are no longer restricted to people in our own backyard, so this
will definitely be embedded in our plans moving forward. Secondly,
six months ago, I would have thought online learning would
continue to be unconventional. During remote learning, however,
attendance has never been better and some of our students have
really thrived. We’re asking ourselves whether distance learning
models can be a way to serve students who are having a difficult
time on a given day.
WHAT ELSE IS NEW: Regardless of the pandemic, I want to make
sure PCD is in a stronger position twelve months from now than
we are today. One of the great things that happened this spring is
we completed a brand-new turf field. It’s been wonderful to watch
soccer players there every single day. Our middle school is getting
a much-needed face lift this summer, so I’m excited about
how our middlers are going to respond to the new classrooms
there. We also have some great new faculty members joining the
team, one of whom brings expertise in computer science and
coding, so I’m looking forward to building out our engineering
and STEM offerings on campus.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: providencecountryday.org
Meadowbrook Waldorf School in Richmond
Christine Martuscello, Admissions Coordinator
BIGGEST CHALLENGE: The biggest challenge has been our inability
to gather together in person. We have a strong, vibrant, supportive
community and we have missed each other.
THE WORKAROUNDS: In a Waldorf elementary and middle school,
technology is not used as a teaching tool. The task of transforming
a Waldorf curriculum into one that could be experienced at a distance
required immense creativity and flexibility on the part of
our teachers. We are incredibly proud of how quickly we were
able to move to distance learning. Our teachers were able to craft
meaningful learning experiences and we are so grateful for the
partnership of our hardworking parents.
ON THE BRIGHT SIDE: We held an end-of-the-year, all-school car
parade to our newly rebuilt school on our home campus in Richmond.
It was so wonderful for all of the teachers and families to
see each other after such a long time apart and it was truly moving
to see our new school building nestled back in place among
the trees of our home campus.
LOOKING AHEAD: We have always made time each day for children
to be outdoors in all sorts of weather. These excursions went
beyond recess and included opportunities for experiential learning.
We are expanding the outdoor component of our curriculum
and organizing more formal outdoor classroom spaces. This is
such an exciting opportunity for our students and teachers.
WHAT ELSE IS NEW: We are very excited to have returned home
to Richmond where we occupy our newly rebuilt school on our
twenty-eight-acre woodland campus. We have launched a
COVID-relief fundraising campaign to provide exceptional
assistance awards to those families experiencing financial hardship
due to the COVID-19 crisis. It is through our support of
each other that we all grow stronger.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: meadowbrookschool.com >>
RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l SEPTEMBER 2020 109