Outdoor Video: The First 50 School Days at Orchard in 2020

Like many schools across the country, the start of the 2020-21 school year has been unique, to say the least. However, the one thing that has stayed true at The Orchard School is our creativity. 
 
We found ways to upgrade our facilities by adding temperature scanners, we purchased a new HVAC unit to help decrease the spread of viruses, we moved furniture out of the building to create more space, we put temperature scanners at every main entrance, and we replaced all faucets to be hands-free.
 
But our teachers deserve all of the credit for finding creative and safe ways, on a daily basis, to ensure our Owls are happy, healthy, and engaged during their time at school. We are beyond grateful for our amazing faculty and staff!
 
Orchard's 43-acre wooded campus has always been a place for teaching and learning. Before the pandemic, it was not uncommon to see preschoolers learning to count with rocks they found in the water feature by the woods. It was not uncommon to see third graders make their own salsa over an open fire during Spanish class. And it was not uncommon to see seventh graders journaling deep in the woods before a science test. Thankfully, all of the moments are still happening at Orchard; in fact, they're happening even more!
 
Recently, we asked teachers what percentage of their entire day do they feel is spent outside. Overall, from preschool to eighth grade, teachers believe they've spent 47% of the first fifty school days outside. Richard Louv, author of "Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder," would be so proud! We also tracked our students' steps during this time and compared it to the first few months of 2019. On average, students at Orchard take about 9,000 steps a day. 
 
Enjoy these outdoor scenes from the first fifty school days at Orchard in 2020!
 


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