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NEASC Virtual Global Forum

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

DEI in Learning Communities

Schedule

Live webinar + Q&A with panelists

Tuesday, April 27, 2021
9:00-10:00 a.m. ET
14:00 BST London / 17:00 GST Dubai / 21:00 CST Beijing

Description

Schools around the world have been increasing their efforts to raise awareness around issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in order to promote school cultures that reinforce these values. Join us as we talk to students and school leaders from a variety of schools about steps they have taken to make all students feel seen and heard.

Platform: Zoom

Panelists

Students and school leaders from the following schools will participate in the webinar:

Helsinki International School, Helsinki, Finland
St. Lukes, New Cannan, Connecticut, USA
St. Bernards, Fitchburg, Massachusetts, USA
Sutton High School, Sutton, Massachusetts, USA

Register now
#NEASCforum

We created the "NEASC Virtual Global Forum" - our ongoing webinar series - as a space to connect educators around the world through peer discourse, debate, and discussion of current, relevant topics.

Upcoming webinars
Save the dates!
2021: May 4, May 18, June 8

Thank you for joining the webinars, contributing your questions, and sharing your thoughts with us. We are tracking the questions and topic suggestions that webinar attendees have submitted and will continue to develop future sessions based on your interests. 

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Webinar Archives

#NEASCforum webinars are recorded and made publicly available for on-demand viewing - usually within 24 hours of the original broadcast. Please browse the archives of past sessions here or view all available videos on the #NEASCforum YouTube playlist

Click a topic below to access recordings and related resources.

 

Essential Assessment (23 March 2021)

View webinar recording

View/download presentation (pdf)

This webinar explores the ways teachers at the Francis Wayland Parker Charter Essential School and Theodore R. Sizer Teachers' Center in Devens, Massachusetts, USA, design, fine-tune, and instruct toward assessment competencies. You will hear from students, teachers, and the director of the Sizer Teachers’ Center about creating engaging assessments for students. Students at the Parker School, from grades 7-12, demonstrate their deepest learning across all disciplines through assessment projects designed by their teachers, creating opportunities for rigorous engagement and student choice. Students are assessed for mastery of a lean set of school-wide competencies. 

Panelists

Colleen L. Meaney, Director, Sizer Teacher Center
Diane Kruse, Math, Science, and Technology Domain Leader
plus students representing the Parker School

The Parker School and Sizer Teachers Center were born into a progressive community of schools, the Coalition of Essential Schools, and were set in motion by Theodore R. Sizer, former Dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Resources

Parker School:

NEASC Standards for Accreditation

Resources for Assessment in Project-Based Learning (www.edutopia.org)

Student Portfolios as an Assessment Tool (educationworld.com)

How Students Benefit From Project-Based Assessments (With Examples) (schoology.com)

How to Design Assessments That Promote The Learning Process (elearningindustry.com)

Great Schools Partnership:

Teaching Strategies for the 8 Different Learning Styles

Nine Do’s and Don’ts for Cultivating Student Autonomy (edweek.org)

Student Engagement in Assessments: What Students and Teachers Find Engaging (edpolicy.stanford.edu)

High-quality collaboration benefits teachers and students (learningforward.org)

ASCD.org:

6 Tips for Creating Powerful Assessments for Your Students (gettingsmart.com)

Student social-emotional health - perspectives, pathways, possibilities (2 March 2021)

View webinar recording

Panelists from three distinct schools and the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence (YCEI) shared their perspectives on the social-emotional health of students and building skills within a school community that will support and sustain positive emotional climates. A variety of paths forward to developing emotional intelligence and a healthier school environment were discussed.

Resources

COVID-19

Emotional Intelligence

RULER - an evidence-based approach to social and emotional learning (SEL) developed at YCEI

Free Course - Managing Emotions in Times of Uncertainty & Stress (offered by Yale)

The Conflict Blueprint (Sesa Woruban Integrated Counselling Services, Inc.)

Panelists

Holly Brabson - School Adjustment Counselor
Manchester Essex Regional High School - Manchester-by-the Sea, MA, USA

Joe Elbertson, YCEI Trainer, Music Teacher
Kolbe Cathedral HS - Bridgeport, CT, USA

Nicole Elbertson, Director of Content and Communication
Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence (YCEI), New Haven, CT, USA

Jeff Levin, Life Coach
Worked with Bishop Guertin High School

Tricia Puglisi - Principal
Manchester Essex Regional High School - Manchester-by-the Sea, MA, USA

Jason Strniste, Principal
Bishop Guertin High School - Nashua, NH, USA

Reflections on Virtual Accreditation Visits (9 February 2021)

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NEASC successfully conducted 91 virtual accreditation visits in the fall of 2020. This webinar centers on a conversation about preparing for and participating in a virtual school visit as part of the NEASC Accreditation cycle. To share insights from both sides of the process, schools that have hosted Visiting Teams and NEASC volunteers who have served on those Teams share their experiences, advice, and perspectives.

