We have received notice from the Ontario Ministry of Education that the closure of all Ontario schools will be extended as outlined below. During this period, all students will continue to participate in online learning. This is in an effort to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
All elementary schools will be closed to students until January 25, 2021. All students will participate in online learning during this time. Elementary schools are expected to reopen to students for in-person learning on January 25, 2021.
All secondary schools will continue to be closed to students and reopen January 25, 2021 as previously announced. Students will continue to participate in online learning during this time.
Before and after care programs will not operate while schools are closed to students. For child care programs, please check with your child care provider.
Special Education Elementary
During the last several months, beginning with an online summer program for students with Developmental Disabilities and students with Autism, Principals, Teachers and Educational Assistants have been providing meaningful and engaging online learning opportunities to students with special education needs. Thousands of students with special education needs have been enrolled in our elementary and secondary virtual schools since school began this year and many more are currently waiting for virtual school placement for the rest of the 2020-2021 school year. We are currently accommodating hundreds of students with community class placements in online learning programs and achieving excellent outcomes.
Most students with special education needs will be learning remotely during this period. In order to reduce the spread of COVID19, in-person learning should be reserved for a small group of students that cannot be accommodated through remote learning. We are working towards providing in-person learning opportunities for students whose significant needs cannot be accommodated with online learning. School teams will contact families on January 11, 2021 to offer in-person learning to those students whose needs cannot be accommodated online. Asynchronous learning opportunities will continue to be offered during this planning period. Transportation details for those students requiring face-to-face learning and additional information regarding special education will be communicated separately.
Resources for Families
Families looking for assistance in navigating online tools can find resources available on the Board website. Families looking for virtual school IT support are encouraged to visit our Virtual School IT Support page for FAQs and a student tech help form. The provincial government has also established financial support for families during this temporary remote learning period through its Support for Learners program.
You may be concerned about your child’s emotional well-being. You can find tips on how to speak to your child about COVID-19 on our website as well as mental health supports.
Thank you for your ongoing support and patience. We will continue to share updates and information with you as it becomes available. You can also follow the Board’s Twitter feed: @YRDSB, or for information about YRDSB’s reopening plan, visit: www.yrdsb.ca/school-reopening.