The beginning of 2021: January 4 – 8 week

Hello. Here we all are, finally, in 2021! SO LONG, 2020.

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We hope you have had the opportunity to rest, relax and re-fuel for the second half of teacher education, part one.

We resume meeting on Tuesday. We are looking forward to hearing your stories, observations and questions from your first three weeks of practicum. Please see Brightspace for Ayers, Chapter 2 and a new video – Social Justice – Hear me out: Equity and Inclusive Education in Ontario.

Tuesday’s class will be focused on any information we have on the on-line resuming of school and on your experiences so far in your practicum. We are creating break out rooms for people in the same schools and same subject areas.

When you log into the meeting on Tuesday, please say hello to the CHAT and write three words that represent the first practicum and/or expectations for the new year. 

As you probably already know, all Ontario schools will be on-line for the first week of January. Elementary schools, grades K-8, are scheduled to resume in person on January 11th. Secondary schools are slated to return to on-site learning on January. 25th. Virtual school continues as always.

For the next ten weeks, you will be “at school” on Wednesdays. We expect that you have already contacted your associate teacher to ask what they are planning for Wednesday, January 6th and what your role will be that day.

We have gathered  some information from the two school boards.

OCDSB: Secondary:

• Remote learning will occur from Monday, January 4th to Friday, January, 22nd, 2021.
• The daily schedule will be modified for the period of the closure to allow both cohorts (A and B) to learn together

• both courses to be taught each day, and students will have two 112.5 minute blocks of instruction daily.

• Daily attendance will be taken.
• Students, parents and guardians can expect an email from the school on or before January 4th with more detailed information about the schedule and transition, including information for those who require access to a device.
• On Monday, January 4th students should check the Google Classroom or Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) for updates from the teacher and prepare for remote learning.
• In-person classes are scheduled at this time to resume the week of January 25, 2021. Students Enrolled in Special Education Program Classes
  • Students with special education needs will continue to be supported by their classroom teacher during this period.
  • Students enrolled in specialized program classes have been learning on a blended model and this will continue. On January 4th, students in these classes can expect to start with a focus on remote learning.
  • The OCDSB remains committed to ensuring that the students with special education will be engaged in remote learning with appropriate support(s), and in some cases in-person learning may be possible. Work is underway to determine how this could be safely operationalized.
  • Parents and guardians of students enrolled in specialized program classes can expect additional information from the classroom teacher on or before January 4, 2021.

OCSB: Secondary, inc. grades 7 and 8

• There is no change to the virtual academy or virtual learning programs.
• Virtual school starts on Monday, January 4, as scheduled.
  
  • Remote learning starts on Monday, January 4, for K-8 students. 
  • Parents will get a note from their school on the morning of January 4 with guidance on using the Hapara Learning Management system and Google Meet video conferencing.
  • Before the regular lunch hour period, parents will receive a link to their child’s classroom Google Meet page. This link will connect students with the classroom teacher on the afternoon of January 4.
  • Educators will connect online with their class every day.
  • Students will follow their regular school timetable. This schedule includes start and end times and recesses.
  • Parents decide what works for their child regarding the amount of online screen time during the remote learning period.
  • Students will return to in-person learning on Monday, January 11

• There is no change to the virtual academy or virtual learning programs.
• Virtual school starts on Monday, January 4, as scheduled.

What will Monday, January 4 look like for Secondary Students?

• Secondary students in cohort A and cohort B will participate in asynchronous learning for their morning course, using the Hapara learning management system they have been using since the fall.
• On January 4, students in cohort A and cohort B will receive a Google Meet link from their afternoon teacher to connect for synchronous learning.
• Beginning Tuesday, January 5, both the morning and afternoon classes will be taught synchronously to cohort A and cohort B.
• In-person classes and transportation will resume the week of January 25, 2021.

What will Remote Learning look like?

• Approximately 75% of the instructional day will be synchronous learning for students in Grades 1-8, and 25% will be delivered asynchronously.
• Students in Grades 9-12 will receive approximately 80% of their course delivered synchronously and 20% asynchronously.
• Our educators will use their professional judgement to provide flexibility to students who cannot fully participate in synchronous learning.
• Teachers will continue to provide various learning experiences, not all of which will require online computer-related instruction.
• Assessment continues during both in-person and remote learning during the lockdown.

Student Supports

• Students with special education needs will continue to be supported by their classroom teacher in the online environment. Students that receive resource or educational assistant support in person will receive similar supports in remote learning during the lockdown.
• On January 4, teachers of special education system classes will contact parents to determine their child’s ability to participate in a remote learning environment.
• We will review plans, including in-person learning for system classes at that time.
• If it’s decided that your child will participate in in-person learning, we will provide specialized transportation.