Students to experience graduations and proms for first time in 2 years
Graduations, proms, and assemblies will return for students as the province moves to end further COVID-19 measures.
Starting March 21, daily screening and cohorting will stop at Simcoe Muskoka schools.
Additionally, masks are no longer required on a daily basis for the public board's 130 schools with roughly 50,000 students.
"However, there may be instances where they will be required, such as after international travel, or if someone in their house is currently isolating," said Dawn Stevens, Simcoe County District School Board.
Another change is that visitors will once again be allowed on school property.
"We will be pleased to welcome, for instance, spectators into our school after school hours to watch athletics," Stevens said.
The Catholic board said many of the same restrictions would end in its schools, allowing students and staff to get back to a sense of normalcy.
However, both boards said they would continue to offer masks on-site to students and staff, with the region's medical officer of health "strongly" advising the public to continue masking after March 21.
Ontario's education minister defended the province's decision to end masking in schools, pointing to upgraded school ventilation systems.
And while the online school daily screening will stop, parents are encouraged to continue to monitor their children for symptoms.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.