For the health and safety of students and staff, all students are required to wear non-medical masks/face coverings indoors on school property and on school buses (with exemptions and accommodations, as required). Please ensure that students come to school with masks/face coverings each day and bring a breathable bag (paper or cloth) to store masks during outdoor breaks and/or when soiled. While students are encouraged to bring their own, all schools and buses will be equipped with extra masks.
To learn more about mask and face covering requirements for TDSB students and staff, including more information about the process for determining exemptions, please read the TDSB Mask Guidelines.
| |
One of the most important thing families can do to help mitigate the transmission of COVID-19, is to screen their children daily for any COVID-19 symptoms and keep them home from school if they are sick or have had close contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19. Please check the paper pass or App to learn about the new list of symptoms to be screened for the start of the 2021-2022 school year.
A self-assessment for students can be verified multiple ways:
Health Screening Paper Pass
Students who have one or more symptoms listed in the daily screening must not come to school. Learn more about next steps using the Toronto Public Health COVID-19 Decision Guide
Learn more about the self-assessment and verification process at
| |
| Bring a litterless lunch and snacks. Any students who go home for lunch or who are permitted to go out for lunch off school property would be expected to remain off property until just before afternoon entry.
| |
|
Pack a full water bottle. Water fountains will be used to refill water bottles and students will not be allowed to drink from them directly.
| |
|
Dress your child in weather appropriate clothing as they may be spending more time outdoors.
| |
PRACTICES & PROTOCOLS
Lunch: Students will be allowed to go home for lunch with parental permission. Elementary students will continue to eat in classrooms or other spaces where physical distancing and effective routines can be maintained. Secondary lunch protocols will be determined, based on school layout and size of space.
Recess: Elementary students will continue to take breaks within cohorts with physical distancing. Protocols may be updated, based on the status of the pandemic.
Assemblies: Virtual assemblies will continue. Assemblies will be allowed outdoors (weather permitting) with distancing between cohorts.
Extra-curricular Activities: - Extra-curricular activities may gradually and responsibly return in the fall.
- Elementary students may participate in any number of virtual extra-curricular offerings, a maximum of one indoor extra-curricular activity with appropriate masking and physical distancing and outdoor activities with appropriate physical distancing.
- Secondary students may participate in a maximum of two indoor in-person activities in the fall, outdoor activities with appropriate physical distancing, and any number virtually.
- These numbers may increase when it is safe to do so and procedures are well established.
- There will be a phased approach to Community Use of Schools.
Music: Vocal music will be allowed indoors with masks and outdoors without masks. Physical distancing will be required and cohorts maintained. Wind/Brass instrument playing is to be paused for face-to-face instruction both inside and outside. Further information will be provided regarding a gradual approach to reintroducing wind/brass instruments, with health and safety guidance.
Transportation: Continue with guidelines established last year, including: masking, assigned seating and cleaning, which follows Ministry guidance. Transportation to be phased-in: Special Education students (excluding gifted) begin September 9 and all other students begin September 15.
Nutrition Programs and Food Services: Approved nutrition programs and cafeteria services will be permitted and phased in to allow school routines to be established. Nutrition and cafeteria services will follow appropriate food handling procedures and public health guidance. Special event days (e.g. pizza days) will be phased in later in the school year.
| |
| COVID TESTINGTests for Students and Staff for Outbreaks, Exposures and Symptoms - Sick Kids, Michael Garron Hospital and Women’s College Hospital have developed a strategy for supporting schools with COVID testing that is non-invasive, faster, easier and promotes equity of access. Every school has been assigned to one of these three hospitals. The hospitals are providing a supply of take-home kits to each school. When there is a need for testing, such as due to an outbreak or exposure, or when a student or staff member has symptoms, the school can provide the individuals with a kit to take home and complete. The completed tests are deposited at the school where they are picked up daily by a courier. Test results are available within one to two days. The tests are PCR tests. Staff continue to investigate rapid antigen tests for students.
Tests for Staff who are not Fully Vaccinated - The Ministry of Government and Consumer Services (MGCS) is providing school boards with rapid antigen tests for the regular testing of staff who are not fully vaccinated. We are awaiting further information from MGCS on the implementation of these tests. Each kit contains 25 tests which should last a staff member about six weeks. We will distribute the kits to schools in time for the first day of school. We are working with MGCS to secure an ongoing sufficient supply of tests.
A mandatory vaccination procedure for all staff, trustees and visitors is currently being developed by the TDSB based on a unanimous motion of Trustees. While this procedure is still being finalized, the Ministry of Education requires all school board staff to disclose their vaccination status by September 7, 2021. The procedure will be announced shortly and will include a phase-in period giving unvaccinated employees an opportunity to get vaccinated. However, in the interim, those employees who do not disclose their vaccination status or are unvaccinated will need to undergo rapid antigen testing as prescribed by the Government of Ontario.
| |
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 (virtual hub). Please see links below to learn more about the various platforms that will be used for virtual learning. Teachers will be contacting students before classes begin with information about their virtual classrooms.
BRIGHTSPACE
GOOGLE CLASSROOMS
ZOOM
DEVICESStudents who requested a device or internet access when completing the online or phone selection form in August will be contacted by their school with pick up information before the start of school. If you did not request a device and require one, please contact your child's homeschool or teacher.
EXEMPTIONS FROM SYNCHRONOUS LEARNINGFor students who have selected virtual learning for the 2021-22 school year, more details about the process for an exemption from the minimum requirements of synchronous learning will be available on September 9. Information and materials will be posted to the website under Virtual Learning.
| |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- How do I login to my TDSB student account?
- How do I request a device for virtual learning?
- How do I request Home Internet Service for virtual learning?
- How do I join a Zoom or Google Meet?
Click here for answers
Note: Password resets and "how to" questions about digital learning tools and classwork related questions should be directed to your teacher.
Still Need Help?
- TDSB Parent Phone Support Line: 416-396-9100: Open Monday to Friday, 8:00a.m. to 4:00p.m.
- Submit this form
| |
Read more about the return to school in our Questions and Answers pages:
| |
QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS?If you have any questions or concerns about your school’s specific plans and protocols, please contact your local school. Contact information can be found on the Find Your School Webpage
| |
|
|
|
|
