​January 24, 2021

Re: Health Zone 4 Lockdown – Impact on Schools in Health Zone 3

Dear ASD-W Families with students at Andover Elementary School, Perth-Andover Middle School, Southern Victoria High School, Donald Fraser Memorial School and Tobique Valley High School.

The government’s decision to put Health Zone 4 on lockdown for a period of 2 weeks will impact our schools in the neighbouring Health Zone 3 area. More specifically, Andover Elementary School, Perth-Andover Middle School, Southern Victoria High School, Donald Fraser Memorial School and Tobique Valley High School, will all be impacted.

Due to a significant portion of the school community (staff, students and casual staff) living within Health Zone 4, and the operational challenges this presents, the decision has been made to move all 5 schools in this region of Health Zone 3 to distance learning as of Tuesday, January 26. Distance learning will continue until Friday, February 5, at this time.

Monday, January 25 will be an operational response day for these schools. This means there will be no teaching. On Tuesday, students will learn from home, either virtually through the Teams platform, or through paper-based learning kits. Specific school instructions from administration and classroom teachers will follow.

Distance learning requires that each student has:

• a device at home to connect online (a computer, a laptop, a tablet or a smart phone);
• the student’s username and password for Office 365 / Teams;
• access to Teams on the device they will be using;
• the student’s reading books; and
• the student’s textbooks, if necessary.

Families who do not have a device should contact their principal.

Here are the different ways in which distance learning will be done by grade level:

Here are some examples of activities that your child's teacher may organize:

Synchronous activity

Learning takes place in real time and at the same time for the teacher and the student.

• the student receives real-time explanations, instructions and feedback; and
• the student participates in the discussions and in the real-time assessment.

Asynchronous activity

Learning which does not happen at the same time for the teacher and the student.

• the student receives explanations, instructions and feedback;
• the student works individually or in a team online;
• the student consults learning resources, watches explanatory videos, reads, organizes small group meetings, and receives feedback in writing, on video, or otherwise; and
• the student is autonomous, becomes familiar with distance learning, and develops strategies to continue learning.

Technological devices

If you are not comfortable with the software used for distanc​e learning, ASD-W has resources available for you at the following link on our website:

Technology Resources for Families and Students

Technical support

If your child has a computer (used for distance learning) or has borrowed a laptop or device from school, and they need technical assistance with Office 365 Pro Plus (home connection and installation), Teams, OneDrive, Power School, Desire 2 Learn (D2L), or Wi-Fi, you can contact the Bell Call Centre at 1-833-453-1140 (option 2 for service in French). This center is open on school days from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

If your child has a laptop or device provided by the school's learning support services (due to learning difficulties, reading difficulties, etc.) and for medical reasons and you need technical assistance regarding Office 365 Pro Plus, Teams or OneDrive, please contact the Neil Squire Call Centre at 1-855-450-3287.

Daycare

For those who will be sending their children to daycare for the full day, you may wish to send your child's school materials and activity suggestions to the childcare center if you wish for your child to continue working while there. Although childcare facilities are not required to provide direct instruction similar to a school, they can provide quiet learning time and space.

Ongoing communication

I understand that this news may raise questions or concerns, but please be assured that steps are being taken to protect the health and safety of all while, at the same time, continuing with meaningful instruction.

As always, we will be working closely with the Office of Public Health.

We will continue to communicate with you by email and/or telephone to keep you informed of the situation, as required.

School staff members continue to dedicate themselves every day to ensure that all students, under their responsibility, are on the path to success. They do their best to achieve this, with the tools and hours allocated to them. They are human beings, like you, who are living through the global pandemic. They may not always be as present as they would like to be for their students as they too will experience challenges with the move to distance learning. We appreciate your support of our teachers.

Children and young people look to the adults in their lives to guide them on how to react to worrying and stressful events. Parents are encouraged to talk to their children about any anxieties and remind them to treat one another with kindness and respect, in person and on social media.

Thank you for being patient, understanding and working with us to make the experience as positive as possible for our students. 

Thank you for your cooperation as we navigate this challenging time.

David McTimoney

Superintendent, ASD-W​