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First, there was March Break for Ontario students.
Then, a two-week government-mandated period away from schools meant students in the Sault and across the province taking online instruction from home as COVID-19 rampages across Ontario.
Today, Premier Doug Ford announced the province will be extending school closures until at least early May.
Algoma District School Board (ADSB) officials spent the week of March 23 finalizing details of online instruction.
How will students, especially those who love school both academically and socially, while looking forward to graduation in June, adjust to being away from school for an undetermined period of time?
Isabella DiBerardino, a Korah Grade 12 student, will still earn her Ontario secondary school graduation diploma, but apart from the COVID-19 effect on face to face instruction, there is an added inconvenience for her.
DiBerardino is an International Baccalaureate (IB) student, International Baccalaureate a worldwide education program established to give students the chance to receive an education fit for a globalizing world, designed to give participating students an edge in their intellectual, emotional, personal and social skills.
“It’s nice to have that second diploma, especially on a resume and when applying to universities,” DiBerardino said, speaking to SooToday.
But COVID-19 has thrown a spanner into IB’s works.
“We finished course content, preparing for exams, but our IB coordinator at the school informed us the IB exams were cancelled given the current circumstances regarding COVID-19. Other people have worse circumstances than we have (in Canada) and they're also not in school, so that’s the call IB took,” DiBerardino said, adding she hopes to find out soon if and when she’ll be able to receive her IB diploma.
So what is a typical school day going to be like for students as they learn at home, away from school?
“They're still trying to figure everything out, but I have taken online courses in the past and I do enjoy it. It’s always very organized and easy to follow,” said Leah Moggy, a Superior Heights Grade 12 student.
“From what I remember from summer school e-learning, usually a teacher will post assignments or review based on what you’re supposed to do that day and you have all day to do it, so it’s really at your own pace.”
“You can really do it however you want. I know I work better in the evening (based on past experience), so I would wait and do my assignments then and they never had any problem with any of that. You could always have discussions with your classmates and ask each other for help if you needed it.”
“You can make it your own,” Moggy said.
“We’ll just have to see, day by day, what happens,” Moggy said when asked how she feels about the possibility of being away from school beyond April 6.
“I think students in Grade 12, like I am, are really anxious to get back because they want to finish off the year with their friends and their teachers and have a graduation, to walk across that stage to get their diploma. You work so hard all year and to not be able to get back to school for that one moment is devastating,” DiBerardino said.
However, she said she understands it’s better to be safe than sorry, to stay home and study online for an extended period of time in the face of the COVID-19 scare.
“Personally I could see that happening. Unless things really improve I don’t think we’ll get back to class April 6th,” said Marek McLeod, a Grade 12 Superior Heights student.
“School boards are now in the process of developing plans for instruction if/when an extension (beyond April 6) is announced. So the board will be communicating with staff and students when those plans are more solidified,” stated Lucia Reece, ADSB director of education, in an email to SooToday.
The students we spoke to seem optimistic help will be available if they encounter difficulty in any of their assignments.
“I am currently in physics and chemistry so I was a little worried but my teachers have always been really good at responding to any questions. We use Edsby (an online interaction system for students, teachers and parents). There’s a messenger in there that we can use to contact them outside of school hours. They’ve always been great in responding and giving a hand,” Moggy said.
“My teachers are very good at utilizing Edsby for posting announcements on coursework we’re supposed to be doing, solutions to the questions we’re doing, so at this time it’s nice to have that,” DiBerardino said, adding she enjoys having a parent who is a teacher as extra help.
“With Edsby we can get in contact with our teachers pretty much 24 and 7. If they’re up and online, if I’m stumped on a question or assignment I can reach out and ask. It’s really nice,” McLeod said.
Moggy, DiBerardino and McLeod are students who excel in their schoolwork, also involved with the student body in their respective schools and ADSB student trustees.
But what of other students who find school a challenge, who need that structured face to face instruction within a bricks and mortar building, who perhaps do not have access to a computer at home?
