Elementary students enrolled in public and Catholic schools across Simcoe County who were looking forward to heading back in class Monday were left disappointed Thursday when the Ontario government announced it would be extending elementary school closures until Jan. 25.
“On Jan. 7, the Ontario government announced an extension to the elementary school closure period in response to COVID-19,” a public school board official wrote on the board’s Facebook page Friday. “As such, all (Simcoe County District School Board) elementary schools will remain closed and elementary students will continue to participate in remote learning until Jan. 22. At this time, students are expected to return to in-person learning on Jan. 25.”
Secondary students will continue to participate in remote learning and are expected to return to in-person learning Jan. 25.
According to the release, parents and guardians of elementary students in special education classes will be contacted by their child’s teacher regarding programming options.
At the Catholic school board, a letter released to families Friday outlined that elementary students would be continuing with remote learning until Jan. 22 as well.
“We want to return to face-to-face learning as soon as possible and so it is critical that everyone closely follows the public health guidelines that are in place during this lockdown,” wrote director of education Francis Bagley in her letter. “It is distressing to see the numbers rising so sharply in our region and we want nothing more than for our staff and families to remain safe and healthy.”
There is one school in the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board that will be heading back to class on Jan. 11. Saint Peter the Apostle Catholic School in Parry Sound is considered part of the northern schools that will be heading back to face-to-face learning on Monday.
On Thursday, Minister of Education Stephen Lecce said that over the holidays, there was an 117 per cent spike in kids getting COVID-19, which is what led to the decision to extend school closures.
“This data came to us yesterday, and we’re acting today,” said Lecce.
On Friday, Lecce also announced the government plans to roll out asymptomatic COVID testing at schools across the province starting the day schools reopen.
The current provincial lockdown began Boxing Day and is set to last until Jan. 23.
