positive messages from teachers to students during covid
Indeed, nothing is more important than the health and safety of our community. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought out the best in many peoplepeople who have shown compassion and empathy and offered a helping hand to others during this extraordinary time. "The Lord gives His toughest battles to His strongest soldiers". Instructional design support for technology-enhanced instruction. Editors note: Phased planning and increased understanding of COVID-19 has amended some information included in the July 14 message. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major effect on nearly all aspects of life. Supervisors on the main campus and VIMS campus will be communicating with employees this week, confirming that they will be working on campus, remotely or in a blended fashion as students begin returning to campus, as well as schedules for those modes of work. As we face the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic and plan carefully for a 2020-21 academic year in-person and on campus, a commitment to community-wide actions is essential. May the coming weeks keep you and your loved ones well. Letter #3. The university has made systematic adjustments to reduce risk of transmission: instituting a phased return of undergraduate students; requiring a negative test before returning students can be on campus; implementing a comprehensive plan to reconfigure and de-densify campus; making maximum use of our beautiful campus outdoors and more. Above all, working and learning in company strengthens the deep human connections we prize at William & Mary.With these values in mind, we have much work to do to assess the adaptations to campus and curriculum that will be needed next year. At least six feet of physical distance must be maintained 10 feet for those exercising, singing or cheering consistent with state guidelines. Teachers can be positive role models for their students. Please enter the building at the ticket booth (glass) doors on the concourse level, at the corner of Ukrop Way and Compton Drive. And we can do this together. High School Musical Tickets On Sale Now. These students should closely track EMT messages regarding Hurricane Isaias. PPE for faculty and staff and cleaning protocols for instructional spaces. As the semester winds down, I write to share my gratitude for your steadfast and creative efforts over the past nine months of pandemic. All our constituencies agree: the health of W&Ms people must be prioritized as we prepare to welcome students and employees back to campus. More details about each event will follow. The health and welfare of our employees, not just our students, depends on robust compliance. Employees should request an exception for health reasons through Human Resources. Student Affairs will provide details about the winter break transition and spring semester arrival by the week of November 2. The work ahead will continue to be challenging in unprecedented ways and uncertainty will remain high. Social class juniors, seniors, and graduate students may request housing contract release without penalty. Compliance with these requirements is mandatory for this period. This has been a very difficult year for us all. Teacher motivation is closely linked to student motivation, and teachers who are motivated to teach can trigger students' motivation to learn. Classes are back in session because of great effort by many. As the COVID-19 pandemic has unfolded, Commencement 2020 has been front-of-mind for our graduating students and their families. We anticipated a 72-hour maximum turnaround time in determining when to mail the test kits to you. That speaks volumes about who we are as a community. Kimberley is a Creative Director at WeAreTeachers. Please bring your student ID, and wear a mask. Its heartbreaking that we dont get to do those things, she said. This is the second time in its history that a BOV committee met virtually under rules established by the Attorney General in response to the State of Emergency in Virginia. Staff throughout the university are offering many services virtually and also ensuring that our campus remains safe and ready for our return. But many parents and educators have been struggling with their new . Residential students will need to take good care of themselves and one another. Kick a ball around. From exercise, personal training, and yoga videos to mindfulness and creative art, we will be offering a wide range of resources to help you manage the stress and emotions that are a part of this new challenge. If you bring guests with you, they must remain in your vehicle. However, please expect delays in responses due to high volume. At the end of the day, our students ability to sustain these commitments will determine our capacity to be together safely. These policies will be effective through at least April 3. The provost and deans offices will coordinate this transition for all academic programs. I write to sketch broadly the projected financial outlook for William & Mary as we understand it at present and outline the steps we are taking to support the extraordinary students, faculty, staff, alumni andparentswho sustain the universitys mission. In our residential setting, we interpret this