HWDSB is offering an additional transition opportunity to remote learning for elementary students (Kindergarten to Grade 8). 

The Remote Learning survey will be available to families between 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 13 and 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 20. This survey can be accessed through the Parent Portal. Families can also call their child/ren’s school to have their choice recorded during regular school hours.

The survey is titled “Elementary Remote Survey” and is listed under the heading ‘Registration’ in the ‘Forms’ section of Parent Portal.

Only families requesting a full transition to remote learning until June 2022 need to complete this survey.  

This transition opportunity is different from previous transitions because:  

• There is only a choice to select a transition to full remote learning. 
• There is no opportunity for students already enrolled in full remote learning to select a return to in-person learning. 
• Students would be enrolled in a full remote learning class until the end of the school year in June 2022.  
• There will be no opportunity to return to in-person learning except under extraordinary circumstances. 
• The potential date for this transition will depend on the total number of students selecting this option and will be communicated at a later date. 
• Full remote learning has classes spread out in schools throughout the HWDSB. Students selecting full remote learning will have their registration transferred to the school hosting the remote learning class and will become a full student of this host school for the remainder of the school year.  

The potential transition date will depend on the number of potential students selecting a transition to remote learning. The HWDSB will communicate an update regarding the Elementary Remote Transition the week of January 24 to 28.  

For details on Remote Learning for Elementary Students at HWDSB, visit the Elementary Remote Learning 2021-22 page or check out the frequently asked questions in our FAQ section. 

Families planning to delay their return to in-person learning will have a short-term virtual learning option. Please note that this option will be delivered separately from full-time remote learning and will be delivered through independent (asynchronous) learning. Parents, caregivers and guardians will be responsible for checking their child/ren’s learning progress. 

How it works:  

• Families considering this option should contact their child/ren’s principal to let them know they will be participating in short-term virtual learning. Principals will ask families to complete a temporary excusal from school form and students will be marked absent until they return to in-person learning. 
• Beginning Monday, January 17, families will be able to access learning packages for their child/ren on the Learn at Home webpage. Learning packages will be updated weekly and posted online by Monday at 9 a.m. Additional programming may be added during the week of January 24. 
• Families access the learning package for their child/ren’s age category and can complete the tasks throughout the week. Paper copies of learning packages can be requested from their home schools.  
• Children will work through their learning packages independently or with the help of a parent/caregiver. There is no remote instruction or one-on-one support for short-term virtual learning.  
• From Week 2 (January 24) a chat function will be available through MS Teams for families. 
• Optional engagement opportunities such as virtual excursions or guest speakers will be announced to families on the Learn at Home page.  

Short-term Virtual Learning will be available until at least February 18, 2022. Students will return to in-person learning at their home schools in their original classes at the end of the short-term option or at an earlier date of their choosing. 

Here are some key differences to consider for families interested in learning at home.

HWDSB continues to offer eLearning at the secondary level in 2021-22 as an option for parents and students 18 years or older concerned about the on-going COVID-19 global pandemic.  

At HWDSB, secondary students learn remotely by selecting a timetable with eLearning courses only. Students who are interested in changing from in-person to eLearning for semester two can do so through their guidance counsellors. A registration in an eLearning course is for the full semester and there is no opportunity to transfer back to in-person learning.  

HWDSB is monitoring eLearning course registration and will be adding additional teaching staff to meet enrolment needs. To ensure that courses are available for students desiring an eLearning timetable, please contact your school for a guidance appointment by Wednesday, January 19. 

Learn more about eLearning on our Secondary Learning Model 2021-22 page under “Secondary Remote Learning (eLearning)”.

Short-term virtual learning for secondary students will be provided through the continuity of learning model until the end of Quadmester Two. This will allow students to remain connected to their current teachers and to prevent timetable changes in the final weeks of the current Quadmester. 

Families and students considering this option should contact their principal to let them know they will be participating in short-term virtual learning. Principals will ask families to complete a temporary excusal from school form and students will be marked absent until they return to in-person learning. 

Secondary students choosing this short-term option will receive the same level of support that a student who would be absent would receive. There is no connected learning with this option. Learn more about Continuity of Learning During an Absence here.

There is no short-term virtual learning option for Semester Two. Students interested in learning remotely are asked to explore eLearning opportunities with their guidance office as soon as possible. 

Continuity of Learning during an Absence 

This is what students and families can expect upon completion of the COVID-19 School and Child Care Screening and when the screening results read: “Do not go to school/child care.” 

When the screening tool advises “Do not go to school/child care” it will tell you if your child and household members need to isolate or if they would be able to return earlier based on symptoms. 

Decision Guides from Hamilton Public Health Services  

To help clarity when a student can return to in person school or child care, Hamilton Public Health Services has produced two important decision guides to help families understand what happens: 

• Symptomatic Child At Home 
• Symptomatic Child at School or Child Care

Input your absence into SafeArrivals 

HWDSB schools use the SafeArrival tool to make it easy for families to report current and upcoming student absences, rather than sending notes or contacting the school. 

You can report an absence using a web browser, the School Messenger app, or by phone. 

Note that we have added “COVID-19 Related” to the list of reasons for a student absence. 

Please complete a SafeArrival entry for each child in your household who has an explained absence.  

Learning at home during absence 

While isolating, we want your child/ren’s learning to continue, if they feel well enough to do so. Your child’s classroom educator will contact the primary caregiver and support learning if your child will be absent for more than one day. 

Well-being Supports  

For mental health and well-being supports, please contact your school or explore the resources at www.hwdsb.on.ca/mentalhealth 

Contact your child’s school

As always, please contact your child/ren’s school if you require any assistance.