COL Schedules for 2020-2021
Support & Resources
Student Support
Student Support Team
During COL, our Student Support Team is committed to continuing to provide support for our students and families.
School Counselors
Dr. LaNaadrian Easterling, Director of Counseling, Grade 7-12 Counselor
leasterling@maret.org
202.939.4064 office
202.497.9838 cell
Ms. Meghan Keller, Grade K -6 Counselor
mkeller@maret.org
202.939.8815 office
Learning Support Specialists
Ms. Jessica Matthews, Upper School Learning Specialist
jmatthews@maret.org
Mr. Aaron Cahn, Middle School Learning Specialist
acahn@maret.org
Ms. Amy Potts, Lower School Learning Specialist
asheridanpotts@maret.org
Nurses
Ms. Alison Goradia BSN, RN, CPN
agoradia@maret.org
Ms. Alex Walker MA, BSN, RN
awalker@maret.org
Virtual School Counseling
Our school counselors are available to meet with students virtually to provide support. Please contact Dr. Easterling or Ms. Keller if you'd like to schedule an appointment.
Dr. LaNaadrian Easterling, Director of Counseling, 7-12 Counselor
leasterling@maret.org.
Ms. Meghan Keller, K-6 Counselor
mkeller@maret.org
Tech Support
COL Online Learning Leaders
- Ms. Erika Eason - Chair
Director of Academic Technology - Mr. Kalif Aljami
Performing Arts Teacher - Mr. Mike Engelberg
Technology Teacher - Ms. Rajeeni Galloway
Director of Libraries & Center for Inquiry - Ms. Sonali Kumar
Middle & Upper School Librarian - Ms. Jessica Samowitz
Lower School Librarian - Mr. Mark Singleton
Instructional Technology Coordinator
Tech Preparation at Home
All students should be prepared to participate effectively in the Continuity of Learning Plan.
- The school will provide all students in K-8 with a device. The Upper School will continue to operate under the bring-your-own device policy.
- A strong and reliable Internet connection will be needed at home. (A printer may be helpful but is not required as teachers will operate with a paperless classroom).
If your family needs support with obtaining a device or Internet access, please complete the form below. We will reach out to you directly to discuss.
Helpful Links
COL Resources & Information
- Common Sense Media
- Tips in the Age of COVID-19 and Social Distancing
- Self-Care Tips
- Suggestions for Talking to Children About Difficult Topics
- CDC and Other Help Centers
- Additional Resources
Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media is a non profit organization whose goal is to help "all kids thrive in a world of media and technology."
They have created Wide Open School, a distance learning hub, with helpful resources for parents and educators, including:
- advice, tips, and how-tos for parents
- resource libraries for learning activities by subject
- professional development for educators
- student activities
Tips in the Age of COVID-19 and Social Distancing
You are likely in the same position as many families across the country - facing canceled travel plans with cabin fever beginning to set in. In these uncertain times, it is more important than ever to practice self-care and healthy habits. It is natural for children and adolescents to feel nervous about the unknown; they are looking to the adults in their lives to provide reassurance and stability. The best thing we can do for them is to give them a space to talk through their feelings and thoughts, while also providing direction for the journey ahead.
- Children thrive on routine and predictability and need this to feel safe, especially in challenging times. One of the most important things you can do is to create order, with some flexibility, in your days. You can start by setting up a schedule that includes regular wake-up, eating, learning, exercise and sleep times. It can be daunting to know where to start but there are a plethora of online resources and sample schedules geared towards making the most out of school closures while maintaining a sense of normalcy at home.
- It can be very difficult to exude a sense of calm to your child when you are struggling to cope with your own anxiety. One of the most important things you can do is to learn and utilize stress management techniques that can help you manage your feelings. Research has shown that people experience an increase in cortisol levels, which is directly related to stress, even when seeing a stranger express stress virtually - a phenomenon called ‘empathetic stress.’ This effect increases significantly if the person shown is an image of a loved one. Remember that as you learn to manage your own stress, you will be teaching your child how to cope with uncertainty and difficult situations as they face them in their own lives and in the future.
