Dear Parent,
We are all aware that we are living through challenging times. Viral infections, such as the current coronavirus (Covid 19 as it has now been named) represent a severe challenge. At worst, it is fatal, and attempts to deal with it involve quarantine and considerable disruption to day-to-day life. However, one of the defining characteristics of humanity – and China with its long history knows this better than many – is its ability to respond to crises sensibly, bravely and, most importantly, creatively.
We can see good sense and tremendous bravery at work in the response of the people and the authorities in China. Wuhan leads the way as the epicentre of the virus. Quarantining a whole city, especially one the size of Wuhan, is a formidable achievement. Coping with the deaths and disruption is evidence of the greatest courage. Closer to our home in Shenzhen, the Education Bureau has taken sensible precautions in closing schools and other communal gatherings to minimise the risk of inspection spreading and to lay the grounds for our eventual return to normality.
With our school site closed, we have been presented with the opportunity to respond creatively to the educational challenges we face. In some ways, Shenzhen’s status as a leader in the technological world has given us an advantage here. In the last two weeks we have been able to set up structures for on-line learning which will enable our students to have interactive learning and maintain their academic progress. While this is clearly not like the experience of daily attendance at school, it does allow continuity of progress and it may well enhance future aspects of our learning and teaching experiences. Our teachers have been building systems and practising new ways of inspiring and stimulating children of all ages. They have learned a lot in such a short time and we will all continue to learn from their experiences as this period of on-line education continues. We are delighted by how many students (and parents of younger children) have been able to participate in the initial experience of our online learning so far. Our attendance rate has averaged at 85% in the week of 3rd February and 91% in the last week. We have also been pleased with the engagement of the students and the quality of the work they have produced and posted. Well done everyone!
Our new way of working, presents new challenges for us all – for the School’s leadership team, for its teachers, and for its students. As school leaders and teachers, we are excited about the possibilities that online learning presents. The response of our students suggests that they too find the activities positive and, for the most part, enjoyable. Moreover, we fully recognise the challenge that on-line learning at home produces for parents. All successful schooling is founded upon a partnership between the school, the student and his or her parents. This necessity for such a partnership is increased in our current situation and we all have to work harder, and, of course, differently, to ensure the success of our joint enterprise. We very much appreciate the assistance and encouragement you will be giving your children at the moment and in the weeks ahead. It is important that we accept that we are all learning together and that we see the next few weeks as opportunities rather than penalties. At this stage it is worth reminding ourselves of one of the central tenets of the Whittle process – that we are preparing our students, your children, for the world in which they live. All our antennae tell us that the world of the future will be one of change and growth and that the greatest capacities that students will leave their school days with are those of adaptability, creativity and resilience. The current coronavirus provides us, ironically, with many opportunities for “real life” learning. We ourselves cannot change that situation, but we can use it to our advantage.
From Monday 17th February we will launch our full online learning system to all our Divisions. All students will have a timetable of lessons and a range of activities which will be a combination of asynchronous work (to be done offline) and live interaction and instruction with teachers and classmates. The varied arrangements aspire to give our children a sense of ‘normal’ life, daily routine and opportunities to socialise and interact with teachers and friends.
Expectations for Online Learning
Working in partnership with our parents, it is important that we make our on-line learning programme as similar to “ordinary” school as possible. We know that this is a challenge, but parents have a vital part in enabling us to meet it. It is, therefore, necessary that we ask you to help your children meet the following expectations necessary for success. School is a disciplined business so we have set out some basic “requirements” will give our students the best chance of making the most of the opportunities we can provide:
Children of all ages should follow as ‘normal’ a routine as possible. They should get up at a time so that they can be dressed for the day and had breakfast ready to start ‘school’ at 8.45am. It might be a good idea for them to put on clothes suitable for school. They should certainly not be in their pyjamas;
Much education requires quietness. Online education needs to take place in a quiet place away from other distractions such as mobile telephones, music, television and the like. We know that it is not always easy to guarantee quietness when other family members may be around, but the distractions I have listed should be avoided;
As in any classroom, students should have their school materials ready (paper, pencils, pens, calculators etc) to engage with offline work;
Children are encouraged to take online school seriously. They are expected to engage fully in the online learning experience and embrace the tasks set by the teachers. We very much appreciate that parents of younger children will need to provide assistance to enable them to interact and participate in the work.
Best wishes,
Rhiannon Wilkinson
Head of School