as roommate/suitemate groups. Katherine Rowe President Ginger Ambler Chair, Commencement Committee and Vice President for Student Affairs. As we move through this summer and into the fall semester, the COVID-19 Response Team is providing guidance regarding the required use of face coverings on campus from now through the end of the calendar year (July 15-Dec. 31, 2020). So we will wait until April for better clarity on how that may be achieved. We will redouble our efforts to support one another, to reach out and to commit to making choices that minimize risk to all. Suzanne Tomlin, a fifth grade science and math teacher at Willis Elementary, decided to call her students at various times this week, as well as speaking with their parents. As a reminder for those on campus, W&M conducts in-person symptomatic testing at our Student Health Center and prevalence testing at our new VCU Health clinic at North Henry St. We are committed to your health and safety. ET. Compliance with these requirements keeps our campuses safer through the summer and into the fall. And we will pick up right where we left off!! Yet at a time of loss and sacrifice, we have also made gains. As. Even with full compliance, the health and safety of our community will remain vulnerable. While many students are complying with the rules and regulations set forth in our Healthy Together Community Commitment,too many are not. Check out some of Kids Help Phone's favourite inspirational quotes! Further details may be found below. Therefore, William & Mary is taking the following measures to advance the health and safety of our entire campus community while we continue to provide high quality teaching, learning, and co-curricular experiences for our students and conduct essential research. After July 31: information will be provided next week by the Chief Operating Officer and the Chief Human Resources Officer on the specifics of how we will assess return to work timelines based on the university's mission and areas of work. No one should take these early results as license to relax our vigilance. Building Relationships With Young People . That I am thinking of them and missing them daily. We hope this information proves helpful and comforting. The Exit: Teachers Leave. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Sign Up for Daily News & Breaking News Newsletters, Sign up for Digging Deep: Inside KXAN Investigates newsletter. An archive of messages sent to William & Mary students about the university's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The universitys goal is to prioritize safety while offering as much in-person instruction as possible. Our ability to flourish through fall will depend on the commitment each member of the W&M community makes to one anothers health and safety. They should be telling me their stories from the weekend and being with me and theyre not.. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Teachers finishing their first year faced additional struggles as they scrambled to move their teaching online . Day one of on-site testing is Monday, October 19, and well continue with testing daily through Thursday, October 30. more. 1 (or more) student/staff with COVID-19 in multiple classes/cohorts. Save the number 757-221-IDEA (4332) to your contacts. We need everyone to be on board with masks, physical distancing and our other preventive measures and with re-imagining social life in creative ways, consistent with those measures. Not having been able to say goodbye weighs on many. A compilation of resources was created and shared last week with all students who had alerted us to their urgent need; the Dean of Students and Reves Center teams are following up with those students by phone today to determine what needs have yet to be met. , Get to know our book expert, Ciera Pasturel, Heres why your car looks disgusting today. We dont get to see them again and I dont know when Ill get to see them and thats just hard, she said. Its been tough, and she said an added challenge for her students is having the equipment to connect with her virtually, whether its because of not having the means or not having internet access . Undergraduate, graduate Arts & Sciences, and Marine Science classes will begin January 27 and end May 7. What are your favorite quotes or words of encouragement that have helped you during the Covid-19 pandemic? Students can easily remove the Honorlock browser extension from Chrome after completing an exam. All residential students also have agreed to adhere to specific Covid-19 Health and Well-Being Policies as part of theirhousing contract. Instead, approach lower grades with compassion, and help kids find intrinsic motivation. Teacher workspaces displayed to the class can incorporate student work along with new notes and work that can . We track the Virginia Department of Health guidelines daily.Bringing our campus back together safely is an enormous task and also a hopeful one because it is a key step in the path forward to a post-COVID-19 William & Mary. Contact the Technology Support Center (TSC)757-221-4357 (HELP) or [[support]] We look forward to connecting with you! We continue to be guided first and foremost by the advice of our local health authorities. Please talk with your advisor as you consider the options that best suit you. Those students may choose temporary housing in Richmond Hall, which has been identified as suitable for isolation (separate, exterior room doors, individual bathrooms, etc.) the same household is COVID-19 positive. As for how the video came together, PrincipalGeorge Rauh explained to E! On April 28, a video was shared on YouTube featuring the principal, teachers and staff members of the Van Holten Primary School. Tests will be sent based on your anticipated return date, according to a predetermined schedule arranged with W&Ms health care partners. 