Panelists:
John Clements, Principal - Nipmuc High School, Upton, MA, USA
Shirley Jacobsen, Head of Primary School - Rygaards International School, Copenhagen/Hellerup, Denmark
Carl Johnson, Principal - Plainville High School, Plainville, CT, USA
Patti Marshall, Head of School - American School of Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
Christine Page, Principal - West Bridgewater High School, West Bridgewater, MA, USA
Mark Schulz, Deputy Director - Zurich International School, Wädenswil, Switzerland
Artis Street, Transformational Coach & Technology Coordinator - Jeremiah Burke High School, Boston, MA, USA

A Model for High Quality, Equitable Distance Learning (17 November 2020)

View webinar recording

Presentation from CPRL

Presentation from Bethel Public Schools

Presentation from Farmington Public Schools

Presented in collaboration with the Center for Public Research and Leadership, Columbia University
The Connecticut State Department of Education, the Columbia University Center for Public Research and Leadership (CPRL), and the Connecticut Educational Partners collaborated to create guidance for schools and district for the development of high quality distance learning to respond to the COVID pandemic. This webinar will feature representatives from Columbia to explain the model and the methods used to create it. They will also share the resources developed to support the model. The forum will also feature several school superintendents from Connecticut who are using the model in the districts. They will discuss the successes and the challenges they have faced during the implementation of the recommendations.

Guest Panelists:
Elizabeth Chu, Executive Director, Center for Public Research and Leadership, Columbia
Michael Arrington, Evolutionary Learning Associate, Center for Public Research and Leadership, Columbia
Kathleen C. Greider, Superintendent of Schools, Farmington Public Schools, CT
Christine Carver, Superintendent of Schools, Bethel Public Schools, CT

Election 2020: Building school community through conversation (20 October 2020)

View webinar recording | View the presentation

Featuring the students of Walnut Hill School for the Arts in Natick, Massachusetts 

As did many US schools, Walnut Hill School for the Arts found themselves unprepared for life after the presidential election in 2016. Determined to build awareness of issues in advance of the election this November, they initiated a holistic approach to strengthening their school community by encouraging non-partisan conversation around 2020 election topics.

In this webinar presentation (designed by the students themselves), a panel of Walnut Hill students and their advisor shared tools they have learned to engage community-wide dialogues across differences. We hope attendees will feel empowered to do the same within their own schools — whether in the US or other countries — and continue similar reflections on issues and questions that will live long after the 2020 Election. 

Resources shared during the webinar include:

WHE the People! (Walnut Hill Election)
Teach and Learn with the 2020 Election
Distinguishing Between Debate and Dialogue 
Three-day mock election simulation lesson
Hold a Mock Presidential Election
Teach and Learn With the 2020 Election
Three Activities for Understanding the Electoral College
Seven engaging civics lesson plans
10 Activities That Teach the Presidential Election Process
Young People Make Their Voices Heard Election 2020
Updates from On & Off the Hill
Lesson Plan: 2020 Presidential Debate Viewing Guides

College admissions: A look inside and a look ahead (6 October 2020)

View webinar recording

Presented in partnership with the New England Association for College Admission Counseling (NEACAC)
With the help of NEACAC, we gathered a panel of admissions professionals from a diverse selection of New England colleges, plus a college counselor from a high school, to discuss the impacts that COVID-19 has had on the college selection process and evaluation of applicants: the minor, major, temporary, and potentially permanent outcomes. 

Panelists:

Brennan Barnard, Director of College Counseling and Outreach - The Derryfield School, Manchester, New Hampshire, USA
Christina Berardi, Senior Associate Dean of Admissions - Salve Regina University, Newport, Rhode Island, USA
Anthony Berry, Director of Admissions and Special Assistant to the Vice President for Strategic Initiatives - Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut, USA
Jayson Hodge, Associate Director Special Programs, First-Year Admissions - University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
Amy Lee, Assistant Dean of Enrollment, Director of Admissions - Southern Maine Community College, Portland, Maine, USA

Resources shared during the webinar include:

Standardized Testing

Affordability and Access

International Admissions

  • How to Study in the United States: Find out how you can visit the United States as a student, where to learn English, and how the US educational system works (USA.gov)

Deferrals:

​General

Virtual College Fairs

 

 


 



 


 

The realities of reopening: Addressing the needs of our most vulnerable students (22 Sept 2020)

View webinar recording 

This pandemic has been a challenge for all students, but particularly for those in vulnerable circumstances. We asked leaders from independent and public schools to talk about how they are addressing the needs of their most vulnerable students, including what structures and processes they have put place to assess and meet their needs, and what has worked well and why.

Panelists:

Almi Guajardo Abeyta
Superintendent, Chelsea Public Schools - Chelsea, MA, USA

Don Concascia
Principal, Eli Whitney Technical High School - Hamden, CT, USA

Daniel J. Ferris
Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Diocese of Providence - Providence, RI, USA

Angela C. Pohlen
Executive Director, Catholic Academy of Bridgeport - Bridgeport, CT, USA

Holly Singleton
Associate Head of School, Woodstock Academy - Woodstock, CT, USA

The realities of reopening: International schools (8 Sept 2020)

View webinar recording

Teachers and students from the Western Academy of Beijing and Zurich International School - both schools that are back in session with in-person classes - discussed the realities of implementing COVID-19 strategies for classroom and hybrid education: what's working, what didn't work as planned, and how they have handled unexpected changes. 

