Waterloo Catholic secondary schools could use 'hybrid' model this fall
The Waterloo Catholic District School Board could offer classes mixing in-person and online learning next year.
Director of Education Loretta Notten spoke about the option at a Board of Trustees meeting on Monday night. She said the hybrid model is the best move for secondary students to give them options for more courses.
A survey sent to families found that around 600 elementary students want to learn virtually in the fall. Around 200 secondary students also plan to take online classes in the next school year.
Notten said the WCDSB will continue operating its online school, St. Isidore, for elementary students next year, but will offer hybrid classes in secondary school.
"Given that our secondary numbers are rather low and that they're spread across four different grades and five different schools, it becomes virtually impossible to create congregated classes and it would create a series of conflicts for those students," Notten said. "So, we've made a decision to proceed to a hybrid model in secondary."
The school board plans to set up web cams in classrooms, so those who choose to stay home to learn would have the same view as those sitting in desks.
For teachers, offering both online and in-person learning will require a balancing act, unions say.
"It's been really hard to do everything over zoom, but now to try and juggle both of those modes at the same time, I don't think it's good for the kids, I don't think it's good for education," said Patrick Etmanski with the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association's Waterloo chapter.
Etmanski said he's also worried the hybrid model could trigger increased class sizes.
"It's a slippery slope towards that, so I mean if you can handle 25 kids in class and five kids virtually, what's the difference if we make that 10 kids virtually or 15 kids virtually," he said.
Notten said those who have signed up to stay home can switch to in-person learning at any time, but those who begin the year in brick-and-mortal schools will not be allowed to swap to virtual.
She said the school board is still waiting to hear more from the province this summer about ground rules for high school in the fall, so details on the hybrid model are still not finalized.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre will do 'anything to win,' must condemn Alex Jones endorsement: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is ramping up his attacks on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as he promotes his government's federal budget.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Ottawa injects another $36M into fund for those seriously injured or killed by vaccines
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Video shows suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
Ex-SNC executive sentenced to prison term in bridge bribery case
The RCMP says a former SNC-Lavalin executive has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison in connection with a bribery scheme for a bridge repair contract in Montreal.
What Canadians think of the latest Liberal budget
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.