By Emma Hurst School has changed drastically from how things were this time last year. STUCO and other organizations would be busily planning for Halloween Bazaar; instead, STUCO is promoting outside lunches, and teachers and students are adapting to synchronous and asynchronous days, unfamiliar classrooms that accommodate social distancing, and new teaching and learning methods.
The school is currently operating using a hybrid model, which allows students to complete coursework whether on or off campus. “There was a lot of discussion about synchronous versus asynchronous classes, and we knew right away that we would have to do something that worked for remote learners and students that may need to quarantine,” Albert Throckmorton, Head of School, said. Teachers have had to prepare more material in more ways than before. “The thing I wish I had more foresight on was building more downtime in the system. It’s been really hard on the teachers because they’re teaching three different classes at the same time, virtually,” Throckmorton said. Although hybrid-teaching has been difficult, history teacher Barbara Umfress said, “I’ve learned a lot from remote teaching. That’s broadened my view on some things.” So does that mean that virtual meetings, online tests, and asynchronous classes could be used even after the pandemic has subsided? What about snow days - are they gone forever? “The question of snow days did come up, and I want to let you know that at St. Mary’s and as an Episcopal school, we will always view the first snow day as a God-sent rest. Some were saying this is the end of the snow day, but it may just be the end of the second snow day, not the first,” Throckmorton said.
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