Teachers, educational assistants, support staff and administration are supporting your child's learning during these uniquely complex times. While teachers continue to be the primary guide for students, the partnership with parents and caregivers is essential in providing needed assistance and home support for learning, especially for younger children. Throughout the remote learning processes, it is important to remember that we all have the same goal: to support children's growth and development by working together with patience, kindness, and respect.

Opportunities will vary from class to class - some may utilize a digital learning platform, and some may be offered through other means. Teachers will work with families and will make decisions based on available resources, access to technology and what they believe to be in the best interests of their students and the most important curricular and core competencies. 

We understand that many parents and caregivers are seeking ways to keep their children occupied and engaged. Many learning opportunities present themselves in everyday activities at home. For example, there are math, reading, and applied skills to learn in preparing a meal. Everyday activities like going for a walk, or planning a garden can be enhanced with observations of the natural world, learning about the animals and plants in our city, and what might grow well in our climate. Helping with cleaning and organizing chores around the home can help deepen understanding of organizational and lifelong skills as well as build core competencies. Writing and talking about experiences during this time will help to build oral and written literacy, and writing a thank you to an essential service worker will help to build social awareness competencies. The district has also developed a page with various resources to help supplement the learning provided by your child’s teacher. Please visit Parent Resources for more information.

The Ministry of Education has also set up a website with a collection of valuable resources, and ideas such as those above, to help support learning while families are home due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the suspension of in-class instruction. Please visit: www.openschool.bc.ca/keeplearning/ for more information.