Ontario Government announces Return to Remote Learning on April 19, 2021

Posted On Monday April 12, 2021

April 12, 2021

 

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Late this afternoon, the Government of Ontario announced that as a result of a rapid increase in COVID-19 transmission, a provincial decision has been made to return to remote learning for both elementary and secondary students following the April break. This decision has been made based on the advice of Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health - Click here to view the announcement.

At this time, there is no anticipated date for a return to in-person learning. The government has advised that data will be assessed on an ongoing basis, in consultation with health officials, to determine when a safe return to in-person learning is possible.

SCHEDULES FOR LEARNING FOLLOWING THE BREAK

Virtual Schools – Elementary and Secondary 

For students previously enrolled in virtual learning (elementary or secondary) online instruction will resume on April 19, 2021 according to the previously established schedule.

Elementary (Kindergarten – Grade 8) 

April 19, 2021 - Afternoon Only

  • Parents/Guardians can expect that educators will connect with their students in the afternoon using board approved platforms. 
  • Schedules for the week, assignments and information will be sent from the school/educator to each student/family via Edsby, Microsoft Teams, and/or board email. 
  • As in the past, real-time learning will be facilitated through Microsoft Teams, Zoom or Brightspace. 


General Timelines 

As in the past, when remote learning resumes:

  • Kindergarten students should be able to access up to 180 minutes of learning each day. 
  • Students in Grades 1-8 should be able to access up to 225 minutes of learning each day.


Secondary (Grades 9-12)
 

April 19, 2021 – Day 1 of Quadmester 4 – Classes in Afternoon Only

On the first day back, there will be no classes in the morning.

The afternoon schedule will be as follows.

1:30 pm – 2:45 pm      Course 7 Online

2:45 pm – 4:00 pm     Course 8 Online

Moving forward from April 20, 2021 onwards:

Students in Grades 9-12 will continue to follow the same schedule that has been in place during past periods of remote learning  

  1. All students will be expected to engage in online learning in the morning (Blocks 1 and 2) every day. 

  2. Lunch break will be 60 minutes. 

  3. Students attending All Saints and Msgr. John Pereyma Catholic Secondary Schools will continue to follow their current schedule and start times of 8:50 a.m. (All Saints) and 9:00 a.m. (Pereyma) as noted on their schools’ websites.

 

Daily Schedule – Secondary Schools (excluding All Saints and Msgr. John Pereyma CSS) 

Time

Schedule

10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Block 1

11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Block 2

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Lunch

 1:30 p.m. –  2:45 p.m.

Block 3

 2:45 p.m. –  4:00 p.m.

Block 4

 

April 19-23:   Block 1 & 2       Course 7/Block 3 & 4 - Course 8 

April 26-30:  Block 1 & 2        Course 8/Block 3 & 4 - Course 7

May 3-7: Block 1 & 2             Course 7/Block 3 & 4 - Course 8

May 10-14   Block 1 & 2         Course 8/Block 3 & 4 - Course 7 

 

Students with Exceptional Special Education Needs 

Program Support Teachers will connect with the parents/guardians of our students with exceptional education needs beginning on April 19, 2021 in order to confirm programming needs and to put the necessary accommodations in place. Where required and appropriate, elementary and secondary students with the highest special needs who have been attending in person on a daily basis during past periods of remote learning, will be provided with the opportunity to return to in-person learning (for the full day) starting on April 21, 2021. 

 

Technology Needs

Where access to technology is a barrier, families can contact their school on April 19, 2021 for support.  

For technical support on board issued devices or applications such as Edsby, D2L/Brightspace, Office 365, etc., please email TechnologySupport@dcdsb.ca. In your email, please explain the issue you are experiencing such as password reset, along with your child’s full legal name, student User ID, date of birth, school name, grade and phone number where we can contact you.


Additional Ministry Supports for Learning
 

As a reminder TVO Learn?and?TFO?IDÉLLO, apprendre à la maison, provides supports for students learning remotely. You can access these additional educational resources developed by Ontario certified teachers to support learning.?  

I wish you all a safe and healthy break and encourage all those who are currently eligible to obtain the vaccine. More information on vaccination appointments is available on the Durham Region Health Department website.

Yours in faith,

 

Tracy Barill
Director of Education