Hybrid learning has affected schools around the country including SPA. Students and teachers may have differing opinions on the matter. From one way hallways and sanitary needs in classrooms to the new air filtration systems, much planning goes into operating school now. There are many different perspectives from students, teachers, and parents. Some may be fond of the new rules and some may not care for or even dislike the new hybrid guidelines set in place. Along with the excitement of being back on campus half time, it also brings an aspect of letdown to the community with the new guidelines in place. However, SPA administration has worked in the past weeks and months to figure out a way to conduct school the most normal they can while maintaining the school’s normal and welcoming nature.

In the hybrid schedule, there is a mix of on-campus learning and distance learning from the upper school and middle school throughout the week. The upper school students are on-campus for the first two days of the week and the middle school is on-campus for the last two days of the week leaving Wednesday a flex day with a weekly changed schedule. There are differing opinions from the community about the schedule and whether or not to continue with it, or move forward soon to full campus learning.

Many students think on-campus learning is better for a number of reasons, some being: more social interactions with classmates, classes move more smoothly, and it is easier to focus on the subject when in the classroom.

9th grader Siri Pattison said, “I think SPA is doing a good job at minimizing the risk of Covid and setting precautions so we can all be as safe as we can. [In on-campus learning], you get to meet and talk to people more, and I find it easier to learn when being in class because I can look at the teacher and sit at a desk.”

However, distance learning can be preferred because of the luxury of being at home and minimizing virus exposure with other people. Overall, on-campus learning has been working well for students who are physically on campus, and the students who are distance learning are actively using the owl cameras and google meets to attend class.

Some teachers are working from home and therefore they have to get used to new technologies such as the owl cameras set up through google meets. An owl camera is normally set in the middle of a classroom and it can see almost everyone in the classroom. It also picks up on sound very quickly and easily, making it nice for at-home teachers to listen and see their students while they are at home. Owl cameras are set up in most classrooms in the upper school for at-home teachers and students.

US Spanish teacher Sra. Piñero, a teacher teaching from home said, “The owl cameras have not been the most beneficial, but the google meet function has been the best way for me to see student’s faces and expressions. We have already been utilizing technology and online resources for quite some time and it facilitates the learning for both the teachers and the students.”

Teaching in the classroom has more of an upside because the amount of participation grows and it is more accessible to work individually, in groups, or with the teacher. Teachers working from home have to plan for distance learners as well as kids in the classroom. The owl cameras have been a controversial topic on if they are worth it or not. The sound quality is sometimes an issue, and teachers working from home have a hard time seeing people who are in the classroom.

What differs SPA from other schools is our access to such technologies and platforms that really engage students and give them a constructive learning experience whether they are at their home or on campus. Continuing to work together as a community to keep each other safe and still managing to have a beneficial learning environment is essential under our current circumstances.