In releasing its back-to-school plan, the Rainbow District School Board says it’s adopting a “cautiously optimistic approach” and that reopening schools is a “fine balance.”
Area schools pivoted to online learning this past March amid a surge in COVID-19 cases locally. Schools across the province eventually followed suit, and, as was also the case in 2020, the school year was finished via virtual learning.
The first day of school for all four local school boards is Sept. 7.
“Much has been said about the impact of school closures on children,” said the Rainbow board’s outgoing director of education Norm Blaseg, at a special meeting of the board on Aug. 10, where he made a presentation on school reopening.
“In the planning for the reopening of Rainbow schools, therefore, it is critical that we balance the risk of infection and transmission of COVID-19 in children with the impact of school closures on their physical and mental health.
“We all want to see children and young people back in the classroom reconnecting with their teachers, support staff, administrators, and of course, their peers.”
At the same time, Blaseg also raised the spectre of schools possibly being closed to in-person learning at some point for the third straight school year due to the pandemic.
“The ongoing pandemic has taught us that we need to be flexible in order to limit the spread of COVID-19,” Blaseg said. “Depending on what is happening with COVID-19, we’re prepared to shift to teacher-led remote learning.”
He said the Rainbow board’s reopening plans respond to directives released by the Ministry of Education earlier this month, with guidance from Public Health Sudbury & Districts.
As directed by the ministry, the board is providing expanded opportunities for students, such as clubs, sports and bands.
The board is now asking parents and guardians whether they wish their children to attend school for the 2021-22 school year in-person or via virtual school, an option Ontario boards are still required to provide.
That survey, released today, must be completed by noon on Monday, Aug. 16. It can be accessed at rainbowschools.ca.
“We purposely delayed our back-to-school survey to ensure parents and guardians had access to as much information as possible in order to make an informed decision,” Blaseg said. “Parents and guardians need to know what to expect with in-person learning and with remote learning.”
Blaseg outlined what class will look like at Rainbow schools for the upcoming school year.
In terms of in-person learning, elementary schools will reopen with in-person instruction five days a week. Classes will be cohorted by homeroom.
Secondary schools will reopen with smaller cohorts in a modified semester, five days a week.
Each class will be 150 minutes. In week 1, mornings will be period 1 and afternoons will be period 2. In week 2, mornings will be period 3 and afternoons will be period 4. In this way, in-person secondary students will complete four credits per semester.
For students who are unable to attend in person, Rainbow District School Board will offer remote learning.
There will be one opportunity to transition between remote and in-person learning in February 2022.
If unable to attend in person, students in Rainbow schools will be expected to attend school remotely until February 2022 with access to learning materials posted online as well as synchronous (live) learning opportunities throughout the day.
Elementary students will have timetables to connect remotely/synchronously with a remote learning teacher.
Secondary students will connect synchronously to a classroom teacher. Remote secondary students may not be provided instruction by their regular classroom teacher and timetable changes may be required.
Technology will be provided, if required, for remote learning.
In response to a question from trustee Anita Gibson, superintendent Bruce Bourget (who’s the board’s incoming director of education) clarified that virtual secondary school may more closely resemble virtual elementary school in how it’s conducted this school year.
In the last school year, students taking part in virtual learning connected with their regular classroom teachers via livestream.
“That depends on how many students sign up to take part,” Bourget said, adding he expects virtual school numbers to be lower this school year. “If numbers are low, we may not have the students attend class with their regular teacher.”
During the meeting, Blaseg brought up the fact that the Rainbow board is entering the school year without COVID-19 vaccination statistics about its students and staff.
He said “at least to our knowledge” it’s his understanding that Public Health Sudbury & Districts will not be sharing that information.
This concerned many of the Rainbow board trustees taking part in the Aug. 10 meeting, who feel this information could have helped the board in its planning.
Trustee Dena Morrison said that, anecdotally, she knows that students over the age of 12 receiving COVID-19 vaccines this summer were not even asked what school they attend.
“They have no information to compile for us because the question wasn’t asked,” Morrison said.
Highlights from the Rainbow board’s reopening plan:
- Masks/PPE — All students in Rainbow schools in grades 1 to 12 are required to wear non-medical or cloth masks indoors in school, including in hallways and during classes. Kindergarten students are required to wear non-medical masks and/or face shields in indoor spaces. Staff are required to wear medical masks, as well as eye protection. Parents/guardians and visitors are required to wear medical masks.
- Screening — All staff and students who are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 as identified in the online screening tool must not attend school and should follow the guidance provided in the screening tool, which may include seeking appropriate medical attention as required, and/or getting tested for COVID-19.
- Ventilation — Air quality in classrooms and learning environments will be optimized through improved ventilation and/or filtration. Schools currently have a variety of ventilation systems. The majority have the ability to exchange fresh outdoor air by way of mechanical ventilation. Where possible, staff will open windows throughout the teaching day to allow fresh air to enter the classrooms/building. Building automation systems will be reviewed to improve the amount of air exchange. For schools or parts of schools without mechanical ventilation, stand-alone high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter units will be installed in all classrooms and learning environments.
- Community Use of Schools — Community use will be reviewed and phased in when deemed appropriate. Rainbow student activities will be the first priority
- Belongings — Use of lockers/cubbies is permitted. It is good practice to bring only what is essential.
- Music — If and how instrumental music classes are held will depend on distance between students. One-to-one use of wind instruments is recommended, however, if instruments are shared, proper sanitization will occur between use. Instruments, when used, will be sanitized. Vocal classes are permitted indoors. Masks are required indoors.
- School clubs and sports — Clubs, activities, sport teams and extra-curriculars are permitted. Further guidance on extra-curricular activities and health and physical education will be shared with schools.
- Opening exercises — Students will continue to observe the playing of O Canada, and may sing with masks on.
- Recess — Students do not need to stay within their class during recess and breaks outdoors, but distancing should be encouraged between students as much as possible. Shared materials outdoors are permitted, with appropriate hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.
The full plan can be viewed online here.
