Simcoe County public board releases its new back to school plan
With just over one week to the start of a new school year, the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) released its back-to-school plan.
"We're very excited to welcome our students back in person on September 7th," said SCDSB's superintendent of education.
Dawn Stevens said both in-class students and those continuing virtual learning would start on the same day with designated doors and staggered entry and exit times.
However, many of the protocols introduced last year will remain in place with the public board, including daily screening for students and staff.
Additionally, students will remain in their cohorts and avoid mixing with other classrooms. Recess will be staggered to limit interaction outside of cohorts, and students will eat in their classrooms.
Plus, students from kindergarten to Grade 12 are required to wear face masks while indoors.
The public school board has added specialized ventilation systems to optimize the air quality in all its schools, as required by the Ministry of Education.
"New this year, we will have stand-alone HEPA filter units placed in classrooms without mechanical ventilation and in all of our kindergarten classrooms," Stevens noted.
There won't be any assemblies or large gatherings, but students will have access to the gym and library once again.
Classroom sizes have not changed.
Parents can not request a teacher who has had the vaccine.
SECONDARY SCHOOLS
The cafeteria will open this year for high school students, but field trips are currently on hold.
Timetables will be based on a modified semester to reduce the number of students in a cohort.
"Our secondary school students will have a new timetable, so the modified semester will have them having two classes per day and two classes per week," Stevens explained.
SCHOOL BUSES
School buses will operate much like last year. The regular limit of students on a bus remains in effect, with everyone required to wear a mask.
Cleaning protocols remain in place, along with physical distancing.
The board stated that the Simcoe County Student Transportation Consortium would create a seating plan to keep students from the same family and cohort together where possible.
SCHOOLS HOST POP-UP CLINICS
Seven public schools in Simcoe County will be used for COVID-19 pop-up clinics.
"Georgian Bay District, Barrie North, Banting, Elmvale, Stayner, Bear Creek, Twin Lakes and Nantyr Shores," Stevens said.
The public board said about five per cent of students plan to learn online, down from about 18 per cent last year.
The Catholic board in Simcoe County plans to release its plans next week.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.