The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) has released a fact sheet shedding some more light on what the return to school will look like for students at home and in class.
Here are the answers to what you've been wondering about returning to school:
When does school start?
Sept. 8.
Will students and staff wear face masks, will they be provided?
Students in Grades 4 through 12 will be required to wear masks, which will be provided by the SCDSB. Students from kindergarten through Grade 3 will not be required to wear masks, although it is encouraged. Staff will be required to wear masks, which will be provided by the SCDSB.
Will there be extra cleaning? How often will cleaning occur?
The SCDSB says enhanced cleaning protocols will be implemented, including cleaning and disinfecting at least twice a day of frequently touched surfaces and shared resources (such as doorknobs, light switches, toilets and faucet handles). Buses will be sanitized twice daily with frequent cleaning of high-touch surfaces.
Will there be staggered start times?
Schools will have designated entry and exit doors and staggered entry and exit times.
Will there be hand sanitizer?
Hand sanitizer will be provided in each classroom for student and teacher use. Students will receive training on proper hand hygiene, including instructions on handwashing and sanitizing.
Will physical distancing be enforced? What other protective equipment will be in place?
Directional arrows and signage will be installed in schools to support physical distancing measures, and Plexiglass guards will be installed in school offices.
Will classroom sizes be limited?
No. The province encourages schools to remove unnecessary furniture and place desks with as much distancing as possible, and to allow teachers as much teaching space as possible. Schools are also encouraged to locate larger classes in larger spaces and to use all available space in a school, including gyms and libraries.
What happens if a teacher or student, or any school employee, tests positive for COVID-19?
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit will provide direction to the SCDSB should a positive case of COVID-19 be identified in a school.
“We want to assure you that the health and well-being of our students and staff remains our top priority. We are in regular contact with our local health authority, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, and continue to take their direction on all matters related to COVID-19,” the school board said. “The Ministry of Education is developing a COVID-19 outbreak protocol that will provide school boards with additional direction on contact tracing and enhanced health and safety protocols to reduce the risk of transmission.”
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) Medical Officer of Health Dr. Charles Gardner told the media on Aug. 5 if there is an outbreak, health unit staff would be responsible for issuing consistent messaging and identifying who would need to be isolated and further tested.
How will the remote learning work? Will students have live interaction with their teachers?
Students will be provided with a daily schedule of subjects/courses according to a five-hour instructional day with opportunities for frequent, live contact with a teacher and expectations for synchronous learning (real-time).
The SCDSB is developing a parent/guardian support platform, accessible through the SCDSB website, which will include self-help tools and resources as well as access to SCDSB staff, who will provide individualized support related to technology, learning platforms, curriculum, mental health and special education needs.
Students who are participating in remote learning may be clustered in “classes” from multiple schools. Attendance will be taken. The SCDSB notes it is waiting for more details from the Ministry of Education about at-home learning.
What if I do not have the technology to support learning at home?
The SCDSB has purchased additional technology to support students whose families select remote learning but do not have access to support it. Distribution of technology will be facilitated at the school level at the beginning of the school year.
What will in-school learning look like for elementary students?
Students will attend full-time in classroom cohorts that won’t mix. Recesses and classes will be staggered to limit interaction.
What about lunch?
Students will eat in their classrooms.
Will there be screening protocols?
All students and staff are required to complete a self-screen prior to attending school each day, using a self-assessment tool provided by the SMDHU. Students or staff with symptoms must stay home.
Can I switch back to in-class learning?
Those who select remote learning may have to remain in that learning environment until a natural term transition in order to allow for consistent organization of schools and classrooms. The natural term transition time to move between in class and remote learning is February 2021.
What will in-school learning look like for secondary students?
Students will attend full time in a quadmester approach for the first semester, with students taking two courses at a time instead of four. Courses will run from September to November and November to February. Students will have a lunch period in their classrooms and common areas such as libraries will be closed. Lockers will not be available for student use at the start of the school year. Outdoor learning will be encouraged. No assemblies or other large gatherings will be held.
How will the school support student mental health and well-being?
Supports for student mental health and well-being, including mental health and wellness promotion plus prevention and intervention strategies, will continue to be provided by SCDSB staff. Available options include brief intervention services, wellness check-ins and referrals to community mental health services. SCDSB social workers will continue to provide direct support to students with emerging or identified mental health concerns, along with resource and consultation support for staff and families. SCDSB child and youth workers will continue to promote and to provide social emotional skill building support to students. Families can continue to access resources and supports on the SCDSB website and make contact with the SCDSB school mental health team for consultation and discussion.
How will busing work?
The Simcoe County Student Transportation Consortium (SCTSC) is working in partnership with the SCDSB and bus operators to develop and implement physical distancing and enhanced cleaning protocols for students who will be riding in school buses and other vehicles.
So, will there be physical distancing on the bus?
SCSTC staff are working with schools to create seating plans to support maximum physical distancing, and to keep students from the same family and the same cohort together, where possible.
What about sports and physical education?
The SCDSB is awaiting further direction from the Ontario Federation of School Athletics Association with regards to fall sports. Physical activities that support physical distancing, while also limiting the use of shared equipment, will occur.
For more information on the SCDSB’s back to school plan, visit www.scdsb.on.ca/covid-19.
Shane MacDonald, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Barrie Advance
