Educational Program
DISTANCE LEARNING
Hamlin Robinson School Distance Learning follows a synchronous schedule that allows our students to meet with their teacher and peers in real time. Each class is held on Zoom where teachers can lead Slingerland lessons, give directions, and facilitate discussion. Typically, a student will have 3 or 4 academic classes a day depending on their school level.
Students are expected to attend each class, or other required scheduled time, and engage fully according to class expectations. Teachers will be monitoring attendance and student engagement in each class. The school will contact parents in the event of a student absence from class.
- Distance Learning Guidance
- Lower School
- Middle School
- Lower and Middle School | Class Meetings and SEL | Community Wednesdays
Distance Learning Guidance
Parents may be wondering how to ensure student success for distance learning. With the understanding each household operates distinctively, these are suggestions to consider as you prepare for the upcoming year:
Provide comfortable headphones: Headphones your student finds comfortable to wear will help reduce environmental distractions while they are engaging in a class via Zoom.
A chair to sit upright in and a flat surface to set their device on will help students fully and comfortable engage in lessons.
A consistent, designated, well-lit space for students to work will help the cognitive shift from “home” to “classroom”.
Visual aids: HRS will be supplying each student with a “take-home kit” filled with visual aids to support them in Slingerland writing and math. These should be kept handy at their work space. If wall space is available, the most used ones can be placed on the wall for easy reference when needed.
Organization of supplies: Organization of materials will help students engage most effectively during remote learning days. Each item should have a “home”, or place.
Devices: If you do not have access to a device (computer, laptop, tablet, etc.) for your student to sign on to Zoom and other learning platforms, please let us know by contacting Jessica Ruger.
As a parent to a young learner, we know you are eager to collaborate and help your student get the most from their school day. We count on and enjoy this partnership. Please feel free to reach out to your student’s teacher for suggestions on how to support your student’s learning. We ask parents and siblings to refrain from interrupting or interjecting during lessons to encourage independent learning opportunities for each student with their teacher’s guidance.
We ask parents, if possible, to create a designated work space for your student. Our students do best with a predictable routine that can be maintained and organized. Hamlin Robinson School will provide an “at home kit” of reference materials and resources to support students during Slingerland and math lessons.
Lower School
Lower school students will work with their teacher to move through the core academic subjects each morning. In the afternoon, students will visit a content area, such as science or social studies, and a specialist class, such as music, art, PE, and library.
Here is an example of a lower school student’s typical day:
|
Isa’s Schedule |
Monday |
|
8:30 |
Writing |
|
10:00 |
Reading |
|
11:30 |
Lunch |
|
12:00 |
Math |
|
1:00 |
Music with Mr. Fox |
|
2:00 |
Science |
Lower School Schedules
Middle School
The middle school block schedule will be used whether we are fully remote, utilizing a hybrid plan, or back on campus for in-person instruction.
The middle school will utilize a block schedule. This will allow for minimized transitions between classes and lengthen each class. Writing will meet each morning and always occupy block one. Other courses will meet either Monday and Thursday or Tuesday and Friday.
Wednesday is a unique schedule blending academic classes with community opportunities. The day begins with advisory and writing before moving into block 3 for additional reading and math practice in multi-class discussions and activities. Block 3, called “Community Time”, will offer different student groups, extension activities, and leadership opportunities.
This time may include:
- Social Studies extensions and virtual field trips
- Science explorations and science fair support
- Student council
- Social and emotional learning opportunities
- Student affinity groups
- Social lunch meet-ups
After lunch, the day will conclude with office hours and study hall, which students are required to attend. The end of the day on Wednesday will conclude with a digital exit slip (required).
Middle School Block Schedule
Class Length | SEL
One of the most noticeable changes from last spring’s schedule is the length of each class and the length of the day overall. The increased class time allows for more immediate guidance for students who need support. Though class time slots are 80 minutes long, students will not be expected to be on Zoom calls or completing assignments digitally for the entire duration. Screen breaks and physical activity breaks will be included in several of the blocks, as well as specialist classes for students to engage in a wide variety of activities.
Similarly, the distance learning school day has been elongated to resemble an in-person school schedule. Providing routine and structure to each day is essential, and this schedule allows teachers the flexibility to provide that structure.
Finally, all of us are witnessing the psychological toll of this pandemic. In order to address the social and emotional needs of our students, this new schedule provides teachers opportunities to be proactive in guiding students through the challenges of the school year and developmental obstacles. It also offers students time to raise issues and concerns and for teachers to respond to them.
Middle School Devices
Thanks to last year's auction fund-a-need, we are able to provide a Surface Pro for each middle school student to access the distance learning program from home. Through our new parent portal, there is access to a device check-out document. If you haven’t already, please review and complete this form. Over the coming weeks, you will receive more information about Back-to-School Conferences and ways to pick up a device, along with other materials for the start of school.
Lower and Middle School | Class Meetings and SEL | Community Wednesdays
About once a week, teachers will lead a class on topics related to Social Emotional Learning (SEL). Throughout the year, these conversations will allow teachers to be proactive in guiding students through some of the known challenges of the school year as well as developmental obstacles. It is also a time for students to raise issues and concerns they are experiencing and for teachers to respond to them.
Wednesday is set aside as a day to bring our community together. Students will still meet with their teachers for a shortened academic day before moving on to different student group and club opportunities. Often, these community groups are student generated and follow student interest. The late morning and afternoon allows for small group instruction or check-ins between teachers and students. This is an important time for students to receive more help when they need it, and to connect with other members of their grades whom they may not see in their regular classes.
REMOTE ACCESS
Families choosing not to attend during the assigned cohort in-person days may opt to access learning via remote access. All classrooms are equipped with a camera allowing students to follow along with the day’s activities. Remote access can be utilized for short or long-term absences from in-person learning. For long-term absences, please notify the front office with any changes or plans to resume attending classes in-person.
ON CAMPUS LEARNING
Student arrival will be staggered from 8:10am - 8:30am. Students will be asked to enter the school through their designated entry point based on their school level:
Primary – Rear playground entrance
Intermediate - Side entrance on State Street
Middle School and bus riders – Main school entrance
The online screening assessment must be completed before students enter the building. Students arriving at school without screening information will wait in the wellness center while parents are contacted.
To reduce student mixing, classes will spend all day in cohorts. These cohorts will not mix while indoors, and teachers will change rooms to meet with students when possible. The schedule reduces transitions and is adjusted to accommodate for any delays in transitions caused by hand washing, bathroom breaks, and other distancing procedures.
During dedicated breaks in the school day, students will have recess in one of three dedicated recess spaces to limit the number of students in a play space. Masks will be worn at all times at recess. Recess supervisors will continually monitor for distance, using a whistle to signal “distance checks”. “Contact” games will be restricted: contact basketball, soccer (passing games okay), tag, etc.
Students will be encouraged to engage in games and play that limit close contact, while still encouraging socialization, fun, and creative play.
After returning from recess, students will use hand sanitizer immediately upon entry, then return directly to their classrooms where they will continue with intermittent dismissal to hand wash.
At the end of the day, students will be asked to maintain distance and wear masks while gathering materials and then following teachers to the dismissal areas. Students will proceed to pick-up, bus, or independent sign-out areas under the guidance of their teacher and building staff.