High school schedules altered

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/10/2020 (1982 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

One month into the academic year, Pembina Trails School Division is changing its high school schedules to invite students to learn in-class every second day instead of every third day — a move that is making students uneasy, given the surging COVID-19 caseload.

In a letter dated Oct. 2, superintendent Ted Fransen informed families the division would start transitioning students to an alternate in-class learning schedule after the Thanksgiving weekend.

Fransen wrote the division’s intent was to split school populations into thirds for September and then re-evaluate. “We are ready to safely increase in-class learning time,” he said in the update, which touted benefits including: more direct time with teachers, increased classroom learning and better access to social and emotional supports.

Grade 11 student Shamailah Islam said she isn’t convinced now is the time for change, considering health officials reported a record daily number of new cases in Winnipeg (57) and a record active caseload in Manitoba (863) Thursday.

“A month in, they’re changing everything, without listening to what people think, without taking into account students’ feelings and I think it’s very irresponsible.”
– Fort Richmond Grade 11 student Shamailah Islam

“There’s a lot of anxiety and frustration, because with more people in the classroom, you don’t know where those people have been. There are so many factors that are not in your control: you can wear a mask, you can sanitize, but you don’t know where other people have been,” said Islam, who attends Fort Richmond Collegiate.

“A month in, they’re changing everything, without listening to what people think, without taking into account students’ feelings and I think it’s very irresponsible.”

The 16-year-old said she feels safe with her small class sizes and it has taken time, but she has adjusted to the weekly routine of attending school twice every six-day cycle. Now, she said she is more productive working at home than at school.

Fort Richmond Collegiate’s website indicates enrolment is currently 1,341. That means the number of students attending the Grade 10-12 school on a daily basis will rise by approximately 220 students next week.

“I’m definitely anxious about going to school, just catching the virus. That’s why I was really appreciative of the model they have (now). In a class size of maybe 10 students or six students, I felt confident,” said Brendan Amoyaw, a Grade 11 student at Vincent Massey Collegiate, who added he is particularly concerned because his mother is immunocompromised.

“I’m definitely anxious about going to school, just catching the virus. That’s why I was really appreciative of the model they have (now). In a class size of maybe 10 students or six students, I felt confident.”
– Brendan Amoyaw, Grade 11 student at Vincent Massey Collegiate whose mother is immunocompromised

Anne Adewumi said two days of remote learning sandwiched between school days gives students a break from COVID-19 anxiety.

“It allows students to be in a better position to learn when they’re not constantly worrying about their own health and safety,” said the Fort Richmond student, who has been encouraging her peers to sign an online petition that calls on Pembina Trails to change its decision.

During a phone interview Thursday, Fransen said administrators have always wanted to strike a balance between COVID-19 health guidelines and academic integrity. “We believe, fundamentally, that the best place for our students is in a classroom, following COVID protocols,” he said.

Fransen said he’s heard from students on both sides of the debate, while factors, including access to technology, have played into the decision.

“The timing, at first blush, would appear to be awkward with the City of Winnipeg being (code) orange and the schools being (code) yellow,” he said, “but at the same time, this was always our plan and we have honoured the provincial health guidelines with respect to keeping all of our kids safe.”

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @macintoshmaggie