Top 10 FAQ's

 

Yes, we have asked everyone in the MCDS community to contact their health care provider if they are ill or have questions about their health or that of a loved one when they are not on campus. We also asked everyone to keep us informed if they or anyone in their family is impacted, so we can continue the good work of minimizing the impact on our community. Please contact our Lead School Nurse Bianca Ricart at ricartb@miamicountryday.org, 305-779-7269 or 305-779-7261.

On Monday, March 30, we launched our online learning program, and that will continue through at least May 1. The decision to keep the MCDS campus closed through the remainder of the spring semester is under careful consideration as we continue to reflect on what is in the best interest of our community and monitor local, state and federal guidelines. We will communicate to you, in multiple channels, as our timeline is updated or guidance from our referencing sources changes.

A decision about Commencement will be made if or when a decision is made to keep the MCDS campus closed through the remainder of the spring semester. That decision is under careful consideration as we continue to reflect on what is in the best interest of our community and monitor local, state and federal guidelines. We commit to celebrating our seniors, regardless of the circumstances, and are already hard at work on finding creative ways to do so.

The online learning experience will be different from what students experience on campus. Our online program is structured using a proven three-part online learning model designed to provide a balance of synchronous (online) and asynchronous (offline) learning.

 

For our Lower School students, methods for online learning at this age are not supported fully by research so we are taking a slightly different, yet measured and purposeful, approach that will allow us to be even more responsive to their individual needs. However, all Lower School lessons will follow a proportionately adjusted three part-learning model to replicate the same learning experience as the older students. Because online elementary education is so ill-defined, we will periodically evaluate how they are doing along the way so we can make the needed adjustments and ensure their success.

 

Of course, online learning is new for most of our MCDS students and parents, maintaining a schedule and daily routine will be important. Parents can find individual student schedules by grade level in the Resource Center, My Country Day > Schedule.

5. What is the main difference between the online learning schedule and the previous on-campus schedule for Middle School and Upper School?

 

For our Middle and Upper School students, the schedule provides students with 30-42 hours of online and offline learning compared to a typical on-campus schedule that requires 19-27 hours of campus time plus homework. The time will vary depending on the number and nature of the courses a student has in their schedule. Students with a full, 7-course schedule should expect work time near the high end of the suggested range of time. 

 

Our MCDS faculty have been working tirelessly with Dan Bronish, our Academic Dean, to structure the day using a proven three-part online learning model that is designed to provide a balance of synchronous (online) and asynchronous (offline) learning. For our Middle and Upper School students, the schedule provides students with 30-42 hours of online and offline learning compared to a typical on-campus schedule that requires 19-27 hours of campus time plus homework.

 

Since online learning is new for most of our MCDS students and parents, maintaining a schedule and daily routine will be important. Parents can find individual student scheduled by grade level in the Resource Center, My Country Day > Schedule.

 

We have decided to cancel all end-of-year assessments, thereby gaining back valuable instructional time in the Lower, Middle and Upper Schools. Similarly, we have decided to postpone the administration of the ERB test to the end of October 2020. The decision to cancel the regularly scheduled end of term assessments was made in order to capture two weeks of teaching time and to reduce stress on students.

 

The College Board has provided AP teachers and students with ample resources to adjust to the online universe. The College Board has also adopted a shorter, online test for this year’s courses that covers material that followed a scope and sequence through the middle of March. In referencing the guidance provided by the College Board we are happy to share that all of our AP courses have already passed the content point that will be covered on this year’s exams and students are on their way to completing the full course content.

 

Lab-based classes can be a challenge in an online environment but the use of modified, safe, and easy to adapt home experiments, as well as the use of virtual labs and demonstration labs, will be used to support the lab components of our lab-based courses.

 

Tuition will still be collected as planned. To help families with financial challenges they may be facing, we will suspend all late fees and extend payment terms for the time being.

We understand that many families, including those in our faculty, have been financially impacted by the effects of COVID-19. Tuition helps MCDS ensure we are able to meet our high academic standards, now in the online learning setting, by providing the resources for a complete and well-rounded educational experience delivered by top teachers.

If you have specific concerns about navigating your options, please contact Ingrid Palmisano, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at palmisanoi@miamicountryday.org or (305) 779-7202.

9. Who may I contact directly as questions arise?

 

We would recommend you start with your student’s teacher or division director, and if he or she cannot answer your question they can direct you to the proper staff person at MCDS.  

 10. I'm concerned about the safety and security of my child online. What is Miami Country Day School doing to help protect my child's privacy while conducting classes online?

Please know that we take online security very seriously and are constantly reviewing ways to enhance these measures. MCDS has vigorous requirements for all approved software and online solutions to guarantee the safety and security of our students, faculty, and staff, all of which are reviewed for compliance with COPPA and FERPA regulations. Zoom, for example, is an approved online solution that we utilize.

 

MCDS has maintained an active Educational Zoom account for over five years, as part of our Emergency Operations Plan. The “Educational” status of our account means that all activity is secured and protected to the extend regulated by COPPA and FERPA. With this in mind, MCDS asks that parents provide supplemental assistance in keeping their children’s online experience safe while they are learning from home:

 

If there are further questions about the online learning environment, please contact ITSsupport@miamicountryday.org. Please also consider reviewing the online safety material put out by NetSmartz, a highly-respected educational safety website for families.