Virtual open houses planned for all Conseil scolaire Viamonde schools from January 18-29
Since the rise of the pandemic last March, COVID-19 has disrupted most aspects of daily life, from business operations to grocery shopping. Educational institutions have been no exception, as schools across the country have had to adapt quickly to ever-changing circumstances. In southwest Ontario, Conseil scolaire Viamonde has been a leader in pioneering programs and adapting technology specifically for remote learning. Now with open house season right around the corner, the French school board is once again going virtual to ensure everyone’s safety, while enabling new parents and students to access and experience their many schools.
These virtual open houses will be held for every Viamonde school, which includes 41 elementary schools and 15 secondary schools, from January 18-29. The school board has opted to capitalize on the Microsoft Teams program to host the events, during which, families will be able to explore the schools with a 360 degree viewing application, learn about various programs, attend live presentations, watch videos, and chat with school staff.
“Viamonde excellence is more than a wish, it is a requirement that we set for all our schools and for all our students,” said Martin Bertrand, director of education. “Our promise is to support our students in discovering a world where tout est possible.” Ensuring access to open houses, even during a pandemic, is a part of this mentality.
“Despite the changes we are facing with COVID-19, Viamonde’s teams are working hard to make this unprecedented challenge possible by supporting our incoming students and their families,” he added.
Parents interested in participating in the virtual open house event can consult Virtual Open Houses 2021 (csviamonde.ca) and select the schools in which they are interested. They will then be sent the appropriate links to join the sessions on Teams from the comfort of their own homes.
When the shift to virtual open houses was decided upon, Viamonde was already well set up to undertake the project, thanks to its extensive experience and use of technology during the first wave of the pandemic.
Last March, the school board switched to a remote learning set up and worked on developing a learning continuity plan in accordance with guidelines from public health units and the Ministry of Education. Their goal was to be prepared no matter how the situation unrolled in the coming months, and plans for a fourtiered scenario were created.
The result is that the school board is prepared for every possible reality: face-to-face or in person learning, Viavirtual which is total online learning, a hybrid model of the two, and Viacorrespondance, which offers another form of remote support for education. The latest update from the government is that students are expected to stay home and learn remotely for January.
No matter how the fluid situation evolves from there, Viamonde is prepared. In fact the school board was among the most responsive and quick to set up a distance learning plan to resume lessons as quickly as possible. Nearly 95 per cent of Viamonde students were able to continue their school year online.
Having this broad plan allowed the board to act nimbly and provided parents with options that respected their wishes for their child’s education.
“We approached the start of the school year putting health and safety above all else by making many adjustments in consultation with the 13 health units covering our schools. Thanks to the responsiveness of our teams, we were able to implement this back-to-school plan with confidence,” said Bertrand. “Since September, despite the difficult period we are going through, our school communities have shown a great deal of ingenuity, dynamism, and generosity, so as to showcase even further ‘the Viamonde spirit.’ ”
When provincial tests were last administrated prior to the pandemic, Viamonde students continued to score well above provincial averages, particularly in math and science (EQAO tests 2019). The school board has continued to expand its reach among the francophone community in Ontario. Last year three new schools opened – elementary schools Dyaneadam in Milton and Chantalbenoit in East-gwillimbury, and a secondary school Davidsaint-jacques in Guelph-kitchener-waterloo region. Students at Académie de la Moraine joined their new school building in Richmond Hill and a new school under the name Franconiagara gathered students from former schools Confédération and Champlain in Welland. The Ontario government is supporting further expansion plans in the form of schools and childcare centres in several areas including Orangeville, St. Catharines, Kleinburg, London, Brampton and Toronto.
While lessons at Viamonde schools are taught in French (except English and third language lessons), the school is home to students from all backgrounds, and is attracting a range of families, with good reason.
“Viamonde contributes to the vitality and visibility of the Franco-ontarian community and encourages families to get involved as well,” said Bertrand. “Viamonde offers inclusive, safe, and innovative schools, on a human scale where students are citizens of the world. Our educational values are oriented towards respect for differences, cohesion, communication, collaboration, and leadership, and all of this contributes to making Viamonde students successful.”
In the months ahead, school board officials will continue to adhere to government guidelines, while keeping parents abreast of any changes to their learning plan. Viamonde is already planning its new year which is full of projects, including those outlined in the school board’s 2021-2025 strategic plan. Dedicated teams are eagerly shaping next steps for their students, staff and community.
For more information, visit