GREATER SPRINGFIELD – Families with children in area Catholic schools received an update on the academic schedule from the Diocese of Springfield.

Schools within the diocese have begun to engage in distance learning practices that were finalized by principals and administrators on March 27, according to a letter sent to families from the diocese’s Superintendent of Schools Daniel R. Baillargeon.

“In addition to our scheduled spring break, from April 20 to April 24, we have made a few calendar adjustments to provide additional support to the teachers, who are working diligently to provide an excellent learning experience in our given circumstances. At this point, remote learning will continue until May 4,” Baillargeon said.

Schools will pause their remote learning in observance of Good Friday on April 10 and Easter Monday on April 13. The April 13 day off will act as an in-service day for educators, who “will be collaborating with one another and receiving targeted professional development.”

Instruction will resume on April 14 to 17 and then will pause for the aforementioned scheduled spring break.

The diocese’s letter to parents also included a document offering guidance to families for the continuation of learning.

According to the provided guidance, teachers are expected to provide opportunities for students to interact with their peers online, create lessons that combine multiple subjects when possible and integrate the Catholic faith into lessons. Teachers are also encouraged to incorporate activities that do not involve screen time into their distance learning plans and assign age-appropriate writing and journaling opportunities related to service at home. Teachers are expected to host virtual office hours for students and parents and conduct video conferences when necessary.

The diocese will support religious education through content uploaded daily to YouTube of the diocese’s schools Facebook page in conjunction with school prayers and school supported service projects. Teachers are free to add their own religious instruction as well.

Schools were directed by the diocese to place an emphasis on reading literature with recommended daily reading time. For science instruction, educators have been encouraged to “incorporate experiment and project–based learning at the intermediate and junior high level, helping students apply what they are learning in a meaningful manner.” Younger students should “observe, draw and catalogue what they see in the natural world.”

Math instruction should focus on practice and mastery of fundamentals.

Diocesan schools have been encouraged to focus social studies and history curriculum on researching history on a broader scale through non-traditional resources and connecting it to other subjects including religion by learning about the lives of saints.

The complete plan is available online at https://files.constantcontact.com/a2733b6d701/787966df-35ea-43b9-b098-8b9e89b7dab6.