There is mixed reaction from parents and high school students concerning new back to school plans.
Michelle Probizanski is Superintendent of Education with the Lakehead Public Board, and tells us some people like having their students learn in-class half the day, but then on-line at home the second half. “It does prepare students in case we have to go to fully remote learning, to have that opportunity to be with their teacher already on-line.”
She adds it gives students a chance to learn without being masked.
“There’s 150 minutes of instruction, times two… so if they were in school all day, it becomes a long day when you have to be masked and in the same room,” says the Superintendent.
However, she admits some are holding back excitement. “And then there are other people who may not be pleased with the situation or change, but I think once school gets underway and they see the benefits of it, everyone will feel a bit better.”
Thunder Bay’s Catholic board has yet to hear from students as it also complies with the new government directive. That directive means instead of two semesters, there will be four. In each of those four, there will be two classes a day, with one class at school for the morning, followed by an over hour lunch period to head home, where on-line learning takes place for the second class. Then, the next week, they switch where they learn the classes.
