• COVID-19
• Commencement at HWDSB
• Senior Team
• Trustees
• Accessibility
• Indigenous Education
• Budget and Finance
• Human Rights and Equity
• Labour Update
• Media and Communications
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• Public Consultation
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• School Renewal
• Severe Weather
• Multi-Year Strategic Plan
• Transportation
• Mental Health Strategy
• Wifi in HWDSB Schools

COVID-19 Update – August 2021

Welcome!  

This summer, we heard from HWDSB families about our communication efforts in a Thoughtexchange. We will work towards enhancing how we share information to meet your needs. For example, we will limit School Messenger notifications to families and use the service for priority communications.  

From now until school starts, we will share updates through our website (Subscribe) and post updates through social media. We will share another COVID-19 Update for Families before school starts.  

The safe return to school is a priority for everyone.  

In this update, families can read about: 

Keep up-to-date on the latest COVID updates. Questions or comments? Please email [email protected]​​

Important Dates 

Board Meeting: Monday, August 23, 5:30 p.m. (Access to Agenda and Live Stream when available)  

Facebook Live Event with HWDSB: Thursday, August 26, 7 p.m.  

Remote Learning Information Night: Wednesday, September 1 (Event details)  

Elementary Remote Learning Transition Survey Open in Parent Portal: Friday, September 3 – Friday, September 10 

First day of School: Wednesday, September 8  

Rosh Hashanah: Monday, September 6 to Wednesday, September 8 

• Rosh Hashanah is celebrated from September 6-8. This is an important holy day. Schools will begin on September 8. Schools will accommodate students, families and staff that are observing this significant day. Contact your child’s principal with any concerns.  

First days of Kindergarten: 

• Wednesday, September 8: All children new to Kindergarten and/or the school are invited in for a short visit with a caregiver. Your child’s school will contact families to arrange for a short visit. 
• Thursday, September 9: All children new to Kindergarten begin full-day attendance. All children entering Year 2 of Kindergarten begin full-day attendance. 

Public Health Measures

Public Health protocols 

At HWDSB, our return to school planning has focused on two key principles: safety and the return of in-person learning.  

HWDSB staff continue to work with other levels of government to finalize local protocols for the 2021-22 school year, including masking, positive case management, and more. 

It is important to get these right, so that our operations reflect provincial guidance as well as the needs of our community. We will post the finalize local protocols as soon as they are available. 

Key Guidance:  

• Provincial guidance 
• Contact tracing  

Making Wellness a Priority  

We want staff and students to feel safe and supported as we start the new school year. Most students have not entered a physical school since April. We are approaching this return with care and sensitivity. This summer, a team of educators have prepared a student-focused wellness program that will be shared with all school staff. We look forward to providing details in the days ahead.  

Ventilation  

Air quality is an important protective measure for safe school environments. About 1,000 High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, for example, are being shipped to classrooms and schools before schools starts.  

Learn more about Ventilation including the upgrades funded through Canada and Ontario’s CVRIS-EDU program. Also, we have posted Frequently Asked Questions where you can learn about our actions, improvements, and procedures related to ventilation.  

HWDSB will share school details about ventilation on the Ministry of Education and our school websites before school starts.  

Vaccination clinics in schools  

Starting August 21, Hamilton health-care partners, along with the local school boards, will be bringing the COVID-19 vaccine to even more local residents through mobile clinics hosted at area secondary schools. 

These clinics are available to HWDSB students, families and staff in each school community, plus eligible students from elementary feeder schools, who have not yet received a first and second dose.  

Individuals born in 2009 and earlier are eligible to receive a first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. All eligible HWDSB students, family members and staff are welcome to walk into any clinic listed below.

For more information, please see the City of Hamilton media release. 

Please see: What youth need to know about their COVID-19 vaccine appointment 

Immunization disclosure and testing 

The Ministry of Education plans to introduce an immunization disclosure and protocol for staff in Ontario schools and licenced childcare settings, and rapid antigen testing for staff who are not immunized against COVID-19.

