Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021
Dear Parents and Guardians,
This is the third of four weekly communications being issued Thursdays with information/updates before school starts.
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Near North District School Board (NNDSB) has released its back-to-school guidance document. This document is posted on the board’s website, as is an easy-to-use menu of answers to some of the more common questions and concerns of families.
Highlights of the guidance document contents include: self-screening requirement for every person who is entering a school (page 3); masking requirements and exemptions (page 3); news on field trips (page 10); vaccination requirement and clinics (page 11); changes that affect cooperative education, music, phys ed, EQAO and graduation requirements (pages 16-17), ventilation (page 19) and extra-curriculars and community use of schools (pages 19-20). There are also details about how COVID-19 will be managed in schools and case scenarios (pages 20-27).
The guidance document will be updated on an as-needed basis if the situation with COVID-19 cases in our area changes, and the board is directed to alter practice.
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NNDSB’s Early Years team is excited to continue moving forward in partnership with the Parry Sound DSSAB to bring three new after school programs to families at Sundridge Centennial Public School, Magnetawan Central Public School and Land of Lakes Public School in Burks Falls. Sundridge Centennial is slated to also include a before school program.
Parents in these areas are encouraged to register for these programs through the Parry Sound DSSAB. They need to have enough registrations for the programs to be viable. For years parents in this region have hoped that our schools would be able to host before and after childcare programs. We are so close to this becoming a reality.
To see a full listing of the Before and After School Programs as well as other Near North childcare options for children from 0-12 years of age, visit this page of our website.
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Schools will open Monday, Aug. 30 for elementary and secondary registrations. If required, call your school to schedule an appointment.
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The return to school follows a summer with many supports in place for NNDSB students and their families.
Five Summer Learning Programs took place virtually across the board, serving students in Grades K-9.
Because they proved so popular, mental health drop-in camps were extended until the end of August, Grade 12 physics summer school students enjoyed a trip to the Canadian Ecology Centre to see geological potholes. Students received their credits with the support of the summer school educator team.
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Early Literacy (reading) training for educators is taking place this week. The focus is on students in Grades K-6 and appropriate learning development. Educators are learning how to use measures identified in a new specialized reading assessment tool to help identify appropriate levels of intervention for students and monitor individual responses to it.
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NNDSB follows the direction of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and the public health unit when devising COVID-19 plans.
Thank you,
Near North District School Board
