Central Weekly Update – Jan 31 – Feb 4, 2022
Central Families,
School-based COVID-19 Walk In Vaccine Clinic at Central
A walk in vaccine clinic for ages 5 and up will be held at Central Elementary School on Monday February 7, 2022 from 4-7:00 pm. For details please visit City of Hamilton’s COVID-19
More information will be sent out to Central families or call the school if you have any questions (905 522-9690).
We have received a lot of the iPads that we loaned to families so thank you to those families that have returned them. Please continue to return the school iPads so that we can use them at the school. A reminder that they will be locked soon so please label with your child’s first and last name and return to the school as soon as possible. Please continue to check your emails for updates from the school and register t0 receive updates on our school website at https://www.hwdsb.on.ca/central/
Beginning the week of January 31, 2022, school staff may resume extra-curricular activities, with a few exceptions based on public health guidance. We are hoping to start up our extra-cuuricular activities at Nutrition Breaks later this week.
Students should be masked during these activities and distancing maintained to the greatest extent possible. Cohorting should occur whenever possible.
What is paused until further notice:
The following extracurricular activities continue to be paused:
- Choirs
- Bands
- High-contact sports (e.g., Basketball, Hockey, etc.)
To protect our school community from COVID19, our emphasis going forward will be on rigorous screening. The updated screen is attached and linked here: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/school-screening/
Please also find attached a calendar 1.01B – Daily COVID-19 Screening Verification Log (1) (paper copy went home in December) that will need to be signed each day to verify that your student(s) have completed the screen every morning before coming to school. Some students with devices may show their teacher that they have passed the screener instead of using the calendar. Please reach out to your child’s teacher to see which options are in place for that class.
I have also included the updated flowcharts for you to refer to refer to when you have a child at home with symptoms COVID At Home Protocol-01-05-2022 or what happens when a child becomes ill at school COVID At School or Child Care Protocol-01-05-2022
Please be sure to keep students with symptoms at home so that we do not need to contact you to return to pick your child up and will also prevent exposure to others in the school
Please reach out to your child’s teacher or call the office at 905 522-9690 if you have any questions or concerns.
Testing for COVID-19
To slow the spread of COVID-19 and to continue to support school communities, HWDSB is pleased to offer rapid antigen test kits for symptomatic students and staff who are in person. This testing option is voluntary. Information has been shared with families as they received their tests this week. Learn more about Testing for COVID-19 at HWDSB.
Communicating self-reported positive test results
Although Ontario has stopped COVID-19 case management in schools, we have created a process to share information when staff and families tell a school about positive test results. This process is new and will be monitored and adjusted as we receive feedback.
Starting Monday, January 24, a parent/guardian can notify their child/ren’s principal of a positive student test result (PCR or RAT). Staff also have the option to self-report a positive test result. The school will post to their website without disclosing the name or position of the case. We encourage families to subscribe to their school website to get notifications of updates.
Self-reporting a test result is encouraged but voluntary. Any information that schools share with communities will not be confirmed by Hamilton Public Health Services (HPHS). This means that we cannot confirm the infectious period, but we want families to be able to make an informed decision about sending their child to school.
Guided by the Ministry of Health, HPHS will no longer dismiss cohorts of positive cases. Students and staff in schools are generally no longer considered high-risk contacts requiring isolation. Students and staff who do not have symptoms, who have not been advised to isolate, and who pass the COVID-19 School and Child Care Screening may go to school.
Families are reminded to continue following all public health protocols, including masking, physical distancing, and close monitoring of symptoms. Please follow the directions provided in the COVID-19 school and Child Care screening and stay home if your child is sick.
School Closure Preparedness and Advisories
Parents and guardians should be prepared if there is a school closure due to a public health concern or challenges with staffing. In these situations, a school may temporarily transition to remote learning and some classes may close if there is not an educator available. Families will be notified of the closure through School Messenger. We will give as much notice as possible, although in extreme circumstances, a decision could be made by 7:30 a.m. on the day impacted. School closures will be also be communicated through the HWDSB website.
Thank you for your support,
Mr, Carey,
Principal
Updated on Sunday, January 30, 2022.