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Your questions about back to school in Simcoe County answered

Some of the common questions parents have regarding back to school policies in September
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Simcoe County District School Board offices in Midhurst. Miriam King/Innisfil Today

The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) has released a fact sheet shedding some more light on what the return to school will look  like for students at home and in class. 

Here are the answers to what you've been wondering about returning to school: 

When does school start?
Sept. 8. 

Will students and staff wear face masks, will they be provided?
Students in Grades 4 through 12 will be required to wear masks, which  will be provided by the SCDSB. Students from kindergarten through Grade  3 will not be required to wear masks, although it is encouraged. Staff  will be required to wear masks, which will be provided by the SCDSB.

Will there be extra cleaning? How often will cleaning occur?
The SCDSB says enhanced cleaning protocols will be implemented,  including cleaning and disinfecting at least twice a day of frequently  touched surfaces and shared resources (such as doorknobs, light  switches, toilets and faucet handles). Buses will be sanitized twice  daily with frequent cleaning of high-touch surfaces.

Will there be staggered start times?
Schools will have designated entry and exit doors and staggered entry and exit times.

Will there be hand sanitizer?
Hand sanitizer will be provided in each classroom for student and  teacher use. Students will receive training on proper hand hygiene,  including instructions on handwashing and sanitizing.

Will physical distancing be enforced? What other protective equipment will be in place?
Directional arrows and signage will be installed in schools to  support physical distancing measures, and Plexiglass guards will be  installed in school offices.

Will classroom sizes be limited?
No. The province encourages schools to remove unnecessary furniture  and place desks with as much distancing as possible, and to allow  teachers as much teaching space as possible. Schools are also encouraged  to locate larger classes in larger spaces and to use all available  space in a school, including gyms and libraries.

What happens if a teacher or student, or any school employee, tests positive for COVID-19? 
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit will provide direction to the  SCDSB should a positive case of COVID-19 be identified in a school. 

“We want to assure you that the health and well-being of our students  and staff remains our top priority. We are in regular contact with our  local health authority, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, and  continue to take their direction on all matters related to COVID-19,”  the school board said. “The Ministry of Education is developing a  COVID-19 outbreak protocol that will provide school boards with  additional direction on contact tracing and enhanced health and safety  protocols to reduce the risk of transmission.”

Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit  (SMDHU) Medical Officer of  Health Dr. Charles Gardner told the media on Aug. 5 if there is an  outbreak, health unit staff would be responsible for issuing consistent  messaging and identifying who would need to be isolated and further  tested.

How will the remote learning work? Will students have live interaction with their teachers? 
Students will be provided with a daily schedule of subjects/courses  according to a five-hour instructional day with opportunities for  frequent, live contact with a teacher and expectations for synchronous  learning (real-time).

The SCDSB is developing a parent/guardian support platform,  accessible through the SCDSB website, which will include self-help tools  and resources as well as access to SCDSB staff, who will provide  individualized support related to technology, learning platforms,  curriculum, mental health and special education needs.

Students who are participating in remote learning may be clustered in  “classes” from multiple schools. Attendance will be taken. The SCDSB  notes it is waiting for more details from the Ministry of Education  about at-home learning.

What if I do not have the technology to support learning at home?
The SCDSB has purchased additional technology to support students  whose families select remote learning but do not have access to support  it. Distribution of technology will be facilitated at the school level  at the beginning of the school year.

What will in-school learning look like for elementary students?
Students will attend full-time in classroom cohorts that won’t mix. Recesses and classes will be staggered to limit interaction.

What about lunch?
Students will eat in their classrooms.

Will there be screening protocols?
All students and staff are required to complete a self-screen prior  to attending school each day, using a self-assessment tool provided by  the SMDHU. Students or staff with symptoms must stay home. 

Can I switch back to in-class learning? 
Those who select remote learning may have to remain in that learning  environment until a natural term transition in order to allow for  consistent organization of schools and classrooms.  The natural term  transition time to move between in class and remote learning is February  2021. 

What will in-school learning look like for secondary students?
Students will attend full time in a quadmester approach for the first  semester, with students taking two courses at a time instead of four.  Courses will run from September to November and November to February.  Students will have a lunch period in their classrooms and common areas  such as libraries will be closed. Lockers will not be available for  student use at the start of the school year. Outdoor learning will be  encouraged. No assemblies or other large gatherings will be held.

How will the school support student mental health and well-being?
Supports for student mental health and well-being, including mental  health and wellness promotion plus prevention and intervention  strategies, will continue to be provided by SCDSB staff. Available  options include brief intervention services, wellness check-ins and  referrals to community mental health services. SCDSB social workers will  continue to provide direct support to students with emerging or  identified mental health concerns, along with resource and consultation  support for staff and families. SCDSB child and youth workers will  continue to promote and to provide social emotional skill building  support to students. Families can continue to access resources and  supports on the SCDSB website and make contact with the SCDSB school  mental health team for consultation and discussion.

How will busing work? 
The Simcoe County Student Transportation Consortium (SCTSC) is  working in partnership with the SCDSB and bus operators to develop and  implement physical distancing and enhanced cleaning protocols for  students who will be riding in school buses and other vehicles.

So, will there be physical distancing on the bus?
SCSTC staff are working with schools to create seating plans to  support maximum physical distancing, and to keep students from the same  family and the same cohort together, where possible. 

What about sports and physical education?
The SCDSB is awaiting further direction from the Ontario Federation  of School Athletics Association with regards to fall sports. Physical  activities that support physical distancing, while also limiting the use  of shared equipment, will occur.

For more information on the SCDSB’s back to school plan, visit www.scdsb.on.ca/covid-19.

Shane MacDonald, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Barrie Advance