Tandem Transitions to Online Learning during COVID-19 Closures

Tandem Friends has successfully transitioned to online learning amid the COVID-19 - related school closures. Tandem had already begun implementing its transition to online learning prior to the Governor’s decision to close school campuses because we believed that it was in the best interest of the greater community to institute social distancing by proactively and quickly transitioning to a virtual classroom model. As a Chromebook-based smaller independent school that only educates adolescents, providing distance education was something Tandem Friends was well positioned to put in place. March 13 and 16 were used as prep days for our amazing and dedicated faculty and staff to refine online versions of their curricula and test our online teaching technology and protocols. Parents and students were sent detailed communications explaining how the first “transition” week would proceed. On Tuesday, March 17, Tandem Friends School began online school: the first week was very successful - a true testament to our creative and dedicated faculty. 

Students and faculty are learning together online each day from 9am to 2pm, maintaining an adjusted version of our regular schedule, with more flexibility built into Fridays. All of our courses are being taught online, not just History and Math but also Drama, Visual Art, and Jazz Band. Here are a couple of pictures of our teachers and students working from home together.

As a school that has community at its heart, we are focusing on keeping students and teachers connected during this difficult time, maintaining our commitment to provide to all of our students a purposeful educational experience based on a spirit of inquiry and collaboration. We’re also providing our families with a number of resources (like these) to help them during this time. 

Tandem's community remains strong and focused on continued learning and the connections that define who we are. We are so proud of the way our students, teachers, staff and parents have worked together to make the transition to online learning so successful.

Check out these photos of students and teachers working together from home.

Check out a TV news piece about Tandem's online learning here.
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Tandem Friends School is a co-ed Quaker day school for grades 5-12 in Charlottesville, Virginia.
 
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