Resources and articles of interest shared during the webinar include:

Teaching Social-Emotional Skills Amid COVID-19 (EdWeek, 2 September 2020)

How to Support Teachers’ Emotional Needs Right Now (Greater Good Magazine, 30 April 2020)

Reunite, Renew, and Thrive: Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Roadmap for Reopening School (casel.org, July 2020)

Planning for a successful start: Part 2 - High school (25 August 2020)

View webinar recording

Preparing for back-to-school during COVID-19

Whether you are going back to your classroom in-person and/or virtually, our guest panelists hope to share some practical tips and tools — teacher to teacher — to help you prepare for back-to-school in the midst of the evolving pandemic. High school teachers from public, independent, and international secondary schools have been invited to share their ideas and perspectives.

Panelists:

Anny Candelario Escobar
Instructor, Mathematics; Dean, West Quad S. Cluster
Phillips Academy - Andover, Massachusetts, USA  [grades 9-12; private boarding/day, coed]
view the school opening plan

Jennifer C. Field MAT, MFS
Science Department Chair
Nipmuc Regional High School - Upton, Massachusetts, USA [grades 9-12, public]
view Nipmuc Principals' blog/reopening updates

Cristina Hernández-Persia
Teacher, English Language Arts and English as a Second Language
The English High School - Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, USA [grades 9-12, public]
view the EHS student/family site for school closure resources

Cheryl Hickman
Teacher, Upper School Science and PLC Coordinator
The International School of Belgrade - Belgrade, Serbia [grades PS-12, international]
view the ISB COVID information page

Jitendra Pandey 
MYP Coordinator 
Stonehill International School - Bangalore, India [grades PS-12, international]

Davis Smith MD
Director of Health Services/Medical Director
Westminster School - Simsbury, Connecticut, USA [grades 9-12; private boarding/day, coed]

Planning for a successful start: Part 1 - Elementary and middle school (11 August 2020)

View webinar recording

Planning for a successful start: Preparing for back-to-school during COVID-19
Part 1 - Elementary and middle school focus

For this webinar, we invited teachers from public, independent, and international Pre-K–8 schools to share some practical tools and tips they are implementing to get their classrooms — virtual, in-person, and/or hybrid — ready for what looks to be a very unpredictable school year.

This session is focused on working younger students. Part 2, to be held on August 25th, will focus on high school teachers.

Panelists:

David Barton - Teacher, Grade 5 
Falmouth Elementary School - Falmouth, Maine, USA [public school, K–5] 
Fall 2020 Reopening Plan - Falmouth Public Schools, Maine

Abbie Calvert - Teacher, Pre-kindergarten 
The Friendship School - Waterford, Connecticut, USA [public magnet school, PK–Kindergarten] 
The Friendship School COVID-19 updates / LEARN

Jolene Cummings - ELA Teacher, Grades 6–8 
Next Generation School - Dubai, United Arab Emirates [international, K–12] 
Protocols for the Reopening of Private Schools in Dubai (pdf)
MBRU online course/"community immunity" ambassador program for COVID-19  (best for middle schoolers)

Heidi Freeman - Teacher, Grade 2 
American School of The Hague – Wassenaar, The Netherlands [international, PS–12] 
American School of the Hague Learning Roadmap (Fall 2020)

Lori Özmay - Teacher/Coordinator, Grade 3 
Bilkent Laboratory & International School (BLIS) - Ankara, Turkey [international school, PK–12] 
BLIS Pandemic Response | BLIS Elementary School Reopening Plan

Kristin Roberto  - Teacher, Grade 5 
Mercymount Country Day School - Cumberland, Rhode Island, USA [private, Catholic, PK–8] 
Mercymount Reopening Plan (Draft 17 July 2020)

Webinar poll results:

  • Teacher Poll 1: Which model is your school reopening with? Today's webinar participants answered: 30% in-person; 19% fully remote; 51% hybrid
  • Teacher Poll 2: The remote learning platforms most used by our webinar attendees today are Google Classroom/G-Suite, Zoom, Seesaw, Kahoot, and FlipGrid
  • Teacher Poll 3: How are you feeling about going back to your classroom in-person (full time or hybrid)?
    • 48% of webinar participants "Have concerns, but think the benefits are worth the risks"
    • 29% are "Excited to go back"
    • 14% selected "Unable to go back to the classroom, but wish I could" 
    • 9% selected "Unwilling to go back; do not think the risks are worth it"

Resources and articles of interest shared during the webinar include:

Discovery Education: Virtual Field Trips

COVID-19 Back to School PlayBook: Guiding Principles to Keep Students, Teachers, and Staff Safe in K-12 Schools (unmc.edu)

Teaching English Online (free online course, Cambridge University) 

ShowMe 

theminglemask.com (clear face masks)

Some COVID-19 questions to ask your class (provided by Jolene at NGS):

  • In what ways do we need to think differently about health and well-being as we address challenges such as the global pandemic?
  • How might a global pandemic present opportunities and possibilities to create a better society for all?