16 After teachers and students cycle through the depression phase, We must continue to do all we can to keep our community healthy. Beginning Monday, October 19, William & Mary will launch the next round on-site testing forstudents. Volunteer boards must hold their meetings remotely, including their executive and committee meetings. My family is here, they're safe and sound, and I'm doing OK. I'm just doing the best I can. Otherwise, we will assume that you do not wish to donate at this time, and you will receive the rebate credit. May we each commit to doing our part to mitigate risk, to actively demonstrate our care for the physical and emotional well-being of others, and to complete a successful year together. William & Marys Public Health Advisory Team and the COVID-19 Response Team continue to closely follow local, regional, state and national developments during the pandemic. Much like running a race, at the end of every year, she hands out a medal to each of her students as a congratulatory gift after they take their AP exams. Like many of you, we continue to follow closely the unprecedented outbreak of COVID-19. Exceptions have been made for a small number of A&S COLL freshman classes to begin and continue in person, and the individual graduate and professional schools are communicating directly the start date of their in-person classes. We recognize the uncertainty so many are feeling. For more inspiring messages, check out these inspirational quotes about hope and healing. So over the coming weeks, W&M will be repeatedly stressing the new rules via regular guidance, online training, signage and more. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. On Tuesday, July 28, Gov. Connect with school staff. For more information on meal plans, please visit, June 25-July 7 -- Registration for undergraduate transfer students, July 8 New student housing assignments announced, July 8, 5 p.m. Meal plan selection deadline, July 15 Details about orientation, residence hall check-in, and move-in process announced, July 15 Listing of fall course delivery available (including delivery mode designations), Week of August 3 Continuing students and new transfer students can make changes to schedules, Aug 8-11 Returning Students Phase I move-in (returning students with a need to arrive early), Aug 12-14 New Student move-in (freshman, transfers, Joint Degree Programme), Aug 13-18 Returning Students Phase II move-in (all other returning students). They constitute direct violations of the Healthy Together Community Commitment that each of us affirmed. Celebrating the work of W&M faculty, staff and students. Please opt-in by filling out the subscription form. I wish you a safe and happy holiday season. Testing is a critical part of the commitment we make to mitigate risks associated with COVID-19. Remaining on campus and utilizing university resources while practicing social distancing - remaining 6 to 8 feet from other individuals is preferred. University requirements for face coverings apply to all faculty, staff, students, contract workers, vendors and others who are on William & Marys various campuses or enter university owned or leased buildings. The following have three themes in common: 1) They speak to parents and teachers. Students Suffer. Please call or text someone (a friend, your grandparent, or a cousin) to say hi. Entry will be restricted to these doors. It would be unrealistic and misleading to predict there will be no cases in our community this fall. It is based on collaborations with Commonwealth public higher education (including peer university public health and medical centers), CDC and VDH guidelines, and the Governors guidelines. As we move forward, we are committed to ensuring the standards of excellence that distinguish a William & Mary education. Until then, may this community and those we love be healthy and safe. So much gratitude is flowing. Be calm, honest, and caring, and demonstrate a positive attitude to children. I am confident that will be the case in the coming days and weeks. of Education. Since January of this year, W&M has been monitoring the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and actively responding, in close consultation with public health experts, the VA Department of Health and our peers. All that is needed is a computer with the Chrome browser, a working webcam & microphone, and a stable Internet connection. Each person will schedule a 10-minute slot for their test. We are planning a phased move-in for undergraduate students living in on-campus housing. Spend the free time you might have during our shelter in place to nurture and start new relationships and then take care of them as the years go by, she explained. Wed