Remote Learning Snow Day!
St. Paul’s parents and students got to experience a new approach to “snow days” on Tuesday. Instead of sleeping in or watching tv all day our PS-6th grade students had the opportunity to experience organized learning at home. As the winter season arrived teachers sent home “Snow Day Packets” and added “Snow Day Links” to their virtual classrooms for the students to access when the weather prevented travel to school.
Due to new guidelines by the Iowa Department of Education, these weather related remote learning days now count as a day of school and they these days won’t be tacked on to the end of the school year. Students were held accountable for their learning for the day and teachers asked their students to submit assignments and evidence of their learning from home. Several parents sent in pictures of their kids completing learning activities on their choice boards and in their virtual classroom.
From “Blizzard Bags” to “Snow Day Missions” and “Snow Day Choice Boards” most students were excited about the new format for their learning. Kids had fun with snow, erected snow forts and built LEGO creations. One text from a parent read: “Thanks for the simple, organized, and fun approach to these snow days. My son was so excited to finally open that folder that was sent home weeks ago.” Another student and her mom made homemade snow cones and they became a food truck and delivered them to the relatives, this student made over $17.00 to give in this week’s offering to support, “Water to Thrive”.
Many thanks to the parents and caregivers for their patience and encouragement in supporting our students with another day of learning from home.
Patience
In the Jan. 8 school newsletter, I shared the Iowa’s Area Education Agencies recently released website https://iowaaeamentalhealth.