Tuesday, May 9, 2023
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Near North District School Board will continue to have virtual learning in place for the 2023-2024 school year. There is no information nor a decision about virtual education moving forward beyond next school year. With all of this in mind, we are registering students for NNDSB’s Virtual School for online learning for the 2023-2024 school year in line with guidance from the Ministry of Education.
We have created an online form to register your child(ren) for the upcoming school year. This learning placement will be for the entire school year. The registration link is at the bottom of this communication.
Below are the requirements for the Virtual School program based on the Ministry of Education guidelines.
| Division | Grade level of students | Daily minimum synchronous learning time requirement
(Can be broken into blocks of time as required) |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Kindergarten | 180 minutes |
| Elementary | Grades 1 to 3 | 225 minutes |
| Elementary | Grades 4 to 8 | 225 minutes |
| Secondary | Grades 9 to 12 | The higher of 60 minutes for each 75-minute class period or 225 minutes per day for a full course schedule |
Virtual Learning – Asynchronous vs Synchronous
NNDSB will offer virtual learning for both elementary and secondary school students who wish to learn online. Most students in NNDSB have returned to in-person classes so our ability to offer a wide range of virtual learning programs during the 2023-24 school year will be limited.
Virtual learning programs may be attended synchronously (in real-time, interactive with teacher and class) or asynchronously (with daily submission of work and check-ins but work done independently) but no paper packages will be made available. For most students, synchronous learning is the best way to support a positive learning environment. It is much more difficult to gain the full depth and breadth of experiences using the asynchronous learning method as there are limited interactions between peers and educators.
- Where there is no internet or technology at home, internet access (where available) and technology may be requested by families through NNDSB.
Virtual Learning: Elementary (VLE)
NNDSB will offer English language virtual learning for elementary students (kindergarten to Grade 8) for the 2023-24 school year. NNDSB cannot offer French Immersion, Extended French, or any specialized programming virtually, due to limited numbers of students accessing those programs and the limited availability of qualified teachers.
- Families wanting French Immersion or Extended French should select in-person learning.
- Like this year, virtual learning will most likely include multi-grade combined classes.
- Students enrolled in VLE will be registered with NNDSB’s VLE school
and not attached to their current home school.
Virtual Learning: Secondary (VLS)
NNDSB will offer virtual learning for secondary school students (Grades 9-12) for the 2023-24 school year. The VLS will offer a limited selection of courses in each grade level in many program pathways. Secondary students have already completed course selections for next year at their home schools and for students and families opting to attend VLS, every effort will be made to offer courses that students require for their chosen pathway to graduation, but all students will have to select from available virtual courses if registering for virtual learning.
- It is highly likely that all secondary students that are in virtual learning will have to take some e-learning courses, as there will be a limited selection of programming offered by NNDSB.
- System and school-specialized programs will only be available through in-person learning.
- The VLS will follow the same calendar and daily schedule as in-person programming.
Special Education Classes and Individual Education Plans (IEPs)
Our experience over the past two years has shown that in-person learning is the best format to support students with special education needs, particularly those students registered in a special education class through the Identification, Placement and Review Process. For this reason, in the 2023-2024 school year, special education classes will remain in-person only
Other students with special education needs will continue to be supported with the necessary accommodations, modifications or alternative programs provided in their IEP, whether their choice is for in-person or virtual learning.
Registration for NNDSB’s Virtual School for 2023-2024 school year
If you would like to register your child(ren) please complete this registration form for each student who you are registering in virtual learning for the 2023-2024 school year. Parents and guardians are asked to complete the form by Thursday, May 11, 2023 at 4 p.m.
https://forms.office.com/r/2FKV4rHQWn
If you have questions, please reach out to the Virtual School secretary at virtualschool@nearnorthschools.ca.
We look forward to welcoming your children back to our safe, caring, and inclusive online classrooms in September 2023.
Sincerely,
Near North District School Board
