What to Expect: Community-Building Efforts

Actions Taken

Student technology guidelines (Overlake Online Learning Expectations) were established for the 2020-21 school year, which include expectations for students and teachers to have their computer cameras on during class and school virtual activities. This fall, Overlake also started small-group athletic practices on campus for students to see one another in person. Middle School students also came to campus in November for activities in their advisory groups, based on their Green and Gold cohorts.

Actions Taken

The technology department has created opportunities for students and faculty to receive support both on campus and virtually. Additionally, the school has done an audit of student technology needs and has committed itself to providing technology, including Internet access and free hot spots to families who cannot afford it.

Actions Taken

The PFSA (Parent, Faculty, Staff Alliance) has been connecting with the school’s Student Support Team to develop a series of parent education workshops on mental health and student support; the theme for the PFSA’s fall programming is “Student & Family Support.” The Student Support Team was also featured during the October PFSA meeting to share their work with and support of students. Additionally, Student Support has been working with the advisory programs to provide proactive homeroom plans to develop resiliency skills. Overlake’s Forefront Club (which addresses the mental health of students) is also actively engaged in this work this year.

Actions Taken

Homeroom and Advisory has been thoughtfully and intentionally designed within the schedule. On an almost daily basis, students have time to gather together in these formats.

Actions Taken

Since the school year started online, many Overlake traditions have continued, albeit in new, virtual ways. For students, the designation of student Green and Gold spirit teams was announced on a division-wide Zoom call where all Middle School students participated virtually. ASB student elections were held online. Green and Gold competitions have continued. Announcements and clubs take place regularly. A virtual Grandparents and Special Friends Day is being planned. Service hours will continue to give students an opportunity to give back to communities. And a yearbook is being produced this year.

For parents and guardians, a virtual Leadership Donor Appreciation event took place online, during its regularly scheduled time in the fall. Overlake Connect (aka PFSA meetings) are organized regularly. Lunches and coffees with division heads are also being coordinated for parents/guardians to attend.

Actions Taken

Community-wide virtual Town Hall meetings have occurred at a regular pace since the virus began. These Town Halls are hosted by the Head of School, who often invites other quests to present information and answer any questions. While these may be interpreted as information sharing, and perhaps more one-way, the chat function does allow for Q&A to take place during the sessions. In addition, two Mornings with Matt took place for new families to learn more about Overlake from the Head of School and division heads and ask any questions they may have. The Zoom format allowed for more interactivity, dialog, and “face to face” time together. Virtual lunches and coffees with division heads have also been scheduled. GLRs (Grade Level Reps) and other parent volunteers organize regular virtual coffees, lunches, and happy hours, and some also offer socially distanced walks.

This year the weekly Overlake News features a section called “Message from...” where adults in our community, such as division heads, faculty, and staff share a personal message related to a topic or theme that is occurring within the school community.

In addition, grade-level virtual meetings have been occurring hosted by school leaders, such as division heads. The purpose of these meetings is for our parents/guardians to learn about what’s happening in their student’s grade, as well as have the opportunity to ask questions. Division heads were also included in the Mornings with Matt for New Families virtual coffees, and as mentioned above, they are now hosting coffees and lunches.

For faculty and staff, a Padlet was created that allows leaders in our community an opportunity to share information to faculty and staff in one, central location. This Padlet includes upcoming events, division-specific information, resources, and a kudos section to highlight members of our internal community. In addition, internal employees participate in regular virtual meetings, called “AMA” (Ask Me Anything), where different members of the community host a meeting to allow the sharing of information followed by a Q&A session.

Actions Taken

Over the summer, the Development Department sent a stewardship email to donors of all amounts that included a wide variety of positive and uplifting examples of what took place this spring for students and teachers. This school year, the weekly Overlake News now features a “good news” section highlighting the many positive events that are occurring among our community. Social media communication is also leveraged through a variety of platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. In addition, the Athletics Department worked over the summer to increase the capability to film athletic events live once they begin to be viewed online. The Arts Department is looking at options as well.

Actions Taken for Students

Grade-level meetings, ASB, announcements, Advisory, and Clubs all take place regularly. The Community Team recognizes that there is a desire for evening and weekend events given that students are limited in their activities, such as virtual movie nights (ASB scheduled a movie night for seniors in October, along with a gift bag for the event that was picked up during the October materials pick-ups).

Actions Taken for Parents and Guardians

As mentioned above, the PFSA partners with the school to offer monthly Overlake Connect virtual gatherings. The first Owls Night In took place in October and featured a panel of alums. A series of future Owls Night In events are also being scheduled in partnership with the PFSA and Development team. Parent clubs have not yet been developed but may take place in the future. Parent education opportunities are being researched with the PFSA and the school and could be included in Overlake Connect gatherings or stand-alone. Overlake has also shared information about a three-part series on mindfulness this fall for parents to connect and learn, organized with Space Between and Forefront Suicide Prevention. In addition, the Development team has helped organized three gift bag drop-offs so far in September and October. First, Overlake Fund and Senior Class Legacy Fund Reps were hand-delivered “survival kits” to their homes to thank them for all their help with fundraising this year. Second, all faculty and staff received beautiful bouquets of flowers hand-delivered to their front doors, coordinated by the Faculty Staff Appreciation Committee on the PFSA. Third, 2019-20 leadership donors received special gift-boxes the day of the Leadership Donor Appreciation reception in September to help fete and celebrate the virtual event.

Actions Taken for New Families

New families were invited to Mornings with Matt (and division heads) in September and October. GLRs in the 5th grade created a “Social Directory” of the class with each child’s photo, ways to contact them, their interests, and a fun fact. The 9th grade GLRs created a Google Doc for parents to complete as a way to get kids together virtually with shared interests, e.g. playing video games, virtual book club, etc.; reach out to students around their interests in larger group activities; and enable parents to find ways to connect with each other. Other grades may follow suit. The PFSA is also working with the Tech Department to set up a Veracross email distribution for GLRs to communicate and share ideas with one another around events and community-building.

Actions Taken for Alums

A virtual mindfulness gathering took place for alums over the summer, featuring the sibling of an alum. The Alumni Board is considering additional future virtual events for alums. The first Owls Night In event in October for parents and guardians featured a panel of alums. Future opportunities for alums to connect with parents is currently TBD. The third annual Distinguished Alum Award took place on October 22 and included an all school-wide assembly. Grads Return is scheduled for December 9 and will include several alums speaking to Upper School students. Additionally, Making a Life Day is scheduled for January 29, and again will include several alums speaking to Upper School students.