The executive director of the Strait Regional Centre for Education says 2020 was an interesting and challenging year.
COVID-19 led to the shutdown of schools across the province from March Break to the end of the school year in June; students experienced three months of home-based learning during that time.
In a year-end interview, Paul Landry, the SRCE’s executive director, says it came with challenges.
Landry says a rural internet was a piece they worked through.
“(We had) jump drives being delivered to homes or work that went home with Saltwire newspapers,” he says. “That was quite creative and innovative- we had some positive feedback from that.”
Landry say students and teachers came back to numerous changes when they returned to schools in September.
He says it’s gone well.
“I really continue to be impressed and inspired by everyone’s ability to adapt as we navigate together through the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said. “It’s certainly challenging at times and people have had to make adjustments, but it’s very impressive to see how everyone has come together to follow and respect the public health protocols.”
Several school-based cases were reported in other parts of the province in November and December.
Landry tells The Hawk it’s taken a team effort to keep COVID-19 out of our schools in the Quad Counties.
“Everyone is working together to ensure that we can continue learning in schools, and I’m very impressed with everyone- our students, our staff, our parents and our communities,” he says. “Hopefully we’ll stay on that track heading into our last few months after Christmas.”
Public health officials extended the holiday break out of an abundance of caution until Jan. 11.
You can listen to the complete year-end interview below.
