AHA Blog: Parents Give Holy Angels Top Marks for Supportive Distance Learning Program

The moment distance learning began, it was clear Holy Angels would rise above the COVID-19 self-quarantine and social distancing and continue the Academy’s 140-year mission to educate young women. AHA’s leaders initiated a structured, online school day complete with professional instruction in real time, and “office hours” for students seeking additional guidance. Faculty members rose to the occasion, mastering new technology and devising creative ways to keep students engaged.

• Teachers hosted honor society inductions via video conferences.
• AHA Campus Ministry organized Service Day activities and a Senior Retreat. 
• The Office of Academic and College Counseling coordinated virtual college visits for juniors and a Decision Day video chat so the Class of 2020 could show off their college T-shirts.

Here is what three AHA parents have to say:

Debbie W: “These past few weeks have been challenging for all of us and I wanted to reach out to let you know how much I appreciate all that you and your faculty are doing for the students of Holy Angels.
 
“I can’t say enough about the positive and proactive way that you have led the Holy Angels community during this unprecedented crisis. I’ve watched the seamless continuation of instruction from the very first day of the quarantine. By making the decision to follow the regular school schedule, you asked far more of both your students and faculty than any other school, public or private, that I know of. In doing so, I’ve witnessed both the students and faculty rise to the challenge and thrive in these difficult times.

‘Thanks to your leadership, Holy Angels stands apart in its ability to meaningfully educate and support its students.’

“As the weeks go on…the students of Holy Angels are watching their peers develop pervasive apathy toward school. But a direct result of the expectations you and the faculty placed upon your students is that there’s no room for them to formulate excuses and become apathetic about their education. I’ve always strongly believed in leading by example and am so happy to see every one of my daughter’s teachers doing exactly that every day. From my perspective, your students are learning far-reaching lessons about the importance of balancing patience and understanding with accountability. I am so appreciative of all the work involved with keeping my daughter and her fellow students engaged and I’m proud to say that she is a student at Holy Angels.”

Joseph C: “As I talk with my neighbors (while socially distancing), it is clear that the work AHA put in place in advance of having to be virtual was significant. Other children in local schools are not getting guided instruction throughout the school day and many of the parents are essentially homeschooling their children. While many acknowledge it is allowing them to understand their children’s needs, they fear that since they are not teachers their children will suffer down the road.  Because of the efforts the AHA teachers are putting in, the students are still getting skilled instruction.”

Kerry Ann F: “I can’t tell you how grateful I have been to AHA, once again, for keeping my daughter grounded…(She) has been so busy with her classes and routine. It is a pleasure to see her up at 8 a.m. logging in rather than sleeping the day away and staring into the abyss of her phone. When I walk by her in the office and I hear the chatter of her English teacher, it steadies me. This has given (her) such purpose. Not only do the continued classes and schedule keep her brain turned on but, as a mother, you know that feeling of walking by your child’s room at night and seeing her homework all over the bed or desk and feeling that sense of normalcy. 

“I know in this time of missing so much we will be rewarded with a sense of gaining perspective. We are AHA strong.”