Back to School Information
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Thank you to everyone who attended my ward forum on August 9th. Meeting notes including questions and answers presented at the meeting can be found here.
Thanks also to all the parents, guardians, students, and staff who have been sending in questions regarding TDSB's back to school plans. Trustees have been sharing your questions and concerns with staff so that as much information as possible can be shared with families before the new school year begins. Please see below for all the currently available information to help you make your choice for the 2021-2022 school year. Please remember the selection form for the 2021-2022 school year is due by the end of the day on Thursday, August 12.
If you have any further questions or concerns, please email me at trixie.doyle@tdsb.on.ca
I hope everyone enjoys the rest of their summer break and finds some time to rest, recharge, and have fun before the new school year begins.
Cheers,
Trustee Trixie Doyle
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2021-2022 SELECTION FORM
The TDSB is asking all families to complete a selection form for in-person or virtual learning for the 2021-22 school year between. Forms are due on Thursday, August 12.
Emails with a selection form link were sent on Thursday, August 5. Families with two or more children should have received a separate email and link for each student. Families must complete the selection form using the link provided. If you have not received an email, please make sure you check your junk/spam folders, try searching for an email from TDSB@gemail.com, and make sure you check any email addresses you or other family members may have provided to your school. Please contact SelectionForm@tdsb.on.ca with questions about the selection form process.
Follow up phone calls via School Messenger will be made for families who do not have email addresses on file or who do not complete the online form:
August 10-12: First round of School Messenger Selection Form calls to parents who we do not have email addresses on file
August 13 and 16: Second round of School Messenger Selection Form calls to parents who did not respond to Qualtrics online form or did not respond to the first round of calls (above).
Students will be placed in in-person learning if we do not receive a completed selection form online or by phone.
Once a response is submitted, parents/guardians cannot go back and make changes to their selection, as the link becomes deactivated. This selection form is a final commitment until the one opportunity to switch between learning models in February.
For families choosing the virtual learning model, there will be a space on the online selection form to indicate if your child requires a device for virtual learning. Devices will be distributed to families by the home school for the 2021-22 school year.
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Please see the Q&A webpage for answers to the questions trustees have received and shared with senior staff. Please note that while we do not have answers to all questions just yet, staff are working diligently to provide more information and are working with both Toronto Public Health and our labour partners to finalize the operational guidelines for the 2021-2022 school year. The webpage will be updated as more information and answers become available.
Last week's Q&A:
**NEW** August 11 Q&A (will be posted online August 12)
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VENTILATION IN SCHOOLS
The TDSB has made a number of improvements to ventilation throughout the pandemic, going above and beyond the requirements in the Ministry of Education guidelines for ventilation, including:- Installing institutional-grade HEPA filters in every occupied classroom
- Increasing ventilation in schools and classrooms with mechanical systems by adjusting the air exchanges and running them two hours before class and two hours after class
- Increasing natural ventilation by opening windows for short periods of time
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HEALTH & SAFETY MEASURES
The Province of Ontario has shared their preliminary guidance for the upcoming school year: COVID-19: Health, safety and operational guidance for schools (2021-2022). The TDSB will continue to work with Toronto Public Health and with employee groups to develop specific operational plans for TDSB – details that provide more information on how our schools and administrative centres will create and maintain health and safety measures and procedures that need to be in place when school resumes in September.
Some of the health and safety measures in place for 2021-22 include:- Vaccinations
- Screening for COVID-19 Symptoms Daily
- Wearing Masks (all staff and students grades K-12)
- Improving Ventilation
- Practicing Physical Distancing
- Practicing Proper Hygiene
- Enhancing Cleaning and Other Measures
COVID Case Management
Today the Ministry of Health provided their COVID-19 Guidance: School Case, Contact, and Outbreak Management document which includes information on managing COVID cases, outbreaks, and suspected outbreaks associated with elementary or secondary (K-12) school settings.
