Below I'll offer brief updates from each division, courtesy of the Division Directors. In general, we all seem to be feeling a need for more time in community. What that means in practice is synchronous learning time—video sessions that bring everyone in a House or a class together. For some families, especially in our First Program, that means more time supervising technology use and coordinating schedules. So there are trade-offs at every step. We're trying, all of us, to find the right balance. And we'll keep trying until we get it right. 

First Program:
The first weeks of Digital Dalton in First Program were intentionally gradual. Starting this week, House teachers have scheduled synchronous morning meetings, small group sessions or one-on-one check-in times, and learning support sessions and Labs, adding up to a total of 1.5-2 hours of face-to-face engagement a day. Some additional programs will offer synchronous sessions starting Wednesday. Next week we'll shift to a more ambitious synchronous model, with a 2.5-hour synchronous block schedule for K-3 students, expanded House time, learning support, and rotating daily synchronous specials, in addition to other specials that will continue to create asynchronous content. Look for a letter from Nora on Wednesday with more details.

Middle School: 
We've created student schedules on Classes, with weekly modifications updated on each teacher's Bulletin Board. Faculty continue to build routines and practices that sustain us, maintain a sense of community, create learning experiences that remain authentic, and prepare students for the expectations ahead of them. House Advisors check-in with their students daily, either as a large group or through videos, emails and other asynchronous methods. Students have synchronous classes at least three times a week per core (English, Social Studies, Math, World Language/EW, Science) and PE class. Classes in the visual and performing arts hold one class as a large group with the other class reserved for additional practice. Teachers Lab with their students every week or every other week. Using large and small group meetings as a foundation, students are expected to complete assignments asynchronously throughout the week.

High School:
We've adapted our schedule to allow classes to meet consistently each week and for students to have sufficient time to make labs, work in groups, and focus on projects. Teachers have rebalanced synchronous and asynchronous work, converting what might have formerly been classwork to asynchronous tasks, and tightening the work that is occurring during synchronous class time. We're actively collecting feedback, refining our assignments, and planning measured changes, expansions, and special programming for the coming weeks.

Digital Dalton Surveys:
On Thursday, we'll send a short survey about Digital Dalton. Please take a moment to respond to it. The more feedback we get, the more we'll be able to adapt and improve the experience.

Dalton OnDemand:
We're happy to introduce Dalton OnDemand (under the Resources menu), an expanding archive of Dalton-related videos. You'll find concerts and theater performances, athletics and PA events, our Conversation Series, and more. We'll also be posting new content, including Storytime with First Program teachers and staff.

Ways to Help:
So many of you have asked how you can help others. Our Office of Community and Global Partnerships and our PA have joined forces to compile Ways to Help, a robust menu of ways you can help local businesses, elderly neighbors, essential workers, and even the environment.

One more thing –
I want to take a moment to honor the bewildering complexity of this moment: the sacrifice and the suffering, the labor and the love, the generosity and the spirit of serving. So many people have given so much of themselves. If you have friends or neighbors or family members who are in pain; if you're doing the work that our society has come to realize is essential; if you're feeling grief or anger or sorrow—my heart is with you.

With gratitude and good wishes—

Jim

P.S. Creating and sustaining a vibrant culture of philanthropy, even in the midst of a pandemic, is one of our most important goals as a school, and as a community. We've created a fund to support families who need tuition assistance. Any gift to that fund makes a huge impact – https://www.dalton.org/page/campaign-gift

P.P.S. Our Annual Fund is still a vital source of support for Dalton itself. In fact, it may be more important now than ever before. If you're willing and able to make a gift—well, that would be amazing.