Dawson Trail Dispatch
Celebrating Over 20 Years of Service to Our Communities!
July 2020
Southeast Grads Find Unique Ways to Celebrate
Classes Resume in September
Lorette Collegiate grads gathered at the arena before driving through town in the first ever community grad parade. Photo by SA Dorge
Green Valley School grads celebrate in Grunthal.
By Marianne Curtis When school doors closed prematurely students were left learning at home and this year’s graduates were left wondering what happened to their final year of public education.
With COVID-19 cancelling all large gatherings, graduates have been feeling a tad blah about what should have been their best school year ever. Some schools have opted to postpone events until the fall, while others are planning
Photo by Gundi Manteufel-Grajciar
drive-thru convocation ceremonies. This year’s Collège Lorette Collegiate (CLC) graduates celebrated with a community wide car rally. On June 16, celebrants took Continued on Page 2...
The Manitoba government has released a planning framework for the resumption of inclass learning, with teachers and staff returning to classrooms on September 2 and students on September 8. According to Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen the province plans to have all students, from kindergarten to Grade 12, back in classrooms in September. “While we can’t be sure what the COVID19 pandemic will look like in the fall, detailed planning is needed to ensure schools can resume in-class learning and to prepare for different scenarios,” said Goertzen. “This framework will allow schools and school divisions to prepare plans that are flexible at the local level, yet consistent with those at other sites across the province.” The framework developed by the province provides guidance for school divisions to develop detailed reopening plans to be submitted to Manitoba Education for three public health scenarios. These scenarios are in-class learning with near-normal conditions, in-class learning, taking additional public health measures into consideration and remote learning from home, with limited use of school facilities. Goertzen noted that while the plan is for all students to return to classroom learning in the fall, Manitoba Education will provide final confirmation by August 1 based on public health directions. The province made this decision after significant consultation with tens of thousands of students, parents, teachers and education stakeholders over the past month. Divisions are expected to ensure all schools have plans that are accessible to parents and students. Funded independent schools will also be asked to submit plans and post them publicly.