August 28th, 2020
We welcome you to the Holy Spirit Catholic Schools Junior High At-Home Learning program which will be jointly delivered by several staff members from both Father Leonard Van Tighem (FLVT) and St. Francis Junior High (SF). The Grade 7 and 8 program delivery will be provided by FLVT teachers while Grade 9 program delivery will be provided by SF teaching staff.
We are all committed to ensuring your child has the skills they need to be successful. At-home learning will cover all the required areas of the provincial curriculum with teaching focusing on the five core subject areas of English Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, Mathematics and Religious Education. The weekly 25-hour learning commitment guidelines of this alternate learning option has been organized to include a combination of several types of content delivery methods.
The different types of content delivery that will occur within our “At- Home Learning format include:
- Synchronous Learning
- Student learning that involves face-to-face instruction through an online learning platform. This is similar to in-class instruction however delivered over a digital learning environment.
- Asynchronous Learning
- Student learning that adheres to deadlines but allows the student to learn at their pace with an opportunity to connect with the instructor if needed. This time provides an opportunity for 1:1 instruction or small group learning time.
- Independent Student Learning
- Student learning is independently completed without the assistance of the instructor.
To support At-Home Learning:
- Teachers will provide instruction at a specific grade or subject level for all students who have signed up for At-Home learning in the division. It is important to note that since all learners are not functioning at the same academic level, there will be a need to provide ongoing differentiated instruction to support ALL students.
- Teachers will provide engaging, curriculum-based lessons that require students to actively participate in all lessons and planned activities.
- Teachers are expected to offer a rigorous online learning program that requires the same degree of attention as an in-school class would have.
- Teachers providing at-home instruction in grades 1-9 will follow the sequencing of units and topics as set out by the Division
- At-home courses will be delivered using Google Meet and Google Classroom and other secure Division applications
- Teachers will have the flexibility to schedule their synchronous class meetings as well as their office hours (within the confines of the usual school day) in order to best meet the learning needs of their students.
Assessment:
- Teachers are expected to assess student learning through a variety of means, both formatively, as well as in a summative fashion.
- Teachers will follow provincial learning outcomes as identified in the Program of Studies.
- If a student (and their family) choose to move back into in-person learning, the at-home teacher will provide a summary report of outcomes covered to date and an assessment of student learning to date.
- Teachers will be required to maintain ongoing communication to report student progress and address any issues or concerns with parents as soon as they arise.
Communication:
- Teachers will be expected to connect and communicate with parents of students in their cohorts, the way they would in an in-school teaching context.
- Parents who need to contact the at-home teacher should do so directly with the teacher first, and if there’s a need to contact an administrator, inquiries need to be directed to the ‘designated’ supervising principal of that teacher, not the ‘resident’ principal of the student.
- There will be ongoing contact between the designated principal and the resident principal, as required.
- Teachers will need to attempt to contact any students (and their families) who do not engage in the synchronous class meetings or if there are concerns with the completion of assignments as soon as possible. If teachers are unable to contact the student/families they are to inform their supervising administrator(s) in order to plan next steps for re-engaging the students.
Student “At -Home Learning” Expectations:
- Students will attend every day at the scheduled login times established by the teacher. At-home learning is comparable to being in a classroom but in an online environment. As such, attendance will be monitored.
- Attendance will be taken daily and submitted in PowerSchool
- If a student does not attend for 3 days (unexcused absence/without communication between parent/teacher) and or falls too far behind, he/she will be referred to administration.
- Log-in expectations set by the teacher will be expected for students to adhere to (i.e. cameras on, microphones off, chat or comment protocols, etc.)
- Google meets and/or secure video platform meetings are mandatory and recordings of these will NOT be posted.
- Students need to be prepared and engaged. The learning space the student will be using should be free of all distractions (i.e. cell phones must be put away).
- Regular check-ins on Google Classroom or Holy Spirit email will be required. It is the responsibility of the student to email the teacher if he/she is unclear of expectations, confused about an assignment, or if there is something preventing the completion of work.
- There will be zero tolerance for plagiarism or cheating on assignments or exams.
- As per the “Responsible Use Agreement Form”, digital etiquette of being respectful and positive to others at all times is expected. This applies to the use of language and the sharing of content in written or verbal form.
- Students will conduct themselves in behaviours expected of all Holy Spirit students and engage with both the teacher and their peers respectfully.
Although the teachers will be working hard to meet the various needs of the students, the At-Home Learning program is a regular program; teachers will be teaching the Jr. High learning outcomes. Student success in the At-Home Learning program requires students to be able to work independently.
