Within days of Gov. Doug Ducey announcing that Arizona schools would remain closed through the end of the academic year, Challenge Charter School, 5801 W. Greenbriar Dr., in Glendale, had launched …
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Within days of Gov. Doug Ducey announcing that Arizona schools would remain closed through the end of the academic year, Challenge Charter School, 5801 W. Greenbriar Dr., in Glendale, had launched digital curriculum for its students.
After the quick work and dedication of staff, CCS students were fully learning in their personalized and private digital Google Classrooms. Every week, the school’s K-6th graders are checking in for virtual “office hours” with teachers, exploring the globe on virtual field trips, and creating art projects together.
Using this digital platform, students are engaged and are keeping up high levels of classroom educational opportunities, computer science coding, and live streaming TakeLessons music classes go right into the families’ homes.
“I am positive there will be many glitches in the coming days or weeks on the school, student, and parent front,” CCS parent Rebecca A. Downing shared in a news release. “I think a ton of loving grace is what we all need. I hope that we will all come through this more loving and stronger than before.”
The decision to close all schools for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year followed guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about extending physical distancing guidelines until April 30.
“Today’s announcement is intended to give parents and educators as much certainty as possible so they can plan and make decisions,” Gov. Ducey said. “While this isn’t the outcome any of us wanted, we are grateful for the partnership of schools around the state, who have stepped up to offer virtual and take-home learning opportunities for our students.”
Additional information about meals for kids, childcare, special education considerations, learning resources for families and educators and more is available at www.azed.gov.
Founded in 1996, Challenge Charter School is a public elementary school serving more than 600 students in grades kindergarten through 6th. Visit www.challengecharterschool.net.
Steve Stockmar has been with the Independent Newsmedia team since 2017. An NAU alum and Peoria resident, Steve’s community journalism pursuits focus mostly on arts & culture, education, and profiles of neighbors making a difference. In his spare time Steve plays in a vintage baseball league using uniforms and rules from the 1860s, and also acts (badly) in community theater. In addition, he has an unhealthy obsession with baseball and the Chicago Cubs.
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