created, under the direction of the Assistant Principal.
  • Distance Learning
    • Books and Devices: Should a student neglect to bring their device home, the homeroom teacher will communicate a book/technology pick-up schedule via parent email.  
    • Method
      • PK-2nd grade: Seesaw
      • 3rd-8th grade: Google Classroom
      • When it makes sense, students will be allowed to complete assignments on paper in order to reduce screen time and allow students to have contact with what they are doing.  This may be more for the younger students (PK-3rd grade).
    • Parents
      • Meetings: For long term distance learning,  each grade level will have a town hall meeting on a weekly basis in order to have parent input on how things are going with distance learning and in order to keep parents up to date.  Town Halls will be deconflicted by the Assistant Principal to ensure no overlap.  Town Halls may move to biweekly as routine becomes set and as approved by the Principal.
      • Edlio (STM Webpage) - each teacher’s Edlio page will have digital links to online resources.  Teachers will also post the upcoming week’s plans/parent newsletter to Edlio prior to Monday morning class time.
    • Assignments
      • Google Classroom (3rd - 8th): during distance learning all assignments shall be appropriately posted as Google Classroom Assignments so that they will appear on the student’s calendar and “to-do”.  This will allow students to keep track of all assignments.
      • SeeSaw (PK-2): during distance learning teachers will populate the Activities tab to track assignments that have not been turned in.
      • Missing Assignments: all assignments should be submitted when they are due.  Late or missing assignments will be treated the same way that they are during in-person instruction.
        • Middle School: will use the virtual green sheet.  Students can have up to 7 missing assignments in one trimester without it being detrimental to the report card.
    • Scantron -  Scantron guidelines will be promulgated when this information is available. 
    • Schedule
      • At the inception of distance learning, students are to be given a consistent schedule for their classes each day so that students know when and what they are supposed to be doing.
      • Class will not be held on Mondays in order to allow for teachers to plan and students to complete work.
      • Duration of day and length of classes
        • Individual class instruction should be no longer than 30 minutes.
        • Pk-K: 2 hours/day; 15-30 minutes per class.
        • 1st-4th grade: 3 hours/day; 20-30 minutes per class. 
        • 5th-8th grade: 4 hours/day; 30 minutes per class
        • Total instruction time should not exceed 4 hours per day (this may be spread out over a 6 hour period in order to give breaks)
          • This does not include homework.
      • Breaks
        • Students should be given breaks between classes so that they can rest their eyes and move their bodies.
        • Lunch - time for lunch should be given so that students can eat.  Students will be on their own for lunch.
      • Specials: Specials should be scheduled within the hours of instruction time.
      • Morning meeting - the homeroom should meet every morning before classes begin for the day for check-in/announcements/prayer.  If possible as a class say a decade of rosary during this time so that students start the day out in prayer.  This doesn’t have to be long (about 10 minutes) but encourages students to get up in the morning and to connect as a class, putting them in the presence of God to begin their day.
    • Classes
      • All classes should meet live through Google Meet at least two times per week.  Roll calls will be taken and absences recorded.
      • When live meetings are not planned, there will be a pre-recorded instruction and/or assignment.
      • Classes will be recorded and posted in Google Classroom/Seesaw when students are absent (when the student tells the teacher in advance and has a legitimate excuse) so that they don’t miss the class.
      • Assignments will be posted in Google Classroom/SeeSaw for students to refer to should they miss a class.
      • Classes can be either whole grade/whole class/small group - depending on subject, age of students and what works best for the particular teacher and class.  Some classes will be a combination of both large and small groups, other classes are best taught always large or always small groups.  This decision should be made at the discretion of the grade level and approved by the Assistant Principal.
      • Menus - student choice of activity can be helpful depending on the subject and group.  Menu choices can be used at the discretion of the teacher.
      • Specials will have an in person class, pre-recorded video or assignment once per week.  If not meeting with the class in person then there will be something turned in by students, ex: assignment, picture of work (art, exercise, etc.) or an exit ticket question on Google Classroom or SeeSaw.  Teachers will have live classes at least twice per month.
      • Decorum: 
        • Students and teachers will be seated at a desk/table/chair/couch (not in bed.)
        • Dress: students will be in uniform.  (Bed clothes are not acceptable.)
        • Students shall have their camera on at all times during live classes.  Teachers will check periodically to ensure that students are present and moving (some students put a picture of themselves at their desk to look like they are paying attention).
    • Mass - all students are expected to join their class for mass once a week.