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Lowndes County Public School (LCPS) students will get a break from the classroom setting Friday, as the system observes Asynchronous Learning Day. While students will not report to school, they will work from home and complete all assignments.

“This [day] gives students the opportunity to work at their own pace which helps them develop critical time management skills,” said LCPS Superintendent Samita Jeter. “Students are given flexibility in that work is assigned in different formats with consideration being given to homes without Internet connectivity.”

According to Jeter, parents were made aware of the asynchronous day at the beginning of the school year to give them adequate time to plan for the supervision of students. 

“The day originated in response to a request from certified employees for additional professional development days during the school year,” Jeter said. “Therefore, employees will be reporting for scheduled activities.”  

The Calhoun School Principal Nicholas Townsend said the day allows faculty and staff to gain necessary training without interrupting student learning.

“The district incorporated this day to address the need for district personnel to receive professional development and offer employees more opportunities for learning,” Townsend said. “This was the most logical way to provide professional development for our teachers and staff without losing instructional time for our students! Students can email their teachers if they need assistance with their assignments.”

Asynchronous learning occurs at home without real-time interaction or teacher instruction. Teachers will prepare assignments or work packets for students to take home and complete on Sept. 20. 

According to Townsend, ready access to internet service will not hamper the student experience.

“This day is not a virtual day but an asynchronous day in which students will complete physical and virtual assignments for that school day,” Townsend said. “Students that have difficulty accessing the internet will be given a physical packet to participate in their assignments.”

Students are instructed to take devices and chargers home on Thursday so that they can log into the learning platform to engage in daily work for classes with online assignments.

Parents can help their students prepare for the day by designating a quiet workspace, limiting distractions and then checking to ensure all assignments are submitted. Ensuring the child returns their device and charger to school the next in-person day is a vital part of helping them continue learning uninterrupted after the classroom break.

The trend toward employing asynchronous learning days is not limited to Lowndes County. Jeter explained that the use of asynchronous school days is increasing across the country.

In preparation for the day, school system administrators have prepared a video available on social media. Follow Lowndes County Public Schools on social media for up-to-the-minute announcements.