Earlier this month, the Ministry of Education provided school boards in Ontario with a guidance document outlining the requirements for reopening schools in September. The COVID-19: Health, safety and operational guidance for schools (2021-2022) is available on the Ministry of Education website.
We are excited to welcome students back to full-time, in-person learning and want to assure you that the health and well-being of our students and staff remains our top priority. We know you will have many questions and we are committed to keeping our Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) families informed.
The SCDSB continues to work closely with, and take our advice from, the health authorities at the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) on all matters related to COVID-19. SCDSB staff have reviewed the Ministry of Education guidance document and have developed a return to school plan in consultation with the SMDHU that takes into consideration local and evolving public health conditions. The SCDSB Return to School Plan ensures that proper and effective health and safety precautions are in place to continue to keep students and staff safe when they return to in-person learning.
The SCDSB Return to School Plan will be updated in response to local public health conditions and direction from the Ministry of Education and SMDHU.
Updates will be posted on the SCDSB website at www.scdsb.on.ca/covid-19.
At the advice of the SMDHU, many of the health and safety protocols that have been in place in SCDSB schools and facilities will remain in place as we begin the school year. This includes:
• COVID-19 self-assessment screening daily by both students and staff.
• Mandatory masking of all staff and students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 while indoors.
• Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting at least twice daily of frequently touched surfaces and shared resources.
• Training on proper hand hygiene including instruction on hand washing, sanitizing and respiratory etiquette. Hand sanitizer will be provided in each classroom for student and teacher use.
We hope that our students continue to enjoy the summer holidays. We look forward to welcoming students back to school on September 7, 2021.
For ongoing updates, visit the COVID-19 page on our website, or follow us on social media.