SPECIAL EDITION: WWCS Remote Learning Contingency Plans

Contents:

- Fr. Seidel Letter

- Class Schedules by grade band

- Reopening meeting information

- Principles of Remote Learning

- Invitation to Holy Hour for all students, families, and teachers

Letter Highlights:

- Remote learning schedule below is based upon four cultural pillars

- Remote schedule includes a daily gathering of the larger community for prayer and virtues

- Remote learning places a unique burden on families, and the school will be working with families to mitigate that burden.

- We will be developing hybrid model plans which would allow us to continue some in-person instruction even if full-time in-person instruction is not possible.

Dear Walla Walla Catholic Schools Community,

Above the sanctuary in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame is a mural with the image of the cross, surrounded by angels and saints. At the base of the cross is a banner that reads “SPES UNICA.” This banner is an excerpt from the motto of the Congregation of the Holy Cross that translates, “Behold the cross our only hope.” One of the biggest crosses we have all endured this year has been the uncertainty of what the coming weeks and months hold. It has called me personally to trust more fully in God each day and to rely on God that He will provide for the days to come. However, trusting in God each day also means using the gifts He has given us to plan for the future and for various contingencies.

In the past weeks our teachers have been working on plans for remote learning should the need arise. These plans have been built upon the four cultural pillars we released last week and that can be found in our reopening plan (see below): a Culture of Companionship, a Culture of Clarity, a Culture of Consistency and Correction, and a Culture of Communication. While these plans will continue to evolve I wanted to share below an update on what the schedule will look like, in the event we need to go fully online.

Some things that you will notice immediately is that a more significant portion of the day will be devoted to time with teachers on Google Meets than was the case in the spring. This time will allow for teachers to help students more clearly in structuring their days. However, not every minute of that time will be taken up with receiving direct instruction from teachers. Like our normal classroom, scheduled remote class time will still involve independent work, group work, and direct instruction from the teacher. This will balance the need of students for structure and connection with class and the reality of virtual fatigue.

One piece of the schedule I would particularly like to highlight is that of our morning gatherings and prayer. Recognizing that we are companions on a pilgrimage to heaven, our schools will begin the day in prayer as a large community. This will be a brief time for us to unite around Him, who unites us all and to remember the centrality of Christ in all that we do as a Catholic school. This will also be an opportunity for us to engage in our virtues assemblies and other assembly activities that we would otherwise do in person.

A few final notes: First, we recognize that remote learning by its very nature puts a unique strain on families. As companions on this pilgrimage we will work with families to mitigate that strain as much as possible, should remote learning be necessary. Second, part of this mitigation is to preserve as much in-person time as possible. We will be developing plans for hybrid learning to give us a midway point between fully in-person and fully remote learning. We will also be developing plans to expand our childcare services to mitigate some of the burdens of remote learning. Third and finally, know of my continued prayers for you all, and please join us for adoration at 3:30 PM on Wednesday at Assumption parish as we entrust this school year to the Eucharistic Heart of Our Lord.

In Christ,

Fr. Seidel

Walla Walla Catholic Schools Reopening Plan

May Crowning

We invite you to join us this Friday, May 1, at 8:30 a.m., for the tradition of May Crowning in the Assumption parking lot.

We ask that you remain in your vehicles and tune into 90.7 to pray with us to honor Our Patroness, Mary, Assumed into Heaven.

Print the program or view it on your mobile device to join us in prayer.

Print the Program

K-1 Daily Schedule

8:05-8:15 Group Prayer/Virtues

8:15-8:25 Prayer/Attendance

8:25-8:50 Calendar

8:50-9:10 Language Arts Online

9:10-9:40 Independent Work Green Grammar/Red Math (Possible Group work for 1st)

9:40-10:10 Online Reading Lesson

10:10-10:25 Recess

10:25-11:15 Independent Work

11:15-12:00 Lunch and Recess

12:00-12:30 K-Free Play

1st- Free Play/Journals (Possible Group work for 1st)

12:30-1:00 Guided Math

1:00-1:20 Religion

1:20-1:35 Recess

1:35-2:00 Social Studies/Science/ “Theme”

