October 13th, 2020
ELEMENTARY LEARNING MODE
Moving from one mode of learning to another and the impact on your child / children
As we continue to provide families with clear and timely information we want to be able to answer your questions and help you understand how these changes may impact your child.
How will these changes impact students who are attending school in-person?
Possible Changes to your Child’s Teacher
As students move to Distance Learning, teaching staff will be needed to support them. After the recent opportunity provided to families to change their child’s mode of learning, more teachers are needed to move from teaching in-person to teaching in the Distance Learning program. As a result, some students who will continue to attend in person may receive a new teacher.
Possible Changes to your Child’s Class
When a student moves from In-Person Learning to Distance Learning, the in-person class they leave behind would become smaller. In some cases, these classes become significantly smaller and need to be combined with another small class at the school. This allows for the teacher of one of those classes to transition to Distance Learning. Please note, class sizes will continue to align with predetermined class size limits so that health and safety standards can be maintained. Any students new to an in-person classroom will receive direct instruction from the teacher on the classroom health and safety routines and protocols.
There are many situations that require schools to combine two grades into one class. Parents may see an increase in combined classes as we realign staff and students during this time. Rest assured, our teachers have the experience and training to accommodate students of more than one grade level in a single classroom.
Health and Safety in our In Person Classrooms
As always, every effort will be made to ensure a safe and healthy learning environment. Schools will continue to be equipped with proper PPE, hand sanitizer, face coverings, signage, hand washing stations and routines that prevent the spread of germs. All schools will ensure physical distancing wherever possible and ensure spaces are consistently cleaned and disinfected – focusing on common areas and frequent touch points.
How will these changes impact students who are attending distance learning?
Possible Changes to your Child’s Teacher
An additional 3,000 (approximate) elementary students will be moving to the Distance Learning program. This will bring us to approximately 12,000 students who are enrolled in the Elementary Distance Learning Program in the WRDSB. In order to support these students, teaching staff will need to be moved from In-Person Learning to Distance Learning. As a result, students who have been enrolled in Distance Learning since the start of the school year may receive a new teacher.
Possible Changes to your Child’s Class
As students enter into the Distance Learning Program classes and class sizes may change.
Students awaiting transition into Distance Learning:
Students who are waiting to move into the Distance Learning Program can expect to hear from their teacher by Friday, October 23 and will begin learning in their new class on Monday, October 26.
Students awaiting transition to In-Person learning from Distance Learning:
Students who will move from Distance Learning to In-Person Learning will be contacted by their home school Principal. Students will begin In-Person learning on October 22nd. Families of students switching from Distance Learning to In-Person Learning will be provided with information about health and safety protocols, pre-screening processes and school day logistics, prior to beginning.