Murray Wood: Who's hot and who's not
Every Friday, Murray Wood takes a look at the week's news and decides who's hot and who's not. This week's list includes...
Students in parts of southern Saskatchewan won’t be returning to the classroom until the end of the Easter break.
Starting Monday, most schools in Regina, Moose Jaw and Caronport will completely move to remote learning.
Some are telling us that news comes as a mixed bag.
Chantie Champigny Lucyk is the vice-principal of Ecole Palliser Heights School in Moose Jaw, which teaches kids ranging from pre-school to Grade 8.
With COVID variants spreading in Regina and some cases in her school, she said the shift does have benefits.
“I think people are more concerned about the quarantine and isolating part of it,” she said. “Teachers and kids like to be at school.
“We have had a few classrooms that have had to go out and isolate for a few weeks … It’s not as good as being in the class with your kids … I think (going remote) this week and having the Easter break after will give a lot of people peace of mind that they can stay away from people, be healthy and not worry too much about being a close contact.”
Still, she predicts the four days of remote learning before the break begins will cause some challenges.
“The young kids really need school to learn how to follow routines and rules and get together with others. They really need the socialization of school,” she continued.
She believes the majority of the struggles will be for those with young kids.
“For parents who aren’t able to work at home, suddenly they have to arrange daycare or babysitting. That’s really difficult, too, Champigny Lucyk said.
“If you have a Grade 7 or 8 student, they can stay at home by themselves and they can manage the computer and they’re independent learners. For a four-year-old or a five-year-old, it’s a little more difficult.”
Overall, she thinks students and teachers will be able to adapt.
“They’re ready for it …,” she said. “It will be OK. It’s only for four days.”
Others are feeling less optimistic about the break.
Pam Soveran from Regina is raising her eight-year-old grandson. He has autism and ADHD.
Switching back and forth between remote learning and the classroom has been a major challenge for their family.
“Every day is a challenge as it is … It’s just really hard because he needs that structure in his day. Most of these special-needs kids are behind in school as it is,” she said.
“Then, when he’s home and comfortable and adjusted to things at home, he doesn’t want to go back to school.”
She thinks kids with disabilities have it harder than most.
“Special-needs kids don’t do well with online learning. If they have ADHD, they can’t sit there and focus half the time. They’re too distracted,” she said.
