Eastern Health is offering a Webinar today (Thursday, March 26) titled Parenting in a Pandemic. This is intended for parents and families who may benefit from this information at this time.

Register using link below:

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1812360606080823053

The Newfoundland and Labrador English School District is launching a resource to assist and guide families with continued learning opportunities while in-school instruction remains suspended. The resource, Learning at Home: Good at Learning-Good at Life (http://learningathome.nlesd.ca) is a Google site, a platform familiar to our students and staff. The site will provide opportunities to foster a passion for learning through engaging online and offline adventures and activities.

For now, there is no expectation for families to be teachers and there is no expectation for teachers to assign grades or values to any work students complete while they are at home. However, students are encouraged to share their learning and routines with their teachers for feedback. This resource is in addition to the many rich opportunities teachers are already providing.

As not all students may have had the opportunity to complete the student survey before March 17, it has been decided that the surveys will remain open until April 27. This will provide an opportunity for students and families to complete the surveys if they wish.

Grade 7-12 Survey

Family Survey

Information for Families

Why should I complete this survey?

• This survey gives parents/guardians an opportunity to provide feedback to the administrators of their child’s school on topics that are important for school development.

How will the information be used?

• The primary purpose of the survey is to support the school development process. The survey results will be provided to your child’s school and used with other data in the school development process to identify the school’s strengths and challenges. Your school will then create and implement a plan to build on successes and address areas of challenge.
• The survey data is most useful when it is understood within the context of the local school. The Department will only examine the results at the provincial level to identify generalized trends and where action is needed on a provincial basis.

What topics are included in this survey?
This survey asks for your opinions on the following topics:

• School climate
• School safety
• School fit
• Family engagement and support
• Barriers to engaging with school
• Areas of strength and where improvement is needed
• Background questions are also included to allow for a more in-depth analysis of results (e.g., results by grade).

Is the survey anonymous?

• This survey is intended to be anonymous, which means you cannot be linked to your responses (You are not asked to provide your name). Your responses will be grouped with responses from other parents/guardians. Only group-level (i.e., aggregate) responses are reported, and results are never reported for any questions in cases where there are fewer than six respondents.

INSTRUCTIONS

• Parents/guardians complete ONE survey for EACH SCHOOL attended by their children. Some questions are about your perception of the school in general or your involvement with the school. Other questions ask specifically about “your child”. If you have more than one child in this school, please think about your OLDEST child who attends this school when answering questions that say “your child”.
• When selecting a response, please choose the one that you feel best describes your/your child’s overall experience at this school this year. There are no right or wrong answers. These are your opinions, so please give them honestly so that the school and district administrators can better understand your/your child’s experience and work to make the school a better learning environment.

IF YOU TRULY FEEL THAT YOU CANNOT ANSWER A QUESTION, PLEASE LEAVE IT BLANK.

Based on the most recent COVID-19 update from the Provincial Government and the province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District is further limiting access to school facilities, effective immediately.

This means:

• There will be no public access to schools whatsoever – including any pre-arranged drive-through pickup of students’ personal items. Any personal items which have not been collected by teachers, staff, students or families at this point will be stored at the school until further notice.

Thank you for your understanding.

To: All Families

From: Tony Stack, CEO/Director of Education

Subject: Expectations and Next Steps

Date: March 19, 2020

The Newfoundland and Labrador English School District continues to formulate plans to support our province’s students and teachers following the unprecedented suspension of in-class instruction within the public K-12 school system. As new protocols have been put in place, many District employees throughout the province are working from home, as all residents of our province manage child care, health care and, in some instances, care-giver responsibilities. These are challenging times for us all. I want to assure you the public education system will remain connected to our students and will be available to support our school communities through whatever means are available and safe.

Families and students can expect contact from their classroom teachers in the coming days as we aim to maintain the connections and relationships we have developed. Our teachers will continue to be in regular weekly contact with our families, although this may look different depending on individual circumstances. Our teachers will be utilizing teacher-home communications through email or other electronic means. Your teachers will remain the link between your family and any supports (e.g., guidance services) available through schools and the District.

K-9 Next Steps and Resources

While it is unknown how long the suspension of in-school instruction may continue, the District is advising families that all K-9 students will be progressing to the next grade level, no matter what occurs with the remainder of the school year. Teachers will respond to learners’ needs when this academic year resumes or the new school year begins. District Programs staff will provide access to general resources, and in the coming weeks, primary, elementary, and intermediate resources for students to engage in learning activities. Please note, there will not be an expectation for teachers to assign grades or values to any work being undertaken while at home, but students are encouraged to share their work with educators for feedback, guidance and encouragement where possible.

