Parsippany School Has 'Embraced' Distance Learning

PARSIPPANY, NJ - When faced with the task of distance learning in response to the coronavirus, or COVID-19, pandemic, All Saints Academy was prepared and jumped in head first, officials said.

New Jersey Coronavirus Updates: Don't miss local and statewide announcements about new coronavirus precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.

“I think part of our success,” said Caitlin Sim, fourth grade teacher at All Saints, “is that our faculty was so well-prepared.”

Over a year ago, administration and faculty members developed an eLearning plan in the event that the school building needed to be closed due to an emergency.

“Our principal, Mrs. (Judith) Berg, did such an awesome and thorough job of preparing our staff. We were philosophically ready. We had all the tools that we needed to just jump right in on day one,” Laura Alpaugh, the school’s full time technology teacher said. “I know it also helped that the students utilize technology which is integrated regularly into their daily school work. In addition to the tech in their classrooms, they are also in the tech lab at least twice a week, and understand how to use programs like Google Classroom, Khan Academy, Discovery Ed, etc. These platforms were not new to them, but rather, regularly accessed programs.”

Having the students and faculty so well-prepared have led to a successful transition into distance learning, officials said. All Saints Academy is currently entering week eight of eLearning, and is still going strong.

“We continue to nourish each child not only academically, but socially and spiritually as well,” said Berg. “In addition to an academic routine that keeps our students on task, we have also engaged in fun activities throughout the weeks, such as Spirit Week, LEGO engineering challenges, fitness classes and more, to keep our student body bonded together. Morning prayers and announcements are broadcasted daily. Liturgy is live-streamed every week, students participate in online retreat days, and our faculty also engages in regular Google Meet sessions with their students and with each other to connect and plan.”

As for the upcoming school year, All Saints Academy is hoping to open its doors physically to all of its students.

“I can’t wait to see all the kids again next year. We have missed them so much,” Rosemary Taibi, third grade teacher at All Saints said.

However, if in the event that we are mandated to continue to teach via distance learning, Berg noted staff is ready to open their arms virtually to their new classes.

"And welcome in new students and families until we can all physically be together again," she said.

Founded in 2009 as a merger of the former St. Peter the Apostle and St. Christopher schools, both located in Parsippany, All Saints Academy is AdvancEd accredited, and was the first elementary school in the Diocese of Paterson and Morris County to become a nationally-certified STEM school.

Thanks for reading! Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Have a news tip you'd like to share? Or maybe you have a press release you would like to submit or a correction you'd like to request? Send an email to russ.crespolini@patch.com

Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter. You can also have them delivered to your phone screen by downloading, or by visiting the Google Play store.