I want to express my great appreciation to the staff at Ecole Marie Poburan (EMP) for the way they have risen to the challenges of the continually changing landscape of COVID over the past 10 months. In the initial weeks of lockdown last spring, I was thankful for the way teachers worked to maintain relationships with their classes and be flexible with the needs of various families. In June, staff creatively ensured an online/distanced grade 6 farewell celebration that was truly exceptional and incredibly meaningful for those who were unable to say goodbye to the school they grew up in. It was one of the highlights of our COVID year.
Now, I am thrilled at how well organized and implemented online learning was in the first week of January. I appreciated the smart class schedule that considered how this would work at home in real life. Expectations were clear, students were well trained in advance, online time was limited and intentional. It was such a good at-home week that I find myself in the rather unusual position of being very sad my son has returned to in-person classes! However, I am also grateful knowing that he returns to a safe environment, with people who care about him and are going above and beyond the normal expectations of the school system to help him to learn, stay safe and have fun in the midst of all that is happening around us. Bravo, EMP. Merci!
Jenny Benke, Sturgeon County
