Dear GCA Community,
I am heartened by the signs of spring popping up around us. For me, they carry the spirit of hope and new beginnings. I pray that you and your family are faring well through this crisis, and that you are finding joy in the small things every day.
The Premier was clear during the
news conference
(see 41 min mark, among other references) that schools
on the whole will not reopen for in-person classes this school year
. However, Stage 2 of the plan mentions the potential to resume “Kindergarten to Grade 12 schools, with restrictions”.
Based on what we know so far, we’d like to offer some perspective for you, our GCA community.
First, we know that many parents want to return to normal, in-person classes as soon as possible; in turn, some parents are apprehensive. We understand the mix of emotions. After so many weeks of isolation and restrictions, it is an adjustment to consider a return to some sort of normal. The Premier indicated today that the Ministry of Education is taking this into consideration by stating that students will not be required to return to in-person classes this school year.
The Premier also mentioned that the government is consulting with school boards to determine if some schools want to open on a limited basis before September. This could involve a mix of in-person and distance learning options, or resuming classes at some point in the summer, prior to the usual return.
Our school is participating in that consultation, and we look forward to further direction from the government soon, so that our leaders can decide the best course of action for GCA.
In the meantime, we are planning for a number of possible scenarios. We want to be ready, whether changes happen in the near term, or in the coming months. When we have more information about the options and course of action for GCA, we look forward to sharing a detailed plan with our families.
Please see helpful information in the Communicator later today to support families as we continue to navigate the uncertainty of this pandemic.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Stan Hielema
GCA Head of School
