Dear QEHS Community,
I would like to start my Principal's Message for December with a thank you and acknowledgement of the generosity of our community. We have gathered enough donations for ten families to receive well stocked Christmas hampers. The large amount of clothes, food, toiletries and gift cards will bring joy and relief to QEHS families.
The diversity and uniqueness of QEHS has created a culture not seen in other schools within the CBE. This allows for great opportunities but also significant challenges at times. When Alberta Education ordered a transition to online learning for approximately 2/3rd's of our school and in-school learning 1/3rd and mandated all lessons continue in the regular bell schedule and timetable, we at QEHS were asked developing a plan that would meet all students' needs within each program. As such, all students, online and in-school are receiving their option/CTF courses in an online format. Students here at the school attend option classes in the Learning Commons' computer labs. Following the new guidelines by Alberta Health, all in school PE classes will be outside for the remainder of this calendar year.
Following Alberta Education and CBE expectations, students should attend all online classes. Attendance is taken and during classes students maybe working independently, in small break out groups or working with the teacher. On occasion, teachers may not be able to run a class. In these situation student should be given work to do for that day independently. If a teacher's absence is expected to be prolonged a substitute teacher will be arranged.
For our high school families there are changes occurring to the traditional Assessment Weeks (exam break) in January. With all diploma exams becoming optional this year and requirements to limit cohorts, all final assessments will occur during regular class times, with the exception of diplomas. January 25 -28 there will not be scheduled classes for high school students, however there will be additional opportunities for credit recovery and semester prep. Grades 7 to 9 classes will continue to run as scheduled.
As we near the winter break, I want to thank our students, families and staff for their diligences with our covid protocols. As of December 9th there have only been two cases at QEHS that have impacted teaching and learning; this is something we can all be proud of. Please continue this diligence while learning at home and over the break so we can continue to maintain our health school in the new year.
Best wish & hope you have a joyful winter break.
Jason
