Common symptoms of COVID-19 include:

• Fever (temperature of 37.8°C or greater)

• Cough (new or worsening)

• Shortness of breath / difficulty breathing

Other symptoms of COVID-19 can include:

• Chills

• Barking cough (croup)

• Sore throat

• Difficulty swallowing

• Lost sense of taste or smell

• Pink eye (conjunctivitis)

• Headache (unusual or long-lasting)

• Nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain

• Muscle aches (unusual or long-lasting)

• Extreme tiredness

• Falling down often

• Runny nose, or nasal congestion – that is not related to an underlying condition or reason for these symptoms such as seasonal allergies, post nasal drip, etc.

STAY HOME IF FEELING UNWELL - DO NOT COME TO SCHOOL

• Parents/guardians must screen each child under 18 for any of the above mentioned symptoms of COVID-19 every morning before sending them to school. A self-screening tool will be shared with families/students/staff.

• Students 18 and older must self-screen every morning before coming to school.

• Board employees must self-screen every day before coming to work.

• Staff and students must stay home if they have any symptoms of COVID-19 or are not feeling well.

• Staff with symptoms and parents/guardians of children with symptoms should be directed to use the online self-assessment tool and follow instructions.

• Stay home if in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 or is currently sick with new COVID-19 symptoms.

• Stay home if travel outside Canada has occurred within the past 14 days.

• Stay home if in close contact with someone who travelled outside Canada in the past 14 days with new COVID-19 symptoms.

• Call the school to report the students absence and reason as part of the Safe Schools arrival procedures.

• There are currently no plans for temperature screening at this time. On this matter we take our guidance from public health. Please refer to our self assessment checklist

• If there are cases of COVID-19 we will be working with Grey Bruce Public Health around communication protocols and contact tracing. Families of students in an affected school will be notified in the event of a positive case of COVID-19. A confirmed COVID- 19 case will not necessarily lead to a school closure. Grey Bruce Public Health will provide directions.

• Parent/guardian and visitor access will be significantly limited.

• Doors will be locked between bell times for both elementary and secondary schools.

• Please call to make an appointment to enter a school.

• Drop-off/pick-up zones - Designated areas will be communicated for dropping off or picking up students, packages etc.

• All visitors entering the school/site will be required to self-screen for COVID-19 prior to entry, must sign-in and wear a mask or face covering.

Stay 2 Metres (6 feet) Apart

• During arrival and dismissal times and any other time on school property it is essential that all individuals keep a distance between others when possible and not congregate in groups.

• Desks will be set up to allow for as much distance as possible between each student.

• Common areas will be set up to support physical distancing.

• Designated entrances/exits - Students may be assigned designated entrances and exits for arrival and dismissal.

• Signs and markings will be posted in all school buildings and students and staff will follow directional signs set up in each school.

• Be patient - some areas will have occupancy limits posted such as offices and washrooms.

Since we have been directed to implement a conventional model (i.e. face to face learning), our class sizes remain the same as in other school years.

• The majority of primary classes are capped at 20 students, junior and intermediate will be kept at 30 students or below, and high school class sizes will range from 15 (specialty classes) to 30 students. These class sizes follow Ministry guidelines and local collective agreement requirements.

• Classroom sizes in our schools vary in size, and in order to accommodate the return of students and we will be removing unnecessary furniture.

• Students will be assigned a desk or designated work space and will not switch with another student. This will be helpful for contact tracing purposes and safety measures.

Elementary students:

• Students will stay together and move together in one cohort (group) throughout the day including nutrition breaks and recess. Students will be able to leave their classrooms to receive additional supports but direct and indirect contacts in schools for students will be limited to 50.

• Specialized teachers, like French, arts, and music, will still be able to go into classrooms to provide programming while wearing their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

• To maintain distance between students, cohorts will have staggered nutrition breaks, recesses, and transitions.

Secondary students:

• Students in secondary schools will have contact with no more than 100 other contacts. As a result, we are re-timetabling the scheduling of our secondary courses. This will impact when courses are offered, not what courses are offered. Please see the Quad-mestered model at this link.

• Families whose last name begin A-L - students to attend Tues. Sept. 8 and Wed. Sept. 9

• Families whose last name begin M-Z - students to attend Thurs. Sept. 10 and Fri. Sept. 11

• *Blended Families with different last names please contact your Catholic School Principal to make arrangements.

• All students return to full time in class learning on Monday September 14, 2020.

• Students in grade 4- 12 will be required to wear non-medical or cloth masks while in the school and on the school bus.

