Education Questions Answered from the Ministry of education
FAQs from Ministry of Education - Updated April 7 | |
File Size: | 115 kb |
File Type: | updated ministry faqs |
what does all this mean for KCA? Your questions, answered.
BC Government, Department of Education Announcement: In class instruction at all K to 12 schools is indefinitely suspended.
Q. Does the directive apply to KCA?
A. Yes, it applies to all public and independent schools in B.C.
Q. What about the Pre-School?
A. We have surveyed the staff and parents of the Pre-School and a decision has been made to close the school effective immediately. Almost all parents have decided to keep their children home during this crisis.
Q. Will KCA provide online learning?
A. Yes, KCA has the resources in place to provide online learning for KCA students. Online learning has not been done with all grades at KCA before so it will take some time to get the kinks out and understand the best practices to follow to achieve the best possible results. KCA is a member of the Society of Christian Schools of BC. This organization has been a great resource and will continue to offer help as Christian schools across BC learn to provide online learning.
It is important to realize that what the online learning looks like will vary from teacher to teacher and grade to grade. Each teacher will communicate what their system will be. The grade groupings K-3, 4-6 and 7-9 will likely have similar systems for each grouping. Teachers and Administration will be working this out in the coming days.
Q. When will online learning begin?
A. The goal is to begin on line learning Monday, April 6. The staff would finalize plans the week of March 30 and get started on April 6.
Q. Will this affect a student’s ability to move to the next grade?
A. No, the commitment is to ensure all students who are on track to move to the next grade in the fall will do so. Students will receive a final mark.
Q. What involvement will be required from parents for on-line learning?
A. Of course this will vary with the age of the student and with each family situation. It would be expected that initially there would be more involvement needed as the teachers and students first set up and then get used to the new way of learning. Once they get comfortable, parents should be needed less.
Q. If a parent has concerns about their child’s learning or other issues, will they be able to contact KCA?
A. Yes, this will be one the important services to provide to families as they go through the adaption to on-line learning. Support for parents/guardians is one of our key goals to meet. The details of this will be worked out and communicated soon.
Q. What about students with exceptionalities?
A. Every student that needs an individual education plan or support plan has one. Their teachers are great at accommodating student’s needs as needed. They will have the support they need from Administration and Student Service teachers, as well.
Q. How will students receive their assignments? What about tests? Will they be marked? Will they get grades?
A. There are many students in the province that have been successfully learning remotely for some time. This can be done at KCA. We have the resources to provide online learning that will include video instruction, assignments, tests, marking of assignments, and grading. The challenge will be providing the individual help and guidance that students need. This can be done through video calls and other electronic communication. It will be new for teachers and students and is an opportunity to learn and grow in a new way.
Q. Will tuition remain the same for on-line learning?
A. The KCA Board recognizes that the suspension of in class instruction may put a financial burden on parents as they deal with the need for adult supervision during normal working hours. Also, the economic fall out of the COVID-19 virus may have resulted in parents losing work. The Board is considering what changes to the tuition policy should be made at this time. The decision will be made once online classes commence and we are able to see how things go. However, families that are experiencing financial hardship should contact the school right away. We are there to help.
Q. Are there Government programs to help people affected by the COVID-19 crisis?
A. Yes, the Federal and Provincial Governments have announced many assistance packages to relieve the strain on Canadian family’s finances affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Families are encouraged to access these programs. More information can be found on our COVID-19 Info page.
Q. Will the school run during the summer if needed?
A. There are no plans at this time to change the school calendar. However, the COVID-19 situation will change over time and could require changes to the calendar. KCA will do its best to keep parents informed on a regular basis. Input from parents will also be valued as the situation evolves.
Q. What do families do if the parent(s) has to work and the day care provider is unable to help the student with on-line learning?
A. The parent should contact the student’s teacher and discuss possible solutions. This could include many strategies and the strategy could be unique for each student. KCA will do its best to accommodate each student/family during this crisis. Our commitment is to ensure each student that is on track to move to the next grade in the fall, does so.
Q. What do families do if the parent(s) has to work and day care is not available?
A. This is a very real and difficult situation. Our government’s directive says that no in class instruction is to take place but that schools are not closed. It is important that parents that provide essential services to our community do not have to miss work due to the need be at home with their school age children. We are unsure at this point what should be done to accommodate parents who need to work and cannot arrange daycare, whether they are essential services or not. If a parent is in this situation, please contact the school so we know the scope of the need. We will do everything possible to accommodate these parents.
Q. Will all learning outcomes for every course need to be completed for students to progress to the next grade in September?
A. As information is provided by the Ministry over the coming weeks, we will ensure KCA meets all outlined requirements. We recognize that in this unprecedented pandemic situation, some flexibility in learning outcomes and activities may be required, and we will align with Ministry mandates accordingly.
Q. What will things look like in the fall?
A. There is no way of knowing what the situation will be like come the fall. KCA will simply continue to adapt as this crisis unfolds and communicate as best we can as plans are made to cope with it. We have a sovereign Lord who we will ask to protect our school, our community and to bring about a stop to COVID-19. We will also pray that He will expand His Kingdom here in Cranbrook and across the world throughout this crisis.
