Together Apart

True to its nature, CDS rolled out a thoughtful and measured approach to the use of technology. Our youngest learners have different needs than our tech-savvy teens. And our commitment to wellness means knowing when to make use of screens and when to have students switch off and continue their learning in their living room…or kitchen…or backyard…or driveway…or garage.

“Our curriculum has always been designed with purpose, and that continues whether we’re on campus or at home,” says Director of Junior School Ann Wildberger. “We can’t pretend life hasn’t changed. It has. At the same time, we have stayed true to what CDS is by offering creative and engaging lessons and holding onto essentials like physical education, art, music, public speaking – all of the elements that create balance and spark joy in our students’ lives.”

As Director of Academics for the Middle and Senior Schools, Dave Harvey saw the need to blend continuity with flexibility when it came to deciding on a daily timetable. The school held on to its familiar A/B schedule while also empowering teachers to make the best decisions for their students. How much time is needed for synchronous learning? For asynchronous? For full-class meetings? For small groups? For one-on-one conversations?

“We didn’t like the idea of committing to a rigid schedule, such as live class time in the mornings and independent work in the afternoons,” says Mr. Harvey. “Our teachers always start with what’s best for student learning and make wise pedagogical decisions. More than ever, this is a time to design curriculum and monitor learning on a period by period basis, gathering feedback along the way. Flexibility is needed. This is a different world, so we continually adjust.”

Delivering the best possible academic program means innovating in the face of change. It means focusing on essential skills and aptitudes. It also means working together as a community to meet the needs of each student.

“This is a school where we design our own solutions,” says Mr. Harvey. “We start from what’s right for our students, our families, our culture. And then we work together to build from the ground up. Remote learning hasn’t changed that, though it has certainly presented its challenges.”

Families have taken note of how faculty have risen to those challenges.

“Parents tell me they deeply appreciate how hard our teachers are working,” adds Mrs. Wildberger. “It’s like they’re experiencing a school Open House from home every day. And they’re just knocked out by the commitment and care they see. That’s been a wonderful sidebar to these unusual times.”

Count on Middle School Director Rob Waldron to combine fun challenges with House points, like stacking book spines to create “found” poetry or practising keep ups for physical activity. Or on Mr. Drake and Ms. Houston for modelling life balance on Wellness Wednesdays. Or on the Portraits team for creating the first-ever virtual Coffee House. Or on Student Council for issuing both fitness and chess challenges.

There are so many ways to learn and have fun at the same time. And there’s something for everyone.

“One of CDS’s great strengths is the variety of activities and experiences,” says Director of Senior School Celia Bland, whose weekly messages now arrive from the pond, trail or book-lined home office. “We can’t carry on as normal, but we can carry the same spirit forward, pursue our passion, support our community. We can still make music and art. Run for Student Council. Enter math contests. Vote for Valedictorian. Host a virtual GradX gallery. Students care about their friends, clubs, causes and classes. So we continue to innovate and share our stories in all those areas.”

Like everyone in the community, CDS student leaders have been tasked to find new ways for all grades to connect and have fun. In addition to the various challenges issued and the virtual Coffee House, there have been tips for finding balance, weekly trivia games, and a video version of the end of year assembly, among other activities.

While Student Council members and the entire Grade 12 class have keenly felt the loss of time with friends during their final year at CDS, everyone has been committed to staying connected during school, in the evenings and on weekends.

“We wish we were still hanging out in the grad lounge every day,” says Student Council co-president David Kuntz. “This is a special year, and our grade is really close. We’re missing each other a lot, and we know the other grades are too. That’s why we use our weekly Student Council meetings to come up with new ideas to raise spirit and share some laughs. Our role is to help make student life great. We stay focused on that.”

As the school year comes to a close, there is some poignancy when reflecting on the first half of 2020.

“I’m proud of the way everyone has stepped up to meet the challenges of remote learning and school life,” says Ms. Bland. “We miss being in the same space – in the classrooms and on the stage and the fields – but I’ve been touched by the warmth and closeness I see everywhere. Though we’re apart, our whole community is passionately committed to being together.”