COVID-19 Response
In-Person Learning
Since the day MAA shifted to remote learning last spring, we have eagerly anticipated our return to the classroom, and to the reunion of our community. In order to facilitate this progression, our faculty and staff have spent the past months adapting our procedures, our pedagogy, and our physical spaces to create a comprehensive plan for reopening. Informed by the guidelines we have received from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), our efforts have, above all, been dedicated to creating a safe and healthy learning environment for all.
Our plan includes, but is not limited to measures that address physical distancing, building sanitation, hand hygiene, mask-wearing, and the repurposing of special subject spaces into additional classrooms.
We are fortunate to have long operated with a low student to teacher ratio, which has allowed us to create distinct homeroom “cohorts” of 10-15 students that will remain together throughout each day. While there will be less movement within the buildings this year, we plan on capitalizing on our expansive outdoor green space for opportunities to learn and play in the fresh air– up on the hill you will find a large event tent has even sprung up to ensure we can get outside no matter the weather!
While a sense of uncertainty has pervaded this year, we feel that the ability to come together this school year will lend a crucial sense of support and consistency that is so important to our families.
Remote Learning Option
We fully understand that some families may not yet be able to send their child/ren back to school. For this reason, MAA has worked to simultaneously offer an option for students to remotely participate in the classroom experience. In each grade level K-6, one classroom has been outfitted with the capacity to livestream instruction. Teachers whose classrooms will be livestreamed have undergone trainings over the summer to prepare them with best practices for integrating their remote students into the classroom experience.
The remote experience has been designed to, as faithfully as possible, mirror that of our in-person learning experience. Students engaging in remote learning will adhere to clearly delineated schedules in concert with the in-person classrooms, with the exception of gym, outside classes, snack, and lunch. Some special subject teachers (Art, Music, Spanish) will be using Zoom for their classes with both groups of students. Library and technology time will be “Drop Everything and Read” sessions or suggested technology assignments.