Q. Does the directive apply to KCA?
A. Yes, it applies to all public and independent schools in B.C.
Q. What about the Pre-School?
A. We have surveyed the staff and parents of the Pre-School and a decision has been made to close the school effective immediately. Almost all parents have decided to keep their children home during this crisis.
Q. Will KCA provide online learning?
A. Yes, KCA has the resources in place to provide online learning for KCA students. Online learning has not been done with all grades at KCA before so it will take some time to get the kinks out and understand the best practices to follow to achieve the best possible results. KCA is a member of the Society of Christian Schools of BC. This organization has been a great resource and will continue to offer help as Christian schools across BC learn to provide online learning.
It is important to realize that what the online learning looks like will vary from teacher to teacher and grade to grade. Each teacher will communicate what their system will be. The grade groupings K-3, 4-6 and 7-9 will likely have similar systems for each grouping. Teachers and Administration will be working this out in the coming days.
Q. When will online learning begin?
A. The goal is to begin on line learning Monday, April 6. The staff would finalize plans the week of March 30 and get started on April 6.
Q. Will this affect a student’s ability to move to the next grade?
A. No, the commitment is to ensure all students who are on track to move to the next grade in the fall will do so. Students will receive a final mark.
Q. What involvement will be required from parents for on-line learning?
A. Of course this will vary with the age of the student and with each family situation. It would be expected that initially there would be more involvement needed as the teachers and students first set up and then get used to the new way of learning. Once they get comfortable, parents should be needed less.
Q. If a parent has concerns about their child’s learning or other issues, will they be able to contact KCA?
A. Yes, this will be one the important services to provide to families as they go through the adaption to on-line learning. Support for parents/guardians is one of our key goals to meet. The details of this will be worked out and communicated soon.
Q. What about students with exceptionalities?
A. Every student that needs an individual education plan or support plan has one. Their teachers are great at accommodating student’s needs as needed. They will have the support they need from Administration and Student Service teachers, as well.
Q. How will students receive their assignments? What about tests? Will they be marked? Will they get grades?
A. There are many students in the province that have been successfully learning remotely for some time. This can be done at KCA. We have the resources to provide online learning that will include video instruction, assignments, tests, marking of assignments, and grading. The challenge will be providing the individual help and guidance that students need. This can be done through video calls and other electronic communication. It will be new for teachers and students and is an opportunity to learn and grow in a new way.
Q. Will tuition remain the same for on-line learning?
A. The KCA Board recognizes that the suspension of in class instruction may put a financial burden on parents as they deal with the need for adult supervision during normal working hours. Also, the economic fall out of the COVID-19 virus may have resulted in parents losing work. The Board is considering what changes to the tuition policy should be made at this time. The decision will be made once online classes commence and we are able to see how things go. However, families that are experiencing financial hardship should contact the school right away. We are there to help.
Q. Are there Government programs to help people affected by the COVID-19 crisis?
A. Yes, the Federal and Provincial Governments have announced many assistance packages to relieve the strain on Canadian family’s finances affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Families are encouraged to access these programs. More information can be found on our COVID-19 Info page.
Q. Will the school run during the summer if needed?
A. There are no plans at this time to change the school calendar. However, the COVID-19 situation will change over time and could require changes to the calendar. KCA will do its best to keep parents informed on a regular basis. Input from parents will also be valued as the situation evolves.
Q. What do families do if the parent(s) has to work and the day care provider is unable to help the student with on-line learning?
A. The parent should contact the student’s teacher and discuss possible solutions. This could include many strategies and the strategy could be unique for each student. KCA will do its best to accommodate each student/family during this crisis. Our commitment is to ensure each student that is on track to move to the next grade in the fall, does so.
Q. What do families do if the parent(s) has to work and day care is not available?
A. This is a very real and difficult situation. Our government’s directive says that no in class instruction is to take place but that schools are not closed. It is important that parents that provide essential services to our community do not have to miss work due to the need be at home with their school age children. We are unsure at this point what should be done to accommodate parents who need to work and cannot arrange daycare, whether they are essential services or not. If a parent is in this situation, please contact the school so we know the scope of the need. We will do everything possible to accommodate these parents.
Q. Will all learning outcomes for every course need to be completed for students to progress to the next grade in September?
A. As information is provided by the Ministry over the coming weeks, we will ensure KCA meets all outlined requirements. We recognize that in this unprecedented pandemic situation, some flexibility in learning outcomes and activities may be required, and we will align with Ministry mandates accordingly.
Q. What will things look like in the fall?
A. There is no way of knowing what the situation will be like come the fall. KCA will simply continue to adapt as this crisis unfolds and communicate as best we can as plans are made to cope with it. We have a sovereign Lord who we will ask to protect our school, our community and to bring about a stop to COVID-19. We will also pray that He will expand His Kingdom here in Cranbrook and across the world throughout this crisis.