K-9 General Information
“Flexible, quality learner-centered opportunities”
Kindergarten to Grade Nine online
General Information
The online learning option:
Online learning in our northern region has been available for high School students and adults for almost 20 years. This has been a valuable option for completing high school that has enabled many people to graduate who would not otherwise been able to do so. With the Covid19 pandemic, circumstances have shifted. For some families due to home situations and medical concerns, distance learning may become a viable option for elementary and middle years students. The online learning option can allow students to stay connected with school in the home environment.
Advantages of the home environment:
- Comfort and safety within the home.
- Ability to connect learning to daily family experience at home
- Ability to establish an individual learning plan and schedule
Learning Resources and Instruction
Digital learning resources will be available on our learning portal. Teachers will use a video conference tool to connect with parents and students as well as email and telephone.
Assignments, and responses to activities will be returned to the teacher through the online learning portal.
Teachers will be able to schedule regular large group broadcasts, small group tutoring sessions and one-to-one tutoring sessions.
Initial phase and introduction to the online learning process
During the first two weeks of contact, teachers will be reaching out to students and parents to gain insight into the home learning environment, understand individual needs and get the orientation process rolling. Home learning schedules, setting goals, planning for success with outcomes, and developing a communication process that works for everyone will be integrated into the initial phase of contact. As routines become established, the process will become more refined.
Content and learning portal:
We have been generously provided digital and printable content from SunWest school division which has been imported into the online school learning management system. Content will be customized to meet student needs. All material and activities are based on Saskatchewan Curriculum outcomes and instructional support is provided by experienced classroom teachers with excellent distance learning skill sets.
Screen Time: Will vary for between Kindergarten and grade nine, with less screen-based activity for younger learners.
Expected Home Learning Time: The amount of school time will be like a classroom setting, but individual home schedules will vary to accommodate patterns in the home environment. Expectations and timelines for units are laid out for students with each of the courses in the online learning portal.
Parent/Student K-9 HANDBOOK (click here)
Questions and Answers:
Q: What quality of learning can parents expect with an online learning option?
A: Our certified teachers are experienced classroom teachers who have skill sets that compliment a distance learning environment. Engaging learners via distance is often a challenge, but consistent daily schedules, organized home spaces to limit distractions will help to ensure a successful learning experience. Learning activities and instruction are based on the same Saskatchewan curriculum outcomes that classroom teachers are using.
Q: What about setting up schedules at home and long range timelines?
A: Home schedules for completing online activities and switching subjects can be somewhat flexible to fit home routines, although there will be some scheduled group sessions that students will be expected to attend. Timelines for completing each unit of study are outlined at the beginning of each subject area.
Q: What if we don’t have access to the Internet?
A: This would limit the ability to engage at a distance. Telephone and paper-based materials with parental guidance would likely be one of the options. Another option might be to connect with another family with Internet access and make arrangements to form a small “bubble” of learners.
Q: Would a tablet work for distance learning?
A: A tablet could be used for accessing the learning portal. Video, streaming, viewing material, and chatting with the teacher can be done with a tablet or even a phone. For activities that require writing, a computer keyboard would be an advantage.
Q: How will a teacher decide if a student has mastered a learning outcome?
A: Assessment will be like the classroom experience. Depending on the outcome, It might be a presentation, it might be a chart, it might be an illustration, it might be an interview posted to YouTube, it might be something written by the student, it might be a quiz response, or an observation of behavior.
Q: What if we are unable to print out the paper resources from the online learning platform?
A: Local schools will assist with paper-based materials when necessary.
Q: Where do we register?
A: For current NLSD students, Parents will work through their local school. If an online option is considered best for the student and family the school will work to connect with the edcentre. For students new to NLSD, please refer to the registration information on this page: https://edcentre.ca/k-9/
Q: What if our situation changes and we would like to switch to classroom learning?
A: There will be a 30-day transition time after a request to shift from online to classroom or vice versa.
Q: What are the fees for K-9?
A: There are no fees.