Ancaster Meadow: Reopening Information

Hello,

 

The staff at Ancaster Meadow are excited about welcoming back students – in person and through remote learning – to the 2020-21 school year. The pandemic has brought many changes to our school and its families, but I know that we can rise to the occasion if we work together.

 

Thank you for keeping up with the communications coming from HWDSB, and for completing important forms and surveys as required. The detailed information from the HWDSB can be found at https://www.hwdsb.on.ca/about/covid19/

 

We are taking many actions to prevent COVID-19 at our school. You will notice that safety is guiding our programming choices. Here are some of the important points to remember:

 

• Attestation: Before a student can enter a school, we require that their family completes an attestation that they have read, understood, and will abide by expectations. Find this on the Parent Portal https://www.hwdsb.on.ca/parent/
• Daily COVID-19 Screening HWDSB COVID-19 Student Screening Checklist is to be completed daily before arriving at school. The checklist is found on the Parent Portal as well as on the HWDSB website.
• If you answered YES to any of the screening questions, or if you refuse to answer the questions, the student has failed the screening and must not attend school. The family should contact Public Health (905) 974-9848 or their family doctor for testing. Please contact the school using SafeArrival to report the absence. If the student is tested for COVID-19, your school would appreciate knowing the outcome of that test.

 

Staggered start details

As you know, we will be opening our school with a staggered start timeline. This means that not all students will begin on the same day.

 

Tues Sept 8 – No school for students

Wed Sept 9 – No school for students

Thurs Sept 10 – No school for most students. Online JK orientation.

Fri Sept 11 – No school for most students. In-person JK Orientation scheduled meetings.

 

Monday Sept 14 – School for students with last name A-K only

Tuesday Sept 15 – School for students with last name L-Z only

Wed Sept 16 – First full day of classes for all students

 

New routines and protocols

School operations are changing significantly to ensure that we can provide a safe learning environment for students. A copy of this overview is attached to this message. These will cover everything from parking lots, classroom set up, nutrition breaks, mandatory masks for students and more.

 

There is also a preliminary map of the playground attached. It shows areas that parents may wait while on school property and areas that are reserved for staff and students. A detailed map with specific waiting areas for each class will be available before September 14th

 

Water Bottles

Drinking fountains in all schools will be bagged and not used. Please be sure to send your child with a reusable water bottle so they stay hydrated, in addition to their non-medical mask.

 

Visiting Schools

This year, our school must significantly limit or even prohibit visitors to school, including parents, to support a safe and healthy learning environment. We ask families to call or email our school if they need to supply information or contact a staff member. Also, it is strongly recommended that parents do not drop off items during the school day.

 

Junior Kindergarten Orientation

Families in Junior Kindergarten will be contacted by the Kindergarten teaching team on either Tues Sept 4 or Wed Sept 5. An online orientation will take place through MS Teams on Thurs Sept 6. In-person class visits will be arranged on Fri Sept 11.

 

Elementary reorganization

Ancaster Meadow is also in the process of a staff reorganization as a result of changes in enrolment due to remote schooling.  Ancaster Meadow will be losing a number of staff members for this school year. This has altered our class structure and teacher assignments.

 

I understand that class placements may be appearing in the Parent Portal. Please be aware that these may not be accurate and that class teachers are likely to change. I will send a separate email when class changes are complete and the teacher listed is accurate. This will likely not be until next week. I know that the class placement is important information for students and they will be shared as soon as possible, however significant class changes are required.

 

Transportation

There is no courtesy bus applications this year. For families that qualify for bus transportation the HWSTS will contact you directly. Please note this message from the HWSTS:

 

Parents and guardians can access their child/ren’s bus route information through the HWSTS Parent Portal on Tuesday, September 8, 2020. Families are asked to check the HWSTS Parent Portal frequently and before the first bus pick-up to ensure the most up-to-date times.

 

Parents are cautioned that bus delays are anticipated.

 

Enhanced public health measures are in place for school buses. Additional cleaning protocols are being implemented, including disinfecting bus seats in between bus routes.

 

Remote Learning

This week the school has received information from the HWDSB regarding students that have selected the remote learning option. The school office staff are still removing students who selected remote learning from Ancaster Meadow and transferring them to the new Remote Learning school.

 

Families that have selected Remote Learning will hear directly from the new Remote Learning school regarding start up information. The target start date is similar to in-person school with a staggered start commencing on Monday September 14th.

 

 

I will continue to send updates as we receive added information. Thank you for understanding the challenges of planning the new school year, and for sharing our commitment to safe and successful school year.

 

Take care and stay safe,

Simon Goodacre, Principal

Ancaster Meadow Elementary Site Specific Plan Sept 2020

Ancaster Meadow Re-opening Planning Map – General

Walk to School Map revised 2020