April 3, 2020
Dear Northern Light Community,
I hope you and your families have been able to enjoy some of the nicer spring weather despite the social distancing restrictions. Moments like these serve as reminders that we live in a world of sharp contrasts. On the one hand, the sounds of human social interaction in the parks, arenas, and cultural centers have gone quiet, but on the other, the sounds of nature have never been clearer. The solemn images on our browsers and televisions take place against the backdrop of children’s laughter and play.
And just as the physical experience of going to school is interrupted, new spaces, platforms, and possibilities for learning emerge, demonstrating how resourceful students, teachers, and schools can be when regular routines get upended. Take it from 5th grader Malia Walker, who recorded a short update on an exciting project she’s working on using
kinemaster
, a creative video editing app. Just another example of students expressing their boundless resilience and curiosity!
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Today I had the pleasure of participating in Ms. Faith’s virtual classroom, where (after playing Malia’s video through screen-share) she walked her students through an immersive and interactive lesson on composition, paraphrasing, and citation, while making use of the multimedia resources on
brainpop
. The kids (all wearing their favorite costumes to celebrate the final day before break!) all seemed primed to see each other and excited to learn after completing their Spanish activities through
Duolingo
.
These experiences remind us that a meaningful education – whether on the cloud, over zoom, in the classroom, or via hologram (it's good to think ahead, right?) – is all about engagement, participation, and connection, qualities that inform our conversations as a faculty about distance learning and learning in general.
For interested families,
check out this read
for how to best support distance learning from home.
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Campus Closure
This week, we were informed by
state and local authorities
that distance learning in
California's schools would continue until the end of the school year – a decision we expected. We know this decision places a significant burden on our community, and we are determined to support Northern Light families in whatever way we can. We are also committed to ensuring that our educational programming remains strong, robust, and healthy so students can continue their progress. On this note, I want to thank families that were able to join our administrative team for a
virtual CCC
on Thursday morning.
We will continue to host these meetings on a weekly basis so families have a platform to ask questions, offer feedback, and interact with school leadership.
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Update from our Business Office
As we continue to move through the current COVD-19 crisis, the Board of Trustees and NLS Financial Aid Committee are committed to working with families who are experiencing financial difficulties. Please contact Genevieve Jackson in our Business office at
[email protected]
to inquire about available options. Please include as much detail as possible in your requests, and the best time to reach you should we need clarification or any additional information. If you are currently enrolled in FACTS automated billing, please be aware that FACTS cannot change payment dates nor amounts due, the NLS Business Office must make changes from the school side of the portal. Due to the number of requests and the careful consideration each will need, we ask your patience with the turnaround time needed to process (it can take 1 to 3 business days for the information to be received and reviewed by the Financial Aid Committee).
In addition, we have extended the deadline to apply for financial aid for the 2020-201 school year to April 30, 2020
. We understand that your financial circumstances may currently be in flux, but urge that you complete the application process as soon as you are able. We will update as needed if there are significant changes.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns. – Genevieve Jackson
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A Spirit of Renewal
In closing, despite the all-encompassing nature of this crisis, one of the more pleasant surprises is the incredible spirit of collaboration among all the school's stakeholders. Many of us are getting to work with students, family, faculty, and supporters in new ways. We tackle challenges, trade stories, speak candidly, and watched as our dogs, kids, and relatives form the background of our Zoom meetings. Even our campus is participating in the spirit of renewal – freshly picked veggies (courtesy of Ms. Jeri) from our community garden!
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This is yet another example of the Northern Light spirit finding new and vibrant ways to express itself. Have a fantastic Spring Break, and wishing you and your families peace, happiness, and good health.
Warmly,
Roy Danovitch
Roy Danovitch
Head of School
Northern Light School
510.957.0570 ext. 205
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See what's happening on our social sites:
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