Some specific tips shared: 

  • Have each student bring in the device(s) they will use for remote learning (if they can) in the first week of school so that teachers can help learn to navigate online work from the actual device they will be using at home.
  • Use yoga mats for lunch outside, small group spacing in the classroom, etc. (a clear and fun way to create appropriate physical distancing).

Q&A with the panelists:

Q: Have any of you had the students do a “training” day at your school and sign off for taking part in the solution.
A: No

Q: Any circle time seating ideas for early years?
A: Each student will bring a beach towel for floor sitting. Also, drawing circles for each student, on rug, with chalk.

Q: Are any of you doing live streaming of your lessons when you are teaching to multiple spaces for smaller cohorts? If so, what tech are you using?
A: No. stay in same seat for the day. teachers move. if they move, it will be strictly with social distancing in place and frequent cleaning; but we are using the library. (Jolene) 

Q: Do one way traffic patterns infere with fire exit movement?
A: Probably follow similar movement to the fire.

Q: Can you talk about some of the "anxieties" that were mentioned?
A: The anxieties that I mentioned have to do with the ever present 'unknown'. I work well in routine and when I know what is happening.  In my situation, we are still unclear how we will be moving forward 100%, this is causing my anxiety.  Also, this situation is asking teachers, students, family and administration to all trust one another.  This means that I am required to give up a lot of control that I would normally have, and trust other people, not only about physical health, but also about emotional health, limits and potential for burnout etc.  I am also worried as a parent for my own children, of course I trust my colleagues but again, there are two more trust circles (I have two children) that I must give up control to, and trust.  These are some of the anxieties just around school, of course I am also worried about my older parents and inlaws etc etc.  (Lori)

Q: Any ideas for managing a safe recess time?
A: We are only allowing two grade levels out together at break time and have divided that playground up into areas and students will go to the area with their class and at least one of their teachers only.  We are to encourage them to not touch one another, to keep their masks on, and to wash their hands before and after each break. (Lori)

Q: Request to throw some light on what norms should teachers follow - in classrooms, labs, library , dinning hall, hallways.
A: Teachers will be social distancing as per governent requirements. Likely we wont have much down time as there will be a lot more hyper-vigilant supervision needed. As we're blended, non-contact time will logging in and checking in on students who are working at home. We will have to force ourselves to take a break.

 

 

An in-depth look at school reopening (28 July 2020)

View webinar recording

An in-depth look at school reopening: One district’s story of grappling with guidelines, planning, and the uncertainty of the fall
As public health officials and departments of education continue to debate whether or not in-person classes should commence this fall, districts must forge ahead with preparations for reopening schools that accommodate a multitude of scenarios and restrictions. Every school’s story is unique – but in the hopes of taking a deeper dive into what school's are experiencing, we invited the superintendent and members from the School Administrative Unit #39 based in Amherst, New Hampshire, USA community who helped develop their reopening plan to share how they are implementing safety guidelines, communicating with constituents, and maintaining staff and student spirits in the midst of public pressure and constantly changing expectations.

Panelists:
Adam Steel (Superintendent, SAU #39), Stephen O'Keefe (school board member), Deanna Cordts (nurse), Katy Kennedy (teacher, grade 2), plus a parent and a student.

Resources and articles of interest shared during the webinar include:

SAU #39 2020 Reopening Plan - Presentation (pdf)

SAU #39 2020 Reopening Plan - Full document, Draft 2.0, 23 July 2020 (pdf)

SAU #39 Reopening Task Force

Preparing K-12 School Administrators for a Safe Return to School in Fall 2020 (CDC)

Cloth Face Coverings for Children During COVID-19 (healthychildren.org)

Maslow Before Bloom: Basic Human Needs Before Academics (Dr. Bryan Pearlman, May 2, 2020)
 

Restarting School Athletics and Activities (14 July 2020)

View webinar recording

The directors of several athletic programs and associations in the US and abroad discuss the challenges facing schools and districts that are restarting or planning to restart school athletics and other activity programs.

Panelists:
Carol Dozibrin, Executive Director, New Hampshire Athletic Directors Association (NHADA)
Martin Halpin, Athletics and Activities Director, Western Academy of Beijing, China
Mike Lunney, Incoming Executive Director, Rhode Island Interscholastic League (RIIL)
Karissa Niehoff, Executive Director, National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)
Lamar Reddicks, Athletic Director, Milton Academy, Milton, Massachusetts, USA
David Utterback, Athletic Director, Brewer High School, Maine, USA

Resources and articles of interest shared during the webinar include:

Summary and links to "return-to-sports" guidance published in each state (NFHS)

NFHS membership survey - "return-to-sports" plans (spreadsheet)

Guidance for State Associations to Consider in Re-opening High School Athletics and Other Activities (NFHS, May 19, 2020)

Considerations for Youth Sports (CDC)

School Reentry Considerations (SHAPE America)

NHADA Return to Play Task Force COVID-19 Guidelines and Supporting Documentation (June 24, 2020)

Health/PE/Coaching Resources for all grade levels, Massachusetts Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (MAHPERD)

