By Elizabeth Wulfhorst
Last month students became virtual learners when Gov. Phil Murphy ordered all schools across the state closed until at least May 7 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sudden, drastic change can be difficult, but administrations, faculty and students rolled with the punches, adapting to their new learning environments with relative ease.
Some schools were uniquely positioned to embrace the new normal, like Trinity Hall in Tinton Falls.
“For a number of years, Trinity Hall has conducted online school days when the school was closed for inclement weather,” said Mary Sciarrillo, head of school. “We were comfortable with the technology leading up to this national crisis so our attention was focused on continuing to deliver an excellent academic and extracurricular program to our students.”
At Mater Dei Prep in Middletown, the school’s online learning plan also came together quickly.
“Our teachers spent four days putting together a process and plan to ease the transition from in-school learning to virtual learning,” said Jen DeBiase, head of advancement for the school. “With the time constraint that was thrown at them, they navigated beautifully through the process and did not skip a beat.” Mater Dei’s goal is to maintain as much normalcy as possible during this time and promote open communication with its community regarding the virtual learning process, she said.
The Middletown Township Public School District is keeping its youngest pupils learning with a suggested daily schedule for elementary students designed to mimic a “normal” school day. It includes times when teachers are available to assist with assigned work and recognizes that families may need to adjust learning hours. According to a letter from William O. George III, superintendent of the district, the schedule should “reduce student need for parent guidance during the ‘school day.’ ” He also encouraged parents to reach out to teachers and staff for help whenever necessary with any academic, social or emotional concerns.
That type of collaboration is a key part of a successful learning-at-home program. At Rumson Country Day School (RCDS), teachers, students and their families are encouraged to find creative ways to help each other with schoolwork and to help support local businesses, essential workers, medical personnel and first responders. Teachers are even including “optimism ef for ts” in their curriculum.
RCDS art teachers Melissa Petersen and Michael White tasked students with creating rainbows to display in their house windows to cheer up the community; first grade teacher Erin Brennan asked her students to write journal entries about the people who make them proud.
“Along with our can-do spirit, RCDS’s devotion to tight-knit relationships and commitment to our four pillars – Kind, Honest, Responsible, Respectful – will continue to guide us through this challenging time,” said Jayne Geiger, head of school.
Looking on the bright side of a negative experience is a hallmark of a successful program.
“There are a lot of positives about virtual learning,” said Michael Bonelli, a history teacher at Mater Dei Prep. “I think it’s fostering a new sense of responsibility in some students who are now hyper aware that they have to be online at a certain time, as well as getting their work in on time.”
Home isn’t the classroom, though, and some students may need the occasional nudge to stay on track. But Bonelli said the students are doing a great job supporting one another. “I’ve also seen kids in my classes making sure that classmates are online once the meeting starts,” he said. “To see them picking each other up is nice.”
As spring break began for a number of local districts, Louis Moore and Julius Clark – superintendent and principal, respectively – of Red Bank Regional High School, posted a letter on the school’s website to the community, thanking everyone who has made virtual learning possible.
“This is an appropriate time to give heartfelt thanks to everyone for all they have done to sustain our school program and for the many acts of courage and compassion that have defined our community’s response to the current crisis,” the letter reads, in part.
They go on to thank the administrative team, teachers, support staff, counselors, technology staff and the maintenance team, among others, including families and students “for keeping up with their school work and demonstrating maturity and tenacity under difficult circumstances.”
When life eventually returns to normal and the stay-at-home order is lifted, schools will reopen and education will resume in classrooms. But at least one teacher at Mater Dei Prep hopes some aspects of virtual learning carry over to the school building.
“It is interesting that so many students miss the interactive aspect of school,” said Br yan Scotton, a religion teacher. “Perhaps upon our return, we will appreciate our community even more.”
This article originally appeared in the April 16th, 2020 print edition of The Two River Times.