love to share your messages to students during COVID-19 school closures. Our staff has kept the university running apace, rapidly adapting to new technologies and workflows and providing round-the-clock care to support our students health and wellbeing. (Again, pending EMT hurricane guidance.). Other measures being taken to mitigate risks as students and employees return to campus this fall will be discussed at a community Town Hall scheduled for July 20. I am enormously grateful for the W&M communitys commitment to these three goals over the past eight months and we must remain vigilant. The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. Youre crazy amazing. We remain committed to the four goals shared last week and will continue to support those students who are unable to leave campus. I look forward to seeing you all again and working with you. Hopefully they can find a silver lining in this and hopefully we can all be together sometime in the future.. There are many ways to help ensure the integrity of the learning and assessment processes. By providing as much transparency as possible, I hope to sharpen our focus on what matters most and to ease some of the uncertainty we all feel. We will indeed have the chance in the future to celebrate those milestones appropriately. These SEL Lessons Inspired by Dogs Are What Kids Need Right Now. From teaching inspiration to ideas for staying healthy and avoiding burnout, here you'll find a place to laugh, vent, and get reinvigorated to teach. Exam proctoring is something W&M regularly offers and uses to meet needs of specific students and/or courses. Yet I look forward to the coming months with optimism. So the Commencement Committee has been hard at work to bring clarity. Anxiety, by far, was the most frequently mentioned emotion. If you have tested positive for COVID-19 within the 90 days prior to your return, please fill out the form at, As COVID-19 vaccine testing and deployment accelerates, the Virginia Department of Health is developing a protocol to administer inoculation across the Commonwealth. For students living in off-campus housing: given the lack of services on campus and out of an abundance of caution, we ask that you return to your family residence. Were hoping students will be supportive and kind to each other remotely as well. In June we will have more details to share about ways we can prepare for the upcoming academic year. Student tuition and fees make up our biggest source of revenue. It is important to honor the painful feelings as well: care for the health of loved ones and one's own health; frustration when William & Mary misses a step in communication; feelings of being unsettled and out of place; worry about finances. If you have signed up for direct deposit, funds will be credited to your selected bank account. So this email aims to add clarity where we are able. November 18, 2021. Students currently on campus and in residence need to move out by Wednesday, March 25, 2020. Kimberley Gorelik on March 27, 2020 If your students can't hear you correct their grammar, are you even teaching? One common theme of emails to me this week: there is overwhelming support for postponing decisions on Commencement 2020. Research advances, music performances continue and students and teachers are coming together to explore the affordances of distance education, aided by our Studio for Teaching and Learning Innovation. Over the past weeks and through next year, we strive to flatten the curve of the financial impact on W&M, our faculty, students and families, staffand region. He will communicate separately with employees next week. William & Mary is a resilient community. We are so proud of this community and the way it has shown its heart from small acts of kindness to larger efforts in response to COVID-19. Telework through July 31: current restrictions and/or guidelines for telework, campus events and on-campus building access continue. Gabriel H. Sanchez Senior Photo Essay Editor Kate Bubacz If you test positive via W&Ms program, a case manager may reach out to you first. The world is watching, and we want W&M to be the model for how universities can successfully operate in person during a pandemic. Next week I will launch a swift, cross-university planning process to build scenarios for in-person learning on campus in Fall 2020 and beyond. It is recommended to Post them in the hallways or on the wall of the classroom. But my kids are trying and were doing the best that we can to get the needs met of the kids.. While students majoring in health sciences and/or people with medical experience are preferred, opportunities are available for anyone willing to serve. For instance, this may be a great time to learn about our online training modules on mental health via SilverCloud (https://www.wm.edu/offices/wellness/ohp/general-wellness/silvercloud/). And finally, how W&M might take the lead in issuing broad calls to service at this critical time, in order to strengthen our communities near and far. I feel great pride in our communitys shared commitment to this effort, despite the sacrifices that it has entailed. And I see this same resilience in my students this week.. The universitys Path Forward: Fall 2020 lays out our commitment to highly engaged and close connections