Globetrottin' ADs Summer Conference - July 22, 2020

Brewer athletic administrator proposes a switch in high school sports seasons (Bangor Daily News, 12 June 2020)

Alternative Options to Traditional Sport Seasons (David Utterback, Athletic Director, Brewer High School, Maine)

National State of the Game (David Utterback, Athletic Director, Brewer High School, Maine)

Sports Advisory Task Force that consolidates the traditional calendar for scholastic athletics (Bridgewater Courier News, 9 July 2020)

The Ivy League cancels football and all other sports for the fall semester (CNN, 8 July 2020)

COVID-19 Pandemic: Tips for Athletes, Coaches, Parents, and the Sport Community (Association for Applied Sport Psychology’s (AASP))

How to clean your gym (National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM))

COVID-19 for Coaches and Administrators (free online course, www.nfhslearn.com)

COVID-19 Return-to-Sport Considerations for Secondary School Athletic Trainers (National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA))

Massachusetts Safety and Reopening Standards for Businesses and Other Entities Providing Youth and Adult Amateur Sports Activities (6 July 2020)

Reflections from the Pandemic (23 June 2020)

View webinar recording

A panel of 12 teachers, administrators, and students from across the NEASC community joined us to reflect on highlights from the last few months (professional and personal), what has kept them inspired throughout the pandemic and school closures, and what lessons from this challenging time they will take with them into the future. We added the same questions we asked our webinar guests to the registration form and the positive responses we received allowed us to share an inspiring collection of thoughts and lessons-learned with all webinar attendees. We appreciate your participation!

Reopening schools in New England: A conversation with state representatives (16 June 2020)

View webinar recording

We invited state representatives to join us for a conversation about the status and plans for reopening schools in New England. The process each state is using to determine reopening guidelines, what supports will be made available for schools, how states are dealing with budget shortfalls in the wake of rising costs to operate schools safely, and concerns expressed by constituents are a few of the issues covered.

Panelists:

CONNECTICUT - Desi Nesmith
Deputy Commissioner, Connecticut State Department of Education
CT Department of Education COVID-19 Resources

MAINE - Daniel A. Chuhta
Deputy Commissioner, Maine Department of Education
ME Department of Education COVID-19 Resources
Working Draft: Maine Schools Return to Classroom Instruction Framework

MASSACHUSETTS - Robert Baldwin 
Superintendent, Fairhaven Public Schools
Incoming President, Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents
MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education COVID-19 Information and Resources​

NEW HAMPSHIRE - Frank Edelblut
Education Commissioner, New Hampshire Department of Education
NH Department of Education COVID-19 Resources 

RHODE ISLAND - Kristen Danusis
Project Manager for the Re-entry Schools Taskforce, Rhode Island Department of Education
RIDE COVID-19 Updates and Resources 
RIDE unified calendar for the 2020-21 school year (pdf)

VERMONT - Please note that, unfortunately, the Agency of Education in Vermont was not able to participate, but we hope you find the following resources useful:
COVID-19 Guidance for Vermont Schools

The new normal: Updates from a reopened school (9 June 2020)

View webinar recording

Community members from the Frankfurt International School  joined us for a follow-up conversation to the May 2nd Forum to share how things are going five weeks after reopening their campus. We checked in to see how they are adapting to new routines and restrictions, how the changes are affecting learning, and how they are feeling to be back at school.

Panelists:

Paul Fochtman, Head of School
Grace McCallum, Elementary School Principal
Yolanda Murphy-Barrena, Guest Principal, Wiesbaden Campus  
Kathleen Ralf, Upper School, English & Humanities Teacher
John Switzer, Upper School Principal
Student panelists (grades 8 and 11)

Resources and articles of interest shared during the webinar include:

Videos from FIS Media: Reopening  |  Graduation 2020

Videos from FIS Media together with the students: "Don't Be a COVID" | Tips on Hygiene

Articles by Kathleen Ralf:
Fixing the Feedback Loop
More Tour Guide, Less Teacher
Hello from the Land of Hybrid

Resources for summer PD from Global Online Academy (where Kathleen is also an instructor): Design Bootcamp  |  Designing for Online Learning Series

Continuity of Learning: Planning Guide for Teachers (PDF) (Ministry of Learning, British Columbia)

Millions of kids around the world adjust to school in the coronavirus era (CBSnews.com, May 21, 2020)

Schools in Japan reopen with new rules to help stop spread of covid-19 (WashingtonPost.com)

What does a digital gym class look like? Physical education teachers wrestle with major changes (BurlingtonFreePress.com, March 27, 2020)

How schools around the world are reopening during the coronavirus pandemic (ABCnews.com, May 17, 2020)

COVID-19: Report Offers 'Blueprint' for Reopening Schools and Beyond (EdWeek.org, May 4, 2020)

Denver Public Schools likely to mix in-person classes with remote learning beginning in August (DenverPost.com, May, 2020)

Seattle schools consider partial or full remote learning in fall (King5.com, June 3, 2020)

Prioritise play when schools reopen, say mental health experts (TheGuardian.com, May 7, 2020)

5 ways we'll focus on pupil mental health on reopening (tes.com, May 9, 2020 - A primary teacher in The Netherlands explains how her school will make mental health a priority when it reopens next week)

Lessons learned from the return to school  (CBC.com, May 26, 2020 - Western Quebec teacher Letha Henry shares what it’s like to be back in class during COVID-19)

 

 

Boarding schools: Ideas and innovations for reopening safely (02 June 2020)

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We invited the heads of several boarding schools in the US and abroad to discuss the unique circumstances faced by their schools due to COVID-19 school closures and to share ideas and innovations under consideration in order to safely reopen their campuses.

