When Dorothy lands in Oz, she finds herself in a place she doesn’t recognize, surrounded by characters who seem vaguely familiar and faced with the task of finding her way home. Of course, these days, not only is there “No place like home”; but for those of us living through this current pandemic, there’s no place EXCEPT home. Which is why it is so important that the Saddle River Day School community – made up of faculty, staff, students and their families – has come together, like Dorothy and her friends, to find their way through this unknown territory together.
Using the Wizard of Oz approach, Saddle River Day School, led by newly appointed Head of School Jalaj Desai and Director of Technology, Laura Hollis, asked themselves how they could support their students through this difficult time in terms of their brains, their hearts and their courage.
The faculty and staff at SRDS realized early on that online education and distance learning would become the new normal, at least for the short term, until students could return to school safely. It was important to them that they implement a remote learning program that retained valuable instructional time and provided a nimble transition to remote learning.
Because SRDS has always been a leader in using technology to support student learning, there were already content delivery tools, resources and protocols in place to support the teachers and students as they transitioned to remote learning. Students receive remote instruction during the regular 8:00 am – 3:15 pm school day with an emphasis on maintaining the standard of academic excellence and whole child development for which Saddle River Day School is known.
Saddle River Day School’s top notch educators are caring for their students’ BRAINS by maintaining the same academic schedule as students had on campus. Students in the Middle & Upper School meet in live online classes with teachers and peers. Students in the Lower School have several daily check-ins with their teachers as well as live classes with specialty teachers like Science, Art & Spanish.
But SRDS knows that academics aren’t the only important part of a child’s education. They have continued to care for students’ HEARTS by ensuring social interaction through a Common student space and Faculty Room in Google Meets. Support services and mindfulness training have been made available and administrators have been organizing fun weekly challenges and spirit weeks, and producing music videos to boost school spirit. The school chef has even provided instructional cooking videos for anyone who finds themselves spending more time in the kitchen! (isn’t that all of us?)
Finally, Saddle River Day School honors the COURAGE students and their families display daily in this unprecedented time. The SRDS culture of inclusivity and benevolence maintains an environment that allows students to be who they are, to ask questions, to ask for help, and to share ideas.
As thought leaders and progressive educators, Saddle River Day School balances academic achievement with the advantages that come from unlimited family time. SRDS encourages students to go outside, exercise, cook and eat with their families, explore a new hobby, practice music, create art, do what they can to care for their communities. It would be nice if we could click our heels three times and get everything back to normal, but in the meantime, the Saddle River Day School extended family will support each other and guide students through remote learning as they maintain their community online.
To learn more about what makes Saddle River Day School unique, or to begin the online admissions process, please visit their website.
Saddle River Day School 147 Chestnut Ridge Road, Saddle River 201.327.4050
