NLPS offering three learning pathways in 2021-2022

After a discussion with families, Northern Lights Public Schools (NLPS) will continue offering three Learning Pathways for the 2021-2022 school year.

Jimmi Lou Irvine is the Associate Superintendent with Student Services and Indigenous Relations.

“The feedback we received from parents through our Learning Pathways engagement and in discussion with families enrolled in our Learning Together Anywhere program was that they would like to see all of the options that were offered this year continue next year as well,” Irvine said.

The three Learning Pathways that will be offered in 2021-2022 are:

• In-person classes at the division’s 27 schools
• Online learning through the division’s Learning Together Anywhere program for students in Kindergarten to Grade 9
• Home education in partnership with an NLPS school

These learning pathways were developed after a series of meetings with parents, students and staff from June to August of 2020. NLPS wanted to make learning accessible during the COVID-19 pandemic so students can complete high school programming. At that time, some families were requesting alternatives to attending in-person classes due to the pandemic.

“We expect some students to shift back to in-person classes in September, particularly if we experience some positive progress with COVID-19,” Irvine said. “What we are hearing from some parents is that while they may have initially enrolled in Learning Together Anywhere due to concerns about the pandemic, their experience this year has been so positive that they would like to continue with online learning for their families.”

NLPS plans to expand the program by opening up enrolment to students from other areas of Alberta now that the program has been running successfully for a year.

“When we started the program, we restricted enrolment to NLPS students because we really wanted to focus on building the program and ensuring students’ needs were met during a year that we knew may be somewhat unpredictable,” Irvine said. “Now that we’ve had time to refine the program and have seen the results, we are ready to offer it to students who are outside of our normal enrolment boundaries.”

For students who do not live within the NLPS boundaries enrollment information for the LTA program will be posted to the division’s website soon.

2021-2022 Intent Form

The NLPS will be asking parents to fill out a form indicating whether their children will be attending school in person, online, or through a home education partnership. This will ensure NLPS has the appropriate staffing in place for the 2021-2022 school year.

NLPS shared the form via School Engage on April 21. Parents will receive an e-mail notifying them there is a form to be completed. The form needs to be submitted by April 30, 2021.

Once parents receive the notification, NLPS says you will be able to access the 2021-2022 Intent Form through the PowerSchool Parent Portal. The form does need to be filled out using a computer as the Parent Portal app does not have the forms available and the forms are not mobile friendly.

Parents who do not already have a Parent Portal account set up will need to set one up using an Access ID and Access Password for each of their children. These are available by contacting the child’s school.

Parents are also asked to discuss their intentions for next school year with their current school so plans for transitions can be put in place before the summer break.

arthur@lakelandconnect.thedev.ca