Reduced learning time for high schoolers

[Wairimu Thuo]

Dear ICS,

I understand from my 9th grader that when the school moves to online learning: school/teaching/learning will be till 2 pm every day and there will be no school on Wednesdays to give time for those who need to catch up?  Why? This to me seems like cutting the teaching and learning being given to our high schoolers by half.  Bearing in mind that the school year was already very short - does it mean that a full school year is not necessary for the kids to learn what they need to learn?  In most cases, I find that the time is not even enough. Reducing the time seems very unfair - our children have the capacity for more and you are not giving it to them.

In my opinion, we are not getting our money's worth - cutting down the learning time not to mention that the school has not passed onto us any of the cost savings made in the last year.  For surely even if the big part of the school's costs are personnel costs - there still must be some savings made from the facility not being used, stationery etc

Kindly consider fully engaging our learners - there is still so much they can learn.

Regards

Wairimu Kinuthia

[ICS Comms]

Thank you for your email.

Here are some points of clarification.

• The 2pm end time is only up until the 6 April. 
• From the 7 April onwards, the regular bell schedule is in effect.  
• From 5-29 April EVERY Wednesday is a teachers’ office-hours/ help day, no synchronous lessons, following the regular block rotation schedule for that Wednesday.  Advisory is as scheduled. Classes scheduled for Wednesdays are HELP sessions for students in those classes. 
• This ensures that proper 1:1 or small group help is afforded and of course rotates with the regular schedule. Lesson time is not lost during the online period.

If you have any further question or concerns, please reach out to the HS Principal at hs.o...@icsaddis.org