| Dear NYMA Families, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I hope this message finds you and your family healthy and enjoying the summer break. We at the New York Military Academy are working diligently on our re-entry plans for the fall. Our re-entry plans are built around our commitment to deliver a full academic schedule for our cadets, as well as to provide before and after school activities that create the complete NYMA experience incorporating leadership, athletics, and academics for your children. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| We are committed to on-campus learning because we acknowledge that in-person education is important. The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly advocates that all policy consideration for the coming school year should start with a goal of having students physically present in school, and we wholeheartedly agree. We believe that our committed community, experience as educators, and the sheer size and expansiveness of our campus have helped us develop a pandemic response that is unparalleled by any school in the vicinity. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The keys to our success will be trust, agility, and preparedness – from staff and families. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Our plans for re-opening include a hybrid learning structure that will incorporate both in-classroom and online access. This will allow the majority of learning to take place on campus while ensuring that all students are able to participate fully, even if they are unable to be on campus for a period of time. These modifications include a change to our calendar, as Ms. Reeves previously detailed in her message. The academic calendar will follow these dates: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 1 – November 24: Trimester One January 4 – March 19: Trimester Two April 6 – June 12: Trimester Three | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| During the long winter break from the end of November to the beginning of January an online course option is available for cadets. More information regarding optional course is forthcoming. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Given the change in the calendar, we are moving to a trimester system. Trimesters give our NYMA cadets flexibility for electives, the ability to reinforce curriculum, and uniquely offer the opportunity to cover essential materials. For instance, a student who struggles in algebra may take Algebra in the fall, the Essentials of Algebra in the winter, and complete the course in the spring, whereas a student who does well in the subject could complete the course in two terms rather than three, opening up opportunities for electives. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| We also intend to use a new academic daily schedule to support our students’ ability to manage the curriculum, should online instruction be mandated at any time. We will have five 65-minute class periods. As planned currently, the academic day will begin at 8:00 and end at 3:15, with clubs and character leadership running from 3:15-4:00, followed by athletics. Some may be concerned that a five-class limit may impact their graduation, preventing them from fulfilling their required coursework. It will not. Here is a sample senior cadet’s schedule: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| The trimester system balances manageable schedules with electives providing students the opportunity for 15 course hours of instruction, rather than 12 under a semester plan. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Access to campus will have to be limited when we return to school in late August. As the Fall term begins, we will limit student travel off campus during weekends. This is in keeping with our traditional “new cadet” practice of closed campus but moving forward will not include open weekend options. Visits of family members will also be limited as we settle into our daily rhythm. Saturday instruction will be provided each weekend with various activities, such as outdoor education, sports, and fun and enriching opportunities in the afternoon and on Sundays. Saturday classes will rotate with A, B, and C periods meeting while E and F meet the following week; prior to major assessments all classes will meet on Saturday (November 12st, March 13th & June 5th). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| While I attempted to be thorough in this email to you regarding our new academic calendar and schedules, I acknowledge that there are points I may have missed or that may need clarification. Please do not hesitate to contact me, if you have questions. Further information will be forthcoming in preparation for our opening day and the return of our cadets to the Academy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thank you again for your commitment to our Academy and the Cadets of the Corps. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sincerely, Christine McDonald, Dean of Academics |
