August 30, 2021 – A new learning environment that was brought in during the Covid-19 pandemic is staying for students in the Northland School Division.
NSD will be launching their online school for the 2021-22 school year, starting on September 7, 2021. The online school will be for students in Kindergarten to Grade 9.
Dr. Tim Stenslund, Deputy Superintendent of Northland School Division says after consulting with parents, lots preferred online learning at home over traditional schooling. “We saw a significant interest level from them [parents] in learning in this way.” Dr. Stenslund says the division did some market research and found many parents wanted the type of learning to go forward, as parents find it an effective way for their children to learn.
With a known demand for online learning, Dr. Stenslund noted “It’s too early to tell what our final enrolment will be, but what we’re seeing and what we anticipated aligns with the interest we thought would be there.” Depending on enrolment numbers, the school has seven dedicated instructors that will be teaching in a variety of manners. “Sometimes it will be multi-age, sometimes it will be grouped according to area of focus.” Dr. Stenslund commented the instructors will be modelling and creating lesson plans for an online environment rather than teaching one grade at a time.
“Language and culture are fundamental in our students learning and our goal is to embed it into our lessons.” Dr. Stenslund noted learning Cree and Dene is an aspect that makes Northland School Division different from others, as well as the opportunity for students to participate as Indigenous learners and see themselves in curriculum.
Northland School Division has released their Back to School Plan for the 2021-22 school year. Some rules are exceeding provincial requirements which the NSD said in a statement: “We feel that extra precautions are necessary to reduce risk in the school communities we serve.”
NSD Covid-19 precautions:
- There will be mandatory mask use for all staff and students in grades 4-12, and highly recommended for students in K- grade 3. The requirement will be re-evaluated on September 30, 2021.
- Mandatory masks for all students riding the school bus. All students must be registered to ride the school bus. This includes contracted buses and students attending junior high and high school in another town. Students will not be permitted to ride the bus if they are not registered through the Transportation Department.
- Large assemblies will continue to be virtual rather than in-person. This will be re-evaluated on September 30, 2021.
- Student performance activities such as singing, dancing, playing instruments, theatre will be virtual. This will be re-evaluated on September 30, 2021
- All parents/guardians are required to screen their child for symptoms each day prior to their child attending school by using the Alberta Health Daily Checklist. This rule also applies for staff, parents/guardians and visitors entering NSD schools or facilities.
- Visitors will have to make an appointment to enter NSD schools by contacting the school directly.
- Enhanced cleaning and hygiene protocols in all NSD schools and facilities with hand sanitizer provided by NSD, in multiple locations, in all NSD schools, buildings and buses.
Should the nature of the pandemic change, NSD will communicate changes in a timely manner to students, parents/guardians, staff and community members.
To see the entire Back to School Plan, click here.
-Erika Rolling, Trending 55 Newsroom
