LENEXA, Kan. — Schools may be closed because of COVID-19, but at St. James Academy in Lenexa, classes are still in session.
Instructors are set up to teach classes from their homes, using programs like Zoom.
"It’s not as interactive because I’m a very interactive teacher working the whole room," Calculus instructor, Sam Rockford said. "But at the same time, the kids can raise their hands with the little zoom hand raise and I can demonstrate things and it’s been actually more interactive than I realized."
Rockford implements videos in his teaching methods. He said it's been a smooth transition and enjoyed seeing his students again, even if it's now through a computer screen.
"I can display my iPad on Zoom and actually show the kids my work in real time," Rockford said. "The kids are excited to see each other and they're really excited to see their teacher. I mean, we're a school all about relationships and it's neat to see those relationships happen, even in this situation."
Principal Shane Rapp said school leaders are trying to make the transition as normal as possible - which includes wearing the required uniform shirts when they log in for class.
"Our goal in all of this is to provide a sense of stability and routine and normalcy for our kids as much as we can," Rapp said. "Because nothing is stable and nothing is normal in their world right now."
It's something high school junior, Max Fangman said it understandable.
"Then you’d have kids wearing pajamas on their bed just laying down and not really focused," Fangman said. "I feel like this is more like, ok I’m in my uniform I need to be attentive and pay attention."
Through the new online reality, leaders said they're trying to make the best out of the situation.
"We know it's not going to be the same. Things are going to be messy, but it's an opportunity to recapture what schools are in the first place, which is learning and growing and staying connected to each other," Rapp said .
Rapp said rather than covering more ground, instructors are doing more focused-based class work with the new virtual adjustment.
