Plan for 2020-21
In 2020-21, Boys' Latin of Philadelphia will operate a 100% virtual program through Trimester I. The health and safety of our students and staff is our top priority. Our plan addresses this priority and the school's mission: preparing boys for success in college and beyond. Please learn more below.
Overview
In 2020-21, Boys' Latin of Philadelphia will operate a 100% virtual program through Trimester I (September 9 - December 3). The plan for Trimester II and III will be announced by November 12 and February 11 respectively. Please read this letter from our School Founder and Interim CEO, David Hardy, to students and families to learn how the school will navigate the upcoming year in alignment with our mission: preparing boys for success in college and beyond.
Technology
We are committed to providing the technology students need to succeed while learning from a distance. To-date, 100% of technology requests have been fulfilled. Currently, 91% of students learn with a school-issued laptop and 20% use school-provided Internet service.
To receive a laptop from the school, students and their parents must review the One-to-One Laptop Program Policy and Acceptable Use Policy and then sign the One-to-One Laptop Program Agreement. The signed agreement and a $25.00 laptop fee must be submitted in order to receive a laptop. To request a laptop, email support@boyslatin.org.
To receive Internet service from the school, students and their parents must review the Acceptable Use Policy and sign the School Internet Program Agreement. To request school-provided Internet service, email support@boyslatin.org.
Important Notes:
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Students use their Boys' Latin email address to log in to their school-issued laptop (Chromebook), Schoology, and email.
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Chromebooks are used daily to attend school and complete schoolwork.
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Schoology is used for daily learning and tracking grades and progress.
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Email is used to communicate with teachers and peers, and receive important school information.
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PowerSchool is used to track attendance and grades.
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Students received their email and PowerSchool account information at the beginning of the school year. If a student needs their account information, they must email support@boysatin.org.
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Parents access PowerSchool using their student's account information and Schoology using their Parent Access Code. Click here for step by step directions.
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To report device issues, damage, loss or theft, email support@boyslatin.org.
Daily Schedule
Middle School
The first full day of classes is Monday, September 14. During periods of distance learning, the Middle School will operate the following schedule.
High School
The first full day of classes is Monday, September 14. During periods of distance learning, the High School will operate the following schedule. Students are required to attend biweekly seminars from 3:40PM to 4:10PM on Mondays (Grades 9 and 11) and Tuesdays (Grades 10 and 12).
Attendance
During periods of distance learning the school will operate the modified attendance policy, outlined here.
On Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday, Daily Attendance will be taken in Advisory. If a student is late to Advisory, they will be marked tardy for the day. If a student is absent from Advisory, they will be marked absent for the day. Meeting Attendance will be taken during the first five minutes of each class period to confirm access and again in the last five minutes of each class period to confirm completion. Lessons have been structured to include questions or assignments for students to answer or complete during class to ensure engagement throughout the class period. A student’s Daily Attendance will be updated based on their Meeting Attendance. If a middle school student is absent from Advisory, but attends four or more of their eight classes, their Daily Attendance will be updated to tardy. If a high school student is absent from Advisory, but attends two or more of their four classes, their Daily Attendance will be updated to tardy. Similarly, if a student attends Advisory, but does not meet the aforementioned Meeting Attendance threshold for their school, the student’s Daily Attendance will be updated to absent.
On Wednesday, Daily Attendance will be taken by 8:15AM via email communication with the student’s Advisory Teacher at the middle school and at 8:45AM via Schoology/Zoom at the high school. Failure to submit or attend on-time will result in a tardy and failure to submit at all will result in an unexcused absence. Students will be given assignments to complete and submit to their Advisory Teacher by 3:30PM at the middle school and 4:15PM at the high school to confirm their access and completion for the day. Failure to submit the assignment will result in an unexcused absence.
Please see the table below for the attendance codes used during distance learning.
Parents of absent and tardy students will receive a call from the school the day after the student was absent or tardy. For an absence to be excused, a high school student's parent must email Janet Ortiz-Cosby, Director of Enrollment, at jcosby@boyslatin.org and a middle school student's parent must email Mia Waters, Middle School Administrative Assistant, at mwaters@boyslatin.org.
Students and parents are encouraged to regularly monitor the student’s attendance in PowerSchool. To access PowerSchool, go to www.powerschool.boyslatin.org and enter the student’s Username and Password on the Sign In screen. Please note that parents access PowerSchool using their student’s Username and Password.
The school reserves the right to modify the Attendance Policy as needed. Any modifications will be promptly communicated to students and their parents.
Expectations
Daily Requirements
- Wear a Boys' Latin polo shirt.
- Have a notebook ready for note taking.
- Have 2-3 pens or pencils available.
- Have a fully charged Chromebook or laptop.
- Ensure Internet access availability.
Virtual Classroom Requirements
- Be prepared, on time, and in a quiet space ready to positively engage.
- Ensure the background (the area behind you) is plain and free of objects or distractions.
- Turn on your camera.
- Only turn on your microphone when you are responding to or asking a question.
- Be respectful of peers and adults, always.
- Have your Chromebook charged and all materials ready.
Weekly Meals
Students or their family members may pick up weekly breakfasts and lunches between 8:00AM and 12:00PM on Wednesdays at their school at the address listed below. Please see the Distance Learning Foodservice Program Flyer for more information.
High School: 5501 Cedar Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19143
Middle School: 344 N. Felton Street Philadelphia, PA 19139
Health and Safety Plan
The Boys' Latin of Philadelphia Health and Safety Plan serves as our local guidelines for all instructional and non-instructional school reopening activities. Our plan was originally approved by the school's board of trustees on July 20, 2020, submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), and School District of Philadelphia (SDP), our authorizer, and shared with the public via our website.
Based on current public health information and feedback from students, parents, and staff, we revised our original plan. Our revised plan was approved by the school's board of trustees on August 17, submitted to PDE and SDP, and shared with the public via our website.
The revised plan was amended and approved by the board of trustees on September 1. Please click here to review the latest version of our plan.
The conditions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic are dynamic. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and adjust our plan as needed. All revisions will be approved by our board, submitted to the proper authorities, and shared publicly with the school and broader communities.