COVID-19 dropped a never-seen-before reality on Schools in Saskatoon. The Technology Services and Education Technology Teams at Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools were suddenly pressed into service to get the schools online. A YouTube channel was set up along with a bank of online supports for staff. Courses were organized to help staff learn how to access the Division’s Cyber School. Over 250 teachers jumped in to volunteer as mentors to staff, new to using the online platforms. A process was set up to loan devices to students who would otherwise not be able to participate in online learning. Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12 teachers are using a variety of methods of delivery to support their supplemental learning plan. That includes everything from paper to phone calls in addition to the online environments. On top of all of that, the division is exploring ways to support other school divisions as they look for help in the area of online learning.
Shutting down schools because of the COVID-19 pandemic impacted all students by forcing them into online programs and home schooling. But the transition has been harder for some. Not all students have the necessary equipment to go online. The Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools Division set up a system to loan equipment out. Intensive Needs Students needed to be connected to their homeroom classroom to receive daily instructions. Some students need councillors. A support line for them was set up to operate all day, Monday through Friday. High school and elementary school councillors take turns answering the calls. Support staff are preparing and organizing print materials for families who do not have access to technology. They are also working with nutritional assistants to prepare and package nutrition kits. English as an Additional Language students are getting support from their EAL teachers and their classroom teachers.
One of the casualties of shutting down schools was the child nutrition program. This, at a time when the division says the need has never been greater than what is anticipated because of instability through the COVID-19 pandemic. This realization set in motion a process of sustaining typical breakfast, snack, and lunch supports normally accessed through the schools. School staff are working with families to identify needs and to develop family nutrition kits to be distributed through the division’s bus service provider. The kits are available for pick-up at select school sites. Over the next 11 weeks, 10 thousand nutrition kits are expected to be distributed.
