Dear families,
I want to provide an update on the status of at-home learning. Today, at the provincial news briefing, Dr. Strang and Premier Rankin announced at-home learning will continue until the end of this school year.
While we were hoping to return to classes this year, we have also been hearing about the success many students and teachers are having with at-home learning. We will continue to build on this success in order to complete the school year.
Classes for high school students end on June 11, when these students move into final assessments. Classes for other grades will continue as scheduled. Supports for students available through school counsellors, SchoolPlus, specialists, reading recovery, and the small group instruction that teachers have been using throughout this month will continue.
I know that at-home learning isn’t always easy. And I know the challenges it presents are not the same for everyone. I want to thank the staff, students and families for your support, enthusiasm and participation. I appreciate your understanding and patience during the third wave of the pandemic. We would prefer our students to be in-class with their friends and teachers. However, we also know that students and staff are making at-home learning work. Teachers have found creative ways to educate their students, and students have worked hard to stay engaged. I’m confident this will continue.
Our commitment is that classes will continue until the end of the current school year, and students will continue to be assessed on their performance by their teachers. For more information about assessment, click here.
I appreciate the challenges you may face, and I want to reinforce the supports available to students and families. You are not alone during these trying times. If your family needs support, don’t hesitate to reach out.
- If you have questions about learning or questions about support from specialized individuals like Speech and Language Pathologists, Student Support Workers, Assistive Technology Specialists, Autism Specialists, please call or email the teacher or the school principal.
- The Homework Hub for Mathematics is now available to students in grades 4 to 12, with extended hours and can be accessed through student gnspes accounts or by calling 1-888-444-6607. See https://curriculum.novascotia.ca/parentfamily-information
- If you have questions about services and programs available to your family, our SchoolsPlus team is available to help. For contact information please refer to your location from the list available here.
More information will be shared in the coming weeks, including options for graduation ceremonies, following conversations with Public Health and school principals.
Please continue to follow Public Health guidelines, get tested regularly and stay close to home. I also strongly encourage you and your family to get vaccinated once your age group opens. By doing this hard work now, we can look forward to a better summer.
Sincerely,
Dr. Chris Boulter
TCRCE Regional Executive Director of Education
