Stay-at-home order and additional health measures
publier : 8 avril 2021
Dear parents,
Thank you for continuing to follow the public health and safety measures that have kept schools open and safe for students and staff. It is our collective effort that continues to ensure your children can learn in the classroom.
As per recent announcements, the province has implemented a province-wide shutdown for four weeks in response to worsening trends in key health indicators across the province.
The mental health and well-being of children continues to be a key government priority and schools will remain open for in-person learning through the Provincial Emergency and Stay at Home Order. The spring break will continue as planned, from April 12th to 16th, and schools will reopen for in-person learning on April 19th. However, we are asking students and staff to take their computer equipment home with them on Friday April 9th, along with any other resources they may require to continue their learning.
Please be assured that this measure is strictly preventive and is intended to ensure that all students and staff will be ready to pursue their learning remotely after the spring break, if needed.
Health and Safety Measures Reminder
In light of the recently announced measures, it is more important than ever that we continue to follow health advice over the spring break to do our part to keep schools open for in-person student learning.
At this critical point in the pandemic, the following public health measures are crucial to help prevent and limit the spread of COVID-19:
- Socialize with your own household.
- Stay home and get tested if you feel ill.
- Participate in the targeted testing offered by your school board.
- Screen every day, including during spring break, for COVID-19 symptoms before attending child care (theCOVID-19 School and Child Care Screening Tool is available to assist families with symptom screening).
- Practice good hand hygiene habits, masking, and physical distancing.
- Refer to Ontario.ca/covidresponse to learn what public health measures are in place in our community.
- Refrain from travelling.
Curriculum-linked activities for students
During the spring break, students in Grades 1-8 can continue to engage in their own learning through supplemental, curriculum-linked activities available at TVO Learn and TFO IDÉLLO, apprendre à la maison. These rich, engaging opportunities allow students to keep up with their learning and interests. Secondary students can continue to access TVO's Independent Learning Centre (ILC) Open House and Portes ouvertes pour les cours TVO ILC in French-language. Mathify (English) and Eureka! (French) are also available to provide one-on-one online tutoring services for elementary and secondary students. Mathify covers online math tutoring in English for Grades 6 to 10 and Eureka! supports all subjects for French-language students in Grades 1 to 12.
Asymptomatic testing expansion
For the week of April 12-18, pharmacies that currently offer testing and assessment centres across the province will accept appointments from students and education staff for asymptomatic testing. The Ministry of Education will be working with school boards to offer school-based clinics. Parents are encouraged to take advantage of this testing capacity to have their children tested to support a safe return to school on April 19. Children attending child care, and child care staff, will also be eligible to access this testing.
Confirmation of self-screening
We would like to remind you that your child must undergo daily self-screening for COVID-19 symptoms before going to school. The screening results will indicate whether he or she can attend school that day or must stay home.
Please be aware that the government has asked school boards to implement a protocol confirming that students from JK to Grade 8 have self-screened on their first day back to school following the spring break.
As a result, elementary school students receiving classroom instruction will have to present proof of successful self-screening on Monday, April 19th, before 8:30am, using the screening form available in the magasin en ligne . Please note that students from JK to Grade 8 are only required to confirm their self-screening test results on Monday, April 19th.
High school students receiving classroom instruction must continue to present proof of successful self-screening every day prior to their first morning class, using the online COVID-19 school screening.
By following public health advice, we can all enjoy a safe spring break and continue to support in-person learning in our schools.
Have a safe, fun and restful break.
Sincerely,
Joseph Picard
Director of Education