Pinecrest Academy Remote Learning Plan
Remote Learning Plan
Pinecrest Academy strongly believes that all students are best served by in-person instruction. However, we acknowledge that there are temporary situations in which students may require a remote learning environment.
Remote learning will be defined as a temporary arrangement at the discretion of the school administration that allows continuity of learning during a time that a student is not otherwise able to attend in-person classroom instruction. Remote learning students will view the real-time instruction occurring in the in-person classroom and complete all assignments and evaluations in real-time. At this time, remote learning is offered only to students with COVID-19 related absences or other long-term illness.
Program Requirements
Remote learning will be offered to families who are able to meet the following requirements:
- Review program requirements and honor code with an administrator;
- Provide medical documentation as needed;
- Communicate attendance promptly. If a student is unable to attend a Google Meet class or complete an assignment due to illness, parents are required to email the attendance line for each school, as well as the student’s teachers;
- Provide additional outside student support as necessary;
- Sign and return the Remote Learning Contract and Honor Code;
- Maintain the confidentiality of the learning environment.
Please note: We take the confidentiality of every student’s educational information very seriously and count on our parents to do the same. During virtual learning, your child’s name and live video could potentially be seen by other students, and your child may see actions of other students in the classroom. We are requesting that all parents acknowledge that, in order to maintain the confidentiality of each session, they will not make any attempt to record live instruction or discuss classroom situations which may be viewed during remote learning with other parents.
Program Specifics
Instruction
- Students will view in-person classroom instruction via Google Meets that are set up by the classroom teacher and occur during real-time instruction.
- Students will access curricular resources through Google Classroom and/or the Paladin Portal.
- Teachers will attend to, communicate with, and answer questions posed by remote learners as if they were in the classroom.
- Teachers will ensure that all ancillary learning materials are posted the evening before so that remote learners can download and print materials before the start of class. Parents may be required to schedule a time to pick up textbooks and other resources before remote learning begins.
- Certain classes are not amenable to remote learning due to the nature of the class. We will evaluate and advise on an individual basis.
- Teachers will communicate with students via their Pinecrest Google emails and copy parents on all correspondence. Parents are asked to communicate with the student’s teacher concerning any situation before contacting a member of the school administration.
- Students who receive services through the PARC program will continue to be served remotely.
Please Note: Due to the demand on local internet and cellular infrastructure and the inherent limitations of operators and devices, Pinecrest Academy cannot guarantee that Remote Learning will always be available or in working order for home-bound learners. We will do our very best to ensure synchronous instruction, and we thank you in advance for your understanding and patience with any future technical challenges that may arise.
Assignments and Assessments
Students will be required to submit work and complete assessments in real-time. All work due that day must be turned in at such time as is indicated by the teacher. Remote learning students will be subject to the same grading practices in regards to late and missing work.
Attendance
Attendance policies will be the same as a traditional school year. Students will be expected to attend and participate in the school day; attendance will be taken at the beginning of the day for the Lower School and the beginning of each class period in the Middle and High Schools.
If illness prevents a remote learner from attending instruction that day, parents must notify the school via the attendance email of each school. The student will be marked absent for that day and be granted a grace period for turning in missing assignments equivalent to the number of excused absence days. (For example, a student who missed three days of school due to an excused absence will have three days from the time they return to school to complete any missed class assignments.)
Students who are participating in remote learning will not be permitted to attend on-campus functions or extracurriculars until they return to in-person learning.
Useful Links
Remote Learning Honor Code
As the Pinecrest community adjusts to the new realities created by COVID-19, we recognize the unique challenges created by remote learning. To aid students in adhering to the Honor Code within a remote learning environment, we have added the following specifics to the general Student Honor Code found in the Student Handbook:
- Students may only use resources/aids that are expressly permitted in completing course assignments/assessments.
- All classwork, homework, and assessments are to be completed independently. Students must seek permission from the teacher before engaging in collaboration with other students.
- Students will be respectful of the learning environment by:
a) Attending Google Meets in a quiet, distraction-free environment
b) Being on time and prepared for class in the Pinecrest Academy school uniform
b) Being on time and prepared for class in the Pinecrest Academy school uniform
(or dress-down day attire as specified in the calendar)
c) Refraining from eating during class time
d) Muting the microphone and refraining from using the chat box unless otherwise
directed by the teacher
c) Refraining from eating during class time
d) Muting the microphone and refraining from using the chat box unless otherwise
directed by the teacher
Administration of Remote Learning
Laura Kelley will be assisting Mr. Forti, Mr. Mayville, Mrs. Howard, and Mrs. Bowman with administration of the Pinecrest Academy Remote Learning program. Mrs. Kelley is a current PARC teacher and a former fifth grade teacher and Lower School Dean of Students. She is available to help parents, teachers, and students with issues and questions related to Remote Learning. Mrs. Kelley can be reached at lkelley@pinecrestacademy.org.
