Dear Parent:
As you know, the decision was made yesterday to go to online learning through April 30. Here’s additional information to keep you apprised of changes related to that decision.
K3–5: What platform will we be using for online learning? (A message from Dr. Copeland)
While our elementary classrooms are quiet, elementary teachers are looking forward to connecting with students and families through the Seesaw CLASS platform. The Seesaw platform has already been used by thousands of classrooms around the nation, including some here at BJA, and has been the choice for many schools and districts as we face a unique time in elementary education. Seesaw helps us work together to provide students with meaningful learning experiences at home both through videoed mini-lessons and the ability to complete and return work. (Note: Some of you have previously used the Seesaw FAMILY platform. While there are some similarities, the Seesaw CLASS platform is different and is excellently geared for home learning.)
We believe you will find Seesaw CLASS so easy to use, and we are here to help make your transition online very smooth. On Monday, you will be receiving a home learning code from your child’s teacher. Each child will have an individual code to use when logging in. In the meantime, we invite you to get a sneak peek into how Seesaw CLASS works and browse through a wealth of helpful resources as we move to online learning. A link to it is also available on the new COVID-19 page, available from the front of our website.
The administration and teachers are here to help, so please do not hesitate to reach out. We are excited to be back to school and look forward to connecting with you and your student in the days ahead!
6–12: What platform will we be using for online learning? (a message from Mr. Hunt)
It is eerily quiet here in the Quadrangle, but we are looking forward to connecting with students and families online. Your teachers are ready to deliver lessons, assignments, and much more information in Google Classroom that will guide the teaching and learning process for secondary students. This is a unique and challenging time in education, and we believe that this new learning experience for both our teachers and students will be meaningful and successful.
We’re confident that our students will adapt to using Google Classroom online quite well. Most are very familiar with the platform already, and the transition to online learning through Google Classroom should be fairly smooth. But we do know, however, that technology can sometimes be either extremely dependable or somewhat frustrating at times. Perhaps you are unfamiliar with Google Classroom. Have no fear—here are some tips and helps for you to become well-acquainted with Google Classroom.
We also want you to know that the administration and teachers are here to help, so please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We are very excited to be able to resume the teaching and learning process, and we look forward to connecting with your student(s) next week.
How do we stay in touch?
Although we can’t interact like we normally do, we certainly do want to stay in touch. Watch for updates on a regular basis, possibly weekly, maybe more often as the situation continues to evolve.
Thanks for the great pictures for Facebook and Instagram—please keep them coming. Watch Facebook and Instagram later this week for some daily themes for creative pictures next week.
What additional activities or events are canceled at BJA?
In addition to cancellations that were already communicated, middle and high school girls soccer, high school golf, high school spring cheerleading tryouts, the middle school Jog-a-Thon, and elementary field trips and chapel days are canceled.
There still won’t be school on Good Friday. In this online learning environment, this means that assignments won’t be given or due that day, nor will teachers have office hours that day.
We’re continuing to assess and make plans for other activities and events. We’ll communicate those as we are able to find creative solutions and make decisions.
These changes are reflected on our COVID-19 Updates page (available from the front page of our website) as well as on the calendar on our website.
May we use BJA/BJU’s outdoor facilities?
Until further notice, BJU has closed the BJU and BJA campus, including outdoor facilities, except for official business.
What about CDC?
Decisions are still being made with regard to the Child Development Center. We will communication information to parents of children in the CDC as soon as we are able.
6–12: When can we pick up my student’s books?
Middle and high school buildings will be open on Monday and Tuesday, March 30 and 31, from 9 a.m. until noon for those who weren’t able to come in to school last week to get needed textbooks, etc.
1–12: What’s happening with Bible class?
Students will not have a formal Bible class during the first days of online learning. Watch for more information next week about what we are working on—at all levels we anticipate a different kind of Bible class approach that we hope will be a blessing and not create a pressure point for our families.
K3–12: What financial adjustments can I anticipate?
We plan to provide a full year of solid education for our students in K3 through Grade 12, whether we are able to eventually return to regular classroom delivery or continue online through the rest of the semester. As such, we are not adjusting our billing for tuition. However, we are planning to prorate costs for the clubs and sports (middle and high school girls soccer, high school golf, and high school engineering club) which have now been canceled due to the COVID-19 situation.
A Closing Thought
Please be assured of our constant prayers, both individually and corporately, for our students, our families. This event is unprecedented and has tremendous impact on all of our families, the nation, and the world. As with you, there is not an hour that goes by without these thoughts weighing on our hearts and minds and our supplications being made to God for healing, meeting of needs, wisdom, and strength. I find myself constantly reviewing the promises of our sovereign God in the seriousness of the moment. He alone holds the answer, gives hope, provides strength and wisdom to deal with the situation.
As the administration of BJA, we feel the weight of the burdens that our families are carrying and are praying for wisdom and carefulness as we make decisions based on the best information we have—decisions that have a dramatic impact on our families and students.
Please pray for us that we have wisdom and communicate appropriately in these intense times. May Christ be exalted, Satan defeated, and God’s people shine as lights in a dark world reflecting the love and power of our Savior.
Dr. Dan Nelson
Administrator
Comments are closed.