2:00-2:15 Finish Uncompleted Work

2:15-2:30 Clean Work Space

2nd Grade Schedule

8:05-8:15 Group Prayer/ Virtues

8:20-8:30 Attendance/Prayer/Flag

8:30-9:10 Language Arts

9:10-10:10 Independent Reading activities and small group instruction

10:10-10:25 Recess (except Monday)

10:30-10:50 Math

10:50-11:15 Independent Math Work Time

11:15-12:00 Lunch and Recess

12:00-12:20 Prayer and Religion

12:25-1:05 Specials

1:05-1:20 Recess

1:20-1:50 Red Math Green Grammar (Available)

1:50-2:00 Correct Red Math and Green Grammar

2:00-2:20 Science Social Studies

3rd Grade Schedule

8:05-8:15 Group Prayer/Virtues

8:20-8:30 Prayer/ Attendance/ Flag/ Classroom Management

8:30-9:10 Language Arts: Spelling, Vocabulary, Reading (Monday: Students listen to story Tuesday: Teacher Reads, They read in small groups)

9:10-9:40 PE on Monday and Wednesday

9:10-9:40 Small Groups on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday

9:40-10:10 More language Arts (Small Groups)

10:10-10:25 Recess

10:30-11:15 Math Lesson Online

11:15-12:00 Lunch and Recess

12:00-12:30 Prayer and Religion Online

12:30-1:00 Red Math, Green Grammar (Independent work but Teacher available for support)

1:00-1:25 Correct Red Math and Green Grammar online

1:25-1:55 Specials

2:00-2:30 Science and Social Studies

4th-6th Grade Schedule

8:05-8:15 Group Prayer and Virtues

8:15-8:30 Prayer and Attendance

8:30-9:30 Reading/ Language Arts

9:30-10:00 Independent Work

10:00-10:10 Break

10:10-10:50 Science and Social Studies

10:50-11:20 Religion

11:20-12:20 Lunch and Recess

12:25-1:25 5/6th-PE or Music or Library

4th-Math

1:25-2:25 5/6th-Math

4th-PE or Music or Library

2:25-2:35 Clean up desk area

Junior High/High School Schedule

8:00-8:10 Group Prayer and Virtues

8:20-9:00 Mod 1

9:10-9:50 Mod 2

10:00-10:40 Mod 3

10:50-11:30 Mod 4

11:30-12:00 Lunch

12:00-12:40 Mod 5

12:50-1:30 Mod 6

1:40-2:20 Mod 7

2:30-3:15 Tests/Study Halls/ Etc (Except Wednesday)

Click here to view the WWCS COVID-19 webpage

Reopening Plan Community Meeting

Thursday, August 13, 2020

6:30 to 8 p.m.

Available via Zoom and Limited In-Person Seating

Please join us for an opportunity to hear from the school leadership and ask questions about the WWCS Reopening Plan.

Limited In-Person Attendance

The meeting will take place in the Aquinas Learning Center (DeSales Library). To attend the meeting in person, please sign up using the SignUp Genius Link.

Livestream

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Principles for Remote Learning

Should we need to transition to an online learning environment, Walla Walla Catholic Schools upholds the following Principles for Remote Learning:

Culture of Companionship

We learn at our best when we continually support each other. In a remote environment, this means continuing to build relationships and to support the spiritual, relational, emotional, and physical needs of students, parents, and teachers.

Culture of Clarity

Given the impediments inherent in remote learning, all instruction and learning will be focused around the very central and most essential standards which will allow students to continue their journey toward college and heaven.

Culture of Consistency and Correction

A consistent learning environment is one of the keys to fostering a healthy learning environment. However, consistency cannot become intransigence. Therefore, while the fundamental structures of remote learning will remain as consistent as possible, corrections within those structures will be made as we continue to learn how to best help students learn in extraordinary circumstances.

Culture of Communication

Balancing feedback from last semester, the WWCS is committed to keeping all families and community members informed of all important information, while striving not to overwhelm them through excessive or unclear communication.

Spiritual Reopening Preparation

A weekly Holy Hour for all students, families and faculties, hosted by WWCS will begin this Wednesday, August 5, and continue on Wednesdays in the coming weeks to help us prepare for the coming school year.

The Holy Hour begins at 3:30 p.m. at Assumption Church.