JOY OF DISCOVERY
“A good beginning is of great importance” VENERABLE CATHERINE MCAULEY
WMA classrooms are filled with students who are exploring new ideas, reaching new heights, and achieving academic success.
Peek Inside the 2020 Classroom ur faculty has stepped up to a unique experience this year - simultaneously teaching students who are in front of them and students who are learning from home. Our families were able to select from three academic plans: full time in-person, distance learning, or a mixture of the two. This allows all students to have a routine and some sense of normalcy, no matter where they are. “My fifth grade daughter likes participating in the breakout groups that include virtual and in-person students because it provides a way to connect with students she isn’t seeing every day,” detailed Erin Schmidt, mom of eighth grader Maggie, fifth grader Grace, and first grader Max, all of whom are full time distance learners. Continued Erin,
O
4
Waldron Mercy Academy
“Maggie feels she is getting the best of her teachers’ attention even though they are connecting through the computer screen!” For our curious readers, here is the technology breakdown that makes this process feasible: faculty members teach to the open classroom and a large, black webcam. Students learning from home log on to a private Zoom so they can see their teacher, and the teacher can see them. SmartBoard screens are also connected to Zoom, allowing students at home to see exactly what their peers in the classroom are seeing on the board. It’s a full classroom experience, right from the computer.
This flexible classroom allows us to meet the needs of our students and their families, and helps keep everyone safe and healthy. It also enabled a seamless switch to full distance learning for all students if and when it was needed. Top: Storytime for the whole class! Left: Sixth grade language arts teacher Mrs. Alex Kramer checks as her students show her completed workbook assignments over Zoom. Above: Students make use of our 1:1 technology in class.
