The 2020-2021 school year was unparalleled. The world had not experienced a pandemic of this nature for 100 years.
No manual existed to navigate life’s daily activities, school days during the COVID-19 pandemic, and mandates and safety recommendations by federal, state, and local agencies. To varying degrees, schools followed the recommendations and attempted to provide quality educational programs utilizing both in-person and online platforms as the pandemic continued through 2020 and 2021
When students returned to school last August, the school campus and classrooms were nothing like what students remembered or experienced — temperature checks, face masks, desk shields, and social distancing, even empty playgrounds. Having spent the previous six months mainly with their families in their homes, some children experienced separation anxiety. Still, other students remained in their households, contining with in-person learning and solely communicating with their teacher and classmates through a computer screen.
Teachers found themselves faced with new pandemic protocols and new learning platforms and curriculum. Balancing in-person and online learning environments simultaneously was a new challenge. Facing and putting aside their own anxieties and struggles, teachers warmly greeted students day after day, putting their students’ wellbeing and education first.
Compassion is one of the core values practiced and modeled by the administration, staff, and faculty at Self Development Academy (SDA). SDA, a staple in the Mesa community and often described as having a family like atmosphere, is a Kindergarten through Grade 8 public charter school serving hundreds of children each year. SDA has always been known for offering a high quality, accelerated curriculum in a nurturing environment Exhibiting compassion and providing a nurturing environment was crucial and the focus of the 2020-2021 school year.
Yasmin Mogahed said, “Compassion is to look beyond your own pain, to see the pain of others.” SDA administrators, staff and faculty, despite their own fears, practiced compassion for their students, their families, and colleagues. Compassion not only involves the ability to note the experiences and emotions of others but take action. As others have said, “Compassion is an action word with no boundaries.”
Last year, SDA focused on keeping the school community safe and exercising compassion toward all school community members. Teachers spent time learning about their students and the pandemic’s impact on them and their families. They eased students’ anxieties regarding the virus, even comforting them when loved ones were diagnosed with COVID-19.
Understanding that social distancing was and remains difficult, teachers found creative ways for students to interact with each other and enjoy being at school and in the classroom. SDA teachers regularly contacted parents and other caregivers through emails, phone calls, and Zoom to stay connected to families during the year.
Staying connected was an important aspect of the school year.Certain administration members were dedicated to contacting families to check-in and provide the necessary support and resources to assist with their children’s education while at home. Chromebooks, text books, homework, and technology support were among the many resources provided to families. SDA held a few drive-through events also, including Trick-or-Treating. It was wonderful seeing the families and students smiling and having fun, enjoying the holiday in a safe way.
With compassion at the forefront, SDA was successful in making students feel welcomed, safe, and cared for while at school during the COVID-19 pandemic.
SCHOOL YEAR 2021-2022: A YEAR DEDICATED TO BRIDGING THE LEARNING LOSS
Stories and data confirming students’ learning loss due to the pandemic have been regularly reported by the news and other government agencies. Sadly, SDA administration and teachers have confirmed this experience for many SDA students.
Over a month ago, SDA welcomed students back for in-person learning on all four campuses and opened a separate online school, Self Development Online Academy. Kindness and compassionate acts were always and will continue to be visible daily at SDA; however, this school year, the attention is turned to addressing student learning loss due to the pandemic.
SDA has always utilized a small group pull-out intervention program, for remediation and acceleration purposes. This year, SDA devised and is instituting a school-wide intervention plan to make certain that students bridge any academic gaps experienced over the past year. The intervention plans focus on the foundational skills: reading fluency, reading comprehension, writing, and mathematics. With a strong academic foundation in English Language Arts and mathematics, students will experience success in all academic areas.
As the pandemic continues, SDA team members are committed to this new challenge and look forward to a year of learning. They will do so with the same care and compassion exercised throughout the years.
For more information about Self Development Academy and Self Development Online Academy, please contact the Front Office at (480) 641-2640.