OUR CAMPUS REOPENED SEPTEMBER 14TH!

We recognize that we are in a situation that brings many opportunities to innovate. As a community of intellectuals and design thinkers, we are finding ourselves reimagining education, piloting new programming, engaging in creative problem solving, and planning for what might be. Now, as always, we will challenging teachers and students to think differently. To be creative. To explore, hypothesize, problem-solve, and prototype. These are the skills that will become second nature for the people who will answer the next set of big questions in our world.

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The goal at Knox is two-fold: to provide rigorous and engaging academic content while being a place for friends to stay connected, for groups to canvas ideas and problem solve, and for families to find some measure of comfort when much around them is in a state of change.  

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Learning occurs best in the context of a connected community. Establishing this sense of connection is fundamental to the experience at The Knox School and is a priority at all times—whether we are teaching and learning in person or virtually. We are a community built on connections and relationships providing care, compassion, and guidance to each other. 

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And the fundamentals of how students best learn still hold true. The foundation of deep learning and educational advancement rests solidly in the relationship between teacher and student. Teachers working with small groups of students are able to provide meaningful and individualized feedback, address learning leaps and gaps, and serve as mentors and guides, motivating students to explore their own capacities, interests, and passions within the various disciplines and at their own unique capability level. 

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In these extraordinary times our core values of creativity, curiosity, resilience, empathy, and flexibility are more necessary and relevant than ever and, with those skills in mind, we look forward to launching into this coming school year!

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Our Plan

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As state and local guidelines permit, and in accordance with best practices and the availability of classroom and outdoor space to allow for social distancing, our goal is to offer an in-person school experience for your children to the maximum extent possible while being safe for our teachers, students, families, and community. 

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We continue to monitor the COVID situation and remain guided by local and national authorities when planning for the policies and procedures regarding social distancing, PPE usage, and overall environmental considerations. We have identified the primary constraints and requirements of reopening, using CDC and public health guidelines for the safe reopening of schools. Implementation of protocols is guided by what is feasible, practical, acceptable, appropriate for the child’s developmental stage, and tailored to the needs of our school community. 

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We remain committed to upholding our standards of a Knox School education while prioritizing health and safety for each member of our community. In that vein, we offer the following ways to participate in a Knox education this coming year: In-person/On-campus (when allowed by the State and County), Distance-Learning option when school is mandated to be closed.

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We firmly believe that in-person instruction is the best pedagogical approach to engaging our students in learning.  Understanding the benefits of in-person learning (see CDC’s recommendation), Knox is at-the-ready to serve our entire student body on campus for its full day program, and has received a waiver from the State of California approving us to do so. Check out our re-opening plans here. With increased indoor and outdoor space available to the school, we are able to double classroom footage as well as extend classes to outdoor spaces in order to serve our entire student body even with social distancing protocols implemented.  

 

If governing authorities require schools to transition into distance learning, we will quickly move into remote learning for as long as the order holds. The Knox @ HOME program is focused on developing and improving remote learning if circumstances restrict us from teaching and learning in-person on campus. We will opt for distance learning as the primary instructional method only as necessary pursuant to state and county directives and guidelines.  Our goal is always to return to in-person learning as soon as allowed.

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While The Knox School is committed to in-person learning for all its students, we recognize that what is mandated by the State is out of our control and there is a possibility that circumstances may restrict us temporarily from teaching and learning in-person and on campus.

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In this format, the student would, via platforms such as Zoom and Google Classroom, be included in all direct instruction as well as class discussion, brainstorming, and collaboration in order to remain a part of the classroom community. Technology serves as a medium to deliver instruction and to allow socialization through the use of tools such as Google Classroom, Google Hangouts, and other learning management systems.

 

Students would be invited to class break-out sessions and have individual meetings with the teacher, just as if they were present in the classroom.  Materials would be shared mainly via Google drive and docs.  If concrete materials were necessary, the parent would either receive a list of necessary items or specific items would be sent home to the student.

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This format may include downloading lesson materials, video conferencing for socialization, utilizing chat rooms for learning support, and time for students to do off-screen experiential activities at home. There will also be times when teachers would set an online or phone appointment with the child for more individualized feed backing.

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The Knox School of Santa Barbara is currently providing our high standard of gifted education for the 2020-2021 school year. Please see our Admissions process for how to apply and contact us!