Most of the teachers delivering the At-Home Learning program are working on-site at their respective school. These teachers have on-site classes at their schools with on-site students. Therefore, At-Home Learning instructional times are set at specific times. Here are the schedules:
Grade 7 At-Home Learning Schedule
Monday & Wednesday Schedule
| Time | Class | Teacher | |
| Block 1 | 8:40am – 9:54am(74 minutes) | Independent School Work | N/A |
| Block 2 | 9:58am – 11:10am(72 minutes) | Independent School Work | N/A |
| Block 3 | 11:14am – 12:26pm(72 minutes) | Independent School Work | N/A |
| Block 4 | 1:11pm – 2:37pm(86 minutes) | Social Studies 7 / Religious Studies 7 Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning | Mrs. Johnson |
| Block 5 | 2:42pm – 3:20pm(38 minutes) | Office Hours | Mrs. Johnson (Mon) and Miss Giannetti (Wed) |
Tuesday & Thursday
| Time | Class | Teacher | |
| Block 1 | 8:40am – 9:54am(74 minutes) | Math 7 Synchronous and AsynchronousLearning | Miss Giannetti |
| Block 2 | 9:58am – 11:10am(72 minutes) | Language Arts 7 Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning | Mr. Meyer |
| Block 3 | 11:14am – 12:26pm(72 minutes) | Independent School Work | N/A |
| Block 4 | 1:11pm – 2:37pm(86 minutes) | Science 7 Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning | Miss Tkach |
| Block 5 | 2:42pm – 3:20pm(38 minutes) | Office Hours | Mr. Meyer and Miss Tkach(Tues), Miss Tkach (Thurs) |
Friday
| Time | Class | Teacher | |
| Block 1 | 8:40am – 9:20am(40 minutes) | Independent School Work | N/A |
| Block 2 | 9:23am – 10:01am(38 minutes) | Independent School Work | N/A |
| Block 3 | 10:04am – 10:42am(38 minutes) | Math 7 Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning | Miss Giannetti |
| Block 4 | 10:45am – 11:23am(38 minutes) | Language Arts 7 Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning | Mr. Meyer |
| Block 5 | 11:41am – 12:19pm(38 minutes) | Independent School Work | N/A |
Grade 8 At-Home Learning Schedule
Monday & Wednesday Schedule
| Time | Class | Teacher | |
| Block 1 | 8:40am – 9:54am(74 minutes) | Independent School Work | N/A |
| Block 2 | 9:58am – 11:10am(72 minutes) | Independent School Work | N/A |
| Block 3 | 11:14am – 12:26pm(72 minutes) | Language Arts 8 Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning | Miss Tkach |
| Block 4 | 1:11pm – 2:37pm(86 minutes) | Science 8 Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning | Mr. Pollio |
| Block 5 | 2:42pm – 3:20pm(38 minutes) | Office Hours | Miss Gabruck (Mon) and Miss Loman (Wed) |
Tuesday & Thursday
| Time | Class | Teacher | |
| Block 1 | 8:40am – 9:54am(74 minutes) | Independent School Work | N/A |
| Block 2 | 9:58am – 11:10am(72 minutes) | Independent School Work | N/A |
| Block 3 | 11:14am – 12:26pm(58 minutes) | Math 8 Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning | Miss Loman |
| Block 4 | 1:11pm – 2:37pm(86 minutes) | Social Studies 8 / Religious Studies 8Synchronous and AsynchronousLearning | Miss Gabruck |
| Block 5 | 2:42pm – 3:20pm(38 minutes) | Office Hours | Miss Tkach and Mr. Pollio (Thurs) |
Friday
| Time | Class | Teacher | |
| Block 1 | 8:40am – 9:20am(40 minutes) | Independent School Work | N/A |
| Block 2 | 9:23am – 10:01am(38 minutes) | Independent School Work | N/A |
| Block 3 | 10:04am – 10:42am(38 minutes) | Independent School Work | N/A |
| Block 4 | 10:45am – 11:23am(38 minutes) | Math 8 Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning | Miss Loman |
| Block 5 | 11:41am – 12:19pm(38 minutes) | Language Arts 8 Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning | Miss Tkach |
Grade 9 At-Home Learning Schedule
Monday & Wednesday Schedule
| Time | Class | Teacher | |
| Block 1 | 8:14am – 9:12am(58 minutes) | ELA 9 Synchronous Learning | Mrs. Tina Carmichael Young |
| Block 2 | 9:12am – 10:12am(60 minutes) | ELA 9 Asynchronous Learning | Mrs Tina Carmichael Young |
| Block 3 | 10:14am – 11:12am(58 minutes) | Religion 9 | Mrs. Tina Carmichael Young |
| Block 4 | 11:50am – 12:50pm(60 minutes) | Independent Student Work Time | (Mrs. Tina Carmicheal Young to follow up on student learning) |
| Block 5 | 12:52pm – 1:50pm(58 minutes) | Science 9 Synchronous Learning | Mr. Brain Leclaire |
| Block 6 | 1:50pm – 2:50pm(60 minutes) | Science 9 Asynchronous Learning | Mr. Brain Leclaire |
Tuesday & Thursday
| Time | Class | Teacher | |
| Block 1 | 8:14am – 9:12am(58 minutes) | Social 9 Synchronous Learning | Mrs. Tina Carmichael Young |
| Block 2 | 9:12am – 10:12am(60 minutes) | Social 9 Asynchronous Learning | Mrs. Tina Carmichael Young |
| Block 3 | 10:14am – 11:12am(58 minutes) | Math 9 Synchronous Learning | Mrs. Jen Hay |
| Block 4 | 11:52am – 12:50pm(58 minutes) | Math 9 Asynchronous Learning | Mrs. Jen Hay |
| Block 5 | 12:52pm – 1:50pm(58 minutes) | Religion 9 Synchronous Learning | Tina Carmichael Young |
| Block 6 | 1:50pm – 2:50pm(60 minutes) | Independent Student Work Time | (Mrs. Tina Carmichael Young to follow up on student learning) |
Flexible Learning Fridays (Grade 9)
- Independent Student Work Time
- This dedicated time will be an opportunity for students to independently complete any work that requires additional time.
- Fridays will be a dedicated time when Mrs. Tina Carmichael Young will be checking in and following up with the learning team, students, families, and resident schools regarding “At- Home Learning” progress.
At-Home Learning will begin on Wednesday, September 2, 2020. Google Classrooms will be established for At-Home Learning once class lists are final; teachers will contact you soon after.
Thank you again for your patience and understanding as we deliver this new program.
Respectfully yours,
Crystal Lothian Greg Kostiuk
Principal, SF Principal, FLVT
Greg Kostiuk 