​

Q: Is the Lambton Kent District School Board offering virtual learning for the 2022-2023 school year?

The Lambton Kent District School Board (LKDSB) is offering virtual learning for both elementary and secondary students for the 2022-2023 school year as enrolment numbers permit to support the diverse academic needs of students and families.

Elementary students will be registered as McNaughton Avenue Public School students and secondary students will be registered as Lambton Kent Composite School students. Students enrolled in the virtual elementary or secondary program will not be associated with their home schools.

Q: If I do not plan to register my child for virtual learning, do I need to complete a new registration form?

If your child will be attending in-person learning for the 2022-2023 school year and you have already registered your child, no further action is required. All students will be automatically registered in their home school for September 2022 unless otherwise indicated. You do not need to register your child unless you are new to the Lambton Kent District School Board.

Q: How do I register my child for virtual learning?

If you wish for your child to attend virtual programming for the 2022-2023 school year, you need to register by March 25, 2022.  If your child is currently enrolled in virtual learning programming, you will receive an email to confirm whether or not your child will be registered in virtual learning programming for the 2022-2023 school year. If your child is not currently enrolled in virtual learning programming, please contact your child's school to complete the registration.

Q: When do I need to inform the LKDSB of my decision to enroll my child in virtual learning for the 2022-2023 school year?

In order to support planning and staffing decisions, the LKDSB is asking families to sign up for virtual learning for the 2022-2023 school year by March 25, 2022. Should you have specific questions about your child, please contact your school directly.

Q: Can we opt in and out of in-person and virtual learning in 2022-2023?

Enrolment in virtual learning is intended to be a permanent year-long commitment and families will not be able to opt-in or out of in-person and virtual learning during the 2022-2023 school year (exceptions would be considered on a case-by-case basis and accommodation would be based on space availability and may vary school-to-school and grade-by-grade).

Q: What will the virtual programming for elementary students (Kindergarten to Grade 8) look like for the 2022-2023 school year?

Elementary virtual learning will require 300 minutes of student learning daily, including all curriculum areas, and frequent, live contact with a teacher during school hours. It is essential that students have daily access to a reliable high-speed internet connection during school hours. Student learning daily minimum learning time by grade level:

Kindergarten

• 180 minutes of live (or synchronous) learning each day.
• 120 minutes of on-demand (or asynchronous) learning each day.

Grades 1-8

• 225 minutes of live (or synchronous) learning each day.
• 75 minutes of on-demand (or asynchronous) learning each day.

The school day will be:

• 9:15 am School day begins, attendance is taken
  
• 11:15 am - 11:55 am Morning Break
  
• 11:55 am Afternoon begins, attendance is taken
  
• 1:35 pm - 2:15 pm Afternoon Break
  
• 3:35 pm Dismissal

Q: Is French Immersion available for virtual learning for elementary students?

French Immersion Program is not available through virtual learning.

Q: What will be the expectations for teacher-student contact and use of online educational tools for virtual learning for elementary students?

Students will have frequent, live contact with their teacher. Live (or synchronous) learning will include text, video, or voice communication that allows teachers to instruct and connect students in real time. Live learning supports the well-being and academic achievement of students with immediate feedback from teachers and student to student interaction. Live learning will include whole class, small group, and individual interactions. On-demand (or asynchronous) learning is not delivered in real time. It may include watching prerecorded video lessons, completing assigned tasks, or contributing to online discussion boards.

Students will use LKDSB provided platforms:

• SeeSaw (Kindergarten - Grade 6)
• Google Classroom (Grade 4 - Grade 8)
• Google Meet Video Conferencing (Kindergarten - Grade 8)

Q: What will the virtual programming for secondary students (Grades 9-12) look like for the 2022-2023 school year?

Most secondary programs associated with Lambton Kent Composite School will be offered to students (for example SHSM, Dual Credit). Course offerings will include Applied, Academic, Workplace, College and University type courses. Course requests will determine which courses are offered. Courses that rely extensively on hands-on experiences (for example art, co-operative education, drama, physical education, and technology) will only be offered in-person.

Virtual learning will require 225 live online minutes of synchronous instruction daily. Virtual learning will operate on the traditional semester model – four courses per semester.

Q. What will the secondary virtual learning day look like?

The Lambton Kent Composite School bell schedule will be followed:

• Start time: 8:01 a.m.
• Lunch 10:45 to 11:35 a.m.
• Dismissal 2:10 p.m.

