Mar. 27, 2020
Dear Parents and Students,
Thank you for your patience as we work out the details and determine what ongoing learning will look like for CBE students following Spring Break. These have been unprecedented times for everyone. We recognize that uncertainty is challenging for many of us, and that children, in particular, need routine and predictability to feel safe and to thrive.
The Ministry of Education has been clear with its expectations about where we must focus our efforts in the coming weeks. They have shared guidelines to direct student learning while in-school classes are cancelled.
In the coming weeks, learning will look very different for all our students. We recognize that learning at home presents many challenges for our families. We do not expect parents to deliver the same learning that students receive at school, but to do whatever they can to encourage and support learning for their children while classes are cancelled.
Beginning next week, you will hear from your school’s principal and your child’s teacher with information about their plan for your child’s ongoing learning. Families whose children attend a school following the CBE’s modified calendar can expect to hear from their school when classes resume on April 6.
Your child’s teacher will connect with you to discuss your child’s access to technology at home, including access to a computer and the internet. Your school is also making a plan to address the needs of students without these resources and to determine how to support students with paper packages or technology loans.
Your child’s teacher will let you know how they will provide course materials and the best way to reach them if you or your child has questions. Brightspace by D2L will be the primary platform students in Grades 10 – 12 will use to access learning. Students in kindergarten through Grade 9 will access learning through a variety of platforms. Your child’s teacher will confirm the platform that they have chosen next week.
Your child’s teacher will also provide you with more information about what you can expect from them in terms of assignments, how to submit any work, and resources and supports you and your child can use to support their learning at home. They’ll also ask you how you and your family are doing and encourage you to connect with wellness supports and resources available within and beyond the CBE.
For the most part, we expect that students in kindergarten to Grade 9 will be engaging with their teacher(s) regarding next steps in their learning by the middle of next week.
Students in Grades 10 –12 will also be able to access core course work by the middle of next week. We are continuing to plan for how high school students might access non-core courses (such as CTS courses) in this environment and will provide updates as they are available.
Each CBE school is unique, and we want to recognize the relationships that our schools have developed with their families. Each school may do things slightly differently, and that’s okay. Every learner is different, and we will work together to support your child’s learning.
Thank you,
Christopher Usih
Chief Superintendent of Schools
