The Foothills School Division has come up with a plan to get students "back to school" while not being back at school.

FSD Superintendent Chris Fuzessy says Alberta Education has shared their expectations for student learning to continue.

Starting Monday, March 23 and each Monday following, families will receive an email from their teacher on what learning will look like for the week.

Fuzessy says the entire team at the Division is dedicated to ensuring each student is successfully supported in their learning.

"We cannot do this without you and value your continued support and our team is also here to support you. Our staff is ready and willing to help students and families through this modified learning environment."

Fuzessy says some in the Division may be facing unique obstacles and parents in those situations should visit the Parent Learning Link to make contact with a staff member who will be able to provide them with the available supports.

Fuzessy says in the coming days they will be refunding activity fees that have been canceled, where possible. "We recognize the urgency for families so we will also be finalizing reimbursement plans for other fees in the near future."

"Please know that the Board of Trustees also had a lengthy discussion on outstanding fee balances to help lessen the financial burden on Foothills families. The Board requested district office staff to prepare a detailed report for their consideration at the first Board meeting in May. At present we have suspended fee collection."

Fuzessy says they have worked hard to prepare their staff and are ready to go.

"I couldn't be prouder with what our school teams have done in being ready today, with this new announcement from the Minister coming out to be able to have that out as of Monday morning to every family with a learning plan for the week."

Fuzessy says they're doing their best to meet the requirements of every student starting with sending surveys to ensure students have the means to connect with their teachers.

Fuzessy says Google Hangout may be a big part of this whole process.

"We are trying to deliver some kind of combination of digital material as well as print material so that we are able to meet whatever context any family is in and meet the needs of those kids, so it will look different."

Fuzessy says they didn't want the parent community to feel like its all on them and are doing their best to have students be able to connect directly with teachers.

"We've been planning to be able to connect with students and do this in such a way that the burden does not fall on parents to continue this, part of the message we sent out was that if there are question marks or there is support required that we have staff prepared to do this, we certainly don't want to give the impression that they are on their own for this."

FSD says they'll be supporting parents and students to the best of their ability during this time.

 

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