Students will be engaged in 225 minutes of live (synchronous) learning daily including text, video, or voice communication that allows teachers to instruct and connect students in real time. Live learning will include whole class, small group, and individual interactions. Students will be engaged in 75 minutes of on-demand learning daily. On-demand (or asynchronous) learning is not delivered in real time. It may include watching prerecorded video lessons, completing assigned tasks, or contributing to online discussion boards.

Students will use LKDSB provided platforms: D2L/Brightspace and Google Classroom

Q: What virtual learning courses will be offered for secondary students?

The secondary virtual learning timetable will be determined based on student course requests. Courses will be offered only if there is sufficient enrolment to run them. In some cases, courses may be combined to allow for flexibility in the overall schedule. If there is insufficient enrolment synchronous virtual learning courses, guidance staff may be able to place students in asynchronous online courses through the Ontario eLearning Consortium. This could result in students having a mixed timetable of synchronous virtual learning and asynchronous online courses.

Full course descriptions may be found here

Courses available for Grade 9 (students will be registered in 8 courses) 

• ​English (ENG1D)
• Math (MTH1W1)
• Science (SNC1W1)
• Geography (CGC1D)
• French (FSF1D) or Ojibwe Language (LNOB)
• Learning Strategies (GLS1O)
• Introduction to Business (BTT1O)
• Health for Life (PPZ3C)
• Media Arts (ASM2O1)

Courses available for Grade 10 (Students will be registered in 8 courses)

• English (ENG2D/2P)
• Math (MPM2D/2P)
• Science (SNC2D/2P)
• History (CHC2D/2P)
• Civics/Careers (CHV2O/GLC2O)
• Three electives chosen from: BBI2O (Intro to Business), ICS2O (Intro to Computer Studies), HFN2O (Food and Nutrition), TGJ2O (Communication Technology)

Courses available for Grade 11 and 12 (Students will be registered in up to 8 courses)

Grade 11 and 12 students may be eligible to take eLearning courses through the Ontario eLearning Consortium.

Students who register for secondary virtual learning will have individual timetables developed from the range of available courses.

Q. Will secondary virtual learning courses count towards the online learning graduation requirement?

Synchronous virtual learning courses are ineligible for the online learning graduation requirement.

Q: Will there be Special Education supports for students participating in virtual learning?

The LKDSB will continue to provide access to special education supports and resources for students involved in virtual learning. Most special education and mental health supports best meet student needs when provided in an in-person environment. The LKDSB will work with virtual learning staff and students to provide accommodations as detailed in students' IEPs.

Q: Will there be mental health supports for students participating in virtual learning?

LKDSB understands that the mental health and well-being of students is directly connected to student success. Members of our school teams will be available to support students and families. Parents and Guardians who believe their child may require mental health supports are encouraged to contact their school to discuss their concerns. For additional resources, please access information at: https://www.lkdsb.net/Board/Community/MentalHealth/.

Q. Will my child in the Alternative Learning and Life Skills Program (ALLP) be able to continue to participate in virtual learning?

Continuing with the classroom learning structure from the 2021-2022 school year, students registered in ALLP may attend school in either the virtual or physical school setting at their home school.

Educators will continue to provide accommodations, modified expectations, and alternative programming to students with special education needs, as detailed in their IEPs. If it is not possible to meet a student's needs through synchronous learning, educators and families will work together to find solutions.

Families will work directly with the school team to finalize student attendance and program. 

Q: Why do elementary and secondary students need to register for virtual learning now?

In order to support planning and staffing decisions, the LKDSB is asking families to sign-up for virtual learning for the 2022-2023 school year by March 25, 2022. 

Q: What if I don't have access to my own device (Chromebook, laptop, computer)?

LKDSB will assess whether there are students who need access to a device or Internet and take steps to distribute school devices to ensure students can stay connected, wherever possible, to learning.

Q:  What school will my Grade 12 attending virtual learning graduate from?

Grade 12 students in the virtual learning program will graduate from Lambton Kent Composite School.

Q: What are some important things to consider when deciding whether to enroll my child in virtual learning?

Safety is a Priority

Our schools remain safe and caring places. We will continue to follow Public Health's advice and work with our students to educate them on the importance of social distancing practices, washing their hands and letting their educators know if they feel unwell. Most health authorities believe schools are not only safe, but promote mental, emotional, and physical well-being.

Students Thrive in School

We believe in-person learning is the best way to meet students' needs next year. Being in school gives students a chance to build meaningful relationships with their classmates. We have found that, for most students, student attendance and engagement is significantly higher when students are learning in-person. Being at school with a supportive educator team helps students develop deeper understandings of the material and allows students to connect with, problem solve, and network with other students.

Q: Who do I contact if I have questions?

Should you have specific questions about your child, please contact your child's school directly.​