Secondary Update on the 2021-22 School Year

Posted On Thursday June 03, 2021

 

Key Messages for Families

  • Schools will remain closed to in-person learning for the rest of this school year and students will continue to learn remotely.
  • Students currently learning in-person as part of a special education class will continue to do so.
  • We are planning for full-day in-person learning for secondary students choosing to learn in-person for the 2021-22 school year.
  • We will be providing families with a one-week window in early-August to confirm their choice of in-person or virtual learning for the 2021-22 school year.
  • Secondary school bell times will be from 10am to 4pm for all students.
  • Secondary schools will be operating on a quadmester schedule with students taking two courses at a time for approximately 45 school days per quadmester.
  • Timetables will be provided to students closer to the start of the school year.
  • OSSLT is not required for students graduating this (2020-21) and next (2021-22) school year.
  • The requirement to earn 40 community involvement hours has been reduced to 20 hours for this (2020-21) and next (2021-22) school year.


Dear Parents/Guardians,

Yesterday, the Ministry of Education announced that students will continue to learn remotely for the remainder of the school year, except for those who are currently learning in-person as part of a special education class. We recognize that this may be disappointing news for students and families and that we are all looking forward to connecting in-person again. Please know that services are available through your local school and to reach out if your child needs additional support.

The Ministry has also indicated that we can look at the possibility of having an in-person acknowledgement of graduating students. We do not know what this will look like for schools and we will be working with the Durham Region Health Department on what may be possible. Your school will provide you with an update on planning as information becomes available. Schools will also be following up with families in the coming weeks with respect to the return of student technology and the retrieval of items.

Planning for 2021-2022

As we approach the last month of the school year and with the expansion of COVID-19 vaccinations for youth ages 12 and up, we understand that secondary parents/guardians and students are thinking about what school will look like in September. While we are continuing to adapt plans as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, we wanted to update you on the current direction from the Ministry of Education. Further direction will be provided by the Ministry in the summer and we will be able to share more information with you in August.

Full-Day In-Person Learning

Based on current direction from the Ministry of Education, we are planning for full-day in-person learning for secondary students who choose to learn in-person.

Opportunity to Confirm your Choice of In-Person or Virtual Learning in Early-August

As the pandemic continues to evolve, so does our approach and with vaccinations for those 12 years of age and older taking place during the upcoming months, the 2021-22 school year is looking more promising. That is why we will be providing families with a one-week window in early-August to confirm their choice of in-person or virtual learning for the 2021-22 school year. More information will be communicated to families through a variety of means closer to early-August on this process.

Secondary School Bell Times are 10am to 4pm

All secondary students will be learning from 10am to 4pm daily during the 2021-22 school year. This includes those in special education classes and those learning at DDSB@Home. We have been working closely with the Durham Catholic District School Board and Durham Student Transportation Services and this approach is the only feasible way that we can ensure all eligible students can receive transportation services due to a province-wide shortage of bus drivers. We recognize this may have an impact on your planning for the fall. We will be checking in throughout the year to determine how families and staff are managing with the change. There is ample research that supports a later start for secondary students as it is beneficial for student engagement but understand there may be other impacts for those involved.

Quadmester Schedule

It is currently expected that classes will take place in a quadmester format with students only taking two courses at a time for an approximate period of 45 school days per quadmester. We have asked the Ministry to consider a full-semester system model but at this time the Ministry has directed that we plan for a quadmester format. In the meantime, we will replicate the schedule that we used this year except all periods will be in-person. Student timetables will be provided closer to the start of the school year to incorporate all the developments that will occur over the summer.

Once timetables are created, school staff will work with students and families to address any concerns.

Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)

Students graduating in the 2021-22 school year are exempted from the completion of the literacy requirement and therefore will not have to write the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). For students graduating after June 2022, we will share updates once we receive them from the Ministry of Education.

Community Involvement Hours Graduation Requirement

Typically, secondary school students are required to provide 40 hours of community involvement activities as part of the requirements for earning an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). In 2021-22, the required number of hours for community involvement activities will be reduced from 40 to a minimum of 20 hours for graduating students. This is consistent with changes made during this school year. The community involvement graduation requirement of 40 hours will be restored in 2022-23.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through the changing dynamic of the COVID-19 pandemic response and as we endeavour to provide meaningful learning options for students. We will update you when we have confirmation of the school day from the Ministry of Education.

Sincerely,

Norah Marsh
Director of Education