jenlamboy

Date: Monday, January 4, 2021
Time: 6-7:15 pm
Location: Zoom

This event has passed, but you can watch the recording and see answers to questions that arose below.

During the January Town Hall, School Director Kelly Church covered the path forward with Board Co-Chair Ryan Gregory, Business Director Laurie Thompson, and faculty members Dawn Archer, Vernon Dewey, Alexa Krakauskas, and Kimberly Martin.

Catch the Recorded Town Hall

If you missed the evening event, you can watch the recording below. We will post audience questions and answers in the coming week, but please contact us if you have questions of your own.

Answers to Town Hall Questions

During the Town Hall, we received the following questions. Please feel free to contact us with more.

When will looping begin, and what teachers will be in which loop?

All students will continue to have their same teacher next year to minimize disruption to all classes and assist the whole team of teachers with a transition to the eventual loop in which each teacher will remain. The first time some families will see a change in teachers is the 2022-2023 school year.

Why loop 5-8 instead of 6-8?

Although we recognize the strengths and practicalities of a smaller looping model, we also aim to balance that with a loop that adds longevity and continuity. The four-year span retains immense continuity and depth of relationship between class teacher and student. The bonds that are built between the class teacher and the students are critical, and we wanted to ensure that this deep connection can continue. When possible, beginning with a 5th grade teacher allows this bond and relationship to strengthen before the middle school years begin.

What about project days?

Although we are looking at increasing our contributions, community involvement, and community service throughout the school, the specific project day schedule will occur in grades 1-8. Occasionally the high school students will also join in on project days but are focused on retaining and increasing their week-long community service trips.

What is the plan for eurythmy?

For the 2021-2022 school year, DWS will remain without a eurythmist. We will continue to look at ways to encourage healthy movement and hope to bring eurythmy back to Denver in some way in the future. There is a shortage of eurythmy teachers in the US, and it has been difficult to find someone who could develop and strengthen that program as the full-time program we want it to be.

Are there any plans for a virtual talent show?

Yes! We loved our virtual talent show last year and it felt like such a wonderful opportunity for our community. This will be a late spring event, but we hope to give plenty of notice so you and yours can get your acts together. Maybe we can talk Vernon Dewey into rock and rolling with us again?

When can we go back to school more as “normal” (no masks, no cohorts, etc.)?

The schools have yet to get any guidance on this. We know that vaccinations and testing availability within the community will get us closer, but we are unsure of this time when guidance for schools will be different than it is now. We stay in close contact with broader school networks to continue to understand all protocols and practices.