Panelists:

Brad Bates, Head of School, The Dublin School, Dublin, NH, USA
Independent boarding and day school; Grades 9-12; 163 students | 72% residential

Kathy Giles, Rector, St. Paul's School, Concord, NH, USA
Coeducational, preparatory boarding school; Grades 9-12; 536 students | 100% residential
St. Paul's Response to COVID-19

John Kerney Chief Executive Officer / Executive Director, The Winchendon School, Winchendon, MA, USA
Coeducational, preparatory boarding and day school; 2 campuses, one in MA, one in NY; Grades 9-PG; 333 students | 64% residential (Winchendon campus)
Winchendon's reponse to COVID-19

Pelham Lindfield Roberts, Principal, UWC Changshu China
International boarding school; Grades 10-12; 577 students | 100% residential
Status: Re-opened on May 6th for Pre DP and DP1 students who can reach the campus in China; extended AY to 20th June

Marc-F. Ott, Ed.D., Head of School, Leysin American School, Leysin, Switzerland
International boarding school; Grades 8-12 | 100% residential

Dr. Kate Windsor, Head of School, Miss Porter's School, Farmington, CT, USA
Private college preparatory school for girls; Grades 9-12; 331 students | 68% residential

Dr. Jennifer Zaccara, Head of School, Vermont Academy, Saxtons River, VT, USA
Coed college preparatory boarding and day school; Grades 9-12, plus a postgraduate year; 210 students | 76% residential

Resources and articles of interest shared during the webinar include:

Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for educational settings (gov.uk)

COVID-19 (coronavirus) Resources for Schools (NH Dept of Education)

COVID-SAFE CHARTER for boarding schools (Boarding School Association)

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance for Schools (National Association of Independent Schools)

5 actions boarding school leaders should consider when navigating COVID-19 (EAB)

Deerfield Academy COVID-19 Updates and Information

Making the Most of COVID-19 School Closures (Neuropsychology & Education Services for Children & Adolescents/NESCA)

Environmental Health & Engineering, Inc. Resource Library

COVID-19 Memo #18 Youth Camp Guidance (CT Office of Early Education)

Camp Operations Guide Summer 2020 (American Camp Association)

Return to Play: COVID-19 Risk Assessment Tool (Aspen Institute)

Guidance for Opening Up High School Athletics and Activities (National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC))

13 Everyday Habits That Could (and Should) Change Forever After Coronavirus (rd.com)

How The COVID-19 Pandemic Will Change the Way We Live (discovermagazine.com)

 

A focus on students: Supporting special needs and well-being during school closures (26 May 2020)

View webinar recording

Special educators, school counselors, and school support personnel will share the challenges and successes of providing remote support for distance learning and the social/emotional needs of students during school closures.

Panelists:

Dr. Hélène Dionne
Director of Counseling Services, Landmark School, Prides Crossing, MA, USA
Coeducational school for students diagnosed with dyslexia or another language-based learning disability (LBLD), private/day and residential, grades 2-12 
 
Michael Donahue
Special Education Team Chair, Hopkinton High School, Hopkinton, MA, USA
public, grades 9-12
  
Cynthia McCobb
Counselor, Clinton Avenue School and Edgewood Magnet School, New Haven, CT, USA
magnet schools, grades K-8
 
Jason Roderick, MSW
Director of Counseling Services and Wellness Coordinator, Providence Country Day School, East Providence, RI, USA
private/day, grades 6-12

Angela Smith 
Upper Primary Principal, English Modern School, Doha, Qatar 
international, grades KG1-6 

Debbie Stanton
Head of Upper School Student Services, Upper School Guidance Counsellor & DDSL, ACS International School Egham, London, England
international, grades 6-12

Teacher reflections from the frontlines (19 May 2020)

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For this webinar, a diverse group of teachers from independent, public, and international schools joined us to reflect on the last several months of working remotely to support and maintain learning opportunities for their students during the global COVID-19 crisis. Panelists shared lessons learned, personal strategies for reaching struggling learners and delivering their content, how this experience has affected their current/future approach to teaching.

