As we enter into our last week of the 2019-20 school year, I want to thank our dedicated staff and parents for their hard work and perseverance as we navigated an online learning experience foreign to us all. While this transition to online learning has been difficult, it has been particularly challenging for our youngest students and their families. We recognize that remote learning is not the optimal platform for this age child. I want to thank families for partnering with us to offer the best support possible under the circumstances.
During the next two weeks, we will have a full re-entry task force meeting to continue our work in preparing for the opening of school.
Three scenarios will unfold during our task-force work:
- Health and Safety: please click here for initial considerations.
- Children’s House/Lower Elementary Considerations: For the CH/LE levels, we are developing a library of asynchronous (accessible anytime) instruction with a schedule intentionally designed to provide school/life balance and mindfulness. In addition, guides will continue to provide short and more frequent, synchronous (live) instruction via Zoom. A robust music, art, storytime, and other enrichment opportunities will also be offered.
- Online Learning: We have consulted with an online-teaching expert who has provided us valuable information on the creation of an enhanced online learning program to begin in September. This program is optimal in engaging students as they embrace the online learning process. While this was originally conceived for the elementary-aged child, families of younger children have also expressed interest in this program; therefore, this online learning program will also be offered at this younger level. During this two-week period, we will finish the financial process of determining the tuition cost for the full-year, online option.
Our mission at Thacher is to continue to educate the whole child, encourage the pursuit of individual passions, promote life balance, build confidence, and provide multi-sensory learning experiences. Thacher's learning model will blend daily synchronous and asynchronous learning to provide the full scope of the online experience.
As I shared with you last week, although we do not know what COVID-19 has in store for us next year, one thing is certain--
Thacher Montessori will always be in school, whether on campus or virtually.
As quoted by Madlena Ulrich and Carla Foster, lecturers in Further Education in Montessori Pedagogy at the University of South-Eastern Norway,
“The basis of Montessori pedagogy is not necessarily the use of our teaching materials, but is first and foremost a vision of children, of learning and of the role of the teacher that we should and can maintain, whether we find ourselves indoors or outside; with Montessori materials or without them.”
I look forward to our continued partnership next year and beyond.
Deba Dunn Palma
Head of School
Thacher Montessori School
