Denver, Colo., Apr 17, 2020 / 05:12 pm (CNA).- It has been one month since most schools across the US closed their doors due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The solution to shuttered schools may seem simple, on the surface: move curriculum and teachers online. Teach classes on Zoom videos, assign and receive homework through Google Classroom, and send communications and grades via email or an online school portal.
But what happens when students, sent home to learn from their bedrooms or kitchen tables, do not have access to the internet at their house? Or when the whole family is studying or working from home, and the one computer in the household is needed by several people at once?
These are the questions Catholic schools have grappled with after the coronavirus forced the shutdown of schools across the nation, many of them for the rest of the school year.
The Archdiocese of Denver made the decision to close its schools on the night of Thursday, March 12. The following Friday had already been a planned day off for students and a working day for teachers, which was to the schools’ advantage as they figured out how to shift completely to distance learning.
“All Thursday night we figured out, okay, what would have to be true to make distance learning successful in the next two weeks?” Abriana Chilelli, director of curriculum and instruction in the Denver archdiocese, told CNA.
“Certainly, technology rose to the top, but also that children had internet access, that schools were able to get devices out to students. So we put together a think sheet, if you will, about a school’s capability of distance learning,” she said.
Originally, Chilelli said, the Catholic school system was planning for a two-week closure, but with some thought that it could be extended in a more long-term way.
During those two weeks, Chilelli said, some teachers “chose the paper-based route,” sending home packets with two weeks worth of materials with students.
During those initial two weeks, schools worked to get in touch with every family to evaluate their technology and internet needs for a longer-term closure.
“We realized…that we were short about 500 devices for students and 50 for teachers, plus 200 hotspots,” said Carol Nesbitt, director of schools marketing and communications in the Archdiocese of Denver. Those were the numbers after the archdiocese’s schools had already lent out whatever extra laptops and devices they had on hand.
“I heard of a student up in Glenwood Springs at St. Stephen’s school. The principal said he was trying to use his mom’s burner cell phone to get his assignments,” Nesbitt told CNA.
“We’ve heard from other principals who have said that (student’s families) have five people in one house, and mom and dad are both trying to work from home and they have one computer. So the kids can’t get on their Zoom call because mom has a call with her boss and different things,” she said.
The shortage motivated the office of schools to send out two emails, asking Denver Catholics to contribute to an emergency relief fund. So far, Nesbitt said, the fund has received $220,000 in donations, “which I think is incredible.”
It’s enough to start buying more computers and distributing them to families on a lending basis, Nesbitt said.
“The first 50 came yesterday…and we delivered to three schools right away, and the rest are coming in over the next few days. And we’ll turn those around as quickly as possible,” she said. “(It’s) all hands on deck to try to deliver those, of course, using social distancing measures,” she said. Families have also been able to pick up supplies from schools.
Chilelli said she thinks when it came to setting up long-term distance learning, Catholic schools were at an advantage because of their smaller sizes.
“I’m watching these large districts that, still a month later, don’t have contact with such huge percentages of their students. So I just think it’s a huge advantage of Catholic schools that we’re smaller, we can be more nimble and we have this one-on-one relationship with all of our families,” she said.
Dr. Brooke C. Tesche is the chancellor of education for the Diocese of Allentown, which has already announced that its schools will be closed for the remainder of the school year.
Tesche said while they’ve had some students who are lacking computers or tablets on which to do their work, the Catholic school system has been working to accommodate these students any way they can. One way, she said, has been through lending out existing technology at the schools to families.
Two local internet providers are currently offering free services in order to help students continue their education, which has also helped in Allentown.
“So many families who would not have been able to connect, are able to connect,” she said.
Still, Tesche added, there are students who do not have computers on which to complete their homework. For these students, teachers are putting together paper learning packets with two weeks of materials at a time. Parents and students can either pick up their packets in person, or see the packets mailed to students.
“So it’s definitely a challenge right now, but (teachers are) responding and using I think as many options as possible to make sure that the kids continue to move forward,” she said.
Tesche emphasized that schools are moving forward in their curriculum – rather than providing students with busy work or enrichment activities, teachers are working to prepare their students to be ready for the next grade level, whether schools will resume in-person in the fall or not.
