Please Read: Preparing for Absences, Closures, or Remote Learning

Hello Everyone,

Before we return on January 10th, I would like you to know about a few updates. Please return to the blog for any additional information which may come up.

Health Checklist: Please be vigilant and do the health checklist each day. Omicron is very contagious, and we need to be careful about monitoring our symptoms, even minor ones. As getting testing can be difficult, we have to assume any symptoms may be something beyond a cold, so use the checklist every day. I will be also doing a health check at the door. Students who have symptoms will be sent home.

Masks and Distancing:  Please look for masks that properly fit around the nose and mouth, with a good seal. If you are able to get a K95 or similar layered mask, even that is better than a simple cloth mask, per information from the Ministry of Health and the BCCDC. Please review at home that the only time masks can be off in the classroom is when eating is happening. It is important to also maintain distance and to not touch others, even outside.

Classroom Seating:  We will be doing assigned seats now, with seating spaced apart as best as we can given the size of our room.

Backpacks:  Backpacks will hold supplies, journal, and binder. Try to avoid having any other items, as the backpack will be stored on the back of each student’s chair. Lighten the load as much as possible. Lunches and water bottles will be stored in the cloakroom, separate from the backpack.

Cloakroom:  In the mornings, we will be going into the cloakroom two at a time, to prevent crowding. This may mean you need to wait outside a bit longer until it is your turn to come in.

Snacks and Lunches:  The only time masks can be off in the classroom is when eating is happening. We will do water breaks outside. Please discuss at home the importance of not talking and of staying in assigned seating during these eating times. Eating will be inside, as there isn’t supervision outside for students. If anyone decides they need to eat off site during lunch, please email me with the specific plan so I can advise the office and know where all students are during lunch.

Ventilation:  All windows will be open, regardless of cold. Please wear layers. It is not possible to wear your outdoor coat or shoes at your desk, as you get papers and the floor wet on messier days, so please wear warm layers under heavier coats or rain jackets.

Short Absences Due to Illness:  If you are sick, please don’t worry about doing any work. Focus on getting well. If it is a short absence, I can catch you up when you return. Please email me about absences. Thank you!

Longer Absences Due to Illness or Isolation:  If you are away for longer, due to isolation, etc., please note there isn’t a virtual option while you are away if the class is in session, in person. So, if you are away and able to do work at home, I will catch you up when you return, and you can:

  1. Check the classroom blog for new projects or announcements,
  2.  Check MS Teams once to see if anything is posted, and/or
  3.  Email me to see if there is anything you can work on.

MS Teams: We will use TEAMS mainly if we are forced to go to remote learning or because of a school closure. Thus, you don’t need to keep checking MS TEAMS unless you are 1. Absent (Please see information about absences above), or 2. Directed to do it by the teacher.

What would happen during remote learning if we are directed to do it?

We would do the following:

  1.  Check the Class Blog:  Ms. D will post general information about remote learning and a schedule for you to follow each day from 9AM to 3PM on the class blog. The schedule will include online meetings and independent time for:
    1.  Unit/Literacy/Numeracy Time:  Online Discussions, Small Group Meetings, MS Teams Channel Questions and Challenges, Unit Learning Tasks
    2.  Indie Reading Time: Student independent reading and/or teacher read aloud
    3.  Fitness Time:  A regular fitness routine of student design, which we will talk about as a class.
    4.  Service/Connection Time:  Specific time to do a helpful task at home, connect with family or siblings, participate in Fun Stuff Challenges on MS Teams, or writing fellow classmates as penpals in email.
    5.  Maker Time:  Crafting, art, creative tasks
    6.  Genius Hour Time:  Independent Project Research Work
  2.  Attendance:  Attendance will be taken by participating in the day’s online meetings, as well as checking in on MS Teams. I use the application Insight to track whether or not each student has visited and/or contributed to MS Teams. I will follow up via email or phone if students are not attending. If a student is sick, please send a quick email, so I know all is okay! Holidays such as Family Day and Professional Development Days are still recognized, and on those days we will not have any online activity.
  3.  Have a Learning Space Ready:  Students will need a computer with video capacity, headphones or earbuds with a microphone, desk space, and regular learning supplies. This includes their journal, binder, pencil, pencil crayons, markers, a glue stick, scissors, calculator, and a math set. It is also helpful to have a device that can take and upload pictures.
  4. Some tips for online learning video participation?
    1. Have a neutral background behind you,
    2. Make sure enough light is on your face so we can see you,
    3. Have a private space for video calls (without siblings and parents in the background watching or listening if possible),
    4. Know where volume and video settings on the computer are before participating, and make sure your microphone works, and
    5. Do a video practice before joining us, to make sure the child’s entire face is visible in the screen, and that they know how to join the call.
  5.  Student Email and MS Teams: Make sure your child knows how to access their email at home using Microsoft Outlook from the O-365 Microsoft School Applications. They have all practiced doing this at school. They will want to check in to MS Teams and their Email three times a day. Please encourage them to not over check or spend the entire time 9-3 online.
  6.  Some Live Learning As a Whole Class: During regular times, we will meet as a whole group, live, on MS Teams. To participate, students will go to their calendars in MS Teams and click on the meeting time for that day. Students need to join with their video and microphones off to start. We will not be online together all day, every day, because it is hard to manage 24 people online in this way, and being online all day is not effective learning.
  7.  Some Live Learning As a Small Group:  I will do small groups of four on a rotational basis, with a weekly schedule posted on the blog, and with times and links posted in each student’s MS Teams Calendar. This will allow me to have more of a conversation with specific students to discuss unit questions or to check in to see how they are doing.
  8.  Some Independent Learning:  Students may be directed to do specific independent tasks for the day, following the schedule provided on the blog. Directions will be provided in MS Teams.
  9.  E-Portfolio:  We would continue to use our E-Portfolios for assessment, and e-port questions will be posted using MS Teams, so everyone has access to them.

More information will come as it is needed. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me!

Ms. D