We are hoping all our students and families are doing well and hanging tough in these unusual times.  We encourage families to take their time with the new learning that is happening at home.  Remember that this is new for all of us!  Reach out to your child’s teacher if you have questions.  In the previous post from Parker Grimmer this information was shared:

“A basic school supply package including paper, pencils, and scribblers is being made available for any student or parent who may not have access to these materials at this time. Families are asked to contact the Support for Families line at 902-368-5155 or supportforfamilies@edu.pe.ca for further information and assistance.”

Teachers are working hard and, yes, we are still meeting, just virtually now. Here is a screen shot of our Google Meet on Monday. We are missing our students!

Oh, and our Boot Room misses you too!

April 8, 2020

Dear Parents/Guardians and Students;

We appreciate that this continues to be a busy time for families and the learning opportunities happening for students at home may be both rewarding and, at times, frustrating. The Minister of Education and Lifelong Learning (DELL) said at his briefing last evening: ‘Schools are the heart of our communities and they are reaching out to parents and students in ways they have never before.’ By many accounts, so far, this new way of learning is going well. It was clear that there was a high level of engagement happening when listening to a student, parent, and one of our teachers recently on the evening news. We offer our sincere appreciation for the efforts that are taking place in homes across the Island right now.

Everybody is Working Hard

Our staff have been working very hard over the last week, with our partners at the DELL, preparing for this new reality and how we will continue to create learning opportunities for students. Our teachers and staff care very deeply about the success of students and their commitment to ensuring that students have the skills they need to be successful is unchanged, even in these challenging times.

We are also realizing that our education system does not stand by itself. We are linked with everyone’s realities and we are partners dealing with this global health crisis. We are all working hard under these circumstances, including following all the health advice of the Chief Public Health Office, to make this transition to home learning as seamless as possible. What students, parents, and teachers are doing has never been done before in our lifetime. Feeling successful as we learn and work differently is going to take some time. It is appropriate to start slowly while we establish new routines. Our teachers are presently looking at ways to develop and share learning resources that will be helpful to students, parents, and learning.

Learning Materials for Students

We understand that some of our students and parents are interested in collecting learning materials at their schools to support learning at home. We are exploring ways to do this that would follow the necessary health requirements of the Chief Public Health Office. We thank everyone for their patience and we look forward to providing you with more information in the future.

A basic school supply package including paper, pencils, and scribblers is being made available for any student or parent who may not have access to these materials at this time. Families are asked to contact the Support for Families line at 902-368-5155 or supportforfamilies@edu.pe.ca for further information and assistance.

School Trips

Due to COVID-19, the PSB has canceled all in-province and out-of-province student travel for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. This includes all end of year field trips. Non-fundraised money that students or parents paid directly toward school trips will be returned. Schools that have been impacted by this decision are currently working with the PSB to return non-fundraised money back to families as soon as possible.

The PSB is committed to ensuring that our students have what they need to be successful. We are looking forward to the date when we can welcome our students back into our face-to-face learning environments to continue the learning and the great experiences everyone expects of public education. What will remain the same until then is that the relationships we have with students and parents matter a great deal. We are in this together and education will continue as we move forward.

We thank everyone for their support and we look forward to connecting and working with students and parents in the days ahead.

Parker Grimmer

Director, Public Schools Branch

Much has changed in our world in a short time and those changes will continue to come.  What is most important at this time is that we are all safe and well.

Our Greenfield students are not coming through the doors of our school each weekday morning but that does not mean their teachers are not thinking of them. Parents and students would know from the contact that has been made from teachers to families that you are all very much on our minds.

This coming week will bring home learning that is led by your child’s teacher.  The coming week of April 6th to April 10th will be a “transitional” week.  Information was provided by the Department of Education and Life Long Learning to teachers on April 2nd.  Further information will be coming to them today.   Next week teachers will begin providing lessons for parents and students so that students can begin to pick up on the learning they left behind in March.  The Department has provided the guidelines that teachers are to work with – 30 minutes at Kindergarten, 45 minutes a day for Grades 1 to 3, 60 minutes a day for Grades 4-6. This does not mean that teachers will provide learning every day. There is flexibility for teachers to decide what will work best – a weekly package, lessons twice a week, or each day.  This transitional week may mean that parents will not hear from teachers until later in the week as they determine the best approach for their class.

For some students, Google Classroom will be used and students will need their login and and password.   Students may already have them. If not, teachers will see that they get them if they need them.  For many students (in our early grades), this is not necessary as teachers have not used the Google Classroom platform as yet and this would be new to students.

