Letter from Principal M. Visca February 6, 2021
Hello Saints!!!
I’m reaching out with important items/reminders for you to read in preparation for the return to Block 1 face-to-face learning on Monday, February 8. It has been a while since we’ve seen you and we are certainly looking forward to reconnecting with those of you who feel comfortable attending the school.
And – as we are returning in February, we celebrate and honour Black History Month – with intentional next steps towards celebration of this History all of the time… please visit https://sites.google.com/hwdsb.on.ca/black-history-hwdsb/home for a great site dedicated to black history created by HWDSB teachers including some of our very own. Also, follow us on Instagram and Twitter @sherwood_hwdsb for information about all things Sherwood including more Black History Month highlights.
1) Attendance:
I’m adding extra highlighting to this item as it is a big change from last semester: This semester, ATTENDANCE will be taken for ALL students (Cohort A, Cohort B, and at-home learners) every day in Block 1. Every student will have synchronous time with their teacher during Block 1 every day. This means you MUST log into your class Teams every day for attendance and learning.
Related to Attendance:
- If you are not returning Face to Face or vise-versa, please have your parents contact our office to let us know: 905-383-3377 or [email protected]
Daily Screening:
If you are returning to face-to-face learning:
- You MUST do the Ministry Screening for COVID test each morning: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/school-screening/ (Bookmark this site)
- If you get the green checkmark that you are okay to go to school, take a screen shot of your results on your phone or I-Pad as you must show your daily results to your teacher at the start of Block 1 to stay in class–this is non-negotiable. If you fail, please stay home, and follow the next steps as outlined on the screening site.
- Some students will use a daily log between their parents and teachers to meet this requirement–where applicable, teachers will be in touch.
- If you feel unwell at school, tell your teacher immediately.
Bell Schedule & Adaptive Model Calendar:
- Except for our self-contained classes, the daily schedule pivots to the Adaptive Model Bell Schedule (at the bottom of this message).
- Please note the Adaptive Model Sem 2 Calendar (at the bottom of this message) as this will tell you when to attend face-to-face based on your cohort and it will also tell you the rotation dates for when each period moves into Block 1. We start with period 1 classes in Block 1 through to March 10th and then period 2 classes move up to Block 1; Period 1 classes move to the bottom of the bell schedule and so on.
- If you have a spare, you do not attend school when your spare is in Block 1.
Door Entry. Stairwells and Bathroom Use:
- Please find your Block 1 class location on the attached maps by floor. The maps are colour-coded. Please enter through the coloured door and use the coloured stairwell that matched the colour of your Block 1 classroom. Teachers will indicate which bathrooms to use based on Block 1 classroom location.
- The same rules around movement in the building apply as they did in the Fall.
Masks:
- MASKS ARE MANDATORY (unless you have a previously approved exemption). Even while outside and within 2 meters of anyone, everyone is expected to be wearing their mask.
- There is to be no congregating inside or outside of school. There are new COVID variants that transmit faster–take this request more seriously please.
Study Hall:
- You can go home for your afternoon remote learning after your morning Block 1 class – you have 80 minutes to get home, get lunch and sign in to your first remote learning class after lunch.
- We are assuming those of you who stayed for Study Hall Semester 1 will do so again. If you change your mind and want to go home instead of Study Hall OR you want to stay instead of going home, please have a parent contact the school and indicate it in the Parent Portal.
- Study Hall locations based on Block 1 class locations will be announced on Monday and Tuesday of this coming week.
Bus Pass Letters:
- The HSR has agreed to allow students to use their current bus passes that would have expired on January 31st until February 19th.
- Letters for their new bus passes will be delivered to the schools by mid to late next week. This gives the students plenty of time to pick up their new bus passes before the old ones expire on Feb 19th.
Please don’t hesitate to call the office, reach out to your teachers or anyone here at the school if you have questions.
I hope that you are looking forward to coming back as much as we are to seeing you!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Ms. Visca
Ms. Visca
Updated on Saturday, February 06, 2021.