Panelists:

Susan Bralower, 8th Grade Science Teacher/Middle School Science Chair
St. Luke's School (private/day), New Canaan, Connecticut, USA  | @StLukesSchool

Adam Chapa, Elementary Music and Band Teacher
Shanghai American School, Pudong Campus, Shanghai, China | @SASchina

Caitlin Harrison, Year 5 Classroom Teacher
Bishop Mackenzie International School, Lilongwe, Malawi | @BMISworld

Lisa Leaheey, High School English Teacher
North Providence High School (public), Rhode Island, USA | @LisaPas220

Kristina Lewis RN-BSN, Medical Occupations Instructor/Registered Nurse
Westbrook Regional Vocational Center (WRVC) Westbrook, Maine, USA) | #MaineCTE

Dr. Carl Reid, High School Science Lead Teacher
Jeremiah E. Burke High School (public), Boston, Masschusetts, USA | #jeremiahburkehighschool

Laura Thevenin, Prekinder A Teacher (4 year olds)
Puntacana International School, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic | @puntacanainternationalschool

Resources and articles of interest shared during the webinar include:

Boomlearning (Boom Cards)

Edpuzzle

Noredink

Parlay

5 Ways to Motivate Kids During COVID-19 Distance Learning

6 Tips for Teaching Remotely Over the Long Haul of the Coronavirus

7 Ways to Maintain Relationships During Your School Closure

Coronavirus: 11 tips for using Google Classroom

Counselors and Educators Should Check-in With Students, Prioritize Mental Health and Well-being During Coronavirus (COVID-19) School Closures

Exhausted and Grieving: Teaching During the Coronavirus Crisis

How Nevada teachers can cope during coronavirus crisis

How will schools look different this fall? Here are some options being considered

How Technological Innovation In Education Is Taking On COVID-19

Staying in Touch: Why Kids Need Teachers During Coronavirus School Closings

Teaching lab sciences and the fine arts during COVID-19

What can COVID-19 teach us about strengthening education systems?

 

Reopening schools safely: Insights, successes, and lessons learned (12 May 2020)

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A conversation with the heads from several international schools who have begun the process of reopening their schools for in-person classes.

Panelists:

Paul Fochtman, Head of School, Frankfurt International School, Oberursel, Germany
School status: Reopened May 4, 2020

Shirley Jacobsen, Head of Rygaards International Primary School, Copenhagen/Hellerup, Denmark [School status: Reopened April 15, 2020]
Articles:
What is it like in Denmark's reopened schools? (tes.com, 23 April 2020)
Life in Danish primary schools 4 weeks after reopening (tes.com, 13 May 2020)

Kevin Skeoch, Head of School, Dwight School Seoul, Korea [School status: Reopening in mid-May]
Articles:
Education during the days of COVID-19 (The Korea Herald, 19 May 2020)

Andrew Cross, Head of School, International School of Hamburg, Germany [School status: Reopened May 4, 2020]

Resources shared during the webinar include:

Coronavirus: 8 ways to handle parent communications (Grainne Hallahan, tes.com, March 24, 2020)

International School Recovery Forum for Covid-19

Shanghai American School Re-opening Plan

5 actions boarding school leaders should consider when navigating COVID-19 (Margaret Sullivan, eab.com, March 13, 2020)

Coronavirus: 5 staff wellbeing tips for closed schools (Ben Keeling, tes.com, March 12, 2020)
Hong Kong-based principal Ben Keeling explains how to make sure that anxiety doesn’t spread during Coronavirus-related school closures

Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators (Elena Aguilar, 2018)

Happy Teachers Change the World: A Guide for Cultivating Mindfulness in Education (Thich Nhat Hanh, Katherine Weare; 2017)

The Mayo Clinic Handbook for Happiness: A Four-Step Plan for Resilient Living (2015)

Articles of interest:

How schools around the world are re-opening and maintaining social distancing at the same time (Sanjana Varghese, msn.com, April 27, 2020)

Denmark's return to school gives glimpse of what classrooms will look like post-lockdown (Susanne Gargiulo, cnn.com, April 17, 2020)

Reopening schools will be pricey and complicated, L.A. schools chief warns (Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times.com, May 11, 2020)

Preparing for the end of the school year: Academic closure and year-end celebrations (05 May 2020)

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School administrators at independent, public, and international schools joined us in a round table discussion about wrapping up the school year and planning for end-of-year celebrations in a virtual world, and a few thoughts and concerns about the summer and months ahead.

A special 30-minute live Q&A answering questions submitted by attendees concluded the session.

Panelists:

Kai Bynum, Head of School, Hopkins School, New Haven, Connecticut USA
COVID-19 Updates

Charles "Charlie” Cahn, Head of School, Suffield Academy, Suffield, Connecticut USA

Andreas Koini, Director, Antwerp International School, Antwerp, Belgium 
AIS’s Virtual Visual Arts Diploma Exhibition

Madeleine Maceda Heide, Superintendent, Asociación Escuelas Lincoln, La Lucila, Argentina
Community Wellness

Anna Mahon, Principal, Amity High School, Amity, Connecticut USA
COVID-19 Resources and Reopening Plan

Kevin McCaskill, Executive Director, Madison Park Vocational Technical High School, Boston, Massachusetts USA
School-Community Partnerships

Alex Zequeira, Headmaster, St. John's High School, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts USA

Resources shared during the webinar include:

Great End-of-Year Lessons

37 Awesome End of the Year Activities

Calling for Volunteers for Wellness Opportunities!