Home Learning is new for everyone – for teachers, students, parents, and Department staff.  It is important that, as we work through this and figure how to best continue learning in this very unusual circumstance, we are patient.  If there are challenges, we need to communicate.  There should be no doubt in parents minds that the teachers at Greenfield want the best for their students.

We know that our families have many different situations – one child at home or many, parents working at home, grandparents or others providing care as parents do essential work in the community, limits with technology or internet reliability.  If there are issues or concerns, please let your child’s teacher know.  Teachers and administration will be working to problem-solve for families when it is necessary.

Let’s move forward together!   Please click the link below for our “surprise.” You will see that Greenfield staff has their students in their hearts and minds.

Home and School News, April 2020

Classrooms at home. Students can access online learning opportunities provided by the Department of Education and Lifelong Learning April PEI Home and School column.
“With the global pandemic of COVID-19 in PEI, we need to support each other now more than ever…..”
Cory Thomas, president of the P.E.I. Home and School Federation, lives in Summerside with his wife and two children, who both attend Elm Street Elementary School. His column appears in The Guardian during the school year on the first Friday of the month. He welcomes comments from readers and information for the column. He can be reached at peihsf.ca or 902-620-3186.  

COVID-19 Information

• 811 – If you have COVID-19 symptoms, including a cough, fever or difficulty breathing.
• 1-833-533-9333 – health questions, services for Islanders, business programs
• 1-800-958-6400 – concerns that someone you know is not following the self-isolation directive.
• View Government of PEI contact information for COVID-19.
• COVID-19 Testing Data chart is updated as information becomes available.

 Home Learning Resources
During the period while students and educators are away from school, they can access online learning opportunities provided by the Department of Education and Lifelong Learning. Parents and students are asked to refer to the public schools branch website for Home Learning Resources.

Student Services Facebook
The Public Schools Branch Student Services put up a Facebook page that provides educational information to parents and caregivers in an organized fashion. Check it out! @psbstudentservices

Support For Families
Support for families is available from island education authorities at the public schools branch and CSLF. Call 902 368-5155 or email: supportforfamilies@edu.pe.ca . Families can leave a message and support workers will respond to find out more specifics around the needs.

 PEI School Food Project
The PEI Home and School Federation in collaboration with the Dept. of Education and Lifelong Learning, Department of Social Development and Housing, Public Schools Branch and Breakfast Club of Canada, is assisting families in need by delivering healthy meals to children.
Check PEI School Food Project on Facebook.

Triple 3 Online Support for Parents
To help families cope in this uncertain time when face-to-face appointments are not advisable, find free online sessions for parents with children/youth ages 0-16. Contact: Katie Duffy, Triple P Coordinator, Child and Family Services /Social Development and Housing kmduffy@ihis.org 902-368-6762

Public Archives and Records Office
Public Archives wants to know about the impacts of #PEICOVID19 on Islanders. You are asked to share messages, photos and/or stories about the effects on your life and work – so they can document and preserve this significant event for history.” Go to Public Archives.

National Volunteer Week
National Volunteer Week is a time to celebrate and thank Canada’s 12.7 million volunteers.

This year’s theme is: “It’s time to applaud this country’s volunteers.”

Welcome to Kindergarten Program
Update: Due to the current circumstances around COVID-19, the scheduled Welcome to Kindergarten sessions have been canceled for the time being. An updated schedule of events will be posted at a later date.

School Calendar
The Department of Education and Lifelong Learning posted the 2020-2021 School Calendar.

Dear PSB Parents/Guardians and Students;

I know there are many PSB students and parents who are at home wondering about the changes to student learning over the coming weeks. There may also be increasing concerns about everyone’s mental health and well-being as we make our way through each day in this new reality. We all have questions, but are also starting to have some of the answers.

Student Learning

Premier Dennis King, Minister of Education and Lifelong Learning Brad Trivers, and Department of Education and Lifelong Learning (DELL) Director of English Programs, Dr. Tammy Hubley-Little gave details of the educational plan for students at a public briefing yesterday afternoon. Additional information with guidelines to help frame expectations and responsibilities for home learning have also been shared with teachers.

We know that learning for students will continue even though classes are canceled until May 11. DELL staff are supporting teachers in compacting their courses and curricula. Teachers will be collaborating with each other to enable learning opportunities for students to continue. DELL staff will support teachers as they transition to leading their students’ home learning.

During the week of April 6th, home learning will transition from the DELL resources that have been provided through our website to the direction of teachers. Students who were on track and were engaged with their learning prior to the school closure, will graduate from grade 12 or progress to their next grade level. A plan will be put in place before students return to school to address any learning gaps that exist as a result of this pandemic.

