Elementary School
Launching a New School Year! Jeff Scott, Vice Principal
On August 11th 2020 the Elementary School hallways, learning spaces, and playgrounds came alive once again as we welcomed students back onto campus. Joy filled the air as students reconnected with their friends, met their teachers, and started a new year of learning! To reflect the government guidelines around health and safety, and ensure that all of our community members feel safe and supported at school during these times, some key measures have been put in place: • As elementary school students arrive each day, their temperature is taken at the turnstiles. • Aside from eating, drinking, and physical exertion during PE and recess, students wear their face mask throughout the day. • Hand washing has become a frequent practice and sanitizing gel units have been mounted on walls throughout hallways and quads. • Our learning spaces have been set up to maintain a 1-meter distance between students. • The sharing of learning materials has been significantly reduced and students are provided with their own sets of supplies. • Table and chair surfaces are sanitized when used by different students. • Food is not consumed inside learning spaces. • Acrylic screens have been set up in the cafeteria and the lunch schedule has been adjusted to respond to changes in capacity.
We have been so proud of the way that our Elementary School students have adjusted to these changes. They are certainly growing in adaptability, one of our ISB Learner Attributes! For students who are yet to join us on campus, due to an overseas location or their quarantine requirements here in Bangkok, we have remained connected through our virtual learning offerings. Grade level teams, in collaboration with specialist teachers, design weekly learning grids for students. This connects students with their teachers and classmates, and engages them in learning that aligns with our on-campus programs. In addition to the asynchronous learning that is offered, students are invited to participate in weekly synchronous sessions on Zoom to receive live instructional support from teachers and have social connections with other students participating in virtual learning. In many cases, students are also invited to join their classmates on campus, through Zoom, to participate in community-building experiences such as morning meetings and small group conversations. Each week, more of our students who have been learning virtually join us back on campus. We certainly look forward to the day when we can have all of our Panthers together again!
TOUCHSTONE Issue 1 / 2020-2021
27
