The School Day
In the BGCDSB students will return to a full day of learning in both elementary and secondary schools. It will be a measured approach to reopening allowing our schools the opportunity to focus on the health and safety of our students and staff. We hope to remain open to in-person learning for the full school year but families must be prepared for periods of virtual learning if they are deemed necessary by public health or the Ministry of Education.
Elementary Schools
Elementary schools will reopen with conventional in-person delivery of learning, with enhanced health and safety protocols. Elementary school students in Kindergarten through Grade 8 will attend school five days per week, with 300 minutes of instruction per day, remaining in one cohort for the full day. Cohorted classes will stay together with one teacher. Students may be placed into small groups (for example special education support, literacy support ) with students from other cohorts. Students may use common spaces (for example, gyms, libraries). Members of different cohorts can interact outside with distancing encouraged or inside with distancing and masking. Specialized education staff and teachers, such as French teachers, education support staff (for example, education assistants) are permitted to go into classrooms, and multiple schools to provide the full breadth of programming for students.
EQAO:
For the 2021 2022 school year regular EAQO assessments will take place for grades 3 and grade 6.
Health and Physical Education:
Regular programs will resume this school year with masking encouraged for indoor activities and not required when playing outdoors.
Field Trips:
Field trips will be allowed following Covid Protocols. We do not anticipate field trips starting right away. More information will follow as the year progresses.
Recess and breaks outdoors:
Students do not need to stay within their cohort during recess and breaks outdoors, but distancing should be encouraged between cohorts as much as possible. Students are not required to wear masks outdoors.
Shared materials outdoors are permitted, with appropriate hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette. Play structures are permitted to be used with appropriate hand hygiene before and after use.
Assemblies:
Assemblies will not take place at this time.
Breakfast Programs:
Information about the start of Breakfast programs will be sent home from your Catholic School.
Food Programs:
Non-instructional food events (such as pizza day) are permitted
You will receive information from your Catholic School about the beginning of such programs
Secondary Schools
Secondary schools will provide daily in person learning for the full duration of the school day (five instructional hours). As per the recommendation of the Ministry of Education, students will have no more than two courses at a time . As approved by the Ministry of Education and Public Health we will be using an alternating week or “modified semester” model (Week 1: Course A/Course B, Week 2: Course C/Course D). All secondary programs such as Genesis (SHHS), RISE (SMHS), Dual Credit, SCWI, Co-op etc. will run this year with Covid 19 precautions in place.
EQAO:
Grade 9 Math - Grade 9 students will write the Grade 9 math digital adaptive assessment this school year. Students learning remotely can choose to participate and should contact their high school
OSSLT Literacy Assessment:
The literacy graduation requirement is waived for students graduating in the 2021-22 school year.
It will be restored for student graduation in 2022-23 school year.
Students in grade 10 & 11 are required to work towards the literacy graduation requirement. You will be provided specific information from your High School.
Community Service Hours:
For students graduating in the 2021 - 2022 school year the community involvement graduation requirement has been reduced from 40 hours to a minimum of 20 hours .
The community involvement graduation requirement to 40 hours will be restored in the 2022 - 2023 school year.
Cooperative Education:
For students enrolled in cooperative education courses, in-person community placements can be arranged in alignment with the Reopening Act. Please connect with your Co-op Teachers for specific information.
Music Education:
Music Education will resume this school year with some set guidance provided by the Ministry of Education and Public Health. Music teachers will provide specific details at the beginning of the term.
Assemblies:
Assemblies will not take place at this time.
Breakfast Programs:
Information about the start of Breakfast programs will be sent home from your Catholic High School.