A guide to your child’s NAIS HK
Virtual
Secondary School Experience
Welcome to the VSE As we start a new school year, we welcome you all back to school and welcome new students, parents and staff. Given the government restrictions we are starting this academic year with our Virtual School Experience which we have developed and adapted for each section of the school. Over the Summer we have made additional improvements to technology, timetabling and support for families. We are able to move fluidly between Virtual School and Face to Face as external situations dictate whilst maintaining personalised attention to students' learning. Face to Face is our preferred method of schooling but we have been doing everything we can to make our Virtual School Experience the most well-adapted version of our school possible, and we aim to recreate excellence in learning and are committed to providing a high-quality education.
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Our teaching philosophy inspires academic success and develops socially and intellectually confident children. We believe it is important that your child can participate in live lessons with our dedicated teachers, receive and submit assignments, collaborate with their classmates, develop essential skills independently, and be recognised for their outstanding work. All of which are possible through our Virtual School Experience.
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This document gives you and your child information that should help you get the most out our virtual school and our team of teachers will support you and your child to make fantastic progress in the best way possible for your family.
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Sarah Harley Deputy Principal
Contents
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What can you expect from your child’s NAISHK Virtual School Experience?
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Detailed Guidance
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Top Tips The right study space § The tools for the job § The daily routine § A social side § The supportive parent
What’s new for the VSE in 2020-2021? Cameras on please!
New classes, new teachers, new students...oh my!
Helpdesk
We believe that students will get the most out of their virtual lessons with their cameras turned on.
Of course there are lots of new faces to get to know as we start the school year.
If you or your child needs any help during the school day, we have a dedicated 'helpdesk' manned by our staff, who are there to support you when you need them.
This means that the teacher and the students will be able to see each other, which will help foster our sense of community as we work online. Backgrounds – Teams allows students to blur their background so only their face can be seen, and not their surroundings. We recommend students use this setting. Students should wear a form of school uniform when in the virtual school on Teams. This could be formal shirt and tie, House T-shirt or PE kit.
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We have been working hard to explore the best ways for students and teachers to get to know each other and their new classes when the school year starts. Each class has a virtual classroom on Teams and each student has their own account. The first week of school is designed to help your child navigate their school life and support them in their virtual learning.
These are some common questions they might help you or your child with on their first day: •
I can't find my English class on Teams?
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I'm not sure how to put my video on – what should I do?
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How do I get notifications from my teachers in Teams?
What you can expect from the NAISHK VirtualSchool Experience? Creating this VSE has been a journey for all of us at NAISHK. We have a strong philosophy of teaching and learning, and our curriculum is designed around key promises, including our belief that education should be personalised so we are teaching 'children not classes'. Marrying that philosophy with a need to deliver virtual learning from ages 3 – 18 has been a process and we have researched, consulted and trialed our way to the following guidance. We wanted to keep all the aspects of our school that make NAISHK so special and ensure that children can learn and make progress in the best possible way. Throughout this process we have reflected on what works well and we have used this knowledge and experience to refine the VSE so it works for your child. We hope you find this guide useful. Naima Charlier Director of Teaching and Learning, NAISHK P.6
1. Our Vision for a Virtual School We believe that learning involves a strong partnership between home and school. Our learning is engaging, personalised and purposeful with opportunities for collaboration. All learners should make progress and receive support and challenge to excel in line with our Be Ambitious philosophy. We believe that a 'blended approach' utilising a mixture of different styles of home learning maximises learning for all children. This involves a mixture of synchronous, 'connected time' where teachers are live as well as asynchronous 'guided time' where pupils interact with learning in their own time. For their well-being we believe that students should spend time working both on and off screen in order to provide balance and to address learning needs holistically. Our provision changes depending on the age and needs of the pupils.
The key elements of 'blended learning' in our Virtual School (VS)
Our virtual school experience will deliver learning in a 'blended' approach.
E-Learning Time Live Time
Discussion Time
Record and Celebrate
On Screen
Synchronous Connected Time
Learning Objectives
2. Learning through the curriculum
Asynchronous Guided Time
Pupil Choice
Depending on the age and stage of your child, their learning day will differ to the physical school but our blended approach to this delivery should ensure the maximum learning is achieved in a way that delivers a holistic education. School time is either synchronous or asynchronous. A balance of learning is crafted to include both e-learning and screen-free time.
Feedback and Improvement
Off Screen
Screen Free Learning Time P.7
Project Time
Across these key elements, the curriculum is delivered. Each class has a timetable to help parents understand what type of learning is taking place and how they can best support their child.
Examples of the key elements of our Virtual School Live Time Our teachers interact with pupils in real time using audio or video to engage, deliver content, assess and support collaboration so students interact with peers.
Record and Celebrate
E-Learning Time
We subscribe to a variety of e-plaforms that move learning forward. Including CENTURY, Kognity, GCSE Pod,
Greater Screen Use
Work is collated on a relevant platform so pupils have a record of their learning and can share this with peers, family members and reflect on their own next steps.
