settled into a “lazy” attitude. “We do have regular face-toface get-togethers because the students need to see each other and their teachers; also, virtual learning is damaging for kinesthetic learners who need to move to learn. Our events are all masked; at first, it was odd. But now we are used to it, and both teachers and students are looking forward to those times when we are on campus.” Martini says her family isn’t keeping in touch with classmates. “We’re strict with limiting exposure.” I’m sad that we’re missing on that part of his development, but I’m confident it will all come with time when this is done.”
Tips for Families in Virtual School
“The most important thing for your kid is that they know you are there for them. All the academic stuff will come with time,” says Martini. Many parents believe in scheduling time off-screen throughout the day. “Find a way to stay active. Find ways to socialize with other families (masked and outdoors),” says Serttunc. She also suggests buying a big screen monitor, Bluelight glasses, and creating a color-coded schedule—try to make a school environment to the best of what you can do. If your child is struggling, talk to their teacher and try to find the root of the problem and not just say, “my child is struggling.” “Sometimes it’s a simple fix such as asking for paper books to use,” she adds. Martini says, “Share the duties as much as possible— virtual learning and household duties. It’s too much to carry all that load alone, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.” She adds, “My husband has gotten much better about knowing when he needs to take them and give me a break. I’m trying to be better about asking for those breaks. Trying to read more books, which is an escape for me, getting involved in my community and social justice issues, which help me feel more like my old self.” For Lamb, it’s all routine and prep work. “I work on the week’s lessons on Saturday or Sunday and collect the materials needed.”
Motivation & Self Care
“At first [what kept me motivated was] the thought that it will end soon. Then there was hope that the school would set up and create a good learning program,” says Serttunc. “This got old because they are not serving the diverse population. I lost my motivation. I am severely depressed, and what makes things even worse is that I know I can be a better teacher to my kid and his friends as I taught middle school before, but I have no energy after my workday.” Parents need to remember to take moments for themselves during this hectic time, too, even if they’re small moments. “A fun meal together, finding a movie we all like, keeping a running joke going—those little glimmers through the day add up,” says Martini. “Just seeing how our communities have come together to help each other has helped keep me motivated.” Michelle Marie Arean, is the voice behind Bella Vida Styles, a women’s lifestyle online magazine/blog. Arean has 20 years’ experience in various aspects of the media industry. Although Arean does not have children of her own, she is a very involved auntie to a second grader and a pre-schooler.
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The Status of Private Schools While students in local public school districts have been almost universally working virtually, students in the lower grades of private schools were able to go back to in-person school by obtaining waivers. Upper grades are still in distance learning. We checked in with a few of the private school reps to hear about their current and future plans. All Saints’ School All Saints has been offering in-person learning five days a week since September, closely following the California Department of Public Health and the CDC’s guidance. The faculty team was increased, classes split in half, and spread out into ancillary classroom space to make face-to-face learning a reality. Distance learning is also offered to families who have chosen to learn from home and families who follow quarantine recommendations after travel. Also, tech infrastructure 11 DTEN D7 Zoom boards were added to classrooms. Chartwell School Chartwell instituted class sizes of no more than ten students when they reopened for students in lower grades in the fall. Air purification units have been installed in each room, and the school instituted strict social distancing procedures. Families can choose between on-campus learning and online learning. Monte Vista Christian Monte Vista Christian School has been offering a hybrid approach to learning since the beginning of this school year. As a result, MVC learners have enjoyed some sense of normalcy while maintaining the highest standards of health safety protocols. Monte Vista Christian offers its families their choice of fullyremote or hybrid learning. Santa Catalina With guidance from a COVID-19 advisory board, the school, created a “Return to Campus” plan in June 2020. The school year started with Pre-K students on campus. Soon after they were granted the waiver, students in Kindergarten through grade 5 were back on campus for in-person learning. Currently, 90% of students in Kindergarten through grade 5 are on campus. Small cohorts for students in grades 6 and 7 offer targeted support. Santa Catalina’s all-girls upper school also started offering additional support for girls’ small cohorts in grade 9 in January. York School During this past year, York School has been committed to offering a robust academic program while also nurturing students’ social-emotional well-being. York was the first high school to provide after-school, inperson cohorts daily to enhance the student experience. The school has implemented numerous safety measures and campus modifications to allow for a safe return to in-person learning. When high school students are permitted back on campus, York is fully prepared to shift from distance learning to in-person instruction.
MONTEREY BAY PARENT • march 2021
