As our secondary schools reconnect with students and families after spring break, we are mindful that schooling is not the only part of our lives that has been impacted by COVID-19.

We recognize this is a stressful time for families within our school communities and, as educators, know we need to provide learning opportunities in a manner that is socially and emotionally sensitive.

Guidance from the Ministry of Education

The Ministry of Education has provided the following guidance to all school districts in this extraordinary time:

• All students will receive a final mark in their courses. See Secondary Assessment Information.
  
• Students on track to move to the next grade will do so in the fall.
• Provincial numeracy and literacy assessments for grades 10 and 11 have been postponed.
• Grade 12 students who have not written the Grade 10 numeracy assessment will have an opportunity to do so.
• The Ministry of Education has pledged to work with the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training on admissions and the smooth transition of graduating students. See Secondary Graduation Information.
  

Instructional Planning

On Monday, March 30, schools began to plan for continuity of learning through the North Vancouver School District Learning at Home model for secondary students. Our teaching professionals have created a specific instructional program for students, based on the curriculum provided by the Ministry of Education. 

In this unique situation, it is simply not possible to replicate the face-to-face instructional program that was in place prior to spring break. Instead, teachers will be providing instructional opportunities for students based on the big ideas and the essential understandings in the curriculum that are crucial to success at the next grade level.

Complex and Vulnerable Learners

Our planning and implementation for continuity of learning recognizes some students face unique barriers to success at school. In many cases, the challenges these students face in their learning may be intensified in our Learning at Home model.

Learning Support Teachers (LSTs) and counsellors will be reaching out to the families of our most complex and vulnerable learners to check in and start a conversation about how educational continuity for these students can be provided and supported at home. Our district Inclusive Education team has provided schools and teachers with planning and collaboration tools designed to support the efforts of LSTs and counsellors.

Instructional Implementation of the Learning at Home Model for Secondary Students

Families will have received communication from each of their child's teachers before Friday, April 3. This communication will provide students with the first instalment of a program of educational opportunities to enable students to maintain educational continuity. Flexibility will be key as we all move forward together.

At this point, we have established that teachers will divide their continuity planning into three, month-long modules. Opportunities for students to connect with their teachers will be provided at established time(s) every week. Secondary schools may also develop schedules to facilitate connection times for students with multiple teachers.

These specific connection times, and the technology used to connect, will be communicated by the teacher to the student through the parent at the outset. At the beginning, we anticipate connections will be basic and may come through via email for instance, rather than online video conferencing or other such tools.

Many of the infrastructure challenges we face as we launch this new form of learning will soon be addressed. This will allow us to bring other additional technologies to better support student learning and student engagement as we continue. 

The Home-School Partnership

Teachers will provide educational opportunities for students to continue their learning and prepare for the next grade. Students are expected to engage in the opportunities provided by the teacher of each course they are enrolled in. Assignments will be connected to key content, understandings, and concepts of the course; information and skills that are key to student success at the next level.

Teachers will use their professional judgment to assess student achievement based on the work completed prior to Spring Break, as well as the teachers' assessment of students' learning as evidenced by the work completed during the Learning at Home period going forward.   

Sufficient evidence of learning means a student would be able to pursue further learning in the curricular and content area based upon what they know, understand and are able to demonstrate.  

In June, teachers will communicate with students and parents a final grade based on work completed to date and essential learning over the coming months.

• Grades can only be equal to their pre-Spring Break grade or greater than their pre-Spring Break grade (cumulative mark up to March 13, 2020).
  

Parents can expect schools to provide the traditional final report card in June based on teachers' summative assessment of their child's learning over the year.

As teachers provide educational opportunities during the Learning at Home period, teachers will continue to be available to support students, and students will have an opportunity to show their learning in new ways, and to demonstrate their essential learning outcomes in each course.

Naturally, if parents require the assistance of our school counsellors or Learning Support Teachers to help their child develop their own learning plan, this service will continue to be provided.

As we transition to the Learning at Home model, questions or concerns may arise. Questions or concerns about a particular course should be directed to the teacher of that course by email. Teacher email addresses are listed on each school's website. Broader questions or concerns related to the Learning at Home program should be directed to the administrator of your child's grade.

In these unique and challenging times, working together to support our students and teachers will ensure learning continues for all students. Information on this web page will be updated as needed to ensure the information is current.