The Diocese of Allentown is also unique in that it has the only Catholic high school for students in recovery from substance addiction, Kolbe Academy.
The school is in its first full year of operation, and so while it is “unfortunate” that the coronavirus closed the school’s doors in its first year, Tesche said those students have been able to move their instruction, and their counseling and therapy, completely online.
“We just had a student this week celebrate 100 days clean and sober,” she said. “I’m really proud of that. They are doing really good work.”
Additionally, the school system has also partnered with Catholic Charities at this time in order to be able to address any mental health or social-emotional needs that families might have, Tesche said.
“We’re just dovetailing really nicely to make sure they have support of Catholic Charities,” she said.
In Ontario, the Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board said in a meeting this week that the district has been accommodating students without access to technology by providing them with weekly paper packets. Teachers have adjusted instruction so that each week is planned out in advance, and students can complete the weekly work at their own pace.
“…(the students) enjoy having the freedom to complete their work (on their own schedule)…they can do all their Monday and Tuesday work on Monday. I’ve heard nothing but good things about the work. Surprisingly, no complaints,” Anthony DeLorenzi, an H-SCDSB student representative, said during a board meeting this week, according to local news source SOOTODAY.com.
Rose Burton Spohn, H-SCDSB director of education, told the board that about 70 students in the district were lacking either computers or access to the internet, and that the packets were being delivered to students on an ongoing basis. Teachers have also made themselves available via phone calls to students who lack internet access, she said.
Catherine Thompson is the Superintendent of Catholic Schools for Diocese of Las Vegas. Thompson told CNA that while the district has had some students who lacked access to computers at home, educators were able to fill those needs with what the schools had on hand.
Thompson said that the schools prepared for the impending closures as they watched the development of the pandemic, and particularly how it was affecting some harder-hit states on the East Coast.
Part of that preparation included a couple of surveys sent to parents, asking them about their technological needs as well as what they would like to see out of the distance learning experience.
“(What) we needed to know was what type of devices would be available – iPads, tablets, are they Windows people, are they Mac people. So they provided us with that,” Thompson said.
“Then the next thing we wanted to know was their shared access amongst the entire family. Then we were looking at what is your internet access like? Was it excellent? Like would you rate it as reliable or average, it’s mostly reliable or very, very low quality or very limited? We needed to know if they had a printer, we needed to know if they had a scanner. Then we also wanted to know were they comfortable with us using things like YouTube with the children,” Thompson said.
She added that they also asked about access to non-technology materials, such as paper, pens, or markers. Another part of the preparation included training teachers as well as some parents on how to use platforms such as Zoom or Google Classroom.
Thompson said the teachers and schools also focused on how to make distance learning most effective without students having to spend every moment of their day in front of a screen.
“There are a lot of different pieces that you can do both online and offline,” she said. Some teachers have instruction time and then offline time for students to work.
Other teachers are getting creative and assigning things like “exercise or a drawing a picture or recording something, or just make a tent and go inside and read, little things that they could do both inside and outside,” she said.
Chilelli, too, added that the Denver Catholic school system has always emphasized that technology should not be used in education for its own sake.
“When we were figuring out what must be true about distance learning, we wanted to make sure that yes, it happened at home, but it was also philosophically aligned with what we believe about education and specifically Catholic education,” she said.
“We would always say that we don’t think that education should happen behind a computer screen, and that children should be engaged with texts, with great texts, they should be engaged in human interaction, and with primary documents. So we always promoted distance learning as being necessarily very simple – that it should not be just attempting to take on a technology just simply because it was out there,” she said.
Chilelli said the shift to distance learning also forced teachers to evaluate what the most essential learning standards were for each subject matter, and to focus their time and lessons on those most essential things.
“Let’s make sure that everything we’re asking students do is really worthy of their time, which we would always say, but even more importantly now,” she said.
Overall, Thompson said she’s been very impressed with the work both teachers and parents have done to make this new system work.
“I want people to know that our teachers are absolutely amazing. They are the lifeblood of our schools and they have just …the way and the manner in which they have risen to the occasion, the positive feedback that we’ve heard from our parents,” she said.
“They appreciate all the work that we’re doing on behalf of all of our students. Our schools – while our campuses are closed – our schools are very much open,” she said.
