D230 connected, even from afar

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In High School District 230, at Sandburg, Stagg and Andrew High Schools in the south suburbs, today is the first day of remote classes for all 7,500 students.

Staff members have prepared with intense professional development, lesson design, and remote learning strategies to be ready to greet their students through Google Meet.

For Sandburg High School Freshmen English Teacher Victoria Phillips, "walking into my classroom without students is a little bit sad, but I think once we get into the grove of elearning, we are going to feel that community even through the screen."

"We all have those first-day butterflies when we are back at school," she said. "I had some of those butterflies. I'm sure some of my students had those butterflies, but ultimately I'm just so excited to be able to see them. Even though we can't be together in the classroom right now, just seeing their faces, hearing their voices, and getting to know them a little bit was definitely the best part of my day."

"The thing that I'm most looking forward to this school year is building those relationships with my students," Phillips said. "That's my priority number one. Getting to know my students...getting to know them as learners but also as people because with those relationships first, we will be able to make some great learning happen."

"Even though I'm seeing them through a screen and I'm not seeing them in person and that this is a very weird start to a great year, I truly believe that we will together build this community that will help us feel connected even from afar," she said.