Back to School Questions and Answers
Secondary Schools
Will high school guidance teachers be able to see kids in person?
Students can schedule appointments with counsellors virtually and in-person. When appointments are made in-person, appropriate public health measures should be in place (e.g. masking, meet in a location that allows for physical distancing).
Will universities and colleges be presenting in person at school for high school kids?
There will be reps from all universities at the OUF (https://www.ontariouniversitiesfair.ca/). The Ontario College Virtual Fair will not run in Fall 2021. TDSB Guidance is organizing a series of smaller virtual events designed to give students the chance to meet with College Representatives from across Ontario and get the information needed to get ready for college! Universities are accepting requests for school visits. Still waiting to hear back from colleges.
Special Education
What is the transition plan for students with special needs?
Not all students with special education needs may require the same level of transition planning. Many students if not all, receiving special education support and/or services have an Individual Education Plan (IEP), where Transitions are required as part of the IEP and supported as appropriate (e.g., school to school, grade to grade) and depending on the areas for growth for individual students.
Some of the transition planning (e.g., virtual tours to new school, meet new teacher, social stories) started in June prior to the summer break and others will continue over the next few weeks through Ministry funds we have provided to schools for transition of students with special education needs. In addition, online resources continue to be available to support administrators and teachers.
Virtual Learning for special education classes, what happens if there aren’t enough students who choose online, will they have to go in-person?
The data shared so far, really does confirm that simultaneous learning would be best to support students with special education needs in Intensive Support Programs (ISPs) who choose virtual, reflected in low numbers per ISP. Please note all special education ISPs are capped between 8- 16 students with two adults (teacher and support staff) with the exception of Gifted capped 25 students elementary, 30 students secondary and one adult. In most cases, that works out to about 1-4 students per ISP classes per school (1-10 for Mild Intellectual Disability (MID) and Developmental Disability (DD) programs). There aren’t enough students to create local ISPs, without significant reorganization and disruption to school staffing due to the low number of students who selected virtual per ISP.
Simultaneous learning would include 1-4 students in each class. We are trying to decrease transition for students, keep connections to homeschool, peers and familiar environments.
Would Gifted Virtual Classes consider going to a hybrid model before having to collapse completely because there are not enough students?
For Gifted virtual Intensive Support Programs (ISPs), we are able to accommodate virtual Gifted ISPs classes clustered by Learning Centre (LC) (Gifted ISPs are not in every Learning Network) based on the high number of students who selected virtual. Gifted ISPs are capped at 25 students and one adult. In one case there are 22 students from one school who selected virtual, so we can use a teacher from that school to create a virtual class and add students from another school to the cap of 25 students.
We are able to accommodate 3-4 virtual Gifted ISPs classes per LC based on the number of students who selected virtual and in-person, which allowed for few staff allocation shifts.
Students in virtual ISPs will have their Ontario Student Records (OSRs) sent to the school where the virtual teachers are attached. The virtual teacher will be responsible for the Individual Education Plan (IEP), programming, assessment and evaluation and the homeschool principal will be responsible for the student’s IEP implementation.
Will gifted programs be offered at the elementary and secondary level? If not, will this impact the students ability to go back to the program?
Gifted Intensive Support Programs (ISPs) will continue to be offered through simultaneous learning at the secondary level and clustered ISP classes at the elementary level virtually.
Selection Form
Are we allowing grade 7 parents to switch their selection now that 2009 can be vaccinated before their 12th birthdays. This would be from virtual to in class.
The deadline for the Selection Form has passed and staffing has begun. The next available opportunity to switch in class/virtual will be February 2022.
What if my contact information isn’t available because I registered over the summer and the information hasn’t been inputted yet? Can I choose virtual when the school office reopens? What if I made a mistake on the form and need it corrected, is there a timeline?
Students that pre-registered for school would have received selection form emails. Those that did not receive, or did not pre-register should contact their school when it reopens. Elementary school offices reopen August 30th and Secondary school offices open August 23rd. Newly registered students will be placed in In-Person classrooms.
Virtual Learning
If French or special programming is not available for those choosing the virtual option this year, will their spots be held for February or the 2022-2023 school year?
Yes, your spot will be held for the 2022-23 school year.
Can students re-enter French Immersion in February 2022 if they choose to return to in-person?
If the hybrid model is chosen and we enrol our children for in-person learning - if we feel it is becoming unsafe, can our children just join the remote cohort of the hybrid class?
In the secondary panel, the hybrid model will be used to enable access to programing for students when other options (including possible timetable changes) are not possible. Teachers will spend time planning and have access to technology to enhance the learning environment for in-person and virtual learning. Where a student in a class that has a remote cohort is needing a change of learning model (i.e. from in-person to virtual) this should be discussed with the teacher and other appropriate school staff (e.g. guidance counsellor, Vice-Principal and Principal) so that an understanding of student needs and appropriate preparation can occur. In circumstances where this is supported, it will not be for day to day movement between learning models which would be disruptive to the entire class. Rather it will be part of an educational plan to support student needs that can’t be met through other strategies.
