K–5 On-campus Transition Program, October 2020

Introduction

On Thursday and Friday, October 15 and 16, PBS will run a program for our K–5 students as they prepare to return to campus for blended learning. There are no K–5 classes on these dates so that students can participate.

As educators, we know that the upcoming transition to our blended learning model is a significant change in routine and will be experienced differently by each student. Child psychologist Dr. Petra Steinbuchel told PBS faculty and staff that “creating predictability is one of the most effective ways to mitigate anxiety and create psychological safety.” 

This transition program is intentionally designed to give our K–5 students a head start in creating that predictability and routine, as well as to help them feel confident, resilient, prepared, and ready to learn when they return to campus. Like you, PBS wants to set all students up for success in the coming weeks and months.

Each on-campus cohort is assigned to a 2-hour block on either Thursday or Friday, which includes drop-off and pick-up windows. Assignments and other details about the program are detailed below.

We’re excited that this October transition program builds on the best concepts of our original onboarding plan in August, which we were unable to do because of poor air quality. Thank you for prioritizing predictability and support for all of our students as we transition to our blended academic model.

Program outline

In the seven months our K-5 students have been away from school, we’ve made important investments in our campus to make it as safe as possible for our community. We want to show students what to expect and start becoming acquainted with what's new:

• Practicing using the One Medical daily screener
• Experiencing our new carpool routine
• Learning how to use the handwashing stations
• Seeing what recess will look like
• Practicing new routines
• Being together with their cohort before the first day of school on campus

The on-campus program will be led by Student Wellness Manager Casey Powell and Extended Programs Manager Tanner Taylor, with support from other educators on the PBS team. This also gives faculty an opportunity to finalize their preparations to launch our blended learning model and on-campus routines.