Distance Learning - Hyla School

Hyla Connects: Our Distance Learning Plan

"Hyla teachers adapted seamlessly. It is a tremendous amount to juggle, and how quickly Hyla pulled it all together is remarkable! I hope you know how much it is truly appreciated. Perhaps above all else, Hyla online is creating structure and normalcy at a time that is anything but normal."

Hyla mom

“A heartfelt thank you to the entire faculty for their efforts and deep expressions of love for all our children. Hyla is our home, and we are grateful for this community."

Hyla dad

"Your heart, values and organization have knocked our socks off. Seriously."

Hyla parent

"The level of communication and care that has gone out to the school community is truly remarkable. I want to express my deep gratitude for the level of professionalism, expertise, and love that has gone out during this unbelievable time."

Alumni parent

"It warmed my heart this morning when I saw my daughter at her desk in her robe with our dog and a beverage! Thank you so much for all you are doing for our children!"

Hyla parent

"It has been so good to have learning, contact with friends, and routine back in our daughter’s life."

Hyla parent

"The nimble, determined, and compassionate planning you all are doing is reassuring and inspiring. As one of our son's teachers said, this is like the hero's journey - we all have challenges, and how we meet them makes all the difference. Great to see the Hyla team in action becoming heroes!"

Hyla parent

Hyla Connects: our enhanced distance learning plan

If schools across WA are required to close, we will launch "Hyla Connects," an enhanced version of our distance learning program. This page tells you more about the engagement, connection, and community students experience within that program, along with highlights from the past spring.

Even from a distance, we are still Hyla

For the last three months of the 2019-2020 school year, our program was offered through remote learning. Even when we we can't be in the same physical space together, we can still learn, discuss, collaborate, inquire, solve, and create. We can do this in a way that is fun, interactive, respectful, kind, daring, positive, supportive, and creative. Despite distance, learning, engagement, and community lived on at Hyla when campus was closed.

Connection drives learning

Our distance learning program was carefully planned for both academic and community continuity. Building on the close, caring connections that are the foundation of the Hyla program, Hyla's distance learning enables students to interact real-time with teachers each day in a variety of formats including classes, Clean Crew (like advisor groups), Office Hours, Electives, and during social hangouts. Pedagogy in digital classrooms requires different tools and resources to achieve curricular goals and engage students. Hyla teachers integrate technologies such as Flipgrid, Seasaw, Loom and Apple Pencil (and toggle between them depending on what is happening in each class) to progress through units and respond to student need. Teachers share tools and train each other as we go. In new ways, our vibrant program - still focused on the whole child - continues on. Our Distance Learning Handbook shows how we do this work within our culture of respect and in alignment values and mission.

Gallery of learning & inspiration

Check out our gallery to see moments of learning, creativity, and engagement during distance learning. Click here for more photos.

7th graders designed magazines and translated their quarantine experience into essays, poetry, and other forms of expression. They will exchange magazines with students in another state to learn about other experiences and perspectives during this national crisis.

Padlet, Loom, and Apple Pencil are some of the tools Hyla teachers leverage during synchronous classes. They also rely on distinctly human tools like enthusiasm, creativity, and deep care for students to inform their work during distance learning.

6th graders jumped into the engineering design cycle to sketch, blueprint, prototype, and build. They can’t access the 3-D printer or other tools in the HyLab (our makerspace), but Jeff guides students through the same kinesthetic experience of building using tools and materials at home.

Schedule & support for students

Hyla's distance learning program includes real-time instruction with teachers and the creative integration of diverse tools and technologies to facilitate learning, engagement, projects, collaboration, and sharing of work with peers.

Interactive daily schedule:

8:45- 8:55 AM: Clean Crew check in (details below)
9:00 AM – 12 PM: Real-time classes via Zoom (3 breaks included)
12:00 – 1:00 PM: Lunch (synchronized with the BISD free meal program)
1:00 – 2:00 PM: Academic Enrichment Classes or independent work time
2:00 – 3:00 PM: Electives

Support for students:
In addition to real-time academic classes, we supported students through a variety of formats built into our program:

Clean Crew: We began every day in Clean Crew, small, multi-grade groups led by individual teachers. This daily anchor established routine and eased students into their day with relationships before learning. It was a time to check in, encourage, and listen.
Teacher Office Hours: Every day students were able to visit teachers during office hours to say hi, ask questions, or just hang out.
School Counselor: Our school counselor maintained her usual hours and was available to support students and parents during this unprecedented time. She also shared resources with parents in our weekly parent newsletter.
Weekly Zoom Hangouts: Every Friday teachers hosted a Zoom hangout (one per grade) to provide time for students to connect with classmates and just be themselves.