Pupil Choice Discussion Time Padlets, Flipgrids, collaborative discussion to develop critical thinking
Feedback and Improvement Teachers give voice, text and video feedback which pupils act upon. P.8
Connected Time
Learning Objectives
Guided Time
Less Screen Use
Screen Free Time
Pupils are given time to work away from a screen, covering a variety of tasks and well-being focused activities.
Personalised time for students to follow own interests and learning needs – PODS in Secondary
Project Time Cross-curricular and subject specific work is set, often with teacher created videos for pupils to access at their own pace. This also includes special projects such as the MIT and House challenges as well as Art, Music and Drama projects
Examples of the key elements of our Virtual School (Video)
– click HERE to watch
Detailed Guidance for Secondary
Timetable for the Secondary Week FAQ and Key:
Q - What is 'Connected Time'? A – At regular points in every sequence of learning, your child's teachers will use Teams video calls to introduce concepts, demonstrate skills and provide feedback. They may use other interactive programs such as Padlet, Flipgrid and Nearpod too. Even when students are working offline, teachers will remain 'on call' through Teams. Q - What are PODS? A – PODS stands for Pause or Directed Study sessions. If pupils wish to take an extra break from the screen, they can opt for a 'Pause'. Alternatively, they may wish to work on Global Campus challenges, Century Tech or other academic tasks. They might decide to pursue their own interests and hobbies during this time. During the VSE, PODS are scheduled at the following times: Years 7: Wednesday CT7 and CT8. One of your PE/Swimming periods will be PODS. Your teacher will confirm which CT this be. Year 8: Wednesday CT7 and CT8; Thursday CT3 Year 9: Tuesday CT3, Wednesday CT7 and CT8 Year 10: Friday CT2 & CT3 Year 11: Tuesday CT1 & CT2 Q - What is a ‘screen free’ lesson – SFL? A - This is where your child works through a task set by their teacher but where they do not need to be online to complete it. This could be in any subject but will tend to involve work undertaken in Art, Drama, Music and PE. The timing of SFLs in each subject will vary depending on the nature of the learning sequence. Teachers will let pupils know when to expect SFLs. P.11
Making the most of a virtual school day‌
Sign into Teams first thing in the morning. Check your calendar for Teams calls.
Complete any tasks set within the assigned period time
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Check the introduction videos for any assignments – check any feedback from the previous day.
Attend lessons as specified by teachers using Teams. Turn on your camera and mute your microphone when you join your lesson. Blur your background.
Check regularly for updates and add your contributions to any discussions.
Check expectations for the week which the teachers will update.
Frequently Asked Questions Do I need a device for each child? Yes, it is advisable to have one device per child. You can borrow an iPad from school if you need. Secondary students should all have a laptop. To contact the school about borrowing a device please email itsupport@nais.hk
Do I need to support my child with their home learning? The age of pupils is a key component of how much support they will need and in what format. We have guidance for each age and phase to help support parents and carers with home learning.
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Does my child have to attend 'virtual school’? We believe that for a child to reach their full educational achievement, a high level of attendance in the virtual school is essential. We have written an attendance policy to cover our virtual school. You can access more information here. Registration takes place each day –and during each Connected Time session - and we ask all children to attend as they would for the physical school.
What happens if my child misses some of their virtual schooling? Please inform your child's class teacher or tutor as you normally would; each absence will be recorded as being authorised or unauthorised.
Attendance Policy for the NAISHK Virtual School You can read our whole Virtual Attendance Policy here. Extract: Section 2: How do we define attendance online? In a Virtual School context, logging into an online class or registration period is not sufficient, by itself, to demonstrate attendance by the student. Students must establish a record of participation in teaching and learning activities. Teaching and Learning activities include, but are not limited to: • participating in an opportunity for direct interaction between the teacher and students; • submitting work online; • taking a test, interactive Teams call, or online task; • attending a study group that is assigned by the school; • initiating contact with a teacher to ask a question about the subject studied Section 2.1 •
Within Years 7-12, registration will be taken for each period that students are expected to attend. Participation in the session, as demonstrated by contribution to online discussion, for example, or submitting work will determine attendance.
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During this time of virtual schooling it is important for everyone to maintain healthy relationships. As children develop into young adults their relationships with peers become increasingly important to them and relationships with adults less so. It is important that we enable all relationships to flourish as much as we can during this time. Our blended approach to the VSE is designed to support students pastorally. We believe that all people involved in the well-being of students have a role to play in ensuring they stay healthy and happy throughout the time of the VSE.
Physical isolation does not mean social isolation
Teachers are tracking attendance and participation and offering support when following up on any missed sessions. Many tasks are designed to be completed in collaboration with others, both in real time and asynchronously.
