Guest Spot – SD70 (Alberni) Message from Superintendent

An excerpt from the most recent message to parents from SD70’s Superintendent:

You may have heard both the BC Premier and Minister of Education mention the possibility of schools reopening before the end of June. These comments are likely based on the positive effects of following public health guidelines such as physical distancing and good hygiene in managing the COVID-19 virus, and the idea that BC might be positioned to start thinking about a COVID-19 ‘recovery strategy’. This does not mean the COVID-19 battle has been won or that a return to in-class instruction is imminent. Instead, we continue to be guided by the Provincial Health Officer (PHO) recommendations and know that any reopening of schools would occur only when Dr. Henry indicates it is safe to do so.

The Minister’s message of March 17th did not call an end to the school year nor did it provide a guarantee that all students will pass and/or graduate. Instead, the Minister used the words “on-track” to describe those students who were in a position to pass or graduate as of Spring Break and would remain so while they continued their learning from home. It implied that learning did not stop but simply would not occur in classrooms as usual. I raise this issue not to alarm but rather to remind students – particularly secondary students – that work assigned and completed during the suspension of in-class instruction will help teachers provide a required final grade in June. Work completed at home in April – June is very important for students who were not on-track as of March 13th in any semester 2 class. Teachers are being very selective and creative about the learning activities they are assigning, focusing on key concepts and competencies and trying very hard not to overwhelm students and parents. Secondary school principals will be writing to students and parents to provide further clarification specifically on this topic.

At elementary schools, classroom teachers had nearly seven months with students prior to the suspension of in-class instruction and, for the most part, had a fairly good idea of students’ abilities, strengths and challenges prior to Spring Break. Any assigned home learning activities are intended to help students stay on-track, to reinforce important concepts and competencies, and to provide additional information for teachers to use in providing a required final grade in June. As with their secondary colleagues, elementary teachers are very aware of the variability in home learning environments and are trying not to overwhelm students and parents.

For access to the full message as well as information and updates from both the school district and the Ministry of Education, please visit https://www.sd70.bc.ca/.