The Woods Academy Preparations for Reopening

We are The Woods. We will be Ready.

The Woods Academy Campus Reopening - Message from Joe Powers, The Head of School

A Safe Return to Campus

Pursuant to The Woods Academy’s Philosophy Statement, the school is “committed to developing the minds, spirits and bodies of students in a safe, caring community that honors each student as a child of God.” In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Woods Academy is mindful of all aspects of this commitment. No plan for reopening campus to offer the opportunity for in-person learning will be without risk of potential COVID-19 transmission. However, recognizing the value of in-person learning, we have developed a reopening plan that complies with or exceeds guidance from the CDC, AAP, and the specific recommendations and requirements from the State of Maryland for reopening school and mitigating risk of COVID-19 transmission. The Woods will continue to be guided by these entities as it relates to the COVID-19 Pandemic and the plan will undoubtedly evolve over time. No plan will eliminate all risk, but as we move forward, we will be conscious of the best practices in health and safety strategies and protocols to reduce risk to the greatest extent practicable. We will continue to evaluate these measures and update them when needed.

Please continue to review the information outlined on this page on our website as well as read all communications sent from the school.

> > Read Whole Message about The Woods Academy Campus Reopening - Message from Joe Powers, The Head of School

Welcome Back, Mighty Owls!

Previous Reopening Communications

Our Planned Learning Scenarios

In-Person

The Woods Academy campus and buildings are open to all faculty, staff, and students for in-person learning with universal health and safety measures in place. This scenario would happen if local COVID-19 transmission levels were reduced and allowed for safe re-entry to school, with safety measures continuing to be in place as determined by our state and local jurisdictions. Social distancing measures would still be in place and we would have instructional plans for any student unable to attend in-person.

Bimodal instruction would be provided for all students in grades K-8 that are not able to attend school in person for whatever reason. Core subjects (math, English, social studies, science, world languages) would be delivered synchronously with the regularly scheduled class through Zoom or Google Meet. Asynchronous work would be provided for all other academic subjects through Google Classroom. Students will be expected to be “in class” for synchronous classes. Parents choosing this option will do so by (month/trimester- we are evaluating these options). There will be limited synchronous instruction for M4 (Owls) and Kindergarten students. All M3 instruction will be asynchronous in this model.

Hybrid Model

The Woods Academy campus and buildings would be open to faculty, staff, and students with limitations on the number of people allowed on campus due to size restrictions and guidelines. Schedules would be created where students would rotate between in school and out of school instruction. New technology has been upgraded and would be implemented to allow for more synchronous instruction in core subject areas (math, English, social studies, science, world languages). This model would occur if there were an increase in transmission in our area that warranted such restrictions on numbers and space and potentially defined by our state and local authorities.

The Hybrid Model we have designed for The Woods Academy is as follows:
Montessori Preschool (M3, M4, and K) as well as Grade 1 will all come to school, full day in person for 4.5 days a week. Students will be spaced at least 6 feet apart and be required to wear masks. Students would remain in their cohorts throughout the day. All social distancing and health check rules will remain in effect.
Grades 2-8 will be divided into two groups (Woods Group and Owls Group) and only one group at a time (no more than 50% of maximum capacity) will be on campus for in-person instruction. Class sizes will range from 6-9 students. All social distancing and health check rules will remain in effect. Students will remain in their cohorts throughout the day.
The two-week rotating schedule for Grades 2-8 will go as follows:

Week 1
- Group 1 (Woods) learning in-person Monday through Thursday with Group 2 (Owls) learning at home virtually. Friday will be an asynchronous class day for all students with morning check-ins among teachers and students, and teacher prep and meeting time in the afternoon.
Week 2
- Group 2 (Owls) learning in-person Monday through Thursday with Group 1 (Woods) learning at home virtually. Friday will be an asynchronous class day for all students with morning check-ins among teachers and students, and teacher prep and meeting time in the afternoon.

Our plan accounts for equity and allows students to experience all appropriate classes live in an equal manner over a two week period. Our current academic schedule will largely remain the same. Cohorts of students throughout all grades have been established which will help maximize safety measures. All students choosing to stay at home will be able to attend synchronous classes. Some classes, specials and world languages, will be taught virtually with occasional in-person sessions.

Distance Learning

The Woods Academy campus and facilities are closed and we are delivering instruction through our distance learning program for all. We continue to update our platforms, digest feedback, and provide professional development to our faculty and staff in the event that this model is required. Synchronous and asynchronous schedules would be created for students by division to receive proper instruction and engagement on a daily basis. Core subjects (math, English, social studies, science, world languages) would be prioritized around synchronous learning. Teachers are going through additional professional development on building community and curriculum in a distance learning environment. Please see our updated Community Guide to Distance Learning here. This model would occur if transmission levels were higher in our area and health and safety guidance (medical, state, local authorities) determined this course of action is warranted and needed.

Visit the Distance Learning page to experience our plan in action this past spring.

Campus Reopening Plan

The health and safety of our faculty, staff, and students are paramount.

With that top of mind, we are implementing the following principles and protocols for in-person instruction when it is safe to do so.

Health & Safety

Our standard of care will be high.

We will continue to educate ourselves on the best practices and consult with medical/facility experts to prepare. We will remain vigilant and nimble, ready to adjust our approach as the context requires. We will also remain calm and composed as we model the behaviors we want our children to see.

Building & Facilities

We have taken extensive measures.

We have upgraded protocols to make this environment as safe as possible with layers of protection for all. We will continue to educate ourselves on the best practices and consult with medical/facility experts to prepare.

Return to Campus

We will be ready.

We know that not being in school can create huge academic and social emotional losses for our children.

The Woods is committed to making these meaningful changes to routines and procedures for in-person instruction to protect one another and our community when it is safe to do so.

The School Day

What to expect when back on campus.

There are many factors that will come into play on whether we can or cannot open the building or keep it open.

The Woods has gone to great efforts to prepare for the safe education of our children and we are expecting our families to do the same.

Teaching & Learning

We will be ready to implement any our our learning scenarios (or combination of them) to start the 2020-2021 school year.

When safe, in-person instruction for children (PK-8) provides the best pedagogy along with the most optimal environment for learning and social-emotional growth.

We will have instructional plans for all students in grades K-8 that are not able to attend school in person for whatever reason.

Exposure Response

We have a clear plan and guidelines to ensure our community is kept as safe as possible.

Woods families and staff are expected to familiarize themselves with these protocols so they know how to respond if they - or those close to them - are known to have been exposed to COVID-19.

Resources

We are committed to ensuring we consult with all relevant experts and authorities.

Throughout the planning for our campus reopening we have consulted and liaised with numerous organizations, authorities, and experts to inform our decision making process.

The key resources are listed below for your reference.

American Association of Pediatrics

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

THE Children's NATIONAL Hospital

Montgomery County Health Department

Maryland Department of Health

Distance Learning Plan

The Woods Academy Distance Learning Plan is designed to help students and teachers stay connected with one another and to support students’ continued growth and development.

Learn More

Resources for Families

We have gathered some resources to help our community navigate the uncertainty, foster the well-being of every student, and enjoy new learning opportunities together.

Learn More

A Safe Return to Campus

COVID-19 Response Update

Woods Works On

For detailed up-to-date information on our learning models and plans please visit:

We are The Woods.