Return to School 2021-2022
We are pleased to welcome students, families and staff back to another year of learning at the Durham District School Board. You can view the school year calendars for the 2021-22 school year on our website. The information on this webpage is up to date as of March 22, 2022 and incorporates recent guidance from the Ministry of Education for the 2021-22 school year.
The Durham District School Board’s priority is the safety and well-being of our students and staff. We continue to consult with the Durham Region Health Department, while also following the directions of the Ministry of Education to ensure that our schools and workplaces are safe.
We are focusing on everyday mental health and well-being strategies to support educators’ and students’ return to school by encouraging belonging, building trust, and creating optimal conditions for learning and development.
This webpage provides important information for students, parents and guardians, including health and safety protocols, resources, and more. It also outlines information about DDSB@Home, our virtual school that offers robust and innovative programming for students who have chosen to learn from home.
Ongoing contact with families will take place throughout the school year to provide further details about specific school-level information and board-wide updates.
The information posted below will be updated on a regular basis if further guidance and direction is provided by the Ministry.
Elementary Schools | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Elementary students will attend school five days per week. Enhanced health and safety protocols are in place (i.e., enhanced cleaning, handwashing breaks, students eating lunch in their classroom, etc.). Our goal is to ensure physical distancing in classrooms as much as possible. Students will still receive 300 minutes of face-to-face educator instruction, and the full range of the elementary curriculum will be provided. Families should check with their school for information about staggering of bell times, entry, exit and recess. As of March 21, 2022 students in Kindergarten to Grade 12 can choose if they want to wear non-medical or cloth masks at school or while on school buses. Although the masking requirement has been removed in schools, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health has indicated it is still encouraged to wear a mask in public settings. Schools will be a mask friendly environment and students, visitors, families, and staff are welcome to continue to wear masks while at school and/or on the bus. |
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Secondary Schools | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Full-day in-person learning five days per week is in place for secondary students who selected in-person learning for the 2021-22 school year. For the first half of the school year, secondary schools will be operating on a quadmester schedule with students taking two courses at a time for approximately 45 school days per quadmester. Secondary students returned to a regular semester schedule for the start of Semester 2 on Thursday, February 3. Students may choose to wear masks while in school, and enhanced health and safety protocols have been implemented. Secondary cafeterias are open and students will continue to have the opportunity to leave school for lunch. All secondary students are in school from 10am to 4pm daily during the 2021-22 school year. This includes those in special education classes and those learning at DDSB@Home. Sample school day from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with one hour lunch break.
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Learning Preference (In-Person or Virtual Learning) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Welcome to the DDSB@Home virtual school.
The programming offered by DDSB@Home is similar to a physical school, and staff are prepared to coordinate with your home school to be supportive of the best interests of your child(ren).
Elementary students who are entering Junior Kindergarten or are new to DDSB can select DDSB@Home Elementary on the New Student Registration form. At this time, DDSB@Home Secondary is no longer taking registrations for online schooling for the 2021 – 2022 school year (for the 2022-23 school year, you may choose DDSB@Home Secondary on the New Student Registration form). Please register with your designated home school. Any special requests for transfers must be made through your area System Lead in consultation with the home school Principal.
The information posted below is based on the most current information available. Please visit the Elementary@Home and Secondary@Home websites for additional information, updates and FAQs.
Minimum Requirements for Engaging Students | ||||||||
Students will receive 300 minutes of learning opportunities, with a combination of both RealTime (synchronous/live) and FlexTime (asynchronous/independent/not live) learning activities. Programming is based on the full Ontario curriculum and includes opportunities for guided instruction, large- and small-group learning, synchronous check-ins, and asynchronous independent work. Teachers will be available to students at all times during the teachers' assigned teaching timetables, as they would be if they were face-to-face in a classroom setting. |
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Minimum Requirements for RealTime Learning | ||||||||
The table below outlines the minimum amount of time per day that students, depending on their grade level, must be provided with synchronous learning as part of their scheduled or timetabled learning.
