1st Day Back Remote Learning 9:30am Virtually on my Microsoft Teams Classroom

What

1st Day Back Remote Learning 9:30am Virtually on my Microsoft Teams Classroom

When

1/4/2021

Dear Parents/Guardians and Students,

Thank you for your continued support as we keep students and staff safe during this unprecedented school year. As announced by Premier Ford on December 21, the province has entered a period of public health restrictions beginning at 12:01 a.m. December 26, 2020.

As you may be aware, the Chief Medical Officer of Health has confirmed that the transmission of COVID-19 in schools has remained low, and schools remain a place for students to learn safely. However, the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve rapidly, and we recognize that the students and staff in the education system play an important role in supporting efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19.
In consultation with Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Ministry of Education has identified the following:

*Elementary and secondary students province-wide will participate in remote learning from January 4-8, 2021. In-person instruction will not be permitted during this period.
*Elementary school students can return to in-person learning on January 11, 2021.
*Secondary school students will continue learning remotely until Friday, January 22, and in-person learning will resume on Monday, January 25, 2021.

Synchronous Learning

Teachers and support staff will be available online during regular school hours to support your child’s learning through the Microsoft TEAMS or D2L/Brightspace platform. Teachers will use a blend of synchronous and asynchronous strategies to engage students and facilitate learning. Should you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s learning or require support in getting connected to the online classroom, please contact your child’s school effective January 4, 2021. Schools will not be open, however phone lines will be monitored. For more information regarding the CDSBEO Distance Learning Plan, please refer to the CDSBEO Re-Entry plan found on the board website at www.cdsbeo.on.ca.

Learning Resources

The Ministry of Education recently announced the launch of two new portals, TVO Learn and TFO IDÉLLO, apprendre à la maison, which provide supports for students learning remotely by accessing additional educational resources developed by Ontario certified teachers.

In addition, secondary students can continue to access TVO’s Independent Learning Centre (ILC) Open House and Portes ouvertes pour les cours TVO ILC in French-language, which provide access to 144 Grade 9 to 12 courses. These ILC resources are designed to provide flexible learning opportunities to help students keep up with their learning or deepen their understanding of a specific subject in addition to their regular course timetable.

Technology for Remote Learning

As of January 4th, please contact your school principal should you have any technology related concerns, including internet connectivity.

Student Supports

CDSBEO has worked diligently to ensure that plans are in place to support students with special education needs that leverages the capacity of education workers and board professionals (e.g. behavioural experts, speech language pathologists, and other professionals) to support remote learning. Any student with special education needs who cannot be accommodated through remote learning based on student needs will be accommodated on a case-by-case basis. Please contact your school principal to discuss options for your child should they not be able to participate in remote learning due to their individual learning needs.

Please be reminded that students who access services at the school and in the community based on their individual safety plan will continue to be connected to those services. Students will continue to have remote access to services, through the school, community child and youth mental health or local healthcare partners. In addition, mental health resources remain available to students and families, including Kids Help Phone, which offers 24/7 counselling and referral services across the province. To use this free resource, children can call 1-800-668-6868, or text CONNECT to 686868.

School Mental Health Ontario also has a number of great resources for students, parents and families on their website at www.smho-smso.ca. In addition, child and youth mental health agencies across the province continue to provide services.

Student Transportation

Because both the elementary and the secondary panels will be learning remotely the first week in January, no student transportation services will be provided January 4-8, 2021.
Once elementary schools resume in-class instruction on January 11, 2021, student transportation services will resume.

Child Care Centres in Schools

Schools offering licensed infant, toddler and preschool programs will continue to provide access to their on-site child care centres. Schools that offer before and after school programs will be closed from January 4-8, 2021.

Should you have any additional questions please contact your child’s school.
Thank you for your ongoing cooperation and support. Happy New Year!