SWIVL Update for 2021-22
May 18, 2021
Dear Parents,
I would like to take every opportunity to thank you for the support that was shown during this school year. Our students and staff faced each day together and we are so pleased with the successes that we had! In-person learning is vital for a child’s overall growth. It was a treasure to see the students on a daily basis and witness the opportunities they had academically, socially and emotionally!
Even though our school year is coming to a close, we are making plans for the 2021-2022 school year. Although our faculty successfully conducted concurrent teaching both in-person and remote students simultaneously, the situation was challenging for all. I credit our students (and their parents) who were at home and learned how to become independent learners. They managed and became part of their classes from afar. Our staff did an incredible job in juggling the different learning modules. They were creative, caring and worked tirelessly to make this all work. They are truly an amazing group of teachers!
With this said, concurrent teaching is not an optimum or sustainable option for the future. Even under the best circumstances a setting with both in-person and remote students logistically takes away some attention and valuable teaching time. There is strong evidence that the most favorable learning takes places when instruction and learning are fully live. Therefore, we have decided that we will not offer the Swivl remote learning option for the 2021-22 school year. However, if New Jersey or Oak Hill is pressed into an emergency situation, we always have the option to enact the Swivl remote learning model.
In addition, we realize that there is no definitive timetable for the end of COVID-19. Thus some families could still be affected by COVID-19 and we will then offer the Swivl remote learning to the students under these guidelines:
- The student has COVID-19
- The student is exposed to a positive COVID-19 case, thus considered a first contact
- The student needs an extended absence due to an illness, confirmed by a doctor’s note
- If the student is an immunocompromised person or lives with an immunocompromised person, confirmed by a doctor’s note
- If OHA asks the student to quarantine
- At the complete discretion of OHA
In terms of travel, OHA will be adhering to the guidelines set forth by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and State of New Jersey. There will be no Swivl remote learning for those students who are absent as a result of travel. Instead, all assignments will be posted and completed through Google Classroom.
On campus, we will continue to adhere to the CDC and State of New Jersey guidelines for schools including protocols surrounding cleaning, mask wearing, distancing and air flow. We will continue to upgrade classroom ventilation this summer. This guidance is based on what is currently known about the transmission and severity of COVID-19 and is subject to change as additional information is known. We will keep our families informed on any changes in the months ahead.
The last few weeks of school will be busy, like it always is! As we have done all year, we are having many of our same events, but with a different look. We are proud of all that OHA has been able to achieve and we look forward to an even stronger future.
Thank you again for your support and understanding.
Very truly yours
Joseph A. Pacelli
Headmaster, Oak Hill Academy
