Dear Prep Community: Thank you for your understanding and patience as St. John's Prep makes the transition to remote learning, teaching, and operations. This week leading up to remote learning will allow time for faculty and staff to receive additional training on how to teach remotely, finish grading for the third quarter, and for students to complete any outstanding third quarter assignments. CAMPUS UPDATES As of Sunday evening, in accordance with Governor Baker's announcement, faculty, staff, and administration will transition to working remotely, effective Tuesday, March 17 at 3 pm. Essential personnel will continue to report to campus as long as remote operations remain in effect. In the event that you need to contact the Middle or High School Main Offices, please continue to dial 978-774-1050. Our Information Services department has been immensely helpful in ensuring that messages to the school will be received and transferred to the appropriate person, even though no staff will be on campus. An answering service is in place should an urgent matter need to be addressed. As a reminder, students will have access to campus to gather belongings and learning materials tomorrow (Tuesday, March 17) from 8 am to 2 pm. Students must check in at the appropriate main office; we also ask that students move quickly and efficiently. ASYNCHRONOUS EDUCATIONAL MODEL To those that participated in today's webinars, we greatly appreciate your questions and feedback. One of the questions we heard most frequently from students and parents was surrounding the concept of an asynchronous educational model. Generally speaking, an asynchronistic educational model means that the instruction and learning does not have to take place at the same time or location. In this learning model, teachers will be available to work with students online when classes would have met in person and will post assignments in Canvas that can be completed anytime prior to their due date. While each teacher will approach this differently, in essence, students will largely be responsible for learning on their own schedule. More information about guidelines and expectations for students will be sent to families this coming Wednesday, March 18. UPDATES TO COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS With the closure of all public and private schools in Massachusetts until April 6, changes have been made in the way that the Town of Danvers would report a presumptive positive or confirmed case of COVID-19 to St. John's Prep. Prior to the closures, the Town of Danvers would have reported a presumptive positive or confirmed COVID-19 case of a Prep student or member of the faculty or staff, directly to School officials. Now, the Massachusetts Department of Health (DPH) will report a presumptive positive or confirmed case to public health officials of local towns, who will then communicate with the case. Should you have questions about COVID-19 or the new communication protocols, please feel free to consult the CDC or Massachusetts DPH websites, or reach out to the following:
EVENTS This year's Xaverian value of humility speaks to the current uncertainty of our times, and to our transition to remote teaching and learning, in a special way. In the eyes of the Xaverian Brothers, the value of humility allows us to affirm our own gifts, as well as the gifts of others. It allows us to learn from each other and work together. It is a powerful source of unity that connects us all. We have every confidence that with patience—and humility—we will be able to engage with each other and the material in new and meaningful ways.
Ed Hardiman, Ph.D. Headmaster
Principal/Associate Head of School
72 Spring Street • Danvers, Massachusetts 01923 • 978-774-1050 |