Delta West Academy
Shift to digital delivery is “bittersweet,” says school administrator
Amanda Dennis, administrator at Delta West, writes that the shift to digital delivery is “bittersweet.” While they are excited to launch a cutting-edge learning platform, and are chuffed to have done it so quickly—it went live the week of March 16th, so well ahead of the curve—she says that “we are sad to have the day-to-day routines and personal contact with our students altered so drastically.” Nevertheless, they’ve met the challenge quickly and aggressively. They provided their K to Grade 3 students with tablets and set them up with some age-appropriate communication and conferencing applications. They’ve provided the Grades 4-9 students with Surface Go laptops, and the older kids already had devices, per the school policy. They all were then granted access to virtual classrooms, though the culture piece is important too. “Every student,” says Dennis, “will still feel like they are a part of our school community” including alternative Phys Ed programming as well as virtual performing arts. The talent show, too, is a go, hosted online.