St. Margaret’s Nurturing Community Connections During Remote Learning

St. Margaret’s school leaders have continued to emphasize community connections and gatherings during remote learning, nurturing a sense of togetherness despite being physically apart. Throughout all the divisions, community-building activities have been brainstormed and implemented to keep Tartans as close as possible during social distancing. Here’s a look at several of the community-building activities that have taken place that are bringing joy, fun and Tartan spirit during remote learning.

 

All divisions have continued the large gatherings that have helped define the student experience on campus. All divisions meet weekly for Chapel with the St. Margaret’s chaplains, taking part in a reflective moment of prayer with their peers on Zoom. The Lower School Chapel, meanwhile, has continued to feature video presentations as part of their Chapel, in addition to creating Pledge of Allegiance videos just as they do on campus.

 

 

In addition to homeroom time, Chapel and meetings with the atelierista (art teacher), the Early Childhood School has a morning check-in on Wednesday where students can gather for 30 minutes at the start of the day. “It’s sort of as it is at school when children and parents come to campus in the morning and sign-in in our lobby before going to class. It’s been fun,” Early Childhood School Director Cris Lozon said.  

 

The Early Childhood School faculty also put together this fun music video to bring some joy and happiness to the young students, connecting to them in a creative, upbeat, age-appropriate (and fun!) way--with an appearance by Head of School Will Moseley! 

 

 

In lieu of birthday Chapel, the Lower School is mailing birthday cards with a PAWsitive for each student celebrating a birthday during remote learning. There are also weekly photo albums on mySMES sharing student activities, and the Green Team, Arts Committee, PAWsitive Character Committee and Core Council are continuing to meet remotely.

 

The Middle School Student Council has produced weekly TV news-style episodes that have been shown on YouTube to the entire division. The entertaining videos, titled “MSSCTV” features an opening prayer by Father Earl Gibson, fun ideas for passing the quarantine time at home, a cooking segment and other humorous skits.

 

The Middle School has also done themed advisories and class meetings, such as wearing a hat or pajamas, and have put on competition like a “pets in costume” contest that students can do at home.

 

Hundreds of students and faculty have logged on to Zoom each week to take part in the Upper School Convo, where announcements are read, games like Kahoot are played and friends and classmates see one another.

 

The Upper School ASB has also been active, doing social media takeovers, promoting themed advisories and many other initiatives.

 

Head Football Coach and motivational speaker extraordinaire Kory Minor has taken to the St. Margaret’s athletics’ social media channels with a daily “Minor Minute” offering inspiration, insight and health and wellness tips for Tartan athletes.  Several teams, despite the cancellation of the spring season, have met to do calisthenics and other conditioning exercises together via Zoom.