Public Health Units may also implement additional measures that are not outlined in this guidance, based on local circumstances and/or PHU investigation and risk assessment. TDSB staff are working with Toronto Public Health on protocols for our schools.
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VIRTUAL LEARNING 2021-2022
The Virtual Schools (elementary and secondary) that were in place for the 2020-21 school year will not be offered for the 2021-22 school year.
Virtual Learning will be provided through home schools and will include live, online instruction involving teachers, staff and students from the home school or a group of schools (hub model).
Many people have asked if virtual learning will be in the hybrid/simultaneous/fractured learning model where teachers teach to both the in-person and remote students at the same time. Staff will try to place virtual students in dedicated virtual classes with students and teachers from their homeschool or grouped with students from other local schools (hub model), but if there are not sufficient number of students or teachers to create classes this way, the hybrid model may be required.
No final decision has been made on the delivery of virtual learning as we must first receive selection forms to determine numbers. Individual schools would advise families based on the unique situation at each school.
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SECONDARY SCHOOL
For the 2021-22 school year, all TDSB secondary schools will be following a modified semester. The school year calendar and daily schedule have now been finalized.
In this model, students will take four courses, two each during alternating weeks. They will continue to be cohorted but will now be part of four cohorts (one for each class). Toronto Public Health supports this model as the 48 hour gap between the weekly cohorts will limit any potential spread of COVID-19 as 48 hours is the time between exposure to first symptoms of a number of the variants of concern. Class sizes will return to the regular class sizes (dependent on grade, level and subject) and all learning will either be fully in-person, or fully virtual, depending on the selection you make in August.
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Vaccines are safe, effective and are the best way to protect your child, your family, and your community from COVID-19. Vaccines will help students and families to safely resume normal activities as soon as possible.
Toronto's data is updated twice per week on Monday and Thursday by 4:00 PM, except on statutory holidays. As of August 9th:
- 77.8% of youth ages 12-17 with one dose
- 62.7% of youth ages 12-17 fully vaccinated
For details on Toronto, click
Vaccine Hunters Canada now has vaccine finding information by region / PHU, including DAILY POP-UPs, WALK-INs and APPOINTMENT options - and the information is updated nightly - please click vaccinehunters.ca/diy.
Note: the Ministry of Education is not mandating vaccines at this time.
From August 11 to 15, there will be several pop-up vaccine clinics in East Toronto. Open to anyone age 12 and older in any “M” postal code for both 1st & 2nd doses. Walk-ins welcome. Pfizer will be administered, with Moderna available by request. For Mobile and Pop-Up Vaccination Clinics in East Toronto, click here.
There are also a number of other clinics sponsored by Toronto Public Health. Please click here for more information.
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TRANSPORTATION UPDATE: Phased-in Start
To start the 2021-22 school year, the TDSB will once again be implementing a phased-in start for student transportation to ensure that students with special education needs are prioritized and receive bus service beginning the first week of school.
From September 9 to September 14, 2021 – only students with special education needs (excluding those in the gifted program) who travel to school on mini buses, mini vans, taxis and Wheelchair accessible vehicles will be provided with student transportation.
Starting September 15, 2021 –all other eligible students will be provided with student transportation, unless there is a significant driver shortage or other unforeseen issues related to COVID-19.
The empty seat policy has also been suspended again this year.
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Mental Health and Well-Being Resources
The start of a new school year is always filled with anticipation, but this year, we recognize especially the anxiety, fear and uncertainty that comes with returning to learning. Let’s connect about some areas we can help support students with coming back to school, including routines, separation anxiety, and the social and emotional challenges of this new school year.
Back to School: Supporting Transitions and Re-Engagement
Wednesday, September 1
6:30 – 8 p.m.
More Mental Health & Well-Being resources can be found at https://www.tdsb.on.ca/School-Year-2021-22/Mental-Health-and-Well-Being
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2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR
The first day of classes for students is THURSDAY, September 9th.
Please remember to check the Days of Significance Calendar before setting school events.
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