Updated March 11 at 3:40 p.m.
All four local school boards have now announced schools in the region will be closed for in-person learning as of Monday, March 15.
Public Health Sudbury & Districts medical officer of health Dr. Penny Sutcliffe is due to make an announcement at 4 p.m. after the province announced earlier today that the region is moving into the Grey-Lockdown zone as of tomorrow.
“As of Monday, March 15, 2021, all students in Rainbow schools will learn remotely until further notice,” said a memo posted to the Rainbow District School Board’s Facebook page Thursday afternoon.
“School-based child-care will continue. All before and after school programs, however, will be suspended. Schools will be open for in-person learning on Friday, March 12.”
The memo asked that students bring home any personal belongings at the end of the school day Friday, as schools will be closed to students.
The other three school boards in the area have also announced school closures.
Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord de l’Ontario (CSPGNO), posted a letter to this effect on its Facebook page, as has Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon (CSCNO).
“The Ontario government, on the advice of the province's chief medical officer, today announced that the Sudbury and District Health District will be placed in the ‘Grey-Lockdown’ zone, starting tomorrow, March 12, 2021,” said the letter from CSPGNO director of education Marc Gauthier.
“This decision was made due to the increasing rise in COVID-19 cases in the Greater Sudbury area.
“Therefore, all Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord de l’Ontario (CSPGNO) elementary and high schools located in the City of Greater Sudbury, will be switching to virtual education March 15, 2021. There will be no in person teaching during this time.”
You can read the full announcement from the French public board on its Facebook page.
The announcement from the French Catholic board (CSCNO) said as part of the lockdown, all elementary and secondary schools from the Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon located in Sudbury East, Greater Sudbury and Espanola will be closed.
Daycares located in the board’s schools will remain open, but will not offer before and after-school programs.
To support students in their learning, kindergarten to Grade 12 students will pursue their learning at home in a virtual format starting on Monday, March 15. At the moment, the return date is not known, said the board.
You can read CSCNO’s full announcement here.
Sudbury Catholic District School Board also posted a memo about the situation on its website Thursday afternoon.
The memo from SCDSB said remote learning would continue until March 26, unless the board is otherwise advised.
"Should this be extended, we will advise you as soon as possible," the board said.
