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Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1313659
S p e c i a l F e a t u r e Students returned this fall with the stage 2 cohort model, which includes comprehensive classroom and school routines, health and safety protocols, and facility modifications to help ensure the safe return of students and staff to campus. "Confident, calm leadership, a collaborative approach and regular, transparent communication are incredibly valuable in uncertain times such as this," MacMillan says. "Our teachers and staff have been outstanding and have embraced the challenges of adapting teaching, learning and school events to fit our new reality." The school sits on the beautiful Jericho Lands, the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx wú7mesh (Squamish), and sə lílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. The 18-acre campus lends itself to outdoor learning and play. "We are hopeful that BC schools will not be required to return to prior stages, but if that were to happen, we are ready," MacMillan says. Similarly, Hugh Burke, headmaster at Meadowridge School in Maple Ridge, says its 10-acre outdoor learning space has always been a defining feature of the international baccalaureate's campus offering, but during the past several months it has been invaluable. The site hosts a campsite and park, a network of trails, two greenhouses and possibly the most playground space of any school in the Lower Mainland. "Most of our elementary and middle school classrooms have doors directly to outside covered areas," Burke says. "That means the kids get a lot of outside time and love to learn out there." Meadowridge already had good digital communication set up with the students, which facilitated seamless collaboration, but they also modified the online delivery to accommodate for excessive screen time. The school also installed Merv 13 air filters and refreshed the air circulation system to improve fresh air exchange. "The students are happy to be back at school and love their classes and teachers," Burke says. "The kids are great about following the regulations and the school is quite prepared for anything that might come next." The advantage for schools like Urban Academy in New Westminster is size—a smaller school is in the fortunate position to know the parent community well and work in lockstep with them when it comes to keeping families safe and healthy. "We are able to listen and hear from them, and in return respond appropriately to address their concerns and meet their needs," says Urban Academy's Head of School, Mike Slinger.