Summer school a trial run for the return in September

Warren Buckler is the summer school principal with MHPSD and also the Vice Principal of Dr. Roy Wilson School during the school year.

He says summer school was run under the province’s scenario two plan which has additional health measures in place.

Buckler says those restrictions were fairly tight, but are going quite well, to keep students and staff as safe as possible.

It includes separate entrances and exits for different floors and capped classes at 15 students.

Buckler says they’re offering a blended approach with in-class learning or students participating virtually. Some students are completely online, some just at school or a blend of both.

He says he was excited for the opportunity to have students back in the building because that’s the way students learn best.

But he does have some worries about returning in the fall.

“I think just like anybody else I’m a parent and I’m a teacher so I certainly have some concerns. But I have the utmost faith in our district and our teachers that we will do everything that we can to make everybody safe,” Buckler said.

Summer school runs July 2- 31 with diploma exams in August.

Buckler says they have a little over 300 students this summer coming into the building at Hat High.

“Over the years the demographic has changed. Initially, it was a lot of medial work and kids who were looking to get caught up and figure out what they had missed. Over the last 6-7 years, they have seen a real switch for students who are looking to accelerate their academics and create more time in their timetable to take other academic classes or options.”

Carter Schultz is a summer student and is going into grade 12.

He’s taking Social 30 this summer to get ahead for next year.

Carter says it’s good to be back in class as he’s more of an in-person learner.

But says he’s not exactly ready to come back to school in September with there being a rise of COVID-19 cases; creating more of a risk.

He does say it will be good to be back in class and to be with friends, all while following the guidelines of course.

“It will be really good on the learning side to come back and be in a class and being interactive and stuff versus online,” he said.

Carter says the summer school health guidelines have been good to follow.

But feels the cohort situation will be more difficult with more students following the guidelines.

by Chantal Wagner

Summer school a trial run for the return in September

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