APART...Together

How Country Day responded to COVID-19 and looks ahead to mitigate risk in the upcoming school year

MARCH 2. That’s the day the school sent its first communication to parents regarding the growing global concerns about the coronavirus, which included information on travel restrictions, steps the school was already taking to mitigate risk, and these two sentences: “Given the fastchanging nature of COVID-19, please know we are looking ahead to plan for the possibility of an extended school closure. Though the likelihood of this scenario appears remote at this time, we are developing contingency plans out of an abundance of caution.”

BY MARCH 10, several additional communications had gone out to parents, the Emergency Preparedness Team was meeting daily, a COVID-19 Preparedness Web page was launched, international travel protocols were developed with Spring Break fast approaching, and in-service faculty training for remote learning readiness was underway.

ON MARCH 13, we began Spring Break a day early for students so that faculty could prepare for a scenario in which teachers returned to campus after break to deliver lessons remotely to their students for a few weeks. We didn’t know then that March 12 would be the last day we would all be together on campus.

ON MARCH 25, emergency remote learning began and in the ensuing weeks, as the crisis generated waves of news and information that could be confusing and contradictory at times, Country Day faculty, staff, students, parents, and alumni rose to meet the complex challenges of COVID-19. As always, we leaned on our mission, key values, and affirmation of community to guide us during this unchartered path in our school’s history.

Remote Learning

Our physical classrooms remained closed through the end of the school year as student learning continued remotely. Guided by our educational technology team, division heads, and directors of study, remote learning plans were developed to foster deep, engaging, and meaningful learning for our students of all ages. We began with an asynchronous model in recognition of the varying needs of our students and families; the fact that older students were already accustomed to working online; and the strong relationships faculty already had with their students and families.

To be sure, the situation had its challenges as we all navigated new schedules, internet disruptions, various learning curves, and other distractions. Some teachers were more adept, nimble, and experienced at integrating technology in their pedagogy. Some students thrived while others struggled without the daily classroom structure. And parents took on new roles as educational facilitators and supporters for their own households. Still, a spirit of community emerged as we all worked together to address the challenges caused by COVID-19. A survey of parents showed that 75 percent were satisfied or greatly satisfied with the remote learning model and schedules. After several weeks, more synchronous lessons occurred and unique opportunities emerged, such as advisory baking sessions with Middle School teacher Bina Neumann, online dance lessons with Broadway choreographers for Upper School drama students, regular fitness videos from coaches, and an elevated competence with video and online technology for faculty across the board. The learnings from our 10 weeks of emergency remote learning have greatly influenced the plans we have created for whatever adjustments may need to be made in the fall to mitigate risk while delivering exceptional academics.

Parent Education and Resources

Parent education has always been a part of the Country Day experience for our families. During these complex and challenging times, the school shared a variety of parent education blogs and launched a new online extension of our ongoing commitment to parent education. “Leadership Live” is a YouTube series connecting school leaders with our community. Oftentimes with hundreds in attendance, the school addressed numerous topics. Here are just a few examples:

• Country Day’s Approach to Managing COVID-19 with Mark Reed and Board Chair Scott Stevens

• COVID-19 and College Admissions with Katie Elsasser and Chris Gruber from Davidson College

• COVID-19 and Caring for Kids with school counselors and professionals from Southeast Psych

• Leadership Live for New Parents

In the months ahead, we will continue to educate parents through virtual Q & As, presentations, and panel discussions.

Serving Others

As the global pandemic began taking shape and the needs of the community around us grew, students, parents, alumni, and faculty began doing their part to help others. For instance, the school donated thousands of gloves to Atrium Healthcare, science teachers made sure the vegetables growing in our community gardens were shared with our partners at Friendship Trays, and Lower School students wrote letters of care and compassion for our community health workers and those in need of food support.

We were tremendously sad to cancel Special Olympics this year, but students gave back in other ways. For instance, they created a video of encouragement and well-being for Special Olympics athletes, collected books and handmade no-sew blankets for Baby Bundles, made masks for healthcare and essential workers with 3D printers and sewing machines, and responded to organizations’ requests for need, including Purple Heart Homes, Classroom Central, and Promising Pages.

Many alumni and parent-owned businesses gave proceeds from sales back to community organizations that support frontline workers and others. For instance, alumni classmates Dee Rankin ’93 and Will Bingham ’93 teamed up to donate proceeds from their restaurant sales to organizations that support children facing a food gap due to schools being closed.

Community Connections

Being physically apart has been difficult. Yet our community has rallied in numerous ways to remain close. Phone check-ins to students and parents, online parent conferences, a Web page listing family-owned businesses, and Zoom calls with parents regarding how to best honor spring milestones like graduation, were all part of the mix.

A highlight of the spring was Bucs Together Day on May 8 to coincide with Teacher Appreciation Week. All week, parents shared an outpouring of photos, memories, and expressions of support on social media and our specially created Web page. To end the week, families drove on campus for a car parade to pick up yard signs, wave at their teachers, and show their Country Day spirit. So many expressed their deep care for our community— sometimes to tears—and it was a reminder of our strong sense of togetherness, even when faced with the challenges of needing to be physically apart.

Looking Ahead

Through deep planning, the school has developed measures that will allow us to continue to fully deliver our mission and serve our students well, while taking the necessary steps to mitigate risks for our students, teachers, and families. These are a few of the types of high-level elements that families can expect for the start of the 2020–21 academic year:

• Parent Partnership: Now, more than ever, the partnership between the school and our families is vital to protect the health and safety of all involved. • Social Distancing: The highest point of risk for our community is group gatherings. We will adhere to school, local, state, and federal recommendations and health guidelines as they relate to social distancing and group size and make modifications accordingly.

• Social Distancing: The highest point of risk for our community is group gatherings. We will adhere to school, local, state, and federal recommendations and health guidelines as they relate to social distancing and group size and make modifications accordingly.

• Health and Safety Precautions: Precautions include daily screenings, wearing masks, sanitizing and cleaning processes, hygiene practices, and more.

• Strong Academic Experience: Students will experience a school session where they will attend regular classes and school activities in a potentially modified manner with social distancing and PPE requirements to meet the needs of different ages of learners.

• Prepared for Interruptions: We have a strategy to maximize in-person learning while giving us greater capacity for social distancing and other measures to limit virus spread. These include an improved online learning model, as well as a blended learning model.

• Beyond Academics: All extracurricular activities will be altered and modified to meet the health, safety, and illness policies and protocols of the school. Events, social, and wellness experiences will be created to meet distancing and group requirements.

This is a very broad summary of our Reopening Plan. Visit charlottecountryday.org for our in-depth and comprehensive Web site. As has been the case throughout this pandemic, health trends and federal, state, and local mandates could affect these plans.