School Operation during compulsory School closure

Policy

• Ahliah School is committed to continue providing all the services virtually that ensure quality education to its students’ learning when the school faces emergency closure or exceptional circumstances that may require partial or full campus closure
• All faculty shall collaborate to ensure the continuity of learning
• All staff members shall continue working virtually when applicable
• All Staff might be required to support by the accomplishment of specific tasks that shall be assigned by his/ her head of department.

 

Purpose

• To provide the school community with a framework for the process of the virtual learning that is aligned with the school programs and mission.
• To ensure that in exceptional circumstances, the school is able to provide an alternative means for ensuring quality education
• To ensure that the school has in place tools to monitor the process of virtual learning along with the student experience during the time of its implementation.

 

Definitions

• Synchronous Learning: A Learning happening online through interactive video conferences including a group of students – teacher or with an individual student- teacher
• Asynchronous Learning: A Learning happening through online platforms this includes prepared material of instruction and assignment of tasks that students shall complete on their own. Asynchronous learning may encompass interaction through emails, blogs or other platforms.
• Online learning plan: it is a plan that covers the teaching strategies, communication rules, tools, and policies supporting online or blended learning.
• Personal information or data: All personal information including images, videos, student’s work. 

 

Procedures

• Online learning platforms
  1. platforms for communication, collaboration The faculty in collaboration with the IT department ensures the use of appropriate, and delivering distant learning to students
  2. The Heads of divisions in collaboration with the IT department shall carry out a risk assessment to identify the potential risks and responsive action associated with synchronous and asynchronous learning.
• Privacy and data protection
  1. The teachers, when sharing students’ personal data, shall ensure that all personal data is anonymized, blurred out, or otherwise protected unless the guardians give formal permission in writing that the information can be used. If the student is considered a legal adult, they can give formal permission, but guardians should be informed. For conferences, or any recordings, the student and guardian should be informed if the conference will be recorded. 
  2. The IT department shall monitor and advice regarding the safety of the platforms used. The IT department shall schedule ongoing tests and maintenance on the platforms used by everyone to ensure maximum security and real-time update on new Features.
  3. The Head of Division shall inform parents that video conferencing shall be set up to eliminate backgrounds that provide information on students’ personal lives and locations. A simple white or light-colored background is best.

• Online learning design and assessment
  1. Ahliah shall adopt both synchronous and asynchronous approaches in virtual learning.  
• Remote learning code of conduct

       During virtual classrooms, teachers shall be me mindful of:

1. 1. Professional boundaries – teachers shall maintain the same professional boundaries with students online as they are required to maintain in person;
   2. Appropriate location to join a virtual classroom – a neutral location (i.e. not a bedroom or a bathroom) in a common area in the house is preferable and, for students and any non-confidential one-to-one sessions, somewhere that is within earshot of parents or other people in the student’s residence (see below);
   3. Appropriate dress code when joining a virtual classroom – this should mirror any guidelines that Ahliah already provides;
   4. Digital communications between students and staff shall mirror the rules regulating in-person communications and are normally restricted to content, which have an educational purpose. All digital communications between students and staff shall be conducted via the Ahliah email, video-conferencing account or school messages app.
   5. Heads of Divisions, Director of Academic Affairs and the Principal shall have the access to be in any of the live sessions.
   6. Where this is not possible, for any of the above administrators to attend the session, the teacher shall ensure that another relevant subject coordinator have access to these communications.  

• Counselling sessions
  1. The school counselor shall ensure the continuity of her services to ensure the well-being of students, teachers and guardians
  2. The counselor shall have a safety plan in place for students in distress or at risk of harm, which sets out what steps should be taken to support the student in the online environment.
  3. The virtual counselling sessions shall not be recorded under any circumstances

• Staff involvement
  1. All Staff might be required to support by the accomplishment of specific tasks that shall be assigned by his/ her head of department.
  2. The relevant Head of department and the Principal shall ensure that the assigned tasks to the staff member are efficiently completed.

• Child protection
  1. Faculty shall follow the child protection guidelines for reporting if they think that:
     1. a student is at risk of harm or abuse, in distress or struggling with their mental health
     2. a staff member poses a risk of harm to students

1. 2. The teachers shall be mindful of students’ anxiety signs, this includes:
      2. Preoccupation and excessive worry
      3. Showing emotional and behavioral interference/paralysis and showing signs of not being able to cope;
      4. Avoidance of responsibilities or relationships;
      5. the student is continuously thinking about risk and threat

1. 3. The Heads of Division shall ensure that students and parents are familiar with the child protection policy and online reporting channels. Moreover, the Head of Division shall ensure that the students know that they can stop the session at any time they feel threatened or any discomfort. The Heads of Division shall ensure that students are familiar with the procedure to raise a concern or get help if needed
   4. All personnel shall abide by the remote learning code of conduct
   5. In case the teacher needs an extra session , s/he shall inform the relevant Head of Division of  the timing, location and reason of the session in advance
   6. In case the teacher was not able to attend his/her session for any reason, he /she shall inform the relevant Head of Division ahead of time to schedule a makeup session and communicate the change to the students/parents concerned.
   7. Heads of Division and subject coordinators shall monitor virtual sessions, hence, the Heads of Division shall ensure that they are able to interrupt and observe all virtual educational sessions
   8. The Principal shall ensure that the school counselor is following on the safety plan for students with distress and risks of harm