High School Courses

The District is in discussions with the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and post-secondary institutions about the protocols for high school credit courses. Those discussions remain ongoing at this time and further information can be expected in the days ahead. I can reassure graduating high school students and their families that we are focused on ensuring that post-secondary plans are not negatively impacted.

Relationships and Personal Wellness

There should be no reason for families to be stressed or concerned about trying to recreate what is achieved in the regular school environment. Within the District, our current collective focus is on our learners and our staff; on maintaining and even strengthening our relationships. As I have indicated before, these are challenging times for us all. Let’s focus on doing what we can, while looking after our own health, supporting each other, and attending to those in need around us.

On behalf of the District, I take this opportunity to thank all members of our school communities for your patience, concern, and continued commitment to our young people. I believe one of the most important characteristics we will draw on in the days to come will be our individual willingness to adapt and respond in extraordinary circumstances. We are stronger together, even with the physical distance that must currently exist between us.

Please continue to follow recommendations from public health officials in the coming days and weeks, in the best interest of all.

Dear Students, Parent/Guardians,

We have never before seen anything like this happen in our school system so we want to thank you for your cooperation and patience with all the changes and last minute messages that you are getting.

On Friday, March 20, and Monday, March 23, we will let students come to the school to retrieve personal belongings. Some students do not need to get anything from their lockers, but if they do, to ensure everyone has an opportunity to collect any personal items they need and to ensure the safety of all involved, we are limiting the number of students/parents/guardians in the school.

Students or a parent/guardian are asked to come to the main entrance during their designated time, arranged alphabetically by last name. Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from school. Parents, please ensure that you know the LOCKER NUMBER and LOCK COMBINATION.

If you are currently not feeling well or have travelled, please do not come into the building at these times. Remember that social distancing should be maintained and everyone should leave the school immediately after collecting their belongings. Sorry, but this is not an opportunity for meeting with teachers, support staff, or administration.

ALL TEXTBOOKS AND LOCKS ARE TO BE DEPOSITED IN THE MAIN LOBBY.

Bring a bag for personal items and there will be garbage bags provided.

FRIDAY, MARCH 20 – If the student’s last name begins with:

• A: 8:00-9:00am
• B: 9:00-10:00am
• C & D: 10:00-11:00 am
• E, F, G, & H: 11:00-12:00 pm
• I, J, K & L: 12:00-1:00 pm

MONDAY, MARCH 23 – If the student’s last name begins with:

• M & N: 8:00-9:00am
• O, P, Q & R: 9:00-10:00 am
• S, T, U & V: 10:00-11:00 am
• W, X, Y, & Z: 11:00-12:00 pm

If you cannot make it at your assigned time and wish to collect your items, please email the administration: Christina Pike (christinapike@nlesd.ca) or Daisy Hardy (daisyhardy@nlesd.ca).

Lockers that have not been cleaned out by March 27, will be cleaned out by staff. All personal items will be placed in a bag with the locker number until school re-opens.

Take care of your friends and your family and we’ll see you in person when all this is finished. Until then, on behalf of the school community at MDJH, please do not hesitate to reach out to any of the teachers, or myself or Daisy.

To: Parents/Guardians

From: Ed Walsh, Associate Director of Education-Programs and Human Resources

Subject: Retrieval of Student Items – Change of Plans

Date: March 17, 2020 

Based on the most recent update from the province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District is changing its plan for students and parents to retrieve personal and instructional materials from schools on Wednesday and Thursday of this week.

Please disregard the message sent to you outlining that plan.

Please be advised that no student or parent will be provided access to schools, effective immediately. The only exceptions will be for the retrieval of critical items, such as medical equipment or prescriptions currently housed at the school. Parents are advised to contact their school administration to arrange for the transfer of such items.

We regret the inconvenience this causes. We are, however, determined to keep staff, students, parents/guardians and school communities as safe as possible during this uncertain time. We will communicate a plan for retrieval of all non-essential items at some point in the future.  Your child’s teachers will be in communication with you by Friday March 27, 2020 

Please stay tuned for further information related to program delivery in the days ahead.

Looking for resources for how to speak with your children about COVID-19? Check out the family-friendly resources at Whole Child Counselling.