St. Joseph transforms learning for students

Just like other schools in Illinois, St. Joseph Catholic School in Libertyville is currently engaged in remote learning due to COVID-19 through at least April 8.

SJCS educates students in preschool through eighth grade.

"Although nothing can replace the live interactions between teachers and students," Principal Anne Phoenix said, "St. Joseph teachers and staff are working diligently as they continue to engage students in face-to face-learning, albeit virtually."

Thanks to Director of Technology Kelly McMahon, SJCS teachers have each conducted whole class video conferences with their students to check in with them and to allow students to talk to one another.

SJCS's community of learners misses one another and their virtual meetings have been a comforting bridge to their students' social, spiritual and emotional needs at a time of high stress.

"We place a great emphasis on the social, emotional and spiritual well-being of our students, and that must come prior to the rigor of academics," Phoenix said.

In the fall of 2018, SJCS's leadership team, composed of Phoenix, McMahon, Assistant Principal Liz Hein and teachers, began creating a remote learning program in anticipation of short-term school closures due to inclement weather.

They had to close the school for a cold day the year prior, prompting them to think about how they could continue to serve their students and families during a temporary closure. They ended up using that plan in January 2019.

Fast forward to February of this year. St. Joseph Parish, led by the Rev. John Trout, created a COVID-19 Task Force that included parish and school personnel, as well as health care providers. As they began to realize the enormity of the COVID-19 situation, SJCS's leadership team immediately began making adjustments to their remote learning plan.

"Remote learning at SJCS occurs both synchronously (students learn at the same time via the teacher hosting livestreamed video conferences) and asynchronous (students learn on their own schedule following teacher directed assignments while communication is not live)," Phoenix said.

"All assigned work ties back to our curriculum and is part of the regularly scheduled scope and sequence."

Assignments are completed, turned in and graded electronically in order to complete the learning loop. This allows students to engage in meaningful work and receive feedback from teachers remotely. Their assignments are in all subject areas, including physical education and religion.

"It is also important to note that our faculty, staff, students and families are a community of learners, and they are approaching this situation with that mindset," Phoenix said. "The success of SJCS's remote learning program is due to each member of their community doing his/her part."

St. Joseph Catholic School is a school within the Archdiocese of Chicago and is part of Libertyville's St. Joseph Parish. The parish, which is working hard to minister to their parishioners during this time, is livestreaming its Masses at 6:30 a.m. Monday to Friday, 5 p.m. Saturdays, and 9 a.m. Sundays at stjoseph-libertyville.org.

For information about enrolling your child at St. Joseph Catholic School for the 2020-2021 school year, contact Director of Admissions Tracy Lombardo at tlombardo@sjslibertyville.org.

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