Students and Educators Stay on Course Through Distance Learning

Mendham Township, NEW JERSEY (April 28, 2020) – Within a matter of days, Mendham Township Elementary School (MTES) and Mendham Township Middle School (MTMS) seamlessly transitioned to Distance Learning and on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 began teaching remotely. A working master schedule that accommodated the teaching of each grade’s curriculum was developed and launched. Chromebooks were deployed to all students and teachers. And on St. Patrick’s Day earlier this year, students logged on to hear the familiar voices of their teachers and engage with their classmates and instructors in real time teaching. All students were welcomed to class. Attendance was taken. Lessons began!

It may seem remarkable that there was such a high jumping-off point, but very little tweaking has been necessary to the curriculum schedule since the first day, and many familiar tasks are still completed every school day, even if it is via broadband transmission. Besides daily attendance, students are assigned homework which must be submitted for correction, students still participate in specials such as Physical Education, Music, Art, etc., and regular testing of subjects is still executed.

“Engagement is key,” says Ms. Julianne Kotcho, Principal, Mendham Township Elementary School. “As a Blue Ribbon Award school, we have a teacher culture of continuous improvement and when faced with the problem of COVID-19, our teachers responded with solutions on how we are going to do this - not let’s wait and see what may be our options.” From the first day, MTES teachers have been in direct, live communications with their students. Real time instruction, supplemented with online discussion has helped reduce the stress of these young students as they transition to a somewhat new educational environment. Parents and guardians have reached out to Ms. Kotcho, and other school leaders, to express their thanks and report how their children are feeling more settled as they focus on their schoolwork and continue to chat and interact with their school friends. Every day, teachers are posting and sharing the amazing images of completed school work by their students within their own secure virtual classroom.

At the Mendham Township Middle School, another Blue Ribbon Award school, the focus on staying engaged and moving forward is equally reflected in the school’s commitment to continue educating students to its very high standard. Teachers are constantly live-streaming to communicate with students, engage them in discussion, resolve any wrinkles in understanding the objectives of a lesson, guide them towards completing assignments, and bring education right into the student’s home. This happens every school day. “In addition to core academics, every MTMS student participates in schoolwide SEL (social and emotional learning), Art, Music, Technology and Physical Education classes seven times per week,” explained Dr. Patrick (PJ) Ciccone, Principal, Mendham Township Middle School. The importance of communicating, staying-in-touch, being a member of a larger community, is facilitated by the school through virtual “Evening Social Gatherings” each week. From online chess, to lacrosse drills, and “Mendham’s Got Talent!,” these virtual socializing opportunities are keeping students engaged with each other and provide a venue for developing and showcasing talents and skills all while adhering to social distancing norms.

Both school principals speak to the dedication and support of teachers for ALL students, and Dr. Rob Koroski, Director of Special Services, strongly reiterates that commitment. The team that supports students with special needs, i.e., special needs educators, child study team professionals, paraprofessionals, speech and other skilled therapists, have successfully transitioned into the digital world of reaching these students from Day 1. It was especially important for students who may have special learning needs to understand that the familiar faces are still there, that the ongoing dialogue is still the same, and that they are valued members of a broader community. “We may be delivering education via a different medium, but the students’ teachers and support staff, communications and interactions, are still the same,” said Dr. Koroski. “Change may be a little more challenging for students with special needs, so our goal is to support parents in helping them to transition to a digital educational world, to reduce stress, and to help stabilize in-home dynamics. The focus is on both education and connection.”

As part of its creativity in keeping students, teachers, staff, and the broader community connected, the two schools recently organized “Teacher Parades.” As the teachers practiced social distancing by travelling via individual cars, each parade wound through the roads of Mendham Township, passing students’ homes. Teachers received happy shout-outs from students and their families as the parade continued through the township. In reflecting on the parades and the huge undertaking of distance learning, Dr. Salvatore Constantino, Superintendent of Schools in Mendham Township, voiced his thanks for the two schools’ faculty, staff, and administrative leadership team. “Our amazing faculty, staff, and administrators, are always willing to go the extra mile to do amazing things for our students. Their dedication and commitment during this period has been incredible and I truly appreciate their efforts. I want to also thank the Mendham Township Police Department. Their willingness to partner with us for the parades and their support for many other school-community projects is so appreciated. Chief Johnson and his entire team are an amazing group and we are lucky to have them.”