In preparation for the new school year, Peel District School Board (PDSB) has just posted a long statement regarding the school reopening plans for 2020-21.
In June, the Ministry of Education announced that Ontario schools will reopen for 2020-21. School boards were directed to prepare reopening plans for three possible scenarios:
- a full-time return to in-person learning – In this model, students attend all day, every day
- a hybrid, adaptive model that combines in-person and distance learning — With this model, students in Special Education classes would attend every day. Other students would attend in person on alternate days/weeks and participate in distance learning when not physically attending. Students would be placed into a cohort of up to 15 students per class or course, per day.
- distance learning for all, if schools are closed
According to the PDSB news release, the Ministry has indicated that student attendance for in-person learning will be voluntary and that students who do not attend in person will be engaged in distance learning.
By mid-August 2020, families will be asked to pre-register students, to indicate their intention of having their child(ren)’s return to school or participate in distance learning and their transportation (busing) intentions. This will help PDSB plan bus routes and develop student cohorts—which groups of students will attend on which day if school boards are directed into a hybrid model. It is very important that all parents/guardians respond to this survey so PDSB can plan for a safe return for all. PDSB asks that you look for this survey, which will be emailed to parents/guardians.
What will be included in the board’s reopening plans? Peel board staff are carefully working through all of the complex considerations to plan for everyone’s safe return. Approved reopening plans will include information on:
- enhanced health and safety measures, including screening and self-assessment, hand hygiene, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as masks, cohorting, physical distancing, sharing of classroom materials and room set-up
- protocols for cleaning high-touch surfaces, student classrooms/portables, washrooms, alternative learning environments, equipment, etc., as well as cleaning between cohort use
- mental health supports and resources
- schedules/timetables
- in-class and distance learning expectations, including subject-specific considerations
- supports for students with special education needs and the impact on programming, including the use of sensory equipment, Plans of Care and working with community partners
- assessment, evaluation and reporting
- arrival/departure, entry/exit and Main Office protocols
- lunch and nutrition breaks
- extracurricular activities and field trips
- mental health supports and resources
- technology supports
- transportation, including loading/unloading protocols, vehicle cleaning and route planning
- full-time, before- and after-school child care
- adult and continuing education, including, but not limited to, impacts on credit/pre-credit programs, Night School, International Languages, alternative programs, Co-Operative Education, Dual Credit and Specialist High Skills Major programs
When can students/families expect to receive schedules/timetables? Families can expect to receive details about their child(ren)’s elementary and secondary school schedule(s) by Aug. 28, 2020. Information will include cohort details and clearly outline the dates their children will attend. Secondary timetables will be available as of Sept. 4, 2020.
How will reopening plans be communicated? Once the Ministry of Education has approved the Peel board’s reopening plans, it will be shared with the families as soon as possible so that families can begin planning.
Approved reopening plans will be posted to the PDSB intranet and staff will be alerted by email. Families will also receive an email with a link to information about our reopening plans that will be posted on our board’s website. A high-level overview and Frequently Asked Questions FAQ resource will also be developed.
Visit this link to read a detailed version of this news release.
