Pack up their backpacks, because Simcoe County’s kids are heading back to the classroom.
On Wednesday afternoon, provincial Minister of Education Stephen Lecce announced the dates for the return of in-person learning in all remaining Ontario public health unit regions. Students in the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit’s catchment area will be returning to class on Feb. 8. However, details are still scant on what exactly return-to-school will look like for Simcoe County families.
In a note on its Facebook page, the Simcoe County District School Board confirmed Wednesday night the back-to-school date of Feb. 8, and added that more information would be shared on the details on Thursday.
The Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board sent a letter home to families on Wednesday night.
“Moving to remote learning after Christmas was challenging for some students and families. In particular, we have been concerned about students who have become disconnected, disengaged and marginalized in the remote learning environment,” wrote the Catholic board’s director of education, Frances Bagley. “There have also been concerns related to the mental health and well-being of many in our school communities.”
“We know that online learning at home is incredibly difficult for many families. With all of that in mind, we do believe that a return to in-class learning is good news for our school communities,” she said.
In the letter, Bagley outlined some of the new protocols and procedures families will have to follow when kids return to class next week, in addition to protocols that had already been in place prior to Christmas break.
Students from junior kindergarten through to Grade 12 will now all be required to wear masks.
“Any concerns that we had at the beginning of the year regarding the ability and willingness of our youngest learners to wear masks (even for long periods of time) have subsided,” she said.
New, enhanced screening mechanisms will be implemented for all staff and secondary students. According to the letter, details on this change will be communicated by the board to parents prior to Feb. 8.
Lastly, the Catholic board will be taking a harder stance on before- and after-school congregating.
“Congregating before and after school will not be permitted on school premises,” said Bagley. “We are relying on our partnership with our families and the co-operation of our students to eliminate before- and after-school gatherings.”
Questions asked of the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit concerning the return to school were not answered by publication time.
