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Dryden High School/CKDR Files
COVID-19 may have thrown a wrench in another school year, but Dryden High School students have tried to make the best of it.
Members of the DHS Student Council were guests at the Rotary Club of Dryden’s virtual meeting Wednesday talk about boosting school spirit, student morale, challenges of online learning, staying connected with friends and other projects.
“COVID-19 has had a large impact on the number of clubs and activities running at DHS this year, there are only two official clubs running, student council and the drama club,” said Grade 11 Student Council Member Alison Griffiths. “Student Council hasn’t been able to do the usual fundraisers and activities this year, so we’ve had to get creative. We’ve put on a number of successful spirit weeks with all kinds of events, including a Halloween costume contest, Christmas door decorating, Snowball 2.0, Match Makers and candy grams, which was our major fundraiser for the year.”
The federal government is spending $525.5 million to protect students and staff from COVID-19 in Ontario schools.
The Keewatin-Patricia District School is receiving $1.25 million, while $137 thousand has been earmarked for the Kenora Catholic District School Board.
Catherine McKenna, the Federal Minister of Infrastructure, admits schools need immediate assistance.
“It’s a great partnership with the Province of Ontario,” says McKenna, “These projects will improve air quality in classrooms, install more hand washing stations, and support better physical distancing.”
Ontario’s Education Minister, Stephen Lecce, adds that this new round of funding isn’t just for issues faced today.
“It will allow us to look forward to continuing building upon the investments Ontario has made to improve the safety of schools, the facilities that house our children, and allow our students and staff to learn every day.”
Keewatin Patricia District School Board/CKDR Files
Students and staff across the region have adapted to virtual learning this year, but it hasn’t been without it’s challenges.
In a school year like no other for the first time ever, families had the option to keep their students at home to learn due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jayne Pateman is a virtual teacher with the Keewatin Patricia District School Board and she talks about some of her Grade 1/2 class’ online routine.
“Our main priory in my classroo0m from day one has been to created that classroom community where everyone is safe and accepted ad it’s that environment where they’re excited to log on everyday and come on to their computer,” Pateman shared to board trustees. “We’ve done some great things in math with virtual manipulatives and tools around the house like spoons, Legos, blocks, buttons and beads. They really are getting those math concepts, in just different ways than what were used to.”