Dear Canterbury community, As you have no doubt heard at this point, several colleges and universities in the country and in Indiana have made the decision to close campus and move to online instruction for a period of time as the coronavirus situation continues to evolve. Canterbury School has not, at this point, made any decision regarding closure of school. We have spent some time establishing a plan that would govern our educational practices if we were to reach a point at which closing school would be a sensible step for us to take. Below are the general guidelines that we have followed in establishing this online learning plan, understanding that our two main goals are 1) to move the school's learning goals forward, and 2) to be flexible with and supportive of families as they determine how best to manage a school closure. With this in mind, the following steps will be taken for an extended closure: - In specific courses – to be identified by your child's Division Director – teachers will communicate assignments directly with students and parents via appropriate platforms for communication and instruction. These assignments will likely be modified from what students would have been working on in class, but will be as close an approximation as is possible.
- Teachers will also provide resources to help students understand the material. This may include videos, selections to read, etc. and will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the teacher.
- These assignments will be assessed as part of the student's grade. If they can not be completed due to extenuating circumstances, students or parents should contact the teacher directly to discuss these difficulties and any accommodations that may be possible.
- Upon return to school, teachers will evaluate to see if materials need to be reviewed, retaught, or otherwise enhanced in order to ensure that students have understood the key concepts and takeaways of those lessons.
- For some classes – to be identified by your child's Division Director – teachers will send home optional enrichment ideas as appropriate. Unless otherwise noted, these are optional and not graded, though teachers may assign required work as needed. We present them as a way for students to remain engaged in these areas to the best of their abilities.
Generally speaking, this plan will be put in place for a closure of five days or more, but may be applied at other times based on circumstances at that time.
Of course, these general guidelines are supplemented by specific details, which will vary by division. Should we decide to close school for an extended period – and, again, as of yet we have not made this decision – your child's Division Director will email you directly with more specific information regarding how your child's classes will be conducted remotely.
I appreciate your patience with this complicated situation. The administrative team is working diligently to be as proactive and flexible as possible to adjust as events evolve. Thank you, Bill Ennist Head of School Canterbury School |