Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Yesterday, the Ministry of Education released COVID-19: Health, Safety and Operational Guidance for Schools 2021-22. This plan provides the direction that all school boards in Ontario, including Near North District School Board (NNDSB), are to follow for the upcoming school year.
Staff are reviewing the document, and families will receive updated information about a safe return to school.
The full plan may be accessed via the link above. Here are a few key details of the announcement:
- Students will return to in-person learning for the full school day, although remote learning may have been selected in June as your family’s option for the upcoming school year;
- All staff and students will be required to self-screen every day before attending school. NNDSB uses the Ontario government school and child care screening tool;
- Students in Grades 1-12 (encouraged for students in kindergarten) and staff will be required to wear masks while indoors and on student transportation. Masks are not required outdoors, and social distancing is encouraged;
- Extra-curricular and inter-school sport activities will be permitted with some modifications.
The Ministry of Education encourages vaccination as a tool to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and will work with the Ministry of Health and public health units to create vaccination opportunities for staff and students. Information about vaccines and local clinics may be found here.
NNDSB has been supported by the provincial and federal governments in optimizing air quality in classrooms through improved ventilation and/or filtration and will continue to utilize best practice guidelines.
NNDSB will continue to follow the directions of the provincial government, the Ministry of Education and the health unit, and will keep families updated via Letters to Families, its website, and the board’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Near North District School Board