The RealTime learning time requirements outlined in the table above may be divided into shorter periods throughout the school day. For example, a child in Kindergarten may participate in an opening exercise for 10 minutes with their whole class, as well as a combination of whole-group and small-group sessions throughout the school day, and a 10-minute closing exercise with their class at the end of the school day. Educators will use their professional judgement to provide some flexibility to students on an individual basis when students are unable to participate in RealTime learning. |
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DDSB@Home Elementary Draft Sample Schedule | ||||||||
DDSB@Home Elementary RealTime and FlexTime Learning | ||||||||
DDSB@Home Elementary RealTime and FlexTime Learning |
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DDSB@Home Secondary Sample Schedule | ||||||||
*Note: Sample schedule was from the 2020-21 school year and may be subject to change. |
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Students with Special Education Needs | ||||||||
Students with special education needs will continue to be supported through individualized service and program plans. Educators will continue to provide accommodations, modified expectations, and alternative programming to students with special education needs, consulting with parents/caregivers in the development of their IEPs for the 2021-2022 school year. We are working to provide continued access to assistive technology, including Special Equipment Amount (SEA) equipment, where possible, to support students as they participate in remote learning. In situations where access to assistive technology is not feasible, educators are expected to work with students and parents to determine workable solutions on an individual basis. |
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Technology Supports | ||||||||
Parents of students enrolled in DDSB@Home in Grade K-6 that do not currently have a DDSB device assigned to them, can request a device by contacting their DDSB@Home campus. A request will be submitted to IT Services who in turn will contact the parent/guardian via email to book an appointment to pick up a device. Please note that a DDSB device is not required as any web-enabled device can be used to access DDSB@Home lessons and resources. |
Staying safe and healthy is everyone’s responsibility. Here is a summary of some of the steps we are taking to protect our school community from COVID-19:
Vaccinations |
The most important step we can take to ensure the health and safety of all community members is to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Children aged five and older are eligible to receive a first and second dose of the Pfizer vaccine in Ontario. On August 17th, 2021, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health announced that the Ministry of Education intends to introduce a vaccination disclosure policy for all publicly-funded school board employees and all staff in licensed child care settings for the 2021-22 school year. Employees that are not fully vaccinated or wish not to disclose their vaccination status must take two (2) rapid antigen tests per week. In partnership with Durham Region Health Department (DRHD), schools will continue to promote any scheduled school-based vaccination clinics open to eligible students, families and staff. Below you will find links to additional information where you can learn more about the vaccines to help you make an informed decision for your family. |
Daily Checklists |
COVID-19 Symptoms - What Families Should Know |
Ventilation |
A big part of health and safety in schools is air quality.
For school-specific information, view our Ventilation Measures Report |
Masks |
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Hand Washing |
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Enhanced Cleaning and Disinfection |
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Self-Assessment |
We ask that all staff, students, and families continue to complete the daily self-screening.The school screening tool provides accurate guidance on whether your child should attend school. If your child is sick, please ensure that they stay home to protect everyone at school. Anyone who has COVID-19 symptoms or has tested positive must self-isolate, regardless of vaccination status and follow the instructions of the self-screener. Symptoms most commonly associated with COVID-19:
Symptoms Less Commonly Associated with COVID-19:
For more information visit the Durham Region Health Department website |
School Bus Safety |
Durham Student Transportation Services has procedures in place to ensure the safety of everyone who requires bus transportation.
For more information on student transportation, please visit the DSTS Webpage. |
Physical Distancing Strategies |
The DDSB has developed strategies to support general physical distancing throughout the school day. Here are a few examples: Adjustments to movement throughout schools
Drop-off/pick-up
Use of outdoor space when possible
Lunch breaks
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The implementation of our enhanced health and safety protocols will reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
If everyone does their part to stay safe and healthy (both inside schools and in any public setting), the likelihood that someone will contract the COVID-19 virus at school will be low.
The Ministry of Education has established COVID-19 outbreak protocols (subject to change) that we are supplementing in the event that someone feels sick and/or contracts the virus.
