Secondary students will be on a quarter system when they return to school Sept. 10 (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

SD73 RESTART PLAN

Switch from semester to quarter system for secondary students among highlights of SD73’s restart plan

Aug 26, 2020 | 4:44 PM

KAMLOOPS — Over the past month, the district has been moving the puzzle pieces around to make this school year operate as smoothly as possible amid COVID-19.

The biggest piece to move in SD73’s restart plan is a change from the semester to the quarter system for high school and middle school students.

“The biggest difference is rather than having four courses a day, students will only have two courses a day,” said SD73 superintendent Alison Sidow, who retires at the end of this week. “That allows students to have an opportunity to go deeper into the learning during the quarter they’re studying the subject. It also, and most importantly, allows them to maintain, more readily, a cohort group of 120.”

Elementary students will have a cohort of 60. There will also be staggered lunches and recesses to avoid crowding. When there is overlapping schedules, students will be required to wear masks in the hallways.

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For secondary students, the switch to a quarter system will make course selection more difficult. However, Sidow says they will work with students to ensure they can take the courses they need.

“For those students who might need a more rigorous academic course such as physics or chemistry, we may have to arrange for them to take that either off the timetable or online with support from a teacher,” noted Sidow.

Students who participated in the restart in June will notice some differences. Desks will be spread out like a normal classroom, but there won’t be as much clutter.

“We are focused on decluttering space for allowing enhanced cleaning in our schools,” said SD73 assistant superintendent for elementary Trish Smillie. “So they will see classrooms that look the same. Desks will be arranged the same, but they will see far less items in the room.”

Every day, students will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms before entering the school. Parents wanting to visit the school will have to schedule an appointment. All the changes may be overwhelming for both students and parents, but the district is providing supports.

“We’re having a very specific focus on mental health and well-being,” said Sidow. “We know that parents are anxious. We know that students will be picking up on that in some cases and having their own worries, so we’re offering parent workshops. As well, all of our teachers will be going through some learning around trauma-informed practicing — how to support students as they re-enter.”

Parents can expect to hear from their schools either Sept. 8 or 9 about their child’s cohort. Parents will also be able to contact their kid’s principal starting Monday, Aug. 31 if they ask any questions or concerns.

The full plan can be read below: