Message from
Superintendent to Families
January 22, 2021
Re: Zone 4
Lockdown – Impact on Schools
Dear Families of Saint
Mary’s Academy and John Caldwell School,
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the government made the
decision to put Health Zone 4 on lockdown for a period of 2 weeks, from Saturday,
January 23 at 11:59 PM to Saturday, February 6 at 11:59 PM, inclusive. This
will impact our schools in the area (Saint Mary’s Academy and John Caldwell
School) and early learning and childcare facilities.
All Kindergarten to Grade 12 schools in this zone will close and move to
virtual learning. Teaching will be done by distance, through the Teams
platform and through learning kits for students. Please refer to the Department
of Education and Early Childhood Development’s website for more information on
changes in directives.
Distance learning requires that each student has:
· a device at home
to connect online (a computer, a laptop, a tablet or a smart phone);
· the student’s
username and password for Office 365 / Teams;
· access to Teams
on the device they will be using;
· the student’s
reading books; and
· the student’s
textbooks, if necessary.
Families who do not have a device should contact their principal.
Here are the different ways in which distance learning will be done by
grade level:
Grades
|
Type of learning
|
Contact with teacher
|
K-2
|
Paper-based
|
Daily check-in
|
3-5
|
Paper-based with some technology
|
Routine
teaching engagement
|
6-8
|
Technology-based
|
Regular teaching
|
9-12
|
Technology-based
|
Regular teaching
|
Here are some examples of activities that your child's teacher may organize:
Synchronous activity
Learning takes place in real time and at the same time for the teacher
and the student.
· the student
receives real-time explanations, instructions and feedback; and
· the student
participates in the discussions and in the real-time assessment.
Asynchronous activity
Learning which does not happen at the same time for the teacher and the
student.
· The student
receives explanations, instructions and feedback;
· the student
works individually or in a team online;
· the student
consults learning resources, watches explanatory videos, reads, organizes small
group meetings, and receives feedback in writing, on video, or otherwise; and
· the student is
autonomous, becomes familiar with distance learning, and develops strategies to
continue learning.
Technological devices
If you are not comfortable with the software used for distance learning,
ASD-W has resources available for you at the following link on our website:
Technology
Resources for Families and Students
Technical support
If your child has a computer used for distance learning or has borrowed
a laptop or device from school for the period of time that the learning is at a
distance and you need technical assistance, with Office 365 Pro Plus (home
connection and installation), Teams, OneDrive, Power School, Desire 2 Learn
(D2L), Wi-Fi, you can contact the Bell Call Centre at 1-833-453-1140 (option 2 for service in French). This center is
open on school days from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
If your child has a laptop or device provided by the school's learning
support services (due to learning difficulties, reading difficulties, etc.) and
for medical reasons and you need technical assistance regarding Office 365 Pro
Plus, Teams or OneDrive, please contact the Neil Squire Call Centre at
1-855-450-3287.
Daycare
It is the responsibility of the
parent to send their child's school materials and activity suggestions to childcare
if the wish is for the child to continue to work while there. Childcare
facilities will provide quiet learning time and space.
Ongoing communication
I understand that this news may raise questions or concerns, but please
be assured that steps are being taken to protect the health and safety of
all.
We continue to work closely with the Office of Public Health.
We will continue to communicate with you by email and/or telephone to
keep you informed of the situation.
School staff members continue to dedicate themselves every day to ensure
that all students under their responsibility are on the path to their
educational success. They do their best to achieve this, with the tools and
hours allocated to them. They are human beings, like you, who are living the
global pandemic. They cannot always be present as they would like to be for
their students; they too will experience challenges with this new mode of
distance learning.
Children and young people look
to the adults in their lives to guide them on how to react to worrying and
stressful events. Parents are encouraged to talk to their children about any
anxieties and remind them to treat one another with kindness and respect, in
person and on social media.
Thank you for being patient,
understanding and working with us to make the experience as positive as
possible for our students.
Thank you for your cooperation as we navigate this challenging time.
David McTimoney
Superintendent, ASD-W