COVID-19: A Guide for Schools - Supporting Health and Safety for All |
COVID-19: A Guide for Schools - Supporting Health and Safety for All |
Reporting of COVID-19 Cases in Schools |
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If a Student Feels Sick at School |
A detailed protocol has been established if students become ill during the school day.
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Students and Staff with Confirmed COVID-19 Cases Protocol |
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Ministry of Health: COVID-19 Guidance: School Case, Contact, and Outbreak Management |
COVID-19 Guidance: School Case, Contact, and Outbreak Management |
DDSB Updates
The following is a list of updates and resources provided for our school communities regarding the return to school for 2021-2022:
Letters/Updates to Families and Guardians from the DDSB
August 4, 2021 - Return to School for 2021-2022 |
Dear Parents/Guardians, We hope that you and your families are enjoying the summer months. We are reaching out to you today to provide updates on the upcoming 2021-22 school year. The first day of school for all regular calendar schools is Thursday, September 9. Modified calendar secondary schools start on Monday, August 30 and modified calendar elementary schools start on Tuesday, August 10. To review the school year calendar, please visit the DDSB website. Yesterday, the Ministry of Education provided all school districts in Ontario with updated health and safety guidelines and direction to help keep our school communities safe. We will be following these directions and working closely with the Durham Region Health Department to implement health and safety measures. This will include updated guidance that we expect to receive prior to the start of the school year on managing confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19. There may be adjustments to this guidance and our protocols as the school year progresses in order to help keep staff and students safe. The Chief Medical Officer of Health of Ontario has been clear that getting vaccinated is the best way to protect against COVID-19 for anyone 12 years of age or older. With the more transmissible Delta variant, vaccines continue to be effective in reducing transmission, enabling us to see our friends, family, and have a more normal life. If you, or your eligible child have not yet been vaccinated, please consider doing so as unvaccinated individuals are much more likely to get COVID-19 and in turn, feed the spread of COVID-19 to others in the community. Let’s work together to stay safe and help keep our schools open for learning. This means getting vaccinated if you are eligible. You can book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment for anyone 12 years of age and older at https://www.durhamvaccinebooking.ca/ You may already be familiar with some of the recently announced school-opening measures, but there are also some new protocols and practices to be aware of. Here are some examples of things to expect for the upcoming school year based on the Ministry of Education’s direction:
You can find out more about our return to school plans by visiting the Return to School webpage and Frequently Asked Questions. Changing Learning Preferences (Virtual or In-Person) for the 2021-22 School Year Families will receive an email tomorrow, Thursday, August 5 with instructions on how to change your child’s learning preference (if desired) through the parent portal for the 2021-22 school year. You will be able to select between in-person learning or virtual learning through DDSB@Home starting on Thursday, August 5 at 12:01 AM and ending on Wednesday, August 11, 2021 at 11:59pm. We ask that families please consider both options thoroughly before making their choice. Elementary Selections We recognize that the situation for children aged 12 and under is still evolving given there is not yet a vaccination roll-out plan. For that reason, should circumstances change over the year in terms of access to a vaccination, we would assess families’ desire to return to in-school learning. Families will have one opportunity to change their learning preferences once vaccines are available. For now, the expectation is that families will decide between learning options by Wednesday, August 11, 2021 at 11:59pm. Secondary Selections We will not be offering the option to change your response after Wednesday, August 11, 2021 at 11:59pm. We require families to decide now so that we can organize classes and staff schools to ensure that there are no delays to the start of the school year. The staffing process for a system as large as ours and at the secondary level is quite complicated and takes time to organize. Please keep in mind that once schools are staffed, it is unlikely that changes can be accommodated throughout the year. At secondary, given that vaccinations have rolled out, we will not be offering another choice. On behalf of our school teams, we are looking forward to welcoming your children back to school and hope that the remainder of the summer brings with it time for you and your family to enjoy.
Sincerely, Norah Marsh |