HWDSB welcomes this practice, which adds more layers of protection in our schools and workplaces. Staff are currently working through this Ministry of Education direction.  

• Ontario Makes COVID-19 Vaccination Policies Mandatory for High-Risk Settings  
• Read statement by Board Chair, Dawn Danko  

Athletics  

We are excited about the ability to plan for a full return of athletics at HWDSB, respecting guidelines issued by the province, Hamilton Public Health Services, as well as OPHEA (Ontario Physical and Health Education Association). 

Please be assured that HWDSB is committed to the return of athletics, knowing how important they are for the physical and mental well-being of students. We expect fall sports to begin as soon as possible and are planning for a safe return to activities.  

Learning at HWDSB 

Registration 

Our Back-to-School 2021-22  site contains details for new and returning students, and in-person and remote learners. We look forward to welcome HWDSB students back to in-person and remote learning.  

• New HWDSB students can register for September online. All applications will be processed by school administrators when schools reopen on August 30. Virtual registrations continue. Families are to call the school starting August 30 to arrange a time.  
• HWDSB students returning to their home schools do not need to re-register. Returning students who have moved to a new catchment area will need to register at their new school with their new address. 
• Kindergarten students who are turning four or five in the current calendar year are eligible to register for HWDSB’s two-year kindergarten program.  

HWDSB elementary students who selected remote learning are considered registered students of the school hosting the remote learning class. This may be different from your home school. These registration changes have been completed automatically. Families will receive a welcome email from the host school the week of Aug 30. 

If you have questions or need help with registration, please email [email protected] or call the HWDSB Education Centre at 905-527-5092. For general inquiries, email [email protected].  

School Year Calendars  

• Elementary 2021-22 School Year Calendar (Final) 
• Elementary 2021-22 School Year Calendar – 5-Day Cycle (Final) 
• Secondary 2021-22 School Year Calendar – with Quadmesters (Final) 

Secondary Quadmester Learning Model for Secondary Students  

Following direction from the Ministry of Education, HWDSB will be following the Quadmester learning model for at least the first semester of the 2021-22 school year.  

Public Health has stated that the Quadmester model is the preferred learning model to support contact tracing and reduce the number of students or staff who might require to self-isolate due to a positive COVID-19 case. 

Transportation Portal  

The return to in-person learning means that transportation will be of interest to more HWDSB families. At HWDSB, student transportation is provided by the consortium Hamilton-Wentworth Student Transportation Services (HWSTS).  

The HWSTS Transportation Portal will open to families on August 23. Starting Monday, August 23, parents will be able to confirm transportation arrangements for students who qualify. Please ensure you have your child’s OEN (Ontario Education Number) in order to use the portal. This is a 9-digit number than can be found on any old report card issued in the Province of Ontario. 

If you do not have a report card for your child, and cannot supply the OEN, please contact [email protected]. Staff are only able to share an OEN with the authorized email address on record for each student, without any identifying information. 

Elementary Remote Learning Transition  

HWDSB is providing an opportunity for elementary students to transition between in-person and Remote Learning later this fall.  

Starting Friday, September 3, families who want a change for their child/ren between learning models can make their choice in the Parent Portal. The survey will close one week later, Friday, September 10, and students will make their transition between learning models in early October. 

Families requesting a transition between remote and in-person learning this September are reminded that students will begin the school year in their original selection and will not complete their transition until a later date. Students who did not previously select the Remote Learning option in the June 2021 survey are considered in-person learners by default. 

Join the Elementary Remote Learning Parent Information Session on September 1 from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. for more information. Families with questions about Remote Learning can contact their home schools after offices re-open on August 30. 

Secondary Remote Learning 

Secondary remote learning occurs through registration in eLearning courses. A student desiring a change between remote learning and in-person learning should contact their secondary school for a Guidance appointment.