Technology,creativity keep student-faculty bonds strong, parents connected at St. David's amid pandemic's challenges

This article was written for our sponsor, St. David's School.

Keeping students, faculty, and families engaged and connected during the pandemic has been a challenge for educators across the country. Despite the difficulties, St. David's School in Raleigh has used technology and a creative approach to provide students and parents a sense of normalcy.

After switching to full virtual learning in March 2020, St. David's has since welcomed students back to campus and is working hard to provide high-value experiences and detailed care for all of their families while maintaining a safe learning environment. Instead of canceling traditional events outright, St. David's has found suitable and enjoyable replacements for students and parents to enjoy.

Finding safe alternatives for mainstays like WinterFest and school dances has taken some ingenuity, according to St. David's Senior Communications Specialist Mary Dickerson.

"If we can't have a dance in the school, what can we do as a complement to that?" said Dickerson. "One of the things [the school has] done this year that I thought was a very clever idea — they call it 'Screen on the Green' — they rent a huge, inflatable screen, and the kids are all sitting on the football field on blankets, spaced apart, watching movies."

Providing events for students to interact outside of the classroom is the easiest way to make things feel somewhat normal around campus, despite the face masks and physical distancing. St. David's still held WinterFest this year with fire pits and outdoor activities, giving students valuable time to interact outside of their studies.

Keeping parents connected has also been a challenge during the pandemic, but St. David's recognizes the importance of communication while campus access is limited. The school has focused on maintaining key events, like parent-teacher conferences and fine arts performances, even if they have to be virtual.

The fine arts department turned its fall play into an audio-only performance, allowing parents and relatives to attend virtually and not miss their students' hard work. The spring musical will take place at the outdoor amphitheater on campus, and limited capacity is being offset with more performances, allowing every parent the opportunity to attend.

St. David's has also worked hard to keep athletics running as smoothly as possible, despite state and local restrictions. Luckily, technology has had a significant role in allowing students and parents to stay connected to the competitions. With mounted cameras in the gymnasiums for broadcasting events and a host of outdoor game volunteers, it's never been easier to attend a game virtually.

Dickerson said St. David's has live-streamed as many events as possible, taking advantage of parents' willingness to capture video on school tablets.

"The athletics department asked team parents to run the cameras, and I think they had eager volunteers because that was a parent's chance to get permission to attend a game in person," said Dickerson.

Despite some apparent changes, everyday life at St. David's is getting back to normal. As always, classrooms provide students with a challenging and rewarding place to learn and grow, and engaging events and activities are ongoing, with health and safety paramount.

Perhaps the biggest priority besides safety at St. David's during this time is communication. Teachers and staff are available for students daily, either in their rooms or virtually, and every effort is being made to reach out to parents and make them feel as involved as during a typical year.

"So much of what a parent picks up is just being on campus, walking around and talking to others. When they're not allowed on campus, then we have to fill in that gap," said Dickerson. "Thoughtful and purposeful emails are necessary, but also being deliberate on social media and providing snapshots of what's happening on campus that you're not seeing this year because you're not here with us, is really important."

This article was written for our sponsor, St. David's School.