In a letter sent to the Minister of Education this week NDP Education Critic, Jim Dinn, calls on the Department to cancel formal Term 1 report cards for Primary and Elementary students for the 2019-2020 school year. In his letter, Dinn says that the decision cannot wait until December. A copy of the letter can be viewed here: http://www.nl.ndp.ca/post/letter-to-hon-min-osbourne-term-1-report-cards .
“Removing Term 1 report cards for primary and elementary students will allow teachers to focus on bridging grade level learning gaps that came as a result of the school shut down in the Spring of 2019,” said Dinn. “Teachers could better spend classroom instruction time to continue to meet outcomes and overcoming the challenges of time lost during Covid-19”
With report cards typically being disbursed on December 1 teachers will need to have them completed by November 20th in order for the reports to be delivered on time. As they do every day, teachers, will still be carrying out both formal and informal evaluations, which will allow them to identify learning gaps and better cater curriculum delivery to their students. Dinn said teachers could still do a virtual touch point, which would normally take place on parent teacher night, and allow the opportunity for parents and teachers to identify any concerns surrounding the individual student. A recent CBC report collected feedback from teachers and showed that many respondents said they were feeling burned out, exhausted, and afraid as they cope with being in classrooms during the pandemic.
“Cancelling formal Term 1 report cards for this year will allow teachers to focus on social-emotional learning and ensure the mental and physical well-being of both students and themselves are nurtured.” said Dinn. “The cancellation of Term 1 report cards would grant teachers the time needed to set all students up for success.”
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For further information, contact Eddy St. Coeur, Director of Communications, NDP Caucus at 729-2137 (o), or EddyStCoeur@gov.nl.ca