“The amazing teachers and principals, they’ve just done an amazing job working on behalf of our students. So I can’t say enough good things. I think that there will be so many more positives to come out of what’s been such a difficult situation.”
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She’s an abortion-loving fallen-away Catholic who needs a radical conversion. Until then, she’d be wise to keep her criticisms to herself.
At least Pelosi got the China situation right, though I do find that somewhat surprising. I guess we need to be thankful for small wonders.
ANDREW: The only wonder I’d be thankful for regarding Pelosi is a public confession of her sin against the millions of unborn babies whose murder she gave support to.
“Let me say it this way: ‘Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church,’” Pelosi said. And then, ““My Catholic faith is: Christ is my savior. It has nothing to do with the bishops.”
This is the dragon lady who, after 2,000 years of Christianity, said that without first reading the 2,000-page Obamacare bill (2010) Congress had to pass it, because only then could they actually read it to find out what it contained.
Also, the very same Aztec mouthpiece who defended late-term abortions thusly: ““As a practicing and respectful Catholic, this is sacred ground…” (June 26, 2013).
But, she’s right about the Vatican’s provisional agreement with China. Even a broken watch is right twice a day.
I think I would take offense at that if I were an Aztec. They aren’t the only ethnicity to practice human sacrifice, and they do have their share of Saints, too — St. Juan Diego, for instance. But the main thing is that their worst sins were BEFORE they heard the Gospel, not after.
Which only serves to illustrate the iniquity of the China deal where even a moral lunatic can recognize it. But Francis proclaims it takes a thousand years to understand China, so maybe in another 900 years he’ll begin to come to his senses.
One could say that even Satan is “right” when he ab-uses portions of God’s Word to deceive us humans, but that does not make Satan “right” at all (and is why Jesus forbids demons to bear witness to Him when He casts them out). It is only because of the inherent truth and right-ness of the Word which Satan ab-uses, just it is with his own original nature from God creating him. Our Thrice-Holy God made no mistake in any of His creation, and so God’s original creating of Lucifer as top archangel at the start of creation was right, and the unfaithful-one only became evil by his own self-deceiving self-perverting. This is why Jesus calls him the “father of lies” (because he first lied to himself about God’s Own all-graciousness and will for all creation; so Lucifer coiled in on himself and twisted himself into “Satan” which translates as “Slanderer;” who first slandered God, and then God’s Image and Likeness in us, so he is “Accuser of the brethren”-Rev. 12:9-10). This is what condemns him all the more, and the same then goes for any of us humans when we behave like Satan and use truthful words only to make ourselves look good to gain trust from others only so that we can deceive and manipulate them for our own selfish ends, like Satan does. Pelosi is brazenly showing herself to be on such a path, and so we must pray for God’s humbling of her soul for her own salvation sake, just as we must pray for ourselves to be preserved from the same path each day. Incidentally, this is the mystery of the number of Anti-Christ in sacred numerology. 666 is “the number of man” -Rev 13:18- the number of our human nature self-contentedly coiled in on itself; exalting itself as if able to stand on our own dust and nothing symbolized by the “day” number of our created-ness (6) self-contentedly cut off from our Creator (which is why the 6 is tripled in a mockery of our Maker WHO Alone IS Self-Existing, Triune Divinity in Eternally Loving, Self-outpouring Community of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, blessed and glorified forever! Amen!). St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in this, our battle!
I guess we can add Nancy Pelosi to blind squirrels and broken clocks.
Twisted sister…and twisted Pontiff.
Would Pelosi care to name the priests who were involved in her defiance of the Archbishop? If not, should that tell her something?
There is a typo in the article. Pelosi was Speaker until 2022.
The heretic Pelosi has decreed: If anyone saith that the Pope is infallible as a politician, let him be anathema. 🤦🏼♂️
Ms Pelosi’s description of her Catholic faith sounds more Protestant than Catholic. Kudos though for her attitude to the Vatican’s attitude to China.
That’s unfair to many Protestants.
“Ms Pelosi’s description of her Catholic faith sounds more Protestant than Catholic.”
Not even remotely. Pelosi would be no more welcome in an evangelical church than Satan himself.
