Monday, May 1, 2023
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Near North District School Board (NNDSB) is looking to gauge interest in virtual learning for the 2023-24 school year.
We have created a survey for all NNDSB families to complete to let us know their interests and intentions for the next school year. The survey does NOT register your student for virtual learning next year but will help gauge interest. If we have enough interest each year, we can look at offering virtual learning within NNDSB. The link to the survey is at the bottom of this communication. The survey will close at noon on May 4, 2023.
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
In the past, NNDSB offered virtual learning for both elementary (VLE) and secondary school (VLS) students in both the synchronous (in real time, interactive with teacher and class) and asynchronous (with daily submission of work and check-ins but work done independently) formats. 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.
Virtual Learning: What would it look like?
- Virtual Learning: Elementary (VLE) – Classes would be split grades (e.g., one class with students from Grades 1-3, or one class Grades 3-6, etc.).
- Virtual Learning: Secondary (VLS) – All secondary students have already completed course selections for next year at their home schools. For students and families opting to attend VLS, every effort would be made to offer courses that students require for their chosen pathway to graduation, though there would be limited programming and new virtual courses would need to be selected which may not match what was chosen at the home school. Many of the online courses offered would be e-learning courses with no live component.
- Specialized Programming – 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.
- Special Education Classes and IEPs (Individual Education Plans) – Our experience over the past three 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 (IPRC) process. For this reason, all special education classes will remain in person only. Other students with special education needs would continue to be supported with the necessary accommodations, modifications or alternative programs provided in their individual education plan (IEP), whether their choice is for in-person or virtual learning.
Form to show interest in Virtual Programming for 2023-2024 school year
If you are interested in choosing virtual learning for your child(ren) please complete this virtual learning interest form for each student who has interest in virtual learning for the 2023-2024 school year. Parents and guardians are asked to complete the form immediately as it will be used to plan for the 2023-2024 school year. The survey will close at noon May 4, 2023. https://forms.office.com/r/Pv0wnP3U3P
If you have questions, please reach out to the Virtual School secretary at virtualschool@nearnorthschools.ca. Thank you for helping us to prepare for the next school year.
Sincerely,
Near North District School Board