between teachers and students; that commitment underpins the effort to return to in-person experiences as appropriate under pandemic conditions. As a special send-off gesture, she wrote individual notes for all 73 of her students to take away when they pick up their things. With that in mind, I wanted to provide an update about what to expect in the coming days. I hope you can do the same, and I hope you can focus on forgiving yourselves if you're not perfect. If you are unable to move out completely now, we will offer another window in May to come back and collect your belongings. They gathered in a group exceeding our size guidelines, without the space to physically distance, were not wearing masks and possessed alcohol while underage. We continue to place first priority on the health of our community. Currently, the state is. We will chart a thoughtful path forward stronger in the future because of the dedication and creativity of our students, faculty and staff and because of the relationships that we forge in the coming weeks. For more information, email vamrc@vdh.virginia.gov. Wear a high-quality mask if you must be around others at home and in public. Its a challenge, a challenge for every one of us, but we dont shy away from challenges at William & Mary. Do not gather socially in larger groups in your residence halls, across campus or in locations in the community. That said, in barely three weeks, our world has shifted and our lives changed. AND. "With every book, you go back to school. As we continue to chart a path forward together, I feel honored to be part of this community. With our determination and steadfast efforts, we are also mourning: a lecture, a birthday, the long-awaited symposium, a team road trip, and so much more. Because safeguarding the health of our community is a central concern, we (in consultation with our VCU Health System partners) considered several options to meet these different requirements. At this time room selection for returning students for the 2020-2021 Academic Year will proceed on schedule online, including Priority Housing. Resource Feedback This simply cannot happen at William & Mary, or we, too, will be forced to abandon the opportunity to live and learn together in person this fall. Please watch your email for a link from the Testing Coordination Team. The pandemic has required us to adopt new behaviors, and we share in this challenge together. We are considering the optimal timing for your Commencement, keeping in mind that the Classes of 2020 and 2021 will each have their own ceremonies and celebrations. A university-wide policy on travel reimbursements is posted online. Self-quarantine and testing schedules will be updated to reflect new return dates. On nearly a daily basis, new reports emerge from institutions around the country of behavior that endangers the health of entire communities. That is the territory we are in now, together. Help them understand the technology they might need for school. William & Marys response to the pandemic and reopening follows Commonwealth guidelines. More details on delivery and additional instructional time and content will appear in the syllabus. Planning continues apace and I hope this message will address many of your queries. All students are required to be tested before the fall semester. Since our founding in 1693, our history has been one of creativity and resilience in the face of daunting challenges. These trends, along with additional data and considerations, will inform William & Marys spring operations. If maintained, this will allow meetings of more than 50 people to occur, so large lecture classes can meet in person (either the entire group at once or half or a third at a time). Offices that have face-to-face interaction should arrange meetings by appointment and observe W&Ms requirements for the use of face coverings, physical distancing, etc. All requirements apply to both indoor and outdoor co-curricular activities and spaces. We recognize that these decisions have weighty consequences personal, financial and more. Employees will access the series through Cornerstone Learning. A return to campus, like all aspects of life, carries with it potential risk. Our conclusion is that the Class of 2020 deserves to be celebrated fully. Classes will resume online starting Monday, March 23. Please watch your email for a link from the Testing Coordination Team. Remote proctoring provides a reliable process for identity verification and secure testing environments. "I would like to begin by recognising our parents, families, and loved ones, especially my mum and dad, who, may not be physically present with us, but who are, as always, cheering us on from the screens of the Great Hall or on their devices; our lecturers for imparting their wisdom - who have recently acquired the number 1 spot in the recent With great strength of purpose, William & Mary students and their families, faculty and staff embraced the work of safeguarding our community while ensuring that our learning and research mission remains strong. Online instruction will continue uninterrupted. Harmony Science Academy teacher Dehna Richards stood heartbroken in her empty classroom and tearfully looked around. On-campus space is limited so options for moves are few at this time.
