CardinalsConnect Distance Learning at NPS

Distance Learning at National Presbyterian School

Dear NPS Parents,

The NPS Distance Learning Plan was developed to ensure continuity of learning, intellectual engagement, and community connections for our students during this time of social distancing. In creating it, we have prioritized developmentally appropriate, academically enriching, and instructionally feasible activities to be conducted at home. All assignments vary depending on the age and grade level of your child.

Beginning Monday, March 30, you will receive daily morning messages directed to students from your child’s homeroom teacher along with a list of the day’s lessons/activities your child is to complete and a link to where material can be accessed. Assessment and feedback will look different than the typical in-class methods, and teachers will share their expectations on the best ways to submit work and receive feedback. Our homeroom, specialist, and learning support teachers will work with students and families individually to ensure that all learning opportunities are available for all students in the class.

All students are expected to participate in NPS Distance Learning beginning on March 30. We understand that distance learning will require our students and families to make adjustments. Our team of teachers is available to support and guide students should they need additional assistance.

We’d like to especially thank all of our teachers who have been hard at work collaborating with their teams as they shift instruction to a new model. They truly are examples of life-long learning and have demonstrated such grace and flexibility throughout the entire planning process.

We will miss seeing your children’s smiling faces in our hallways. We hope they enjoy their learning experiences at home and we look forward to having them back at school when we return. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions.

Sincerely,

Colleen Ryan
Director of Studies
cryan@nps-dc.org

Susanne Rusan
Upper Division Director
srusan@nps-dc.org

Laura Primrose
Lower Division Director
lprimrose@nps-dc.org

NPS Distance Learning Plan

Overview

National Presbyterian School’s Approach to Distance Learning
NPS is committed to delivering a student-centered and engaging learning experience for all students even when circumstances limit our school’s operations and prevent our students and faculty from being together on campus. In such circumstances, our commitment is to provide an alternative means of education in the form of distance learning. The NPS Distance Learning Plan is designed to ensure students will have learning experiences that are developmentally appropriate, instructionally feasible, and academically enriching. The purpose of this guide is to outline the protocols and tools that will be utilized in our plan.

Distance Learning Goal
The goal of NPS’s Distance Learning Plan is to create meaningful and enriching educational experiences for our students when current external situations do not allow for a conventional school day. NPS’s Distance Learning Plan also seeks to maintain academic instruction while continuing to build a sense of community and connectedness. These activities/assignments are varied depending on the age and grade level of the student.

Guidelines

Learning Routines
Please help your child establish a regular routine for daily learning, including regular bedtime, wake-up time, meals, breaks, and play time. NPS lessons will be available every morning by 8:30 am to help you and your child plan for the day. It is helpful to designate a quiet space in your home for study. The optimal space will depend on your child’s age; no matter what their age, we recommend a space close to adults who can be available for supervision.

Support and Communication with Teachers
Stay engaged in your child’s learning by asking them questions and inviting them to share their progress while, at the same time, encouraging independence. Productive struggle is essential to learning; allow your child to problem-solve on their own, stepping in only if necessary. Should your child becomes discouraged or overwhelmed, please contact the teacher directly. Teachers will be eager to help. Parents should be the point of contact in relaying questions students may have for their teachers. Please do not allow your children to email their teachers directly.

Social, Emotional, and Physical Well-being
Maintaining well-being is an important part of managing any sort of change to routine. Help your child stay in contact with their friends. Encourage phone conversations and other peer interactions through virtual means. Encourage games, free play, free reading, and other favorite activities outside of study time. Include physical movement and exercise every day; physical activity can help reduce stress and improve concentration.

Technology Resources at Home
All students are expected to participate in distance learning. Please contact your homeroom teacher if you are unable to access distance learning resources at home. In exceptional circumstances or in case of illness, parents of students who are unable to participate should notify the teacher as they would for any school absence, and those students will be given special consideration and support.

Support Contacts

Access to Distance Learning Materials

Access to Distance Learning Materials

Teachers have uploaded initial assignments and resources to a Distance Learning folder on their class page on CardinalNet. Use the links below to access your child’s distance learning materials. Resources will be activated on the first day of distance learning.

Should distance learning extend beyond 10 school days (two weeks), homeroom teachers and specialists will be using the Seesaw digital learning platform. NPS will provide Seesaw accounts and further details regarding access at that time.

CardinalNet Class Page Links

Grade 6 will continue to utilize Google Classroom.

Technological Tools, Digital Resources and Platforms

Email
Email will be used for all major announcements from the School, including the Head of School and Division Directors. Faculty and staff will continue to use email to communicate with families. Per NPS policy, all email communication should be between adults; students should not email adults from their personal accounts.

CardinalNet
Distance Learning plans and resources will be posted on the Resources Section of the class pages for the first two weeks of Distance Learning. (See links above to access)

Google Classroom
6th Grade will utilize Google Classroom (which they are currently using in the classroom) as their Distance Learning platform

SeeSaw
Should Distance Learning extend past 10 school days (two weeks), Nursery-5th Grade teachers and students will utilize SeeSaw beginning on Day 11 of Distance Learning to communicate assignments, share videos, upload assignments and provide teacher feedback, and to foster a sense of community.

Zoom
Zoom will be utilized for class meetings, office hours, lessons, and student support.

daily academic plan

Each morning by 8:30, families will receive a morning greeting from their classroom teachers along with a list of the day’s lesson/activities they are to complete and where to access the material. Teachers will share how to submit and receive feedback on completed student work. If you have any questions on any assignment, please reach out to the teachers via email; they will be email accessible while NPS Distance Learning is in effect.

Nursery & Pre-Kindergarten

Kindergarten

Grade 1

Grade 2

Grades 3-5

Grade 6

community guidelines

NPS Distance Learning Community Guidelines

To help provide support and assistance during Distance Learning at NPS, we offer these reminders and guidelines for our students and families

NPS’s Acceptable Use Policy applies during distance learning , and NPS’s Core Values and Parent Handbook should guide student behavior both online and offline during distance learning.
Families are asked to check distance learning programs each weekday morning.
Students should communicate with teachers one-on-one only via approved platforms in Google Classroom (6th Grade), SeeSaw, or Zoom. NPS students should not contact NPS faculty and staff from the student's personal email addresses or personal mobile phone number.
Parents wishing to contact teachers should initiate a conversation via email. Teachers may arrange phone calls or video meetings with parents.
Please do not share or distribute videos, photographs, or NPS distance learning lessons or materials on social media or other platforms. NPS's distance learning tools (Google Classroom, SeeSaw, and Zoom) are not for personal use.
NPS distance learning programs are administered by the school and may be recorded and/or monitored by the school for educational, archival, or training purposes.
During video connections, please use a calm and well-lit place from which to video connect. Students should be sitting in a chair at a table ready to work with an adult nearby. Please arrive promptly for synchronous lessons, be attentive, turn your camera on, and ask for help when needed.
Questions or concerns regarding distance learning policies, systems, and procedures should be brought to the attention of the appropriate division director.

NPS is grateful for this opportunity to educate our students via distance learning and we are grateful to parents and students as we grow together

Want to see the NPS Distance Learning Program in action?

Select a button below to read an overview of each grade's approach to distance learning, view sample lessons, and see examples of student work. These pages are works in progress and we will continue to add content through the end of the school year. Please reach out to us if you have any questions and thank you for visiting!