Dear Parents and Guardians
As you know, our aim in managing the unprecedented development of coronavirus has been to ensure we can keep our students safe while acting proportionally in response to unfolding events. In the light of yesterday’s announcement by the government the College will be closed at the end of the day on Friday 20th March. Below is an outline of how we will continue teaching our students.
Teaching will happen remotely. Although exams are cancelled for the time being the exam boards may require predicted grades. Therefore students must continue learning for their course and complete the tasks/exams questions set as accurate predicted grades should emerge towards the end of any course. Lessons will be scheduled as per the timetable and delivered via Zoom; Google classrooms (French and Geography) and via email communication. The College day will be the same as a student’s timetable so students are expected to be checking their personal and College emails regularly for instructions from teachers.
You can find out more about Zoom here
Students will be sent an invite by their teacher to attend a Zoom meeting that replaces the lesson. They need to click on this link and it will take them to the site. The students then wait in the “waiting room” until invited in for each lesson. For those teachers that are using Google classrooms this will be a “Team Meeting”.
For the first 5 days there will be a short time of transition to remote and online learning so some teachers will be giving students packs of work, past questions and homework tasks via email to get on with while they get ready to start the online lessons. We have now factored in that there is less urgency due to exam cancellation. Students will be expected to complete the tasks set and send work to teachers to be marked when asked to. We would like to emphasise that although the College is working remotely, teaching and learning will continue. It will be a very different way of learning but one we are confident that will swiftly adapt.
Timescale: Remote learning will happen for the foreseeable future. We can then review the situation based on government advice. You will of course be notified.
Our teachers have been preparing well for this situation. All our efforts are concentrated on two priorities: maintaining the well-being of our students and ensuring the continuity of their education in the days and weeks to come. We appreciate this news is unsettling, but we want to reassure you of the steps we are taking to provide support for our students and parents during this time.
We have asked the teachers to inform the relevant Heads of GCSE and Sixth Form if a student is not completing work or missing their online lesson. However, if your child cannot attend school virtually please contact attendance@davidgamecollege.com. Although we are working remotely, “attendance” is still critical and will be monitored.
All teachers will be using their school email address and will be contactable through the school office. In particular, the Heads of Year will be available through email; GCSE nedaa@davidgame-group.com and AS /A level j.cushnir@davidgamecollege.com will be available should you have any concerns about the wellbeing of your children while away from school. We will continue to communicate with you closely with you throughout this time and will update you as soon as we have more information regarding when the school will open for lessons.
We would like to take this opportunity to personally thank you for your support during this difficult time. The staff and students have shown great resilience and have remained calm and determined at all times. We realise that this situation will be ongoing for some time and we recognise that it is going to lead to more challenges in the coming weeks. We thank you in advance for your support and patience whilst we tackle unchartered waters.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions. I can be contacted directly at:
rachelsherman@davidgame-group.com
Emergency number: 07592454649
Kind regards
Rachel Sherman
