Virtual Learning
Students head back to class at home for – at least – the fall semester
the courage to explore | the drive to discover
www.lovett.org
The Lovett School practices a nondiscriminatory admission policy. Financial aid is available.
NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN Each January, we feature students from Intown’s public schools, private schools and colleges who have given back to their community in a significant way. Over the last ten years, we’ve featured students who have created their own nonprofits, have given up summer vacation to work domestically and abroad to help the less fortunate and one even helped build a library by collecting books. The 13th annual 20 Under 20 will appear in our January 2021 issue and we are now seeking nominations of
students ages 19 and younger who have committed themselves to service to the community. Nominations are welcome from teachers, counselors, administrators, parents, siblings, fellow students or community leaders. Here’s the information we need: • Nominator (name, relationship to nominee and contact information) • Nominee (Name, age, grade, school, parent or guardian names, contact information) • Characteristics and service: Please provide a paragraph describing why this nominee deserves recognition. Include service projects, goals, interests and areas of interest to help illustrate your point. The deadline for nominations is Nov. 6. Please email your nominations to editor Collin Kelley at collin@atlantaintownpaper.com.
32 September 2020 |
By Clare S. Richie In the May edition of INtown, we spoke to parents from Atlanta Public Schools’ Grady cluster about how they and their kids were adapting to learning at home when the coronavirus pandemic abruptly shuttered schools. As APS was still rolling out their plans for the new school year, we spoke to those parents again plus a couple of new ones about what they learned in the spring and how they’re preparing to spend the next nine weeks – at least – with their kids in virtual classrooms. Tessa Pickren, who has a senior, sophomore, and 7th grader, praised the teachers and administrators for making the most of a difficult situation. “I am grateful for all that they are doing to make this hard situation the best for all our kids,” she said. “It’s no easy task!” Pickren, said she was most concerned about her 7th grader, who was disappointed about more virtual learning. Admittedly, he wasn’t a big fan of going to school in person but after spending his final weeks of 6th grade learning at home, he was eager to go to class. “He’s tired of being at home and is tired of doing school online,” Pickren said. “I’m trying to set expectations for him that this is going to be different than spring. Spring was survival – he could get all of his work done in an hour and a half. I think this is going to be more structured this go around.” Pickren also said learning new math concepts isn’t easy to do online, even for her 10th grader. “She learns best face to face, which is not an option, so we will have to make the best of it.” Renee Klein, mom to a sophomore and 7th grader, said she and the kids weren’t surprised when APS and other local school districts announced that virtual learning would continue. “Is it really only going to be 9 weeks or is it going to be until January or is it the whole year?” Klein mused. “I guess we don’t really know, but I feel very nervous about that.” Klein said she hopes there is more structure and interaction with the teachers this goround. She’s also discussing creating “learning pods” where a small number of students At l a n t a I N t o w n Pa p e r. c o m
