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It is great being back in school with the students even though we see each other only through
Zoom. Students are getting acclimated to this new form of education and are being patient with
us as we try to become adept with the new technology. Even though we see our students every
day through distance learning, it is not the same as having them physically in class. We miss
each of them and look forward to when they can safely return physically to class.
The junior high teachers have devoted the first two weeks of school getting the students used to
Google Classroom for their particular subjects. Students needed to practice writing on word
documents, pulling up documents to read, as well as finding where their classwork and
homework would be located. Students have been doing an excellent job with this and are fully
ready to delve into the learning process across disciplines.
Students were also introduced to group work. Believe it or not, students can actually be broken
into smaller groups, just as they were in the classroom, and work together on an assignment. The
teacher is able to visit each of the groups and answer questions or discuss what the students’
responses were to the activity at hand. Such an activity creates a sense of normalcy and allows
students to communicate one on one with each other.
By the middle of the second week of online learning, teachers introduced students to the material
that would be covered in class. They began working on bell work, short writing assignments,
responding to questions that were based on reading material that was given, watch videos that
enhanced a certain topic that was being covered, and view power points that introduced the topic
of a particular subject.
Over all, distance learning for St. Benedict’s junior high has been successful. Our administration
and teachers have supported each other in learning the new technology. Online learning is
improving every day because we work together as a community. So, as we venture into the
weeks ahead, there is no doubt that our junior high students will be receiving the same quality
education as they received in the past due to the support and collaboration of our administration,
junior high team, parents, and students.