LEARNING ON LAUREL SCHOOL'S
BUTLER
CAMPUS A Q&A WITH HEATHER DIEMER HAVRE '86, DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL@BUTLER, GRADES 3-5
T
he pandemic brought many changes for schools and learning. In March 2020 Laurel, along with schools across the country, pivoted to virtual learning. With the start of the 2020-2021 school year, Laurel was fortunate enough to be able to utilize our abundant outdoor space at the Butler Campus to allow for physical distancing and to offer in-person learning to many of our students. Experiential learning at the Butler Campus is not new to Laurel. With the Outdoor Pre-Primary Program, regular immersion learning units for Primary girls, and science LAB (Learning at Butler) days, Laurel girls are accustomed to utilizing the 150 acres of the Butler Campus to enhance their traditional classroom learning. Therefore, it made sense to move all students in Grades 3-5 to Butler when distance and fresh air were key ingredients to learning safely during a pandemic. With the construction of four new yurts and the transformation of existing space at Butler, what was always a future plan became a reality in August 2020. Heather Havre, Director of School@Butler delves into why this move was so beneficial for students, and how utilizing an outdoor classroom supports curriculum and brings immersive learning to the forefront.
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