At-home learning for grades 7 - 12 students in Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools (RDCRS) is going well after in-person classes were recently suspended as part of province-wide COVID-19 prevention measures, says superintendent Kathleen Finnigan.
“Learning is continuing and we are getting really positive feedback,” said Finnigan. “We are checking and making sure students are connected. Teachers are doing check-ins, office staff are doing check-in to ensure that we don’t lose momentum.
“We understand that the government needs to pull us back to ensure that we are all safe, but we are continuing to make connections -- the number one priority for us -- as well as keeping the learning going.”
RDCRS includes schools in Olds and Innisfail.
At-home classes are focusing on the four core areas of mathematics, social studies, English and science, as well as religion, she said.
Other classes such as gym are also continuing for some students.
“Some teachers are giving gym online and teaching dance lessons,” she said.
Schools are generally using one of two methods to conduct the at-home lessons, she explained.
“Some schools have looked at learning continuing block by block and following the timetable and others give the students the work for the day and then children connect with their teacher during office hours,” she said.
“Really both ways are working within our division. It really depends on the context of the school and the way the principal wants to see the learning.”
Grades 1-6 students across the province are continuing in-person classes until Dec. 18, and students in all grades are scheduled to be back to in-person classes on Jan. 11.
Finnigan was recently appointed RDCRS’s superintendent, after serving as acting superintendent for several months.