Taking Congresswoman Pelosi’s comments with charity, I’m befuddled that she can approach Catholic authority with such sincere duplicity. How she can, in the same interview, both assert the authority of the Bishop of Rome with respect to the Vatican-China deal, to which I nod in agreement, and simultaneously flout the authority of her own bishop with respect to the reception of the Eucharist is a feat of logical gymnastics that I would have imagined to be unthinkable. May God bless her with greater lucidity.
Sometimes lucidity diminishes with advanced age. That’s a charitable view.
🙂
Nancy Pelosi comes from a lineage of devout Catholics. This should remind us all of the necessity to remain vigilant against the deceptions of the Evil One. As Matthew 24:24 warns us, even the elect may be deceived in the last days. It is imperative that we, as individuals, remain steadfastly united to and with Jesus Christ and the truths of His gospel.
We should pray fervently for those who have been led astray or have embraced heresy. It is crucial to minimize the attention given to such individuals and instead, focus on those who exemplify a life of virtue and faith. These are the ones who can inspire us and provide a worthy example for our children and grandchildren.
Her time is passed, and she obviously is in need of our prayers.
I think Matthew 12:43-45 fits better.
I think she is a “Spirit of VII Catholic”. Her time has passed, along with that “spirit”.
That spirit was around long before Vatican II, and it will remain active — with more success or less success — until the Last Judgement. I mean, just look around: Gnosticism and Arianism are still with us.
Cleo: I wish that were true. There are a sprinkling of Catholics who now know that dissenting from Humanae Vitae was a mistake. But the fact remains that the vast majority of Catholics rejected it and continue to do so. And it is debatable of whether a majority of Catholics hold any more opposition to abortion than Pelosi.
Well, up to now, the Pope has met all Nancy’s prerequisites for being her man in Rome. Now she pulls rank on him and let’s him know who, in her mind at least, is the real boss (clue: the real boss doesn’t dress in white). Perhaps Francis should take to heart the adage about lying with dogs gets one fleas. These two are actually perfect matches. She’s the absolute worst Speaker in US history and he’s the absolute worst pope in Catholic history.
I agree with those who say the Archbishop has to have a chat with the Bishops and priests who report to him. And not in a friendly way. If these priests pledge obedience when ordained, they are off the mark by a long-shot by helping Pelosi obtain Communion, and need to be spoken to. And then meaningful action needs to take place if they continue to shrug off the position Pelosi has put herself in regarding her outspoken support of no-holds-barred abortion. Failing to do this makes any church pronouncement on morals or anything else meaningless. An action, especially a sinful action, needs to have a consequence. The Eucharist is not a party favor and Pelosi is NOT entitled to it no matter her state of soul. It DOES matter. That goes for ALL of us, not just Pelosi. But she doesnt get to be exempt from holding to church standards just because she is a widely known politician.Further, in being OPENLY defiant of the Archbishop, she is further undermining the authority of the church.
This silly and very naive woman still believes that all is well between her and God, REALLY!!!!! This is what the sin against the Holy Ghost looks like!!! Repent!!
Not to judge Nancy Pelosi, I’ll refrain from saying that, based on her comments here and elsewhere she perceives moral issues as political matters. Good Archbishop Cordileone wasted a lot of roses. Only our prayers can help her.
She’d likely need to get knocked off her high horse to be helped, but you never know.
Unfortunately, with rare exceptions, almost all Catholics I meet outside my affinity groups of pro-life orthodox Catholic friends, hold beliefs little different than Pelosi. They seem to believe all Catholic doctrine and dogma is political.
for a woman who is a staunch abortioniist I would suggest that she keep her opinions to herself.
To quote either Dear Abby or Anne Landers (from many years back) – “Madame Congresswoman, you have a point, but if you keep your hat on maybe no one will notice.”
I LOVE it when I have an opportunity to say that. Admittedly in these times there is a plethora (another favorite word) of times when such a statement fits, so one must choose carefully, and this is surely one of those times.
Eph 6:10ff – “Brothers and Sisters, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day…”
Thank you for the article showing Pelosi standing up for her Catholic faith.
Even a broken clock is right twice a day. Pelosi might be correct about the Vatican-China deal, but her stance on abortion completely undermines her credibility as a Catholic. She needs serious spiritual reflection.