• Students in grade K-3 will be encouraged to wear a non-medical or cloth masks while in the school and on the bus.

• Exemptions to wearing a mask will be based on individual student needs and in adherence to School Board guidelines.

• Due to driver shortages, some bus routes will not be running. Be sure to visit www.mybrucegreyschoolbus.ca each day to ensure your route is available

• Students Transportation will be available. Students should be assigned seats on the bus and families should sit together.

• Enhanced cleaning protocols will take place at least twice daily.

• Students in K - 3 are encouraged to wear a mask and students in 4-12 are required to wear a non surgical mask while riding the school bus.

Breakfast Programs

• These are very important programs in our schools. We are working with each school to see what options are available.

Elementary:

• Students will eat their lunch in their classroom as per regular practice. Students must wash / sanitize hands before eating and after eating.

• At the beginning of the school year we will not be hosting Hot Lunch programs. Once we are up and running we will assess the viability of our Hot Lunch programs.

Secondary:

• We are working with our cafeteria providers about the services they will provide and more information will be forthcoming and will meet health guidelines.

• BGCDSB will continue to use RMC products. RMC (Rochester Midland Canada) Neutral disinfectant (ph 7) is recognized as a leader in Eco Logo Green technology and has been approved by Health Canada as effective against Covid 19 as well and many, many other viruses. It is also scent free. We have been using RMC Products since 2013 at BGCDSB. We are also recognized as a forward thinking Board regarding responsible cleaning products, protecting staff and students.

• At BGCDSB we have 100% of our buildings utilizing HVAC systems, which ensures adequate ventilation.

• All fountains without touchless sensors are being bagged to prevent use and eliminate touch points.

Distance Learning Elementary:

• Students whose family has elected to enroll in distance learning will be assigned a teacher in a distance learning school. Students will receive instruction from the distance learning teacher and will be in a virtual class with other same-grade students across the system. Distance Learning will begin no later than Wednesday, September 16, 2020. Families who have chosen this model will be contacted individually about distance learning class placements. Students may transition back to their regular classroom as per the schedule outlined in the Parent Voluntary Attendance form.

Distance Learning Secondary:

• For Secondary students who choose distance learning, they will be working with school administration to develop a timetable based on available courses through distance learning, and e-learning. Students will be able to transition back to their school timetable at the end of each quadmester. More detailed information will be forthcoming to students and families who have chosen this model.

• As requested by the Ministry of Education families have to indicate if they are planning on returning to school for September 2020. If your plan is not to have your child(ren) return please complete the following form by August 24th: https://bit.ly/bgcdsboptout

Secondary:

• At this time we are looking at using a Quad Mester approach. A sample Quad Mester approach is attached. Please click on the link: Quad-mestered System

Elementary:

• Our Elementary Classes will be 5 days per week. They will run as close to a regular program as possible. Elective classes will still take place with the itinerant teacher providing those subjects, FSL, Music, Core English, etc. They will continue with Itinerant teachers…(50 contacts for elementary students exclusive of teachers) which includes Arts programs. We have received guidance around safely teaching the arts, especially Drama, Dance and Music

School Materials:

• Students will have their own package of materials to use. Basic materials such as pencils, markers, scissors, etc will be provided by the school.

Elementary Recess:

• Principals will be working to stagger recess to ensure for social / physical distancing

Kindergarten Play-Based Program

• Play based learning will continue to be the philosophy in our kindergarten classrooms. Students will be able to interact with students in their cohort/classroom and use toys/materials that are cleaned regularly.

Field Trips:

• There will be no field trips or excursions planed at this time.

• No permits will be allowed until further notice

• There will be no extra curricular activities at this time.

• Secondary Athletics run in partnership with Bluewater Athletics Association.

• We will be waiting for further information from our Associations regarding Secondary Athletics as we move into the school year.

• In order to ensure that students with special education needs are supported as schools reopen, we will be providing additional planning and transition time for students with special education needs to support a smooth transition.

• Transition plans will be developed and implemented collaboratively with parents/guardians to the greatest extent possible.

• We will be making changes to the school environment and/or remote learning needs when reviewing and updating Individual Education Plans (IEPs), and will ensure continued access to assistive technology.

• We will work with partners to develop local protocols for school access by regulated health professionals, regulated social service professionals and paraprofessionals for the purpose of delivering school-based supports and services. Protocols will include support for remote delivery where in-school delivery is not possible.

• As we receive more information, we will continue to share details through school messenger (email), this website, newsletters, student handbooks and social media.

• As further details and information becomes available, communication will be updated.