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August 27
Superintendent Message
Hello Anglophone West Families,
 
Education in New Brunswick is mandatory and attendance at school is an important component to a student’s learning and well-being.  However, in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are some students whose needs will impact their attendance.
Students who Cannot Physically Attend School
 
If a student has a medical condition and is recommended by a health professional to not attend school in person, a learning plan will be provided by their assigned teacher, developed by a school based educational support team.  Likewise, if a student lives with an immunocompromised household member and is required to stay home as recommended by a health professional (the condition prevents the student from attending school), the student will be provided with a plan to continue learning at home.  Families will be required to provide medical documentation in these cases.  Students within a vulnerable population are encouraged to consult with their health care provider to determine if they should attend school.
If your child has received a recommendation from a health care provider to remain home from school this year, please contact your child’s school the week of August 31.
 
Students Permitted to Physically Attend High School Daily
For students in grades 9-12, attendance may be impacted by a student’s individual needs, or vulnerability.  A recommendation may be made for some students, particularly those students who may be deemed high-needs, to attend school every day, and not on a rotational schedule.  Amongst vulnerable students, the decision regarding their physical presence in school will be made by the District and School Educational Support Services teams in consultation with families, and medical professionals or support specialists as required.
 
Students may be recommended to physically attend school every day if they have an Individualized Personalized Learning Plan (PLP-IND), an Individual Behaviour Support Plan, or are beginner English language learners.  In some cases, this also may include students with significant mental health needs, students in the care of Department of Social Development, or students who have other individualized needs.  The special circumstances will be determined at the school level with the support of the District, as required.
 
Families with students who are part of a vulnerable population should expect to hear from their child’s school regarding their attendance prior to the first day of school if it applies.
 
Families Wishing to Home School
Students who have not received a recommendation from a medical professional or the District to remain home from school, but whose family has decided to not send them to school for any reason will be required to complete an Annual Home-School Request Form and choose alternate means for schooling.  In these cases, the child’s family agrees to provide for their education.  Students will not be assigned to a class or school and will not receive virtual or remote instruction from a teacher.  Neither schools nor the District are required to supply resources or services for the educational programming of children being home-schooled. The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development publishes and makes available curriculum documents describing grade level outcomes for each area of the curriculum. More information about home-schooling in NB can be found on our district website in the days ahead.
 
High School Student Laptops
For high school students; please remember that there will now be an expectation for them to bring their own electronic devices for learning beginning in September as part of a shift toward a more personalized, collaborative and tech-based learning model.
The following link shows the recommended specifications for devices:
 
 
A subsidy program is available for students from low and middle-income families who do not currently own a device.  Families will be provided with up to $600 per high school student to purchase a laptop through the program, depending on their eligibility.  Details about the subsidy program can be found here:
 
 
For information or if you have trouble signing in please contact 1-833-901-1963.  If you are ineligible to receive a subsidy but would like to take advantage of a discounted price, you can purchase your computer through the company IMP Solutions.  You may access their site at
 
 
David McTimoney, Superintendent

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