Oct 28, 2020, 5:33 PM
(From the New York Times) Even though some students are still learning remotely, the pandemic has brought new life to an outdoor education movement, inspired in part by Scandinavian “forest schools,” where elementary school students layer up when temperatures drop. The Prairie Hill Waldorf School, a PK-grade 8 day school outside of Milwaukee, is one example. The school, which does not use technology in its classrooms until middle school, built a 12-sided outdoor classroom over the summer to accommodate in-person learning. Each day, students carry writing materials in waterproof backpacks whenever they head outside. In the classroom, each child has a foldable camp chair and signboard, which they use as desktops. “We’re spaced more than six feet apart in the outdoor classroom,” said one Prairie Hill educator. “There’s plenty of air, so we don’t have to wear masks. It also provides a bit of a reprieve.”
(From The News & Observer) In North Carolina, private schools are reporting more COVID-19 clusters than public schools and have generally had more confirmed cases in those clusters. As of last week, there were 14 active coronavirus clusters reported at private K-12 schools across North Carolina with 138 confirmed cases, according to data from the state Department of Health and Human Services. In comparison, 11 active coronavirus clusters had been reported with a total of 79 cases. North Carolina Association of Independent Schools executive director Linda Nelson said hasn’t spread internally at the three NCAIS schools with clusters, but rather came from transmission within the local community.
(From Education Dive) A proposed update to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead and Copper Rule, now in the final stages of review, would require community water systems to test for lead in drinking water at 20% of K-12 schools every year. “The rule will better identify high levels of lead, improve the reliability of lead tap sampling results, strengthen corrosion control treatment requirements, expand consumer awareness and improve risk communication,” the draft from mid-July said. If given final approval, the rule would be the first substantive change to the agency’s Lead and Copper Rule since 1991, and could reduce childhood harm from contaminated water.
Listen to the latest episode of the Net Assets podcast.
