A Ponderosa Montessori School student. Courtesy photo
Ponderosa Montessori News:
Enterprise Bank & Trust has provided at $3,000 grant to enable the elementary students at Ponderosa Montessori School in White Rock to use distance learning more effectively.
When the State’s stay-at-home order went into effect, Ponderosa had no school-based access to educational resources in the online environment.
Montessori elementary teacher Steve Mosier has been using a combination of email, texting, Skype and Zoom to stay in touch with his class.
“One issue I have encountered has been the fact that students are competing with their parents for the electronic resources to work at home,” Mosier said. “Another is the lack of school resources for me to use. We lack school-wide Wi-Fi coverage and I have had to rely on my personal devices, which are not optimal, to stay in touch with my students.”
The school also had not been able to provide access to commercial educational resources online.
Fifth grader Kaitlyn Seitz-Pruitt said, “Yay! I’m excited that our bank (Enterprise) will help us! There are not enough devices in the house, and it would be nice to interact with our class even if it’s through a screen.”
Kaitlyn’s twin sister Karly said, “It’s a war to get electronics. It’s hard not seeing the class enough. We have been having play practices with our class using Zoom and the screen keeps freezing and I can’t see Mr. Mosier very well.”
The resources purchased with the grant money will continue to be useful once the children return to school. Students who miss class due to illness or travel will still be able to sit in on lessons virtually and access the same online resources, which they will be using at school. The ability to use familiar devices and software will make transitioning to distance learning easier in the future.
“Given that this is new territory for all of us,” Mosier said. “I am amazed at how well many of my students have adjusted to remote learning. Having the right resources available should make it easier for all of us in the future.”
About Ponderosa Montessori School
Ponderosa Montessori School, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, has served North-Central New Mexico since 1967 and now provides authentic Montessori childcare and education for infants through sixth (6th) grade, including after-school care. Ponderosa Montessori was the only childcare center that remained open in the area (Los Alamos, White Rock, Jemez Springs and Pojoaque) during this COVID-19 pandemic to provide needed childcare for essential workers. Ponderosa Montessori information may be found at: http://PonderosaMontessori.com
