Corey Hunter, teacher at Westpark Middle School. (RDPSD)

By rdnewsNOW staff

Staying Connected

Red Deer Public Schools reports high attendance in first week of temporary online learning

Dec 9, 2020 | 1:38 PM

Officials with Red Deer Public Schools are reporting high attendance virtually for students in Grades 7-12 since moving to temporary online learning last week.

The district says daily attendance has averaged 93 per cent at both Lindsay Thurber and Hunting Hills.

“It’s been among our highest attendance of the year,” said Chris Good, Principal at Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School. “We’re hearing really positive feedback from both students, staff and parents.”

Officials note that this shift to at-home learning is much different than the one this past spring.

Teaching and learning has continued as normally as possible with students following their regular timetables. In addition, attendance is being taken in every class and schools open by appointment for students who would like to access additional resources or further assistance from

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“It’s rigorous, classes start and end at the same time,” said Ryan Kure, Vice Principal at Hunting Hills High School. “In the spring, I was a teacher and we were thrown into it (at-home learning). This time we planned – teachers prepared for this scenario.”

Kure added, although teachers would prefer to have students in the classroom, things are going well.

“Our teachers are doing really, really well. Most have two or three monitors going and you walk into every classroom and it’s as if there’s 30 kids in front of them the way they are teaching. They’ve got this!”

“We’ve put a little bit of flex time at the end of the period,” continued Kure. “So if students have questions or need extra help, there is about a 15 minute window prior to their next class starting, and a lot of students are taking advantage of sticking around.”

Good agreed. “The teachers have been incredible – they are working so hard and making sure they are supporting students the best possible way they can. Our staff have learned so much about how best to support students learning online the last nine months that we felt more confident with our programming this time.”

According to Good, we all just need to hang in there.

“I’m so proud of our students for how responsible they have been and how resilient they have been – not just right now, but all year – there have been so many changes,” remarked Good. “Since we’ve gone online, I’ve appreciated how resilient kids are. They are coming to class virtually and they are doing everything they can.”

“All of our staff are the same – they continue to amaze me every day with their resilience, dedication to their students and with their hard work,” concludes Good.

Teresa Tataryn, Principal at Westpark Middle School, said the feedback from parents regarding temporary online learning has been tremendously positive.

“They like the rigor of the classes. We have also kept our attendance line open, so if students are not online for their class, parents are kept informed, and they really appreciate that.”

Students and staff with Red Deer Public Schools will begin Christmas Break on December 18, with all students to return to temporary online learning January 4-8.

It’s hoped that all students will be back in classrooms on January 11.