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5 | The IFP -H alton H ills | T hursday,M ay 21,2020 theifp.ca Spring is back, and so is our 15th Annual Super Spring SpecialON NOW ! - Oil & Filter (Includes up to 6 litres regular oil.) - Complete top to bottom check over - Installation of summer tires (already on rims) included. - $5.00 Tim's Card - Windshield Washer Fluid eXTraS $8995* Call for an Appointment *Most Vehicles. Prices are +HST 45 Mountainview Rd. N., Georgetown 905.877.7958 hassellsauto@bellnet.ca • hassellautomotive.comSALES & SERVICE $6995*69 Only Gold 2018 Halton Hills Silver 2018 Halton Hills Synthetic oil (up to 6 litres) We're Still Open! Due to COVID-19 we are taking every precaution by implementing extra sanitizing measures and limiting contact. ter a sense of community with students. This has come in a variety of forms, with some teachers using weekly video messages, others conducting online prayers or meetings through video chat servic- es. Responses from parents at the Halton Catholic board have been mixed. A request for feedback re- sulted in answers saying the work was too much, too little, lacked proper in- struction or made use of a confusing platform. Oth- ers felt it was all quite good. Michelle Candelaria, a mother with one child in a Halton Catholic elementa- ry school, said her daugh- ter's teacher regularly posts work to do, which helped her create a daily schedule. "I've been pretty happy with her school when it comes to the distance learning. I don't feel she's missing out. I think it's enough work not to over- load and stress her and they really promote the mental health aspect and making sure that we are taking care of ourselves," said Candelaria. Her daughter's teacher hosts weekly meetings on Microsoft Teams and the school posts regular an- nouncements on YouTube. Some parents have had a different experience mix- ing working from home with running a homes- chool. Amanda Arnold, who has two elementary- aged children in Halton Catholic schools, said it's been a challenge. "It's felt like a little too much. We had no problem with the whole platform set-up, but the amount of things assigned seemed overwhelming for one of my kids. With everything going on, my husband and I haven't been able to help out the way we would have liked to, but I do wish there was more teacher instruc- tion to work through some of it," said Arnold. At the April meeting of the board of trustees, ad- ministrators were asked if the level of instruction has been adequate to properly prepare students for the next grade. Daly has repeatedly made assurances that whenever normal school- ing resumes, schools will be assessing where stu- dents are at and working to fill in any gaps. "What we can guaran- tee is, whatever the course is next or grade level is next, we will try to as we al- ways do -- meet students where they are at. Assess where they are at, and ad- just our instruction as nec- essary," said Daly. Regardless of what this time has meant for student learning of the curricu- lum, there can be other benefits to the new pan- demic-required distance learning. Anna Prkacin, superintendent of educa- tion, encouraged the com- munity to think of this time as a chance to connect with family. "It is a special time for family and our faith; this is something that I feel. I know it's frustrating, and you're spending a lot of time together as a family, but really, in many ways in curriculum, we thought this is a wonderful celebra- tion of family life, with all of the aspects of spending time together that are not always joyful. But there are many opportunities to connect as a family and that learning goes well be- yond whatever platform the teacher uses," said Prkacin. Some of the parents say they have found this time particularly positive. "It's kind of forced us to connect and do more things together, like board game nights and daily walks, which we never did," said Candelaria. "It's really nice to have that time and opportunity to spend time together as a family." For more information on the Halton Catholic Dis- trict School Board's dis- tance learning program visit www.learnatho- me.hcdsb.org. STORY BEHIND THE STORY: With the extended closure of schools due to COVID-19, Halton's Catho- lic board was forced to make an abrupt transition to distance learning -- one that's presented significant challenges, and met with a mixed reaction from par- ents. NEWS Continued from page 1 LESSON PLANS MET WITH MIXED REACTION FROM PARENTS "It is a special time for family and our faith." - Superintendent of Education Anna Prkacin SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AT THEIFP.CA