Optimizing Scheduling and Planning for the New School Year: A Guide for Canadian K-12 Schools

A teacher with a mask instructs at the front of a classsroom.

As the new school year approaches and Canadian schools adapt to evolving health guidelines, administrators, teachers, staff, and students face the challenge of navigating an unprecedented educational landscape. With a mix of in-person and remote learning options, it is crucial to find efficient and innovative ways to manage student information and scheduling. 

To tackle the complexities of this new school year, consider these essential strategies: 

  1. Adopting and Managing Learning Cohorts 
  1. Ensuring Compliance with Health & Safety Policies 
  1. Tracking Daily Health Checks 
  1. Implementing Staggered Scheduling 

Across Canada, many schools are implementing learning cohorts or groups to limit student and staff interactions, reducing COVID-19 risks and simplifying contact tracing. The size and structure of these cohorts vary by province and school board. 

Research by the Harvard Global Health Institute supports that in-person learning within stable cohorts is especially beneficial for younger students, aged 4-12, who benefit from social interaction and cognitive development. 

Our Student Information System (SIS) has adapted to support these needs with a dedicated Cohort feature set: 

  • Assign Students to Cohorts: Easily group students for better management and communication. 
  • Monitor Attendance and Excursions: Track student presence and outings by cohort. 
  • Plan and Report by Cohort: Simplify planning and generate reports specific to each cohort. 

Managing health and safety is more critical than ever.S parkrock’s Ecosystem assists schools in adhering to new policies and maintaining clear communication: 

  • Policy Notifications: Alert employees about new health and safety protocols. 
  • Information Dissemination: Share expectations and provide resources for policy understanding. 
  • Compliance Tracking: Monitor adherence to health and safety guidelines. 
  • Incident Recording: Document and manage health and safety incidents. 
  • Daily Health Checks: Track and manage daily health assessments for students. 

Student scheduling can be complex, especially with the added layer of pandemic-related adjustments.  SIS offers a robust solution for managing schedules, ensuring flexibility and efficiency: 

  • Customizable Schedules: Support for various semester and term configurations, including the popular Quadmester system. 
  • Flexible Timetables: Adjust class start and end times to facilitate social distancing. 
  • Cohort-Specific Timetables: Create and manage schedules tailored to cohort groups. 
  • Conflict Resolution: Automatically identify and resolve scheduling conflicts. 

For over 36 years, Sparkrock & Edsembli has been dedicated to enhancing K-12 education management across Canada. Our comprehensive ERP solution integrates Finance, HR, and SIS functionalities, tailored specifically for educational institutions. Here’s what sets us apart: 

  • Designed for K-12 Education: Developed in collaboration with the education community. 
  • Integrated Ecosystem: Includes HR, Payroll, Finance, and Student Information Management. 
  • User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive design with helpful icons, tooltips, and online manuals. 
  • Seamless Integration: API support for easy integration with other school systems. 
  • Data Integration: Flow of information across all modules for informed decision-making. 

Sparkrock’s Ecosystem enhances every aspect of school district management: 

  • Holistic Data Integration: Unified HR, Payroll, Finance, and Student Information data improves decision-making. 
  • 360-Degree View: Comprehensive insights into students, teachers, and staff for personalized learning experiences. 
  • Efficient Documentation: Quick access to supporting documents and communication tools. 
  • Enhanced Communication: Engaging portals for students, parents, and staff. 
  • Transparent Audits: Multi-tiered approval workflows ensure accuracy and compliance. 
  • Improved Productivity: Customizable dashboards and business intelligence tools. 
  • Health & Safety Tracking: Monitor and comply with health and safety regulations effectively. 

By choosing Sparkrock you invest in a modern, intuitive system designed to support your school’s unique needs, allowing you to focus on delivering quality education and ensuring student safety. Schedule a demo today to see how our products can help you support student success. 

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