THUNDER BAY – Staying engaged with virtual learning can sometimes be a struggle, staff with the Lakehead District School Board admit.
A handful of board employees were on hand at Claude E. Garton Public School on Friday trying to make it just a little easier, putting together 450 “calming kits” to help students stay focused and cope with the adjustment to online learning.
The kits, containing items like fidget toys, journals, and art supplies, will be distributed next week to LDSB students whose teachers identified they could benefit from the extra support.
“Maybe they’re having trouble staying focused,” said Megan Tiernan, the board’s mental health lead. “We know being on screens all day long is really tough, and they might just need some different tools and sensory activities to help them stay engaged.”
Two different kits were prepared in the Claude Garton gym Friday, one for students in junior kindergarten to grade 6, and another for those in grades 7 to 12.
Shannon Jessiman-MacArthur, the principal at Claude Garton, said the kits were just one small way to acknowledge how difficult the year had been for the school community.
“Our families and kids have been super resilient,” she said. “We just wanted to reach out and make sure they have what they need to get through the school year on a positive note.”
Teachers had made use of resources on how to keep kids involved, and nurture mental health, even if it’s from the other end of a screen, said Tiernan.
“They’re implementing a lot of different tools and techniques we know help kids stay engaged – really making sure they focus on relationship, taking frequent breaks, moving their body, making sure they’re building a sense of community,” she said.
Those efforts also included an increased focus on virtual field trips and hands-on activities students could do from home, she said.
The school board’s mental health professionals will continue to offer services over the summer, Tiernan noted.
Parents can find information on accessing those services by contacting their child’s principal or at the school board’s website.
