RMHC Toronto School brings learning and social connection to children at the House.

It’s hard to believe it’s been almost a year since we had our first taste of virtual learning. Thanks to your support, the staff at RMHC Toronto School have adapted to ensure learning remains fun and safe.

To accommodate the fluidity of the COVID-19 environment and the vulnerable population of RMHC Toronto, our School staff implemented a hybrid schooling model. This allows for in-class and online learning, depending on each family’s individual wants and needs.

Like other schools across the province, most of this winter semester has been strictly online, due to government regulations. With the learnings from last year, we continue to receive positive feedback from families.

“My children are getting more out of these two schooling sessions than they would get out of a full school day in normal circumstances at home,” says the father of a Grade 2 and 5 student.

Our Principal, Teachers, and Early Childhood Educator also have some extra support this semester from Bachelor of Education students Bailey and Kristen.

“Having placement students gives my team more support in the classroom, and I really enjoy the opportunity to highlight our unique classroom environment to future educators,” says Katie Doering, Principal of RMHC Toronto School.

One of the major projects Bailey and Kristen have worked on is the creation of virtual libraries.

The virtual library provides students with access to videos of stories being read. Students simply click on the image of the book on the shelf to launch the video, and they are encouraged to read along. Most recently, Bailey created a library with books about Valentine’s Day (pictured below) and Kristen created one for Lunar New Year. The libraries showcased diverse texts by acknowledging different types of love for Valentine’s Day and how various cultures celebrate Lunar New Year.

For both Bailey and Kristen, this is their first student placement in an alternative classroom environment with a vulnerable population.

“Katie has been fantastic; I appreciate that she’s helping Bailey and I gain valuable skills like how to have difficult conversations with children about topics like death, illness, COVID-19, or family conflict,” says Kristen.

“I’ve gained a new perspective on supporting children with medical needs. I’ve also learned how serious illness affects the entire family, and the important role family members can play in supporting the child’s education,” says Bailey.

This week some students will return to in-person, while others will continue virtually. In both scenarios, they will benefit from the social connection with their peers and caring – from the comfort of their RMHC Toronto home.

Learn more about RMHC Toronto School.