BMC At-Home Learning Update (Memo #5)

November 26, 2020

Dear Parents and Students, 

As Premier Kenney announced Tuesday afternoon, all classes for grades 7-12 are to be done at home from November 30 to January 11.  As such, Friday, November 27 will be the last day of in-school classes at BMC until January 11.  Students are expected to engage in school-at-home from November 30 to December 18, then again from January 4 - 8 following our scheduled Christmas Break. 

Buck Mountain School will be utilizing the lessons learned from March to June 2020.  School-at-home will look much different than the remote learning students participated in from March to June.  We learned that parents and students wanted all of the courses delivered online and parents want routine and structure to the day.  There are things students must accomplish between now and their return to school on January 11.  The courses students are enrolled in are not finished and all learner outcomes in each course will be covered.  As such, marks may increase or decrease.  

It is expected that students will be active learners in their courses.  Teachers will be facilitating daily Google Meets that follow BMC’s quarter 2 timetable and attendance will be taken daily.  This will be done to ensure students are actively engaging in their courses.  Regular assessment will be conducted.

At this time, there is no reduction in services at the school level.  The only difference is in how these services will be delivered from November 30 to January 11.  We plan to work with and support families however we are able.  Please fill out this short survey so we can determine and support student tech needs. 

Staff will be working both at school and from home, as Premier Kenney encouraged Albertans to consider working from home, where possible, in order to flatten the curve.  Staff will be available during regularly scheduled instructional hours.

We recognize that this is not the ideal circumstance for our school community to be in.  That being said, we believe students and staff are more than ready to embrace and work through the challenge before us.  We are all in this together.  We ask that you stick with us and stay engaged.

Sincerely, 

Jon Meyers
Principal