We are working to ensure that programming and resources are in place that are fair and equitable for all our students. This includes consideration for families who do not have internet access or other resources. The PSB is also working with the DELL to develop a plan that will provide curricular support in a variety of ways so that access will be reasonably available to all. We have the flexibility with our education system to support students and we have a lot of qualified staff who will ensure students are not left behind. When students return to school, we will refocus our efforts so we can move all students forward in the learning journey.

Our teachers are excited to resume their efforts to assist students with their learning. Many have been or are in the process of reaching out to students to check in to see how things are going. I want to reassure you that our staff are working very hard to prepare for this new way of learning. Until this plan is fully shared with students and parents, I encourage you to continue to look at resources that have been posted on our website to support learning at home. Additionally, please consider the positive impact something as simple as integrating learning into your daily routines can be. For example, a half hour of reading a couple times a day, regular exercise, or assisting in measuring items for meal preparation. These are a few simple things that can support students with continuation of learning in a manageable way until more formal learning opportunities are implemented.

I encourage you to please refer to the Parents and Students – School Closure FAQ located at https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/education-and-lifelong-learning/parents-and-students-school-closure-faq and on our website for more information about home learning questions and resources provided for students to continue learning.

Support for Families

With classes not resuming until May 11, the absence of access to school breakfast and lunch programs may put a financial strain on families. Assistance is being provided to families dealing with food insecurity. Families are being asked to contact the Support for Families line 902-368-5155 or supportforfamilies@edu.pe.ca for further information and assistance. If you know of a family who could use this support, please share this information with them.

Among the best things we can all do right now is to focus on our family and being well. We have created a Student Services Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/psbstudentservices for families to access information that may be of assistance to help through this difficult and stressful time. Please refer to https://edu.princeedwardisland.ca/psb/parents_students/covid-19-resources/ for some helpful resources.

We are clearly in unprecedented times. Premier King said at yesterday’s briefing that we are in this together and assured us, ‘we will get through this together’. This is also our commitment from everyone at the PSB. We know that there will continue to be questions. We will try to ensure a timely response to the questions that come our way, and we will post our responses on our PSB website. Please check back often and we will do our best to keep you as up-to-date as possible through our weekly Wednesday messages.

Thank you for your continued support.

Parker Grimmer

Director, Public School Branch

The PSB has received many requests for student computer account information.  For a short period of time, they will are not taking any new requests so they can “catch up”!  Please note, that when the Public Schools Branch calls you back, the call will appear as “blocked caller” – please answer so they can give you the information.  Also, please only submit one request per student.  They will get back to you as soon as they can.

Thank you for your patience!

Our Greenfield School community would be aware of the recommendation by the Chief Medical Officer Heather Morrison that schools remain closed until at least May 11th.

This is news that we would not have expected a month ago but we know we will adapt and learn to live in this new reality.  At the current time, we do not have information from the Department of Education and Lifelong Learning about how learning will go with this extended period but we can be certain that information will be coming in the days ahead.  All educators are concerned for the learning of their students and will be working with our partners to do whatever they can do.

In the meantime, to get ready for this unprecedented circumstance and long term learning at home, please consider the following:

Tips to Stay Healthy

There are a number of ways for our students to remain healthy and successful while working at home:

• Establish a place at home for doing work.
• Set a routines.
• Take breaks.
• Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get fresh air, and get plenty of sleep.
• Make time to unwind. Do some other activities you enjoy.
• Connect with others. Find opportunities to connect with friends and family.  This will develop as we learn to adapt to this new reality.

For any of our families that have food security concerns, assistance is being provided to families. Families are being asked to contact the Support for Families lines at: 902-368-5155 or 902-368-6990 or supportforfamilies@edu.pe.ca for further information and assistance. If you know of a family who could use this support, please share this information with them.

Our teachers will be in touch in the future but do not hesitate to reach out to them.

Stay posted and stay healthy!

We have had many parents contacting teachers for student information for Google Classroom. Teachers were asked not to provide those to parents until a secure process for providing them was determined.

Parents who require their child’s Google information must fill in the details at the link below. The staff at the Public Schools Branch will then call the home telephone number we have on file for you or your student. We know you will be patient as staff works to meet the requests.

Student Computer Account Information Request:

https://forms.gle/7WUTPKKZjyPimwg49

Parents should know that all orders in HotLunches from Monday, March 23 to Friday, April 3rd have been refunded. Parents should see that change in their account information.  It will show as a credit or as a reduction in the amount owing.

Take care!