Student Impact of the 2020 Vision

By Rose Helm
Back in early 2019 when it was launched, “2020 Vision” seemed like a fitting name for our multi-facet plan for the academic program in our core areas of language arts, math, and social-emotional learning. What we couldn’t realize at the time was that the year 2020 would in no way offer the kind of clarity implied by the term for perfect eyesight. We could not have foreseen a global pandemic that would keep us from our beloved campus for 10 months now. We could not have known that we would all need to become instantly fluent with the language of contact tracing and personal protective equipment. While the landscape in 2020 shifted dramatically early in that calendar year, thanks to the hard work and preparation of our faculty throughout the fall and early spring of last school year, we were not waiting until 2020 to roll-out new programs like Readers’ and Writers’ Workshop or Second Step. Instead, our teachers took it upon themselves last year to fully adopt these programs, setting themselves and our students up for success as we began this year remotely. 
What is remarkable about this timing is that even though we have spent most of the first half of the year remote, we can already see the positive impact of the “2020 Vision” on our students’ progress as learners. The MAP testing we administered earlier this fall suggests our students are on solid footing academically. We will administer the second round of MAP testing starting in late January with Grades 3-6, followed by Grades K-2 in early February. With the results from this second round of testing, we will be able to analyze the individual growth of our students. We will follow up that round of testing by sharing those results with families so you can see for yourself how our students are faring. Most importantly, we will continue to use that data to inform our instruction, adjusting learning goals as needed for individual students so that we might ensure all of our students reach their full individual potential. 

All of this being said, if 2020 has taught us any lesson, none is more important than paying attention to the emotional well-being of our students. The Second Step curriculum in Grades K-4, as well as our advisory program in Grades 5-6, have given our students effective tools and strategies for important life skills such as emotional self-regulation, handling disappointment, and resolving conflict. Bringing our students back to campus, even for some grades on a hybrid schedule, will enable us to continue to strengthen the relationships they have developed with their teachers and peers, which ultimately we know has the most positive impact on our students’ development.

While I wish I had seen 2020 coming, I am glad to see it now in the rearview mirror, knowing that even amidst all of the past and present challenges, we have a clearer vision of a brighter future ahead.

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The John Thomas Dye School


11414 Chalon Road
Los Angeles, CA 90049
Phone: (310) 476-2811
The John Thomas Dye School admits students of any race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic or other school-administered programs.

Located In Los Angeles, CA, John Thomas Dye is an independent school for grades K-6. Students benefit from a challenging academic program, fine arts, competitive athletics, and a wide selection of extracurricular activities.