Customer:
George Washington Elementary School, Chicago Public Schools

Location:
Chicago, Illinois

Demographic:
Private, PK-8

School Profile:
The students population is 727 and the student-teacher ratio is 17:1.

School Mission:
Foster a love for learning through joyful experiences and high quality instruction that prepares students to be respectful global leaders

Solution:
We Teach & Remote and In-Person

The arrival of the COVID pandemic brought new challenges to George Washington Elementary School, like many schools, to provide instruction that continued to meet the high quality of in-person instruction. Fortunately, GWES students had access to online learning while the school district pivoted to virtual learning. One way to keep students engaged was to continue to offer after school programs which typically deliver educational benefits along with fun and excitement that differs from the usual classroom experience.

Challenge:

GWES was chosen to participate in a program supported by the Envision Community Services of Chicago, Illinois. Envision Community Service provides students with opportunities for academic and after school enrichment. The COVID 19 pandemic added obstacles for students participating in Out of School Time (OST). After spending the school day connected electronically, asking students to join in after school activities posed a challenge and made it necessary to find opportunities that would enhance student learning while participating virtually.

Result:

GWES 3-8th graders participated in virtual sessions on robotics. NextWave STEM instructors taught the course after school. Students connected from their homes via computer, and downloaded all of the software free of charge which allowed them to participate in the course. Due to the success of the after school program, GWES’s asked NWS to teach in-person summer camp, as well as drones programs for the following school year, and extended to grades 1 & 2.