Classrooms are empty because of the COVID-19 situation. Teachers will start engaging with parents and caregivers from today on how supplemental learning and support will look. (file photo/paNOW)

By Glenn Hicks

learning during COVID-19

Supplemental learning amid COVID-19 schools suspension still unclear

Mar 30, 2020 | 8:00 AM

If you’ve been wondering about your child’s lack of schooling during this uncertain period of class suspensions and isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some help may soon be on its way.

However, the picture remains blurry and any choices about taking advantage of any new look supplemental teaching offerings will ultimately be up to students and families.

All schools in Saskatchewan were closed as of March 20 and the government announced every student would receive a final grade based on their current grade, and students will progress to their next grade level next year. Every student who is eligible to graduate from Grade 12 this year will graduate. However, the government said further learning opportunities would be made available.

Starting today and running through this week, teachers across Saskatchewan, including those here in Prince Albert, will begin the process of reaching out to parents and caregivers to talk about engaging children in supplemental learning. But the Saskatchewan Rivers Public School Division (SRPSD) concedes the support offered will look very different, at least for a while.

“We do not know if classes will resume this school year. We also do not know the details about how the supplemental learning plan will look,” director of education Robert Bratvold said in a letter to families signed by him and board chair Barry Hollick, and forwarded to paNOW.

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“The development of the supplemental learning plan is in progress and will evolve and change as students, staff and parents become more experienced in this model,” he wrote. “It is valuable for schools and families to stay connected and engaged in the planning together.”

As things evolve and communication between school divisions and the Ministry of Education continues, Bratvold was able to share some messaging from the Saskatchewan Education Response Planning Team, which is made up of education representatives. The team has been working hard on new ways to address the learning needs of students, and staff and school communities are focused on ensuring the safest and most appropriate way of offering education during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learning opportunities if students/families choose them

The message from the response team included a thank you to students and families for their ideas, understanding, patience and flexibility during these extraordinary times.

It added, among other elements, Saskatchewan school divisions were committed to providing all students an opportunity to learn and to support well-being. Also, families and caregivers were not expected to deliver Saskatchewan curriculum. It noted teachers are best positioned to offer, during this time of physical distancing, some learning opportunities to the students they are currently teaching, should their students/families choose to take advantage of them.

The learning opportunities will be to support families and caregivers in a continued learning structure for students if they choose to use them.

There has been no specific mention of the delivery method of such supplemental learning but the messaging from the Saskatchewan Education Response Planning Team said “learning programs and decisions should be made with the most flexibility to ensure vulnerable students are given the opportunity to be successful. When school divisions receive these guidelines they will, in consultation with principals and teachers, be determining the most appropriate learning opportunities based on the local circumstances of their communities, schools, families and students. “

Stay safe

While impressing on families the need for them to stay healthy and adhere to the latest COVID-19 advice, the letter from the SRPSD added a note about students’ mental well being.

“It is also important to consider the emotional and psychological needs of children and others in your lives. Take care of each other,” it said.

glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow