Our 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
- School-Issued Technology
- Daily Schedule: September 9 - September 11
- Daily Schedule: September 14 - December 3
- Student Schedule
- Attendance
- Expectations
- Weekly Meals
- Parent/Guardian Resources
- School Health and Safety Plan
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.
School-Issued Technology
If your student already has a school-issued laptop, please skip to the next section.
If you requested to waive your student’s right to receive school-issued laptop, you will receive an email by September 4 with the One-to-One Laptop Program Waiver for you to sign and return to the school.
If your student has been identified to receive school-issued technology based on your response to the Technology Access Survey, you will receive an email with detailed information by September 4. To receive technology from the school, you 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 pay the laptop fee, please contact Ms. Sheppard, High School Administrative Assistant, at csheppard@boyslatin.org or Mia Waters, Middle School Administrative Assistant, at mwaters@boyslatin.org.
Daily Schedule: September 9 - September 11
Middle School
The 2020-21 school year officially begins on Wednesday, September 9.
On September 9, 10, and 11, students will:
- Pick up school-issued technology (if applicable), supply kits (if applicable), and 1-week worth of breakfast and lunch from the Middle School located at 344 N. Felton Street Philadelphia, PA 19139.*
- Complete a self-guided tutorial to prepare them to be a successful online learner. For detailed instructions on how to access the tutorial, please click here.
- Participate in a 1-hour virtual grade level summit to meet their teachers and peers:
*School-issued technology will be distributed based on your responses to the Technology Access Survey. You will receive a separate email regarding the technology your student will receive. Supply kits for Art, English, and other classes will be distributed based on class rosters. You will receive a separate email regarding the class supply kits your student will receive.
High School
The 2020-21 school year officially begins on Wednesday, September 9.
On September 9, 10, and 11, students will:
- Pick up school-issued technology (if applicable), supply kits (if applicable), and 1-week worth of breakfast and lunch from the High School located at 5501 Cedar Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19143.*
- Complete a self-guided tutorial to prepare them to be a successful online learner. For detailed instructions on how to access the tutorial, please click here.
- Participate in a 1-hour virtual grade level summit to meet their teachers and peers:
- Grade 9: September 11 at 11:00AM (Meeting ID: 979 0878 1847, Passcode: 0vU5w7)
- Grade 10: September 10 at 10:00AM (Meeting ID: 893 9020 2626, Passcode: 506310)
- Grade 11: September 10 at 11:00AM
- Grade 12: September 11 at 10:30AM
*School-issued technology will be distributed based on your responses to the Technology Access Survey. You will receive a separate email regarding the technology your student will receive. Supply kits for Art, English, and other classes will be distributed based on class rosters. You will receive a separate email regarding the class supply kits your student will receive.
Daily Schedule: September 14 - December 3
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).
Student Schedule
Middle School
Your student's schedule is available in PowerSchool. All class sessions are live and will be held via Zoom. Students are assigned to a cohort and will follow their assigned cohort schedule. Students will be given a diagnostic assessment in September and benchmark assessments throughout the year so that our teachers can use data to drive instruction.
High School
Your student's schedule is available in PowerSchool. All class sessions are live and will be held via Zoom. Students will be given a diagnostic assessment in September and benchmark assessments throughout the year so that our teachers can use data to drive instruction.
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 to confirm completion of each class period. Lessons have been structured to include questions or assignment for students to answer or complete during class to ensure engagement throughout the class period.
On Wednesday, Daily Attendance will be taken between 8:00AM and 8:15AM via email communication with the student’s Advisory Teacher. Failure to submit this communication 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 by 3:30PM to confirm their access and completion for the day. Failure to complete and 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 on the day the student was absent or tardy. For an absence to be excused, a student’s parent must email their student’s school administrative assistant: Christina Sheppard, High School Administrative Assistant, at csheppard@boyslatin.org OR Mia Waters, Middle School Administrative Assistant, at mwaters@boyslatin.org.
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.
Zoom Classroom Expectations:
- 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
From September 16th through the end of Trimester I, students or their family members may pick up weekly breakfasts and lunches between 8:00AM and 12:00PM on Wednesdays at their school as 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
Parent/Guardian Resources
We reviewed our plans for the upcoming school year at a town hall for parents and families on Tuesday, September 8. Click here to review the information presented.
To support our Warriors’ families during this period of distance learning, the school will host workshops weekly throughout Trimester I. Please click here for the detailed workshop schedule.
School 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.