Three sisters make progress on schoolwork from Notre Dame School of Milwaukee. Students at Notre Dame were provided with full distance learning starting March 16, the same day statewide school closures began.

Learning during COVID-19: Notre Dame School of Milwaukee

Even the annual Father-Daughter Dance went online

By: Isral DeBruin

As schools shift to serve students remotely during the COVID-19 crisis, some are emerging as standouts. These schools aren’t stopping at basic worksheet packets and instead are offering their students coordinated, school-wide, comprehensive distance learning. City Forward Collective is highlighting these schools to spread best practices and encourage others to keep students moving forward.

When the team at Notre Dame School of Milwaukee made plans to shift online in response to COVID-19, they didn’t stop at distance learning — even the annual Father-Daughter Dance went virtual.

The dance had been scheduled for March 21, the first Saturday after school buildings were ordered closed by Gov. Tony Evers. Instead of canceling or postponing the event, the Notre Dame team got creative. The result? Dads and girls danced in their living rooms and used social media to share photos and videos with the rest of the school community.

Distance learning means more than technology, especially for younger students.

While many schools in Milwaukee and beyond are not yet offering students robust distance learning opportunities, teachers at Notre Dame took classes online March 16 — the same day school buildings closed statewide.

To make this quick pivot possible, Notre Dame staff worked through the March 14 weekend to create an entirely new way of doing school. When Monday arrived, the school connected with families to distribute learning materials, including 150 Chromebooks to those without home computers.

Educators are now using the online Class Dojo and Google Classroom platforms to remain in contact with students and families, record attendance, assign and accept assignments, facilitate group work, and provide digital resources. Teachers use Zoom to conduct live class instruction and meetings for group projects. Parents are replying with videos of students engaging in lessons at home.

Notre Dame’s approach goes beyond core academics: The gym teacher is posting daily physical activities for students, and the school counselor has created a virtual counseling and wellness program accessible for all students.

Behind the scenes, teachers and school leaders continue collaborating, using video conference tools to share ideas, swap lesson plans, and build online resources for students and parents.

In addition, Notre Dame is providing breakfast and lunch every day for every child in the household of each of the school’s students. Besides food, families can also pick up books.

FACTS & FIGURES

Notre Dame School of Milwaukee is a private Catholic school accepting tuition vouchers through the Milwaukee Parental Choice and Special Needs Scholarship programs.

• Grades: K4-8
• Enrollment: 488 students
• Student demographics: 98.4% Latin@; 1% White; 0.6% Black
• Students from economically disadvantaged households: 93.6%
• Students with special needs: 1%
• Students with limited English proficiency: 27.7%
• State rating: Significantly Exceeds Expectations

2018–19 data from: Wisconsin School Report Card system

Isral DeBruin is director of strategy and communication at City Forward Collective. He is a former elementary school teacher and award-winning education reporter.