Luzac
This school was ahead in corona time
DATE
09 June 2020
TEXT
Jasper Gramsma
IMAGE
Fleur Beemster and Kim Vermaat
The educational design of the public school Luzac was unintentionally ready for the new era before the corona crisis. That is the advantage of delivering what you always promise: 'excellent customisation'.
Online teaching, smaller classes, intensive contact with parents: corona has changed education forever. But rector Joyce Doeze Jager of the private Luzac looks confidently to the new school year, as she knows: "Digital has taken us into a state of flux."
QR code
After checking in with a QR code to facilitate contact research, the rector leads us along strict walking routes through the monumental Luzac Den Haag building on Oranjestraat in The Hague. She is especially happy to be able to look the pupils in the eye again after two-and-a-half months.
'Corona has worked like a pressure cooker'
"The first day I stood at the door to welcome all the students, which did something to me. Nothing beats physical education." However, that does not mean Luzac is dropping the digital resources that made lessons possible in times of crisis. "On the contrary, those will have a place in regular education from now on. We were already planning to move to such a hybrid system, corona has worked like a pressure cooker."
Luzac
Back to Monday morning, 16 March 2020, 08.59. At most schools, the message about the compulsory closure was yet to sink in as Luzac's rector counted down tensely. "At nine o'clock, a push of a button followed and all our teachers and students were online. It felt like a rocket launch," she recalls. "It still gives me goosebumps."
Rector Joyce Doeze Jager between her students
Immediately after spring break, Doeze Jager already saw the effects of corona bearing down on Luzac and the school is now reaping the benefits. "We already said in early March: are you suffering from a cold? Stay home. They were immediately taught online via a webcam in the classroom. In that respect, we were at the forefront," she notes with satisfaction.
'A press of a button followed and all our teachers and students were online'
During the same period, the teachers were getting ready to go digital. "Everyone was given a Microsoft Teams account and we practised with that. From day one of the lockdown, our timetable went on fully."
Luzac digiproof
Digiproof school exams were created at lightning speed for the final year students at Luzac. "The questions focused on application and understanding, so the answers were not to be looked up. Beforehand, we trained the students with webcam monitoring. We took that very seriously."
The monumental building of the Luzac The Hague on Oranjestraat in The Hague
And the results are worth it, the averages are even a fraction higher than in previous years, although Doeze Jager makes a comment. "I think they worked a bit harder because they could have finished by the end of April.
Read also:
Playing top-class sport and studying? You can do it here.
And there was no central exam to change the marks any more. Nevertheless, they pulled it off nicely. We are now organising a graduation ceremony with a surprise route through the building, all according to the guidelines."
Apprentice Lily-More.
Before corona, the educational set-up of the public school Luzac was unintentionally ready for the new era. "In order to provide customised education, our classes consist of 12 students on average. Then keeping distance is relatively easy. Moreover, there is enough space in the school to create several smaller study rooms," the rector said.
Golden triangle
"Also, our bond with parents was already strong - the parent-student-school relationship is called the golden triangle with us. That comes in handy to coordinate with each other in this new situation." Now that the school is open again, the online teaching option has unexpectedly had a positive side effect. "Absenteeism is lower as parents encourage students to take classes remotely if necessary. In that case, they would rather be with their friends at school."
Innovation
Joyce Doeze Jager is optimistic about Luzac's digital and physical future. "During the closure, we organised online walk-in days and new applications came from that. Currently we have 130 students and we can grow to 170. But quality and innovation, those are paramount."
text Jasper Gramsma / image Fleur Beemster and Kim Vermaat
The educational design of the public school Luzac was unintentionally ready for the new era before the corona crisis. That is the advantage of delivering what you always promise: 'excellent customisation'.
Online teaching, smaller classes, intensive contact with parents: corona has changed education forever. But rector Joyce Doeze Jager of the private Luzac looks confidently to the new school year, as she knows: "Digital has taken us into a state of flux."
QR code
After checking in with a QR code to facilitate contact research, the rector leads us along strict walking routes through the monumental Luzac Den Haag building on Oranjestraat in The Hague. She is especially happy to be able to look the pupils in the eye again after two-and-a-half months.
'Corona has worked like a pressure cooker'
"The first day I stood at the door to welcome all the students, which did something to me. Nothing beats physical education." However, that does not mean Luzac is dropping the digital resources that made lessons possible in times of crisis. "On the contrary, those will have a place in regular education from now on. We were already planning to move to such a hybrid system, corona has worked like a pressure cooker."
Luzac
Back to Monday morning, 16 March 2020, 08.59. At most schools, the message about the compulsory closure was yet to sink in as Luzac's rector counted down tensely. "At nine o'clock, a push of a button followed and all our teachers and students were online. It felt like a rocket launch," she recalls. "It still gives me goosebumps."
Rector Joyce Doeze Jager between her students
Immediately after spring break, Doeze Jager already saw the effects of corona bearing down on Luzac and the school is now reaping the benefits. "We already said in early March: are you suffering from a cold? Stay home. They were immediately taught online via a webcam in the classroom. In that respect, we were at the forefront," she notes with satisfaction.
'A press of a button followed and all our teachers and students were online'
During the same period, the teachers were getting ready to go digital. "Everyone was given a Microsoft Teams account and we practised with that. From day one of the lockdown, our timetable went on fully."
Luzac digiproof
Digiproof school exams were created at lightning speed for the final year students at Luzac. "The questions focused on application and understanding, so the answers were not to be looked up. Beforehand, we trained the students with webcam monitoring. We took that very seriously."
The monumental building of the Luzac The Hague on Oranjestraat in The Hague
And the results are worth it, the averages are even a fraction higher than in previous years, although Doeze Jager makes a comment. "I think they worked a bit harder because they could have finished by the end of April.
Read also:
Playing top-class sport and studying? You can do it here.
And there was no central exam to change the marks any more. Nevertheless, they pulled it off nicely. We are now organising a graduation ceremony with a surprise route through the building, all according to the guidelines."
Apprentice Lily-More.
Before corona, the educational set-up of the public school Luzac was unintentionally ready for the new era. "In order to provide customised education, our classes consist of 12 students on average. Then keeping distance is relatively easy. Moreover, there is enough space in the school to create several smaller study rooms," the rector said.
Golden triangle
"Also, our bond with parents was already strong - the parent-student-school relationship is called the golden triangle with us. That comes in handy to coordinate with each other in this new situation." Now that the school is open again, the online teaching option has unexpectedly had a positive side effect. "Absenteeism is lower as parents encourage students to take classes remotely if necessary. In that case, they would rather be with their friends at school."
Innovation
Joyce Doeze Jager is optimistic about Luzac's digital and physical future. "During the closure, we organised online walk-in days and new applications came from that. Currently we have 130 students and we can grow to 170. But quality and innovation, those are paramount."
