'I can't learn online, I'll fail': These students and parents worry as Hamilton schools reopen

Emily Delottinville is "scared" to start school in September.

While she's thinking about wearing masks and imagining what school will look and feel like during the pandemic, she's more concerned about what happens when she's not in class.

"I can't learn online, I'll fail," said Emily, a Grade 10 student at Westmount Secondary School.

As students, parents and educators look ahead to the start of school in September, many have questions about how classes will run with COVID-19 restrictions and rules in place.

Elementary school children will get to be in school every day of the week while local high school students will attend school on a rotating schedule and also have to do online learning.

Schools already had a taste of online learning earlier this year. It was unpopular among many students, parents and faculty.

"Even last year, from March when they went off, some teachers were posting [online] and would answer questions, and other teachers, if she'd hand in work, they wouldn't get back to her for weeks," Alli Delottinville, Emily's mother, said.

"She needs someone teaching her."

Plans from Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board and the Catholic board include educators teaching students online as well as in class (sometimes doing both together).

Delottinville said she's going to pay for extra tutoring to ensure her daughter can get through the year.

"It's the best option," Emily said.

She added that her friends are also worried because they saw their grades drop when learning went online.

Emily and her mother both hope they get more information about reopening soon.

Enjoying school isn't easy during COVID-19

Amanda Levesque feels the same way. She has two sons at R.A. Riddell Elementary School.

They already aren't the biggest fans of school.

"It's going to be like prison ... we're wearing masks, we can't really go anywhere," Jacob, her eldest son in Grade 7, said.

Levesque thinks it will be harder to get them engaged in learning.

"Once they get in [school] they don't hate it all of a sudden but I'm worried with the way things are that instead of them going like normal and friends socializing, I don't think they're going to have that change. It's not going to have that turnaround point," she said.

"I worry not having the classroom environment where they can question things, they can learn in more of an open manner, where at home there's not as many things to question and you can't watch others and learn from what they do."

Levesque especially worries about elementary school class sizes. She's concerned about how educators will regulate kids moving in class and making sure no one gets too close. 

The government has provided more funding to schools, but it's unclear how much money is going to Hamilton schools.

"I think a lot of kids are gong to be scared and maybe not ask for help," Levesque said.