April 6th, 2020

April 6, 2020

Dear students and families,

We hope you are safe and healthy. It was so good to connect with you by phone the other week and we are looking forward to connecting again with you, even more, this week!

Our teachers have been busy planning distance learning materials for your children. The focus this week will be on developing the online class community, developing norms of practice, and establishing on-line safety expectations, similar to when classes resume in September. This coming week, teachers will be supporting students and families in accessing Google Classroom for grades 1-8 and See-Saw for Kindergarten. If we are not able to connect with you through an online platform we will reach out to you by phone to get you started on understanding your Distance Learning.  

 

 Although staff will be reaching out to their classes, a link to our classes is available on our school website lrw.wrdsb.ca  for all to access.  Click on the Distance Education tab at the top of Laurelwood Web Page which will go live in the morning on Tuesday, April 7.

 

The direction of our school board and the Ministry of Education is that distance learning does not replicate the classroom experience, nor is it the intention to have students on screens all day. The distance learning model is meant to be approximately 5 hours per week for kindergarten through grade 6, and 10 hours per week for grades 7 and 8, implemented fully on April 14th. In all grade levels, there is an emphasis on mathematics and literacy, but opportunities for other learning will be taking place as well.  

 

As we continue learning in a new context, the Ministry of Education and our school board has directed that the assessment of learning will focus on feedback and supporting learning. The distance learning offers will not replicate the workload or demands of in-school learning. This is a time where families have different demands on their plates including caring for family members, changes in work situations, and a focus on the health and safety of all family members and the community. The distance education model is intended to complement those other focuses.

 

Thank you for taking our call and for taking the time to answer our survey questions over the phone the other week. This information helps determine who requires the support of school Chromebooks to connect to the online classes.  These families in need of support will be contacted directly by the school this week to help set up a time to obtain a device. Please be aware that for your safety and our staff’s safety and from the direction of Public Health, there will be a very formal process in place for those coming to acquire a device. In many cases, devices given out will be shared by siblings. 

 

We wish we were working with your children face-to-face, but we also know how important it is that we are not together right now. Our staff have prepared two messages for your children to let them know how much we miss them and that we are thinking about them.  

 

 

 

                     And

 

 

Sincerely,

Mr. Berndt,  Principal

             and 

Mrs. Fay,  Vice Principal