Classes have been online since Oct. 8. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

northern schools

Hundreds of Chromebooks purchased for online learning in Stanley Mission

Nov 26, 2020 | 4:59 PM

Students in Stanley Mission will continue learning from home at least until after the Christmas break.

That’s according to Rhoda Hardlotte Memorial Keethanow High School Principal Melanie Beatty, who joined staff at the Grade 7 to 12 school back in August. Staff returned Aug. 24 followed by students Sept. 14 and the three weeks between was used for online and contingency planning.

“When the teachers came back, we started our planning right away,” Beatty said. “Getting them trained in Google Classroom. We wanted to be prepared in the event of a shut down and we didn’t want our students to not still receive a quality education. We want to ensure we were still delivering education to our students.”

When in-person classes did begin, Beatty noted attendance was low as she believes there was fear among parents to send their kids to school. Less than a month later, on Oct. 8, students transitioned to remote learning after coronavirus cases began to appear in Stanley Mission.

When the change occurred, Beatty explained teachers were adaptive and ready to respond to what was happening. In addition, 200 Chromebooks were purchased so there could be at least one device in per family with a child registered for classes. So far, Beatty noted students have been highly engaged in the school work.

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“When we bring students back and we’re face-to-face, we’re still going to continue on with Google Classroom,” she said. “This is going to meet every students’ needs as far as homework and teachers communicating with their students.”

Beatty also mentioned students won’t be returning to classes until after the Christmas break or even longer. She said students returning would be gradual and carefully planned.

Sallie McLeod is the education director in Stanley Mission and she also said a lot of planning went into bringing students back to school, as well as the transition to online learning. She added the purchase of Chromebooks was an important part of that plan and that she’s been happy with Beatty’s work so far.

“We were fortunate to have a new principal at the high school who was really on top of things like digital learning,” McLeod said. “She brought in some many fresh ideas and she was enthusiastic about preparing for going online learning.”

McLeod also said administration is working on bringing Internet into the homes of all houses with students. She noted discussion have happened with SaskTel at possible solutions to the issue. Close to 25 per cent of houses in Stanley Mission with students don’t have Internet service, McLeod estimates.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno