Restarting School Athletics and Activities
July 14, 2020 - 9:00 a.m. ET
We've invited the directors of several athletic programs and associations in the US and abroad to discuss the challenges facing schools and districts that are restarting school athletics and other activity programs.
Guest panelists:
Carol Dozibrin
Executive Director, New Hampshire Athletic Directors Association (NHADA)
https://nhada.net
Martin Halpin
Athletics and Activities Director, Western Academy of Beijing
https://www.wab.edu
Mike Lunney
Incoming Executive Director, Rhode Island Interscholastic League (RIIL)
https://www.riil.org
Karissa Niehoff
Executive Director, National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)
https://www.nfhs.org
Lamar Reddicks
Athletic Director, Milton Academy, Milton, MA
https://www.milton.edu
David Utterback
Athletic Director, Brewer High School, Brewer, ME
http://www.brewerhs.org
Approximate run time: one hour
Webinar Format
As of July 2020, we will be scheduling #NEASCforum webinars twice monthly. All Forum sessions will be approximately one hour in length, and will start at the following time:
9:00 a.m. ET (New York, USA)
2:00 p.m. BST (London, UK)
5:00 p.m. GST(Dubai, UAE)
9:00 p.m. CST (Shanghai, China)
We are listening
Thank you for joining the webinars, contributing your questions, and sharing your thoughts with us. We are tracking the questions and topic suggestions webinar attendees have submitted and will continue to develop future sessions based on your interests.
#NEASCforum
We have created our "Virtual Global Forum", an ongoing webinar series, as a space where educators can connect, have pressing questions addressed by their peers and experts in the field, and where colleagues can share their stories and insights.
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 new 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
Forum Archives
Forum Archives
Restarting School Athletics and Activities (14 July 2020)
Restarting School Athletics and Activities (14 July 2020)
View webinar recording (to come)
The directors of several athletic programs and associations in the US and abroad discuss the challenges facing schools and districts that are restarting school athletics and other activity programs.
Guest panelists:
Carol Dozibrin, Executive Director, New Hampshire Athletic Directors Association (NHADA)
Martin Halpin, Athletics and Activities Director, Western Academy of Beijing
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, MA
David Utterback, Athletic Director, Brewer High School, Brewer, ME
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)
School Reentry Considerations (SHAPE America)
Online (Backyard) Advocacy Day 2020 - July 16th (SHAPE America) - This is your chance to voice your views to local representatives and ensure that health and physical education stays at the forefront of back to school planning.
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)
Reflections from the Pandemic (23 June 2020)
Reflections from the Pandemic (23 June 2020)
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)
Reopening schools in New England: A conversation with state representatives (16 June 2020)
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.
Guest 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
DESE Return-to-School Working Group
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)
The new normal: Updates from a reopened school (9 June 2020)
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.
Guest 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)
Boarding schools: Ideas and innovations for reopening safely (02 June 2020)
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.
Guest 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)
A focus on students: Supporting special needs and well-being during school closures (26 May 2020)
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.
Guest 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)
Teacher reflections from the frontlines (19 May 2020)
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.
Guest 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)
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
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)
Reopening schools safely: Insights, successes, and lessons learned (12 May 2020)
A conversation with the heads from several international schools who have begun the process of reopening their schools for in-person classes.
Guest 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)
Preparing for the end of the school year: Academic closure and year-end celebrations (05 May 2020)
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.
Guest 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
COVID-19 Planning
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
Quarantine Wellness Hacks
Anna Mahon, Principal, Amity High School, Amity, Connecticut USA
COVID-19 Updates and Off-site Learning Resources
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
Stronger Together
Resources shared during the webinar include:
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)
Student Voices: Distance learning during COVID-19 (28 April 2020)
Guest 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)
Assessment and grading during COVID-19 (21 April 2020)
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?
Guest Panelists:
Abby Benedetto @AbbyBenedetto
Deeper Learning Coach, Envision Learning Partners
presentation slides
Stacy Caldwell @MastTranscript
Chief Executive Officer, Mastery Transcript Consortium
presentation slides
https://mastery.org/mtc-insights
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
Maintaining Rigor Through Distance Learning
Envision Design: Portfolio Defense | Defense of Learning | Defense Design
College Admissions: Impact of the Coronavirus (14 April 2020)
College Admissions: Impact of the Coronavirus (14 April 2020)
College Admissions: Impact of the Coronavirus
Presented 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.
Guest 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)
Sustaining Virtual Learning (07 April 2020)
Sustaining Virtual Learning
In this session, we will hear 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.
Guest Panelists:
Anne Gardon @AnneGardon
Head of Primary, Chinese International School, Hong Kong
- Primary Online Learning Guiding Statements
- Primary Online Learning Zoom Lessons & Meetings Schedule
- Primary Online Learning Plan Sample #1 (Reception)
- Primary Online Learning Plan Sample #2 (Year 3)
- Primary Online Learning Plan Sample #3 (Year 5)
- Primary Online Learning Guidelines For Synchronous Meets with Students
- Primary Online Direct Instruction By Year Level
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)
Challenges and Successes in Implementing Online Learning (31 March 2020)
Guest Panelists:
Scott Prescott, Director of Instruction, Virtual Learning Academy Charter School
sprescott3@vlacs.org | presentation slides
Jason Cummings, Director of Student Programs, Global Online Academy
jason.cummings@globalonlineacademy.org | Six Key Design Elements of Successful Online Learning
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.