- One of the most challenging things for those who aren’t experiencing any sickness symptoms is to practice social distancing. In order to "flatten the curve" and slow the spread of COVID-19, it is essential that we minimize our contact with others outside of our home environments until this crisis passes. This is a time to teach children about altruism and how by acting collectively, we can decrease the number of people who become sick. Our mindset for how we approach this time matters. If we (and by default, our children), view this as a punishment, it will feel like one. However, if we shift our view that this time is a gift to slow down and do things that normally get postponed due to busy schedules, we can find that this is an opportunity to:
- Learn new skills, play games, read, write and create.
- Reconnect with family and friends via phone calls, snail mail, and video chats.
- Tackle projects, get organized and clean.
- Virtually visit museums from around the world and other kid-friendly field trips.
- Get outside, explore nature and exercise as a family.
Remember that this too shall pass and someday life will return to normal. In the meantime, I hope that these suggestions are helpful as you prepare for a staycation this spring break. Our community is strong and we will get through this together.
– Dr. LaNaadrian Easterling, Director of Counseling
Self-Care Tips
If you are feeling anxious, taking a break or scaling back from the news cycle. Trust that your school and your parents/guardians will share important information. Try finding a non-digital distraction like reading, spending time with family/friends, or another creative activity.
MEDITATE: Having a regular meditation practice, for 10 minutes per day, can be life-changing. Research shows that meditation reduces stress, controls anxiety, and makes you more mindful and self-aware. Even a few deep breaths in the middle of the day can help you to regain focus and relieve stress. A short, daily practice can be more effective than long sessions, so if you’re new to meditation, try starting with a mindfulness app like Headspace or Calm.
CREATE: Creative expression has multiple benefits for emotional health. It gives people a way to release complicated emotions through music, journaling, visual arts, or hobbies. Extracurricular activities that invoke a sense of peace and calm can be very effective for reducing stress. Try spending 15-30 minutes writing, drawing, dancing, or making music.
Suggestions for Talking to Children About Difficult Topics
- Ask clarifying questions to get a better understanding of what your child is asking.
- Be developmentally appropriate. Don’t volunteer too much information, as this may be overwhelming. Instead, try to answer your child’s questions. Do your best to answer honestly and clearly, but do not give more information than is age-appropriate and/or necessary. Instead of tackling a conversation or a question in one conversation, you can always circle back if needed.
- Invite your child to ask questions. It is okay if you cannot answer everything; being available for your child is what matters.
- Don’t let your own anxiety take over. Parents can get worried about explaining everything rather than just answering the specific question that was posed.
- Avoid overly focusing on the subject. Gauge how much you talk about the topic depending on the age of the child. Young children may not need to know much.
- Share what you are doing to stay safe. An important way to reassure children is to emphasize the safety precautions that you are taking.
- Empower children and help them feel in control. Help them figure out what they can do to manage their emotions or change a situation.
- Avoid excessive blaming. When tensions run high, sometimes we try to blame someone or something. It is important to avoid stereotyping or negative comments about a specific group of people.
- Monitor television viewing and social media. Try to avoid watching or listening to information that may be upsetting when children are present.
- Stick to routine. Structured days with regular mealtimes and bedtimes are an essential part of keeping children happy and healthy.
- Reassure children they are loved, safe, and protected by you and others.
CDC and Other Help Centers
Additional Resources
TALKING TO CHILDREN ABOUT COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
National Association of School Psychologists
TALKING TO KIDS ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS
Kids worry more when they're kept in the dark
Child Mind Institute (4-Minute Video)
HOW TO TALK TO CHILDREN ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS
Harvard Medical School
TALKING TO TEENS AND TWEENS ABOUT CORONAVIRUS
New York Times