Dear Parents, Guardians and Caregivers,
Next week, all students, both virtual and in-person learners, will be on April Break. I hope you have an opportunity to relax, rest and take a break from what has been a complicated and challenging school year.
I want to thank you for continuing to follow the health and safety measures while schools were open. Our collective efforts made a difference in the health and safety of our school communities. As you know, the province has implemented a province-wide shutdown for four weeks in response to the worsening trends of COVID-19 across Ontario and in Toronto. We must all continue to follow the public health measures to help prevent and limit the spread of COVID-19, including:
- Socializing only with your own household
- Staying home if you feel ill and getting tested
- Participating in the targeted testing offered by the ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø and its health partners
- Screening, every day, for COVID-19 symptoms before attending child care
- Practicing good hand hygiene, masking and physical distancing
For the week of April 12-18, there are additional asymptomatic testing options available to students, including pharmacies that currently offer testing and assessment centres across the province. Read thefull list of available options here. Some ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø schools may also be offering school-based clinics in partnership with the Ministry of Education. Parents are encouraged to take advantage of this testing capacity to have their children tested to support a safe return to school.
As of now, schools are closed to in-person learning until Sunday, April 18. We expect to hear at the end of next week what the plans are for a return to in-person learning and when it may be and will email you again as soon as we know more. We understand the impact on the mental health and well-being of all students and staff.
Should you be interested, the Ministry of Education has suggested the following learning resources/supports to allow students to supplement their learning and interests during the break:
- Students in Grades 1-8 can continue to engage in their own learning through supplemental, curriculum-linked activities available at and TFO.
- Secondary students can continue to accessand (English) and(French) are also available to provide one-on-one online tutoring services for elementary and secondary students.
- covers online math tutoring in English for Grades 6 to 10 and supports all subjects for French-language students in Grades 1 to 12.
By following public health advice, we can all enjoy a safe spring break and continue to support in-person learning in our schools.
Have a safe, fun and restful break.
Sincerely,
Karen Falconer
Interim Director of Education
Andrew Gold
Interim Associate Director
Curtis Ennis
Interim Associate Director
Craig Snider
Interim Associate Director