Page 7 - DistanceLearning

When Covid-19 precipitated the closure of return. When we first shared our
schools across New Jersey and the United
States, it threatened the traditional rhythm of
springtime concerts and year-end celebra-
tions. These events are eagerly awaited by parents, earnestly
deserved by students, and elaborately planned by teachers and
advisors. They constitute the end of the school year, and for Se-
niors, the end of their high school journey and the passage into a
new chapter of their lives.
The work of the World Language Honor Societies advisors at Spar-
ta High School begins in mid-September. The advisors review the
requirements for the French, German, Spanish and Russian organi-
zations, update the rosters of eligible students, obtain the approvals
of the Board of Education. The language teachers organize student
tutors and train student facilitators for our elementary school World
Language Club. The students accumulate sweat equity investing in
tutoring peers or creating cultural and language-infused games for
the 4th and 5th grade students. Potential new members begin to
earn credit toward recognition as members of the Honor Societies.
As the year progressed, our German students prepared to share
their voices at the Christmas German Market on Lake Mohawk and
our Russian students practiced their speeches for the Olympiada
competition. Seniors qualified for the Seal of Biliteracy and Fresh-
men continued to explore careers pathways in the languages. Les-
sons were taught, assessments administered, and scores tabulated;
the seeds were sown and a new crop of qualified language learners
prepared to apply for the World Language Honor Societies.
With less than one month before the grand ceremony, it all came
to a halt. The shock of it all, the virus, the closure, the uncertainty,
the proximity of a distance learning reality, it was all so surreal.
The needs of our students, families and community brought us
back to reality as we began to see feigned nerves across a Goo-
gle Meet session or hear the trepidation in a voice-recorded as-
signment. How could we bring back a little humanity in a learning
environment now devoid of human contact?
In isolation, both supervisor and advisors had determined that
an induction ceremony needed to happen despite uncertainty of
7
pipe dreams with each other, With less than one month
before the grand cere-
we were surprised by the unity
of commitment. Through this mony, it all came to a
unity, came shared purpose and halt. The shock of it all,
common effort. the virus, the closure, the
uncertainty, the proximi-
But even if the schools would ty of a distance learning
reopen before the end of the reality, it was all so surreal.
year, the idea of gathering in an
auditorium seemed inappropri-
ate and even a little scary. How could we recognize the students?
How would society officers lead the pledges and affirm their
oaths? Could we distribute cords? and cards? and plaques? and
certificates? How could we share these moments with mothers,
fathers, siblings and grandparents? And how do we not try to find
answers to these questions?
As we began to contemplate the challenges, the pace of the
collaboration between teacher and administrator quickened. We
began to leverage our newfound technical abilities developed
through necessity to formulate a virtual induction ceremony.
Through a combination of Google Meet, smartphone apps, email
approvals, editing software, Loom presentations, Superintendent
contributions, Principal support and multiple YouTube tutorials,
many of our questions were resolved.
As we began the work of converting our real-world, realtime pro-
gram into an asynchronous, virtual ceremony, our department be-
gan to mobilize around our plan. The work began as the language
advisors distributed the oaths and the officers began to write
speeches. The students became aware of the opportunity and the
teachers heeded the call.
Over the course of one week, four separate student honor society
meetings were recorded. The students recited their pledges and
blew out smartphone candles to seal their oath. The Superinten-
dent greeted viewers and the Principal acknowledged the sacrifice
of the parents, the dedication of the students and the hard work of
the teachers. The supervisor arranged for every teacher to share
a special congratulatory message and heartfelt well wishes to
their current and former students. And everyone had an excuse to
comb their hair and wear clothes other than pajamas. It felt good.