July 28, 2020
Dear families,
We are excited about seeing everyone return in September. The health and safety of our students and staff is our top priority, as we strive to maintain regular school day routines as much as possible. We remain committed to keeping you informed as school approaches.
Return to School
The Ministry of Education asked school boards to create three plans: (1) for a full conventional return to school, (2) for adaptive return (a blend of in-class and remote learning), and (3) for full remote learning from home. The Ministry of Education, in consultation with Public Health Ontario, will make the final decision on the scenarios. HWDSB is prepared, and we anticipate a Ministry announcement in the coming days.
In September, school will look different, regardless of which of these plans the Ministry selects.
If the Ministry of Education decides that we will return to every day, conventional learning, we are prepared to have enhanced public health measures in place.
If the Ministry of Education decides that we will return with an adaptive plan, we are prepared to have enhanced public health measures in place. The adaptive model will include:
- Elementary students will attend schools in two cohorts. Cohort A (half of the class) attends school on Monday, Wednesday, and every other Friday and Cohort B (the other half of the class) attends on Tuesday, Thursday, and every other Friday.
- Secondary students, assigned to their cohort, will attend a half day in school on alternate days for one course and then the second half of the day will be remote learning for their other courses. For example, a Grade 9 math class will be divided into two cohorts (two halves). Half of the class will learn math in class for a half day every other day for several weeks. Students will work on their math course online at home every other day and students will work on their other three courses every day in the afternoon online at home. After several weeks, the in-class course will switch to the second course and so on.
If the Ministry decides to resume remote learning, students will continue to be taught by their teacher in The Hub and MS Teams.
More information about return to school will be shared as we approach September. In the meantime, visit our Board report School Re-opening (COVID-19 Pandemic) Update #2 for details about our return to school models and enhanced public health measures. We are collecting information on our website at www.hwdsb.on.ca/covid19.
At any point while school COVID plans are in place, families will also have the option to continue remote learning, full-time, at home. Later in August, and once the Ministry of Education makes their final decision on reopening plans, we will ask parents to indicate if their child will continue to learn remotely.
Enhanced Public Health Measures
We have ordered supplies and personal protective equipment based on the requirements that the Ministry of Education and public health have provided to school boards to date. We have also ordered additional supplies where Ministry direction has been absent to date in anticipation of what our needs may entail for all three reopening plans for September.
We are waiting for more direction and clarification from the Ministry of Education and public health on items such as masks for children. A list of health measures is available on our School Reopening during COVID-19 web page.
Effective Communication
Information will be shared through these official updates throughout August. Provincial updates will be shared through HWDSB’s social media channels and the website. Should you have questions, please visit Questions and Answers or email [email protected].
Mental well-being supports
We remind families that social workers are available throughout the summer to support students and parents, guardians, and caregivers. For contact details, please visit Mental Health Supports.
Stay well and be safe,
Alex Johnstone
Chair of the Board
Manny Figueiredo
Director of Education
Updated on Wednesday, August 12, 2020.