“This is also part of ADSB’s discussions with the Ministry and the planning we are currently doing,” wrote ADSB director of education Lucia Reece.
“I’m concerned about students who may not have all day, around the clock access to a computer or a phone...there are students that, when they go to the high school itself, that’s their only access to get online. Libraries have been forced to shut down, these students are left in limbo,” McLeod said.
“I do worry that this isn’t the preferred way of learning for some students. I know some students need that face to face but right now that just isn’t a possibility, but we will try, and I will try, to be there for the students any way I can to help make the process easier. I have friends who have chosen to do online courses this year and I’ve been there to help them...sometimes it’s nice to just talk it out with someone. It’s difficult for some students but I think everyone will try their hardest to adjust,” Moggy said.
“I do feel for everyone who’s not as fortunate to have their own computer at home to do their work. But as student trustees we're planning to keep in contact with them to see how they’re feeling and how they're coping with the school closures,” DiBerardino said.
“Definitely the disconnect with online classes is something I’m going to be sad about. It’s nice to be there every day with your friends, catch up and have lunch with them. It’s going to be unusual but we still keep in touch through other ways so I think it’ll be okay. We have a daily group FaceTime and text all the time...but it’s not the same,” Moggy said.
What about hanging with friends in person, keeping at least a six-foot distance?
“I haven't so far. My Mom’s been a little questionable about that idea. But we’ll see if she lets me go,” Moggy chuckled.
“I’m definitely spending a lot of time with my family. Usually, with the craziness of every day, we often miss each other, one of us is leaving, one of us is coming, so it’s nice to have the time together, especially because I’ll be leaving in the fall (for post-secondary education),” Moggy added.
“I prefer being face to face with my teachers and being in the classroom environment, with all those students to support you. That’s kind of hard (to miss out on that),” DiBerardino said.
“I’m a pretty extroverted person so the toughest part is not being around my friends...people I’ve been with since JK, Grade 1, it’s pretty tough, but thankfully we have the internet, we have phones, we’re still able to keep in touch with each other.”
Still, there are some positives amid these abnormal circumstances, the students said.
“I do like the structure of online because, in a normal classroom, there are so many factors that can contribute to not getting the lesson done or having little time to work on assignments in class,” Moggy said.
“I like working at my own pace because I usually work a little bit slower so I don’t have to be overwhelmed and stressed out as if I were in the classroom with that one hour and fifteen-minute block for each subject…(and) I’ll get to do other stuff that’s not school-related in between,” DiBerardino said.
“I think the best part about it is you get to choose your own hours. Instead of starting in the morning and three o’clock, you’re done, I can start at three o’clock if I want. I do prefer in class but I don’t really have a choice right now,” McLeod said.
“I have a dog, so I’ve been spending a lot of time at the dog park throwing the ball for him. That’s been a nice way to get out and have some fun. I read, anything I can do to keep busy,” Moggy said.
“There are at-home workouts I’ve been trying to do, going for walks to get fresh air,” DiBerardino said.
When not studying, there’ll also be time for watching the tube.
Moggy said Riverdale (a darker look at the community in which Archie comics characters reside) is her favourite, adding she binge-watches TV “depending on the show.”
“There’s definitely more family time. I have a brother who plays sports but since he’s not able to do so anymore, he’s home, there are no sports on TV so we’re playing games, watching movies and making up for that lost time,” DiBerardino said, adding Disney + productions are among her favourite TV shows and movies.
“I do enjoy being around my family,” McLeod said.
“We have a park nearby. We live pretty close to a corner store so occasionally we’ll take a little stroll there and pick something up. We’ve been watching movies as a family and I recently put a TV in my room, watching Netflix or Amazon Prime.”
“I love watching The Office. I must have seen the series 17 times,” McLeod laughed.
Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board (H-SCDSB) students were not immediately available for comment on the current coronavirus-related online learning circumstances.
The ADSB has provided a link to Learn At Home information on its website
