Together we are Evolving: SEED’s COVID-19 Update
Dear Friends,
Each communication, video call, or conference call in which I have participated over the past six weeks has opened with the question, “How are you?” While I cannot ask each of you that question individually, I do hope this message finds you and your families safe and healthy.
Like many of you in your personal and professional lives, SEED is evolving in response to the impact of COVID-19. Though we are adjusting, our goals are clear, and we are maintaining a laser focus on our commitment to all SEED students and graduates.
Certainly, it is our goal to engage students in a meaningful instructional program, but meaningful instruction cannot occur when a student is experiencing a significant challenge, such as food or housing insecurity. Our five-day-a-week boarding program has provided us with the opportunity to build trusting relationships with our students and their families and to become familiar with any challenges, needs, and gaps they are facing. Because of those relationships, SEED has been able to engage students and families in remote learning and address many of the barriers that our students face when learning from home.
Here are a few ways SEED is supporting its school and graduate communities:
Online College Counseling & Advising: Our CTS advisors have moved all counseling and advising sessions online. Through each individualized session, our students become informed of any changes in application and enrollment deadlines, financial resources available, and have a safe space to share obstacles they face.
Virtual Learning: The SEED Network has distributed nearly 1,000 laptops to ensure our students remain connected and have the resources to continue their educational journeys.
Accelerated Professional Development: SEED’s support goes beyond academics. To manage the stress and anxiety our students are now facing, SEED staff have received additional training on how to best engage with students remotely.
Non-Academic Needs: SEED schools and CTS advisors are providing information to students, families, and graduates around community resources. In some cases, we are providing direct support to families and graduates in need with food and transportation.
Social Outlets: Just because we aren’t together physically, it doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy each other socially! Over the past couple weeks our teams have organized a virtual spirit week, TikTok challenges, recipe sharing, cooking videos, and more. See below.
Together we’re evolving—every SEED leader, teacher, student, graduate, parent, and supporter. Together, we will emerge stronger.
Thank you for your belief in our work.
All the best,
Lesley
The SEED Foundation is Working Remotely
Government officials in D.C., Maryland and Virginia have all issued updated stay-at-home orders. Therefore, The SEED Foundation staff are working remotely. Our team will remain in remote working status through at least Wednesday, September 9, 2020. We will continue to monitor and reassess as updates become available.
A Message from The SEED Foundation CEO Lesley Poole
Dear Friends,
As the impacts of COVID-19 (coronavirus) continue to unfold, I’m writing to share my sincere best wishes for you and your loved ones. I’m also reaching out with an update on SEED.
At SEED, the health and well-being of our students, teachers, and families is our primary concern. To keep our community safe, we are following the directives of state and local authorities and have enacted the following measures:
All SEED schools are/will be engaged in virtual learning for the remainder of the school year.
We remain engaged with our graduates currently enrolled in college as we support their transition to an online college experience.
All SEED campus buildings remain closed, as directed by local authorities.
We will continue to share updates as they become available.
Thank you for your ongoing support of SEED and for being part of our community. We are holding you in our thoughts as we all navigate the impacts of COVID-19.
All the best,
Lesley
SEED Schools Remote Learning Plans
SEED has implemented virtual learning programs to help our students remain focused on achieving their academic goals. For more details on our schools’ remote learning programs, click below.
The SEED School of Washington, D.C.
The SEED School of Maryland
The SEED School of Miami