If a hybrid model is adopted, how are subjects like gym/music/art taught? How will outdoor time be handled in a hybrid classroom?
Students taking simultaneous classes in the arts, technological studies, and physical education will have opportunities to build their skills using digital tools to communicate and collaborate with teachers and peers. As we did last year, students will be able to access resources—pick art kits, instruments, etc. Parents may choose to rent musical instruments for virtual learning.
Students can review their course selections with guidance counsellors as there are some classes, such as Ceramics and Physical Education Large Group Activities, that are better accessed when students are able to return to in-person classes.
Health & Safety
Cohorting at lunch – will there be modifications for rules for 7/8 schools? I understand to start the year but can there be incentive – if students double vaccinated – modifications can be made after Thanksgiving? Seeing as grade 7 and up are now vaccine eligible, could we consider approaching lunch similar to the high school model for grades 7 and 8?
The same rules will apply from the 2020-2021 school year into the 2021-2022 school year. As we continue to be guided by Toronto Public Health and the Ministry of Education, as the pandemic evolves all operational parameters will be reviewed on a continuous basis.
How will large secondary schools have a shared lunch hour, unmasked in one cafeteria?
Operational Guidelines are being developed regarding Secondary Lunch Rooms. Further information will be available.
How important is it for a mask to be/remain sterile?
Parents should consult their local health care professional or Toronto Public Health for medical information around the use of masks. Visit TPH for guidance on mask use for students .
Extra Curricular
Can parents send a letter to the school ‘opting out’ of indoor activities that involve more than their child’s classroom cohort (e.g. assemblies, physical activity) and activities where masks might be removed indoors (e.g. sports)?
At this time, protocols are being developed in consultation with Toronto Public Health (TPH) to address music, assemblies and gym. Masks will be required for singing inside. Assemblies will continue to be virtual. Physical and Health Education guidelines are being developed keeping in mind TPH and OPHEA (Ontario Physical and Health Education Association) recommendations around masking and physical distancing. More information will be shared when available.
Ventilation
Has there been an indication of schedule for filter replacements for the classroom units and funding for it?
The manufacturer recommends changing the filters every three years based on 24/7 use, in a typical indoor setting such as a classroom - however, we are monitoring this and will adjust the replacement schedule as required. We have already purchased some replacement filters to enable replacements as needed.
Will "heat days" be implemented for schools that do not have mechanical ventilation September temperatures are frequently in the high 20s/low 30s which results in extreme indoor humidity levels - this is not a safe situation when masked all day - not much relief outdoors in the blazing sun - not all schools have adequate shade (or even space to sit) in their schoolyard.
This will be monitored on a case by case basis. Many elementary schools have cooling centres in the gymnasium and library, which can be used by classes throughout the day, as well as scheduling outdoor learning opportunities. The Board has online resources available to encourage a range of safe, outdoor activities. Although many schools have outdoor seating areas, there are other options available to support outdoor learning.
Will the TDSB have CO2 monitors in classrooms and different areas of the schools?
CO2 monitoring provides an indication of the number of occupants in a given area and whether ventilation rates are adequate for a given occupant load over time. CO2 monitoring, however, is not a good indicator of viral infection risk as this is dependent on multiple layers of precautionary measures (self-assessment, distancing, masking, hand washing etc.) with ventilation rates being only one of these many measures. The recent introduction of HEPA filtration units to all TDSB classrooms and instructional areas has further reduced the relevance of CO2 monitoring for assessing infection risk. In addition, in rooms with mechanical ventilation, the ventilation systems have already been optimized to deliver maximum amounts of fresh air throughout the school day and 2 hours before/after occupancy. As such, the use of additional CO2 sensors would have no effect on the current maximized ventilation rates. In classrooms without ventilation, as per the Toronto Public Health recommendations, it is recommended that the windows be opened for a period of time, during the day to introduce more fresh air into the space.
Vaccinations
Will there be messaging or a protocol if a parent does not want their child with an unvaccinated teacher?
Parents and students who have a health and safety concern should discuss them with a teacher, Principal or Vice-Principal as early as possible, so that measures can be put into place as necessary.
Masks
Can staff buy and wear their own N95 masks?
N95 respirators are only required during Aerosol Generating Medical Procedures (AGMPs). Staff are required to be trained by the appropriate staff/vendor and fit tested on N95 masks to be effective. The employer cannot ensure that this is being provided if staff are bringing/purchasing their own masks.
Staff are not permitted to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE), it is the employers responsibility to purchase and provide the appropriate PPE, as per the Occupational Health and Safety Act.