April 10, 2021
High School Families of
ASD-W,
Changes were announced to the
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD) “Return to
School” plan on March 19 that would see all high school students return to
full-time in-person learning as early as April 12, 2021. Plans were
communicated with you in recent days. In ASD-W, 7 of our 19 high school
settings have been in a full “blended learning” model for schooling, with
another 3 schools following a partial “blended learning” model. The
“blended learning” model is designed such that students learn at school one day
and then learn from home the next day.
As the COVID-19 pandemic
presents us with ever-evolving situations, we are often required to adjust
accordingly to new information. As a result of our current circumstances in the
province and out of an abundance of caution, the shift to full-time in-person
learning for high schools in the province following a blended-learning model
will be delayed. In consideration of presumptive cases of COVID-19 variants
in Health Zones 1 and 2, this delay will allow for more physical distancing in
high schools and minimize the number of possible contacts should there be an
outbreak in a school.
Schools that have been
following a blended learning model will continue with this model. For
those schools who have not been following the blended learning model, there is
no change.
Our provincial government’s
Cabinet and the all-party cabinet committee on COVID-19 will revisit this
decision based on the advice of Public Health during the week of April 26.
Further to this and in
response to the “lockdown” level of alert for the Edmundston region of Health
Zone 4, Saint Mary’s Academy will revert to full remote learning from home,
effective Monday, April 12. The school principal will reach out to
you this weekend with further details. Please note…this is for Saint
Mary’s Academy only for ASD-W schools.
The EECD “Return to School” plan is a living
document that changes to reflect on new information and best practices, as
advised by Public Health. Collaboration with Public Health will continue and we
will keep you updated as more information becomes available.
When EECD first announced the
Return to School plan last spring, we knew that this would be a school year
like no other. Over the past year, you have been flexible and patient as this
plan has been updated. Thank you for your understanding, patience, and ongoing
cooperation this year.
Sincerely,
David McTimoney,
Superintendent