Teachers supporting students Teachers are celebrating learning in a variety of ways. Tutors and Class teachers speak to children daily, offering a blend of pastoral support and direct teaching. Targeted small groups are in place to support concerns where needed.
Healthy Relationships Parents supporting Students Ask to see examples of participation in school work There is a dedicated space on Firefly to support Parents with Student well-being. Have fun this should be built into every day whether in messy-play, with a board game or trip to a park. Encourage relationships with others (at the right time) to reduce the sense of isolation. P.15
Maintaining a Sense of Community and Fun
Live registration time supports our sense of community. Online assemblies and House Events are designed to create a sense of team spirit, community and encourage fun events within families. Teams Virtual Classrooms allow pupils to chat.
Q - How are teachers tracking my child's progress and moving their learning forward? A - Our children are engaging in their learning and through our blended approach we are seeing visible learning take place in a variety of ways. Our teachers will conduct assessments so we can monitor learning and build on progress. This is happening across all elements of our blended approach. As usual, we will send out reports throughout the year.
Assessing and developing writing in the VSE uses our marking code and feedback to ensure progress.
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Above and below shows students collaborating in the CT lesson using two different platforms.
Top tips for parents
Art Supplies: • Pencils • Rubber • Ruler • Glue stick • Scissors • Sharpener • Coloured pencils • Paints (these can be water colours, poster paints, disc paints or acrylics for older children)
The tools for the job
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• • •
2 round paint brushes, one small and one medium sized Black felt tip pen Drawing paper or sketch book
Your child will be completing all their learning through their virtual school, both online and offline. A suitable place to study is recommended for home learning. Try to ensure they sit at a table when completing written or typing tasks.
Remind your child to keep devices fully charged and updated. And even though part of your child’s learning is now done online, having access to pens, paper and other standard school equipment is still equally important for their offline study.
Headphones or a quiet space are ideal. Be conscious of how an adult can check in on them, especially while they are online. You can view browsing history and utilise parental controls to support this.
Your teacher will lead communication of dates and times for key tasks, live learning and where to access support through Firefly and Teams daily.
A daily routine Approach each day as you would a normal school day. Think about: providing healthy choices to fuel your child for the day, allocating time for exercise or movement (as much as can in the space that you have), and sticking to usual ‘school hours’ to guide the balance between study and relaxation time.
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We feel as strongly as you do that none of our students should be sat in front of screens all day. Help where you can to ensure that your child is involved in offline projects set for them and encourage them to be as engaged with the task as possible.
The social side Being away from their friends could be challenging for your child. It is important to make time for your child to speak with their friends, exactly as they would during school breaks or in the evening.
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Whilst using social media can be a distraction during school hours, it may help to provide a much-needed feeling of normality during relaxation time. You can also encourage your child to use our virtual school to work on their learning tasks collectively with their peers. It is the perfect place for students to share ideas, tackle challenges and work together as they would on a normal school day.
The supportive parent Our priority is maintaining a sense of normality for your child in this unique set of circumstances, and your support is an integral part of this. It’s important that your child studies independently during school hours as they would during the course of an ordinary school day in the classroom. We know it might be tempting to help out during their lesson time, but instead, try and encourage your child to make use of the virtual school facilities, to ask questions of their teacher and collaborate with their peers – just as they would inside the classroom. However, helping with revision where needed is fine. P.21
We know that this is a challenging and potentially frustrating time for everyone, which makes maintaining a positive home environment more important than ever. Allowing your child to take breaks when they are struggling to focus and recognising and rewarding their hard work will really help with this. We ask that parents do not record any of our live lessons or share content on any public forum.
And what if things don’t quite go to plan? How do I help them through?
Will my child experience challenges?
Often the fix can be simple… Sometimes they might because it won’t always be easy - let’s be honest. But this is normal. Sometimes they won’t feel like learning, they’ll get anxious, they need someone to blame (and that’s normally parents!), and they’ll say they don’t want your help because you don’t know what you’re talking about! We have all been there…! P.22
Give them a little space – sometimes that’s all they need Do offer to help – a lot of the time they’ll be glad you asked Suggest they try something different Or that they take a short break – a little time to step back and think often helps § Ask them what is worrying them. Anxiety about the virus and the impact on their family and friends is a common worry and talking about their fears can help. § Get them up and moving– try some of our physical activities § § § §
Remember we’re here to
help. Encourage your
child to ask their teacher if they are unsure of an aspect of their learning.
We’re here to
help
Teachers are on hand to support your child with all their learning needs and you can reach out to them with any questions and queries, as you normally would through email.
Nick Rickford Head of Secondary Nick.Rickford@nais.hk
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Scott MacKinnon Deputy Head of Secondary Scott.MacKinnon@nais.hk
We know that parents are not teachers so please don't be too hard on yourself or worry too much. Children are incredibly resilient, and our teachers are experts. If your child does develop gaps in their learning, our teachers will know how to help close these and we will get through this together.