UVC Dives Into Remote Learning and Reaches Graduation

Umpqua Valley Christian school closed, along with other schools, on Friday, March 13. The administration and faculty immediately began to prepare for a pivot to online learning. Staff at UVC worked through most of the next week and Spring Break to be able to reopen as UVC Online on Wednesday, April 1. “The process was exhausting and exhilarating all at the same time,” UVC Academic Dean Laurel Santos said. “The teachers learned many new skills, both in pedagogy and in technology. When we reopened, we were able to offer robust online courses that continued to educate our young people.” UVC students are finishing their classes today, May 28, having completed the year in an academically-sound format. UVC is also celebrating their kindergarten graduation today with a virtual graduation. They have twelve young people graduating from that program. "We feel, that our students were able to maintain academic rigor, and we feel that doing the online classes was good preparation for college as many will take online courses in their future academic pursuits." Santos said. "Although we have seen a few students struggle with receiving instruction in this format, most of our students have stepped up and met the challenge." On Friday, May 29, they will have Awards Celebrations for students in Early Education programs through eleventh grade. These will be presented in a class-by-class format in a drive-in celebration. On June 5, there will be an Awards Celebration for seniors, followed by their graduation ceremony. This event will begin at 6:00 p.m. and it will be held at the Douglas County Museum as a drive-in event. "Making this pivot together and learning together as we've done has drawn our students and staff closer. UVC considers itself a family; this has just strengthened the family." Santos added.