Students in Kindergarten to Grade 12 who are choosing to not return physically to classes in just over a week have a new school they can attend.
The Hastings Prince Edward District School Board announced they have created a virtual school for the 16% of students who will be learning at home.
The board says recent polling from approximately 10,000 parents/guardians representing 15,000 students showed 84% of students will be returning to class in person.
Director of Education Sean Monteith says they have never done anything like this before.
He says families who choose for their children to learn in this virtual environment can be assured of effective learning using the same content and expectations in The Ontario Curriculum as regular in person learning.
“Families who choose to send their children to school in person can equally be assured that we are doing all we can to provide safe learning environments,” said Sean Monteith, Director of Education.
K-12 Virtual School will be staffed with a principal, two vice-principals and teachers. Louise Gunning will be the principal and the vice-principals will be Kerri Denyes and Brent Jewell. Gunning was formerly the principal at Madoc Township Public School; Denyes and Jewell were curriculum coordinators at the Education Centre.
Educators will be hired in the coming days.
Starting today, schools will begin making direct contact with families that indicated an interest in virtual learning.
K-12 Virtual School learning environment
- The first day of school for K-12 Virtual School will be Tuesday, September 14, 2020 (note that this is different than the first day for in-person school)
- The school day will be from 9:00 a.m.to 3:20 p.m. with breaks and a lunch period
- Students will be grouped from many different schools to form classes
- Daily classes will consist of a combination of scheduled synchronous* and asynchronous* instruction that is delivered by a teacher in an online classroom
- Students will be expected to participate in daily virtual meetings with their peers, as well as to complete assigned independent tasks
- Students will require technology, such as a Chromebook or laptop with Internet access. Schools will work collaboratively with parents/guardians to look at technology options, if needed
- Students with special education needs will be provided with accommodations, modified expectations and alternative programming as outlined in their Individual Education Plans
- Meetings with parents/guardians will be conducted through electronic tools, such as Google Meet or telephone
- Students may transfer back to their home school for in person learning only on specific transfer dates which will be announced at a later date
Families who wish to register their children for K-12 Virtual School, should contact their child’s current school by telephone.
