We've enrolled our child in virtual learning; what do we need to know?

Join us for a live session for parents on Thursday, September 24. Staff from the OCSB Learning Technologies department will be addressing some of the most common tech support questions that our teachers, schools and system have received. Staff will demonstrate the tools students are using, including Hapara Learning Management Software, Google Suite Apps for Education, and the student portal. Parents will also be shown how to use the new Parent Portal and more.

We will hold two sessions, one for grades K-6 and one for grades 7-12, at the times listed below. Both sessions will be similar in content, but reflect each panel where needed. If you can’t join one session time, feel free to join the other.

You can also ask your own questions beforehand, or during the session, using the Google form at the link below.

Parent questions for OCSB technology staff

Intermediate/Secondary (7-12) Parent Support Session
Thursday, September 24
11:15 am - 12:00 pm
Visit this link to join: https://youtu.be/VQ0_smpbIDg

Elementary (K-6) Parent Support Session
Thursday, September 24
1:30 pm - 2:15 pm
Visit this link to join: https://youtu.be/xQRuEB-tx9Y

These sessions will also be recorded to enable parents who cannot attend the live event to view them at a later time.

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Asynchronous learning day - Thursday, September 24

To better serve our student population and deliver a successful virtual program, all Elementary Virtual Program teachers will be involved in a day of training on Thursday, September 24. Teachers will spend the day confirming classroom and french schedules, collaborating with other educators, and reviewing technology.

This means that students in the Virtual Program will have an asynchronous learning day on Thursday, September 24. Your child’s teachers will plan their class learning for that day and will post the activities/tasks in each student’s Hapara workspace. Each student should log into Hapara on Thursday to receive their assigned work.

Learning time for parents

We’re also pleased to offer the following learning opportunity for parents on September 24.

Parent Session: We've enrolled our child in virtual learning; what do we need to know?

The Learning and Technology Department will host two (30-40 minute parent sessions), one for elementary and one for secondary. Staff will demonstrate the tools students are using, including Hapara Learning Management Software, Google Suite Apps for Education, and the student portal. Parents will also be shown how to use the new Parent Portal and more. The links and times of these sessions will be posted on our website soon. The presentations will be live-streamed, and there will be an opportunity to ask questions via a google form.

French schedules

French instruction will begin on Monday, September 28, for those students who have not yet started their French classes.

Your child’s success and well-being are our priority. Thank you for your support and partnership as we invest time and learn together to deliver a successful program.

Many parents have inquired about switching their children from in-school learning to the virtual program. We are striving to accommodate as many families as possible, but at the moment there is a waitlist for students wishing to enter the virtual program.

Although there are no physical restrictions on the size of a virtual classroom, classes in the virtual program still need to meet all Ministry of Education requirements for class size and caps. Whenever a student shifts between in-school and virtual learning, it impacts these Ministry requirements as well as the OCSB’s staffing process. This is why school boards have had to set a cut-off registration date for families to decide between in-school and virtual learning.

Our cut-off date was August 28, and at the moment, all our virtual classrooms are at the limit of the caps. Our human resources department is reviewing our compliance with the Ministry requirements to determine how we can add students to the virtual program. Families on the virtual program waitlist will be contacted once we have a place in a class for their child.

If your child is on the waitlist and is learning from home, please have them follow the work posted in their regular classroom's Hapara Workspace.

We've created some Tips for Parents to help you support your child as they learn from home.