​Message from Superintendent to Families

January 22, 2021

Re: Zone 4 Lockdown – Impact on Schools

Dear Families of Saint Mary’s Academy and John Caldwell School,

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the government made the decision to put Health Zone 4 on lockdown for a period of 2 weeks, from Saturday, January 23 at 11:59 PM to Saturday, February 6 at 11:59 PM, inclusive. This will impact our schools in the area (Saint Mary’s Academy and John Caldwell School) and early learning and childcare facilities.

All Kindergarten to Grade 12 schools in this zone will close and move to virtual learning. Teaching will be done by distance, through the Teams platform and through learning kits for students. Please refer to the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development’s website for more information on changes in directives.

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 distance 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 for the period of time that the learning is at a distance and you need technical assistance, with Office 365 Pro Plus (home connection and installation), Teams, OneDrive, Power School, Desire 2 Learn (D2L), 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

It is the responsibility of the parent to send their child's school materials and activity suggestions to childcare if the wish is for the child to continue to work while there. Childcare facilities will 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. 

We continue to work 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.

School staff members continue to dedicate themselves every day to ensure that all students under their responsibility are on the path to their educational 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 the global pandemic. They cannot always be present as they would like to be for their students; they too will experience challenges with this new mode of distance learning.

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​