Teachers and Students Thrive with Online Learning

 

Student Voices: Distance learning during COVID-19 (28 April 2020)

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Panelists:

We invited a small group of students (grades 5-12) representing public schools in the U.S., independent schools, and international schools (Helsinki and Shaghai are represented) to tell us what's on their minds about the transition to distance learning during COVID-19 school closures. Hear how they have been coping, what they miss — and don't — about going to school, and what they'd like their teachers and parents to know about their recent experiences. 

Schools represented: 
Holderness School (private), Holderness, New Hampshire, USA
Hopkinton Middle School (public), Hopkington, Massachusetts, USA
International School of Helsinki, Finland
Shanghai American School (international), China
Souhegan High School (public), Amherst, New Hampshire, USA

Assessment and grading during COVID-19 (21 April 2020)

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In this webinar we will discuss effective assessment strategies for students in a digital environment as well as the implications for grading during COVID-19 school closures. We will be responding to questions posed by participants in our previous webinars such as: How do we know what students know and can do in a virtual environment? What are all the considerations in determining how student performance will be recorded and communicated during this time? What types of assessment practices will be most successful in a digital environment? What are some suggestions for alternative or non-traditional assessment pathways in the Covid19 era? 

Panelists:
Abby Benedetto @AbbyBenedetto
Deeper Learning Coach, Envision Learning Partners
presentation slides

Stacy Caldwell @MastTranscript
Chief Executive Officer, Mastery Transcript Consortium
presentation slides

Dr. Julie Hackett @lexingtonsuper
Superintendent, Lexington Public Schools
Lexington Public Schools Remote Learning Webpage

Resources shared during the webinar include:

Grading Students During the Coronavirus Crisis: What's the Right Call? (Education Week, 04/01/2020)

The Promise and Practice of Next Generation Assessment (David T. Conley, Harvard Education Press, July 26, 2018)

Blended: Using Disruptive Innovation to Improve Schools (By Michael B. Horn and Heather Staker, October 15, 2014)

Performance Assessment: 4 Best Practices (Education Week, 02/05/2019)

Learning Refitted: A Pop-Up Guide for Schools and District Leaders/Assessment practices during emergency distance learning (Center for Collaborative Education):

What Does a Performance Assessment Look Like? Here Are Six Examples (cce.org)

EL Education (formerly Expeditionary Learning) Resources

Performance Assessment Bank

Maintaining Rigor Through Distance Learning

Envision Design: Portfolio Defense  | Defense of Learning | Defense Design

College Admissions: Impact of the Coronavirus (14 April 2020)

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This webinar was resented in partnership with the New England Association for College Admission Counseling (NEACAC)
As school closures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic continue with no predictable end, the college admissions process is quickly adapting to the new virtual paradigm: expanded online recruiting, virtual campus tours and interviews, delays and cancellations in test reporting, virtual high school classes, and changes in grading and assessments are among the many challenges. Join us to hear from a panel of college admissions professionals who will share their perspectives on how schools can help their students navigate the college search and application process during this uncertain time.

Panelists:

Erik S. DeAngelis, Senior Associate Director
Office of College Admission, Brown University

Leykia Nulan, Dean of Admission
Mount Holyoke College

Michael C. Iorio, Assistant Vice President of Enrollment & Director of Admission
Saint Anselm College

Erin W. Earle, Ed.D. Director, Campus Visit Experience
The University of Rhode Island

Christina Doyle, Executive Director
New England Association for College Admission Counseling

Sustaining Virtual Learning (07 April 2020)

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In this session, we heard from colleagues at international schools that were some of the first to make the transition to emergency distance learning in the wake of COVID-19 school closures. They will share their experiences, respond to questions gathered from participants in the March 31st Forum session, and provide insights from some of the lessons learned - and mistakes made - on the front lines of the pandemic. We will specifically discuss strategies for teaching younger children and children with special needs, as well as, supporting the social-emotional health of students and the school community.

Panelists:

Anne Gardon @AnneGardon
Head of Primary, Chinese International School, Hong Kong

Stephen Taylor @sjtylr
Director of Innovation in Learning and Teaching, MYP Coordinator and High School Science Teacher
Western Academy of Beijing

Stacy Stephens @curriculumstace
Director of Learning and Strategic Planning
International School of Beijing 
eLearning Resources

Challenges and Successes in Implementing Online Learning (31 March 2020)

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Panelists:

Scott Prescott, Director of Instruction, Virtual Learning Academy Charter School
presentation slides

Jason Cummings, Director of Student Programs, Global Online Academy
Six Key Design Elements of Successful Online Learning

We at NEASC believe that learning can happen anywhere and anytime and encourage you to embrace current circumstances as a chance to pilot some creative new learning opportunities — for both students and staff. We hope this webinar series will be a source of inspiration as you forge ahead, and we look forward to the ongoing conversations.
Warm regards,
Cameron C. Staples, President/CEO, NEASC

We are sharing resources associated with the NEASC Virtual Global Forum sessions or provided by our panelists and attendees for your reference and convenience only. NEASC does not control the referenced materials and is not responsible for their content, nor does NEASC’s inclusion of links to such materials imply any endorsement of the material or any association with their creators. Please see the NEASC Website Terms and Conditions for more details.