Simon Says - Thoughts from the co-ED

There have been some recent changes in the way schools are managing the COVID-19 pandemic, notably around the government’s guidance on how families will be notified of positive COVID-19 cases.

In addition to October being Learning Disabilities Awareness Month and ADHD Awareness Month, the Alberta Ministry of Education has declared that October is Dyslexia Awareness Month. This may cause some confusion, because is it not the case that dyslexia is a Learning Disability?

As you are likely aware, yesterday the Premier announced a state of public health emergency, in an attempt to combat the ongoing spread of COVID-19. The measures imposed by the government include protections for schools.

You are most likely aware that the new draft curriculum was announced by the Minister of Education during the first week of Spring Break. Media attention about the draft curriculum has been rife, and there is some consternation about the draft. The draft curriculum is K-6 (Math, English Language Arts/Literature, Science, Social Studies, Fine Arts and Physical Education & Wellness), and will be trialled by some schools this September. At this juncture, Foothills has no intention to volunteer to trial the curriculum this coming school year.

Happy New Year and welcome back to school life with a return to regular routines in 2021.

Dear Parents and Guardians of grade 7-12 students, As we enter another period of at-home learning, we want to assure you that we are striving for as smooth a transition as possible for every student and family. We want to provide as much continuity as possible for each students’ ongoing learning of the rigorous Alberta curriculum, whilst continuing to be vigilant with our support of students’ social and emotional needs. It is important for us to be clear that the health and wellness of all of our students and families is paramount during these unpredictable and challenging times.

Dear Parents and Guardians,  As you are most likely aware, this evening the Government of Alberta called a state of public health emergency, part of which impacts students' in-person attendance at school.

First and foremost, it is important to express our utmost thanks to each and every one of you, for working with us and adhering to the COVID-19 protocols this year.  Despite the constraints and inconveniences imposed by school protocols, your efforts to support the entire Foothills community by strictly adhering to the measures, have been instrumental in our ability to maintain a safe school environment.  We started the year focusing upon how we can be ‘Stronger Together’, and thus far it is evident that we are stronger and safer together; the care and concern shared throughout our community shines brightly.  Thank you.

Due to COVID-19, our in-person September General Meeting will not be taking place. Instead, please watch and listen to this presentation from our co-Executive Directors Simon Williams and Karen MacMillan.

After 170 days of silent hallways and empty classrooms, it was a delight today to welcome all of our students back into the building. The extensive preparation and planning put into making school re-entry safe and welcoming is a testament to the care and commitment of all Foothills staff. Our aim for the first day back was to normalize the school day, have students reacclimatise to the building, and reengage positive connections with other students and staff, all of which are essential for successful learning and growth moving forwards. This seems to have been a success, despite the masks, cohorts, handwashing, directional flow in hallways and physical distancing. It really was quite wonderful to see shining eyes peeking over the tops of masks, as students arrived ready for the new school year today. Thank you to all parents and guardians for helping to prepare your children for the first day of school, as this had a huge impact on helping to make today successful.

The Minister of Education Adriana LaGrange, and Premier Jason Kenny, announced yesterday that all schools in Alberta will return to classes in the new school year, with health measures in place.  Foothills Academy’s school year is scheduled to begin on Tuesday September 1st.  We are excited to be able to return to school in September, whilst being able to keep every student, staff member and visitor as safe as possible.

The current projection is for schools to operate under the conditions of scenario 1, where all students return to school as normal, but with significant health measures and protocols in place. However, we will not know for sure which scenario is going to be in place until we are told on August 1st. Also, even if we begin the school year with scenario 1, there is a possibility that we may have to switch to scenario 2 or 3 at short notice during the course of the year; depending upon the changing status of COVID-19 throughout the province and country. Therefore, we are developing plans for each eventuality.

Although Foothills has strived to continue with all aspects of our supportive school program, for which immense credit goes out to all staff members, we are as keen as anybody to resume ‘normal’ school life. The problem, however, is that currently, nobody knows what ‘normal’ looks like. The re-entry plan for students to return to schools across the province is still ongoing. Whilst the Ministry of Education continues to work closely with the Ministry of Health, there are many different scenarios that are being considered by the government with regards to re-opening schools in September.

As a school, we are committed to ensuring a continuation of quality educational programming for your child.  Regardless of the baseline standards of teaching expected by the Ministry of Education, Foothills Academy recognizes the utmost need to maintain our own high academic, social and emotional supports for all students. Foothills Academy will not be reducing the number of educational assistants from the school program for May and June. We recognize the essential role of educational assistants working with students with Learning Disabilities in DSEPS such as Foothills Academy. We will continue to provide a quality school-program during these very trying circumstances whilst also ensuring positively high levels of consistency, learning and support; for your children and yourselves.

Although choice is openly promoted by the UCP, we should be sure to remind the government that Designated Special Education Private Schools (DSEPS) such as Foothills Academy are more than choice, they are a need.  DSEPS serve a need beyond other independent schools.  Other private schools serve a great purpose and offer Albertan parents the right to a range of choices in education, but we firmly believe that a DSEPS like Foothills is a need and must be guaranteed stable and predictable funding so that the future of our vulnerable population is not jeopardized.

I am trying to convince myself that winter is not arriving just yet, hoping that there is still a little bit of Fall warmth left to enjoy before the roads are buried under snow and ice. I would like to be able to appreciate October a little longer, and not just for meteorological reasons. October is also Learning Disability Awareness Month, where we should reflect upon the successes and achievements made by individuals living with Learning Disabilities. Learning Disability Awareness Month provides us with more opportunities to advocate for individuals with Learning Disabilities. Such advocacy is in full force at Foothills, as this month Foothills Academy will be hosting the Honorable Adrianna LaGrange, Minister of Education. We will be sharing the great work happening at Foothills, highlighting the achievements and accomplishments of our students, whilst promoting the ongoing need to support individuals with Learning Disabilities in schools, universities and the workplace.

On behalf of everyone at Foothills, I warmly welcome you to the start of the 2019-2020 school year.  I am sure that in many households this weekend there were the annual Labour Day anxieties; and not in relation to whether the Stamps would keep the Eskimos at bay again.  Despite back-to-school anxieties experienced by some students, Foothills is set up to alleviate such worries.  And it is not only students who become anxious before school.  As parents, we worry greatly about the welfare of our children, and there is much we can do at home to help.

Welcome to the first blog post on our new website. Given that many staff invested blood, sweat and tears into this revamped website (thank you to all concerned), it is fitting to begin this blog series focusing upon the role of technology in education.  Our dependence upon technology in society is becoming ever greater, and the impacts of this are seen throughout the educational world. This is currently a hot topic in Ontario where Premier Doug Ford has issued a ban on cell phones in the classroom, citing that phones are a distraction which hampers learning.