In order to ensure that students are able to feel secure when learning online, Horizon School Division intends to maintain their online learning program. (File photo/northeastNOW Staff)

By Rachel May

Online Learning

Online learning to continue in schools across the northeast

Dec 10, 2021 | 5:00 PM

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, learners and teachers everywhere are learning how to adapt to the online world.

Horizon School Division released its enrolment numbers in late November and the amount of online learners has remained steady.

In the 2020/2021 school year, 152 students opted to learn from home. For the 2021/2022 school year, 135 students are currently learning from home.

This isn’t the only home-based learning opportunity Horizon School Division offers. There are currently 55 students enrolled in Horizon Distance Learning and 141 students in home-based students.

Kevin Garinger, Director of Education for Horizon School Division, said the program is designed to facilitate learning.

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“At the beginning of the year we had about 60 students and those numbers have increased now to where we are close to 150,” Garinger added. “So we had to increase our staffing level to accommodate those children.”

Originally the program only had three teachers, but quickly after the school year began they added a fourth. When the need started to grow, they added an additional three teachers bringing the total to seven teachers dedicated to the online program.

There is a dedicated teacher for each grade although some online classrooms are split grades. Classes with 18 to 20 students are given their own teachers to allow them to give more attention to each student.

Garinger said families have been very supportive of the online learning program despite the change in learning.

“It continues to be a learning thing as two years ago we never had that. We are a learning organization and we are learning all the time. “

With the uncertainty of the pandemic, Horizon School Division will continue to offer support to students and families to help them get through these difficult times.

“I think everyone will agree, in most cases that the best place for them to be is in school. My hope is that we can get to a place where we get our children back into school and to help them feel comfortable back in the environment.”

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Rachel.May@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RachelMayFM