The Weekly What: Friday, March the 20th, 2020

April 3rd, 2020

The Weekly What:
Friday, March the 20th, 2020

We will continue sending out the Weekly What newsletter during school closures to provide information about online learning, community resources, and to highlight what our students and staff are doing to keep themselves busy.

Coronavirus
Attention All Parents and Students Online Learning:

Dear New Harmony Family:

Thank you so much for your continued patience throughout this process. Our staff have been working over the last few days to build and coordinate a system to continue meaningful learning over the next month. As we receive feedback from both you and students, we hope to improve this model to make it as smooth and effective as possible. Below you will find details on how students are to move forward:

Students will be responsible for submitting work only for their core 3 courses: Humanities (English/Social Studies), Science (SPEW or Biology), and Math (Algebra and Geometry)
Students will also be responsible for one cross-curricular assignment each week that connects to learning in each of their 3 core courses. The first cross-curricular assignment will be provided in Week 2.
All other courses will be offered on an elective basis. More information on these courses will be provided in the following weeks.
Each week, core course teachers will provide a “Playlist” of assignments to be completed for the course. Playlists for all courses are provided below, and will be compiled and sent weekly via Remind, email and posted to the website. Playlists will be sent by 8 AM on Monday of each week. They are meant to be used as a reference and guide for students and parents. Due dates are also provided in each playlist.
Detailed descriptions of each playlist assignment can be found on the course’s Google Classroom page, as well as directions for submitting work.
Teachers have also provided challenge and extension activities at the bottom of each playlist. These are opportunities to push and further learning, as well as have fun! We highly encourage students to explore and engage with these activities.
Teachers are working directly with our SpEd team to ensure all students have meaningful and accessible learning opportunities during this time.

Advisors and staff members are working together to ensure regular communication with students. Expect daily communication from advisors with their advisory groups (via group text, online groups, etc.), as well as at least 1 phone call from a staff member per week.

We will be reaching out over the next day or so to ensure everyone understands the plan moving forward, as well as to answer any questions you may have. Please feel free to send any questions or feedback to Katelynn, who has joined the team to help coordinate online learning, and will also be working to coordinate and support next year with project based, cross-curricular learning rooted in our community. You can reach her at katelynn.clement@newharmonyhigh.org or 978-502-1092.

Stay safe and healthy.

Click Here for Playlist Week One

Visit New Harmony’s COVID-19 Response Page Here

Please scroll to the bottom of our newsletter for links to community resources. Feel free to share widely. Thank you.

Join Our Team!

Our Leadership Team will be working remotely to plan for the 2020-21 school year. Please continue sending over your applications during the statewide school closures.

We are hiring for the 2020-2021 school year. Please visit our website for more information about the following positions…

Algebra I Teacher
Geometry Teacher
English I Teacher
English II Teacher
World Geography Teacher
World History Teacher
Quest for Success Teacher
Special Education Teacher/ Math Intervention
Special Education Teacher / Reading Intervention
Office Manager
Data Manager

Apply Here

Student Voice:
Social Distancing

We asked our students to share their feelings and experiences during this chaotic and confusing week of self-quarantining and isolating. Here’s what they had to say:

To say that I haven’t left the house since we first left school I’m doing fine and have only the occasional boredom. I wake up to take out the dog, and go back to sleep or do work. For fun, I just play mobile games, pc games, watch movies, and occasionally talk to friends. As for online schooling, it doesn’t really bother me. I’m thankful that I can finish all of my work for the week in bulk and have to rest of the week for me. All I can say is to stay safe and be prepared for whatever there is to come. -Alaina, 9th grade

At first not being able to see my friends every day has been kind of stressful, I got very used to going to school and seeing certain people. Honestly, my whole schedule is thrown off, and now that school is starting up again inline it is starting to feel like it used to when I was homeschooled. I was homeschooled all through K-8, and during that time I would spend a few hours a day doing school work, then hanging out with friends or playing in my room. I am a bit older now and I am not able to see my friends as much, I have been keeping myself busy by making chocolate covered strawberries, walking my dog, and watching RuPaul with my mom. I get to hang out with my parents a lot more now, and I don’t feel as stressed about online school because I was homeschooled. It’s nice to get some sleep again but I miss all of my friends at school and my teachers that I have become close with! -Izzy, 10th grade

Why is social distancing so important? Read this interactive article from the Washington Post to learn why staying apart is the best thing you can do right now.

Leaving to Learn

During our last week of school before the nationwide school closures due to COVID-19, our 9th graders visited Joe Brown Park for some outdoor adventure and community service. In the morning they worked on land and on the water to clean up litter. After lunch, they rotated through rounds of archery practice, canoeing, and a nature walk with Fernando. We’re very. grateful that our last Leaving to Learn adventure of the year was spent doing community service.

How to Help Mitigate Coronavirus in Louisiana

Greater New Orleans Foundation Activates Disaster Response & Restoration Fund for the New Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

The Greater New Orleans Foundation announced the activation of its Disaster Response and Restoration Fund in response to the new coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic. The outbreak of the COVID-19, now declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization, is on everyone’s mind. With community transmission having occurred in the Greater New Orleans region, the time for action is now.

Click Here for More Info & How to Take Action

Click Here for Free Coronavirus Response Resources

Harmony Highlight:
Staff Edition

Hope, Special Projects Coordinator

What is something you do well?
I think I’m a good helper and problem solver. It’s something I really enjoy doing!

What is something you have learned in the past week?

I learned that if you made $500,000 each day since the invention of the printing press in 1439, you would still have less money then Jeff Bezos by about 30 billion dollars. I also smelt a cucumber root for the first time and that was very exciting!

What is a misconception people have about you?

I think that people may think I’m not very bold in my actions, but I am in my thoughts!
What is the biggest dream you have for yourself that you do not often say aloud?

Change my identity so that I don’t have to pay student loans and flee to Italy to work on a farm and eat cheese all day.

Who has had a positive influence on your life so far and why?

Rae, my office partner, has been encouraging, kind, and positive every single day. She is so easy to be around and I’m so thankful that she’s just a few feet away from my desk. I love her lots!

What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?

I would dye my hair bright orange like a tangerine!

What do you like about New Harmony?

I like that it gets students involved in internships so that they can build experiences from an early age. It helps them think more about the future, not only for themselves but for their communities and beyond!