Sophie Gray
Local Journalism Initiative
Sen’Pok’Chin School is trying to adjust to children learning virtually, despite a lack of access to technology and challenging learning environments with whole families stuck at home.
Using technology and creative learning techniques, teachers and school administrators are working with families and children to do what learning they can in less-than-ideal circumstances.
Julie Shaw, curriculum coordinator for the school’s baccalaureate program, said they conducted a survey at the start of March break to see what families needed in order to make learning from home a success.
“We did a survey at the beginning of post March break for what are the needs? Who has internet? Who doesn’t have internet?” said Shaw. “We phoned all of our families (and asked) who needs devices? Who relies on the meal program? You know, how can we do this that’s going to be the most helpful? What do the parents’ want?”
“We got lots of: ‘we don’t want to be online all the time.’ So we have rolled out a mixture.”
That mixture takes the form of creative projects that get all school-aged children in the family involved, like building a zoo for a math lesson or using learning apps that kids are already familiar with, said Shaw.
The process involves prepped lesson packs picked up Monday mornings for families to complete throughout the week. The packs are sterilized and contain the materials needed for children to complete assignments.
But Shaw said some families are struggling because they don’t have internet access or enough devices to go around, making it impossible to participate online.
To help with this, Shaw said the Osoyoos Indian Band has stepped up and provided funding to get internet access and devices to families that need them.
Together with the band, Sen’Pok’Chin has received ten internet hubs from Telus to be installed so everyone can access the internet. They’ve also loaned out the school’s equipment to help families keep up with learning and stay connected.
“We’ve developed some contracts and we’ve lent them out and our tech department has configured them so that they can be used appropriately,” said Shaw. “We’ve got iPads and or laptops that went out to families, depending.”
She said the school will soon know how well the learning from home is going, as students and families tackle issues of family dynamics and working from home together. The school realizes how tough times are for families and they are making mental health support a priority. Shaw said staff have increased their counselling hours for students who are dealing with anxiety and fear related to COVID-19 or being disconnected from their peers.
“We’ve put it out there, any school work needs to not increase anxiety and stress in the home environment,” she said over the phone from her own home where she is currently working while taking care of five school-aged children. “These are suggested learnings and we’re here to help. Pick one thing you can do each day if that’s all you can manage.”
Although it is a challenge, Shaw said many of the parents have been supportive. The teachers and school administrators have received praise for how fast they got their learning from home program up and running and have managed to stay connected to children through zoom pizza parties and classroom meetings.
Shaw said parents seem to be engaging with the program, even if they aren’t able to measure participation just yet.
“We’ll keep mustering through and we hope that there’s some normality that comes out of setting some routines in the house,” she said. “That’s the reality for most of our families, right? Just trying to find that balance between yes learning’s important, but also what’s really reasonable to try and accomplish?”
