Return to School
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 2023-24 school year on this website. The information on this webpage is up to date as of August 2023. Ongoing contact with families will take place throughout the school year to provide further details about specific school-level information and board-wide updates. Most questions around school operations are covered in the Frequently Asked Questions section.
Full-day in-person learning five days per week is in place for elementary and secondary students who selected in-person learning for the 2023-24 school year.
Learning Preference: In-Person or Virtual Learning
In January 2023, families were asked to select a learning preference through the Parent Portal for the 2023-24 school year. This decision is for the entire year as once schools are staffed, it is unlikely that changes can be made as we will not be re-staffing and re-organizing schools throughout the year.
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.
Elementary students who are entering Junior Kindergarten or are new to DDSB and secondary students who are new to DDSB can select DDSB@Home Elementary or DDSB@Home Secondary on the New Student Registration form.
Important Considerations
- Students will not have the opportunity to switch learning options throughout the year.
- Students must be living in Durham District School Board Region full-time in order to remain enrolled in DDSB@Home. Proof of address will be required. Extended travel is not permitted.
- DDSB@Home students must be prepared to participate using a webcam and/or microphone to interact with staff and peers.
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 2023-24 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.
Technology Supports
Parents/Guardians 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 school. 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.
Vaccinations
Below you will find links to information where you can learn more about vaccines to help you make an informed decision for your family.
- Durham Region Health Department Child Immunization and School Clinics
- Durham Region Health Department – COVID-19 Vaccines
Ventilation
A big part of health and safety in schools is air quality. Please review DDSB's Ventilation Measures page for updated information about air quality projects and investments, as well as school-specific information.
Masks
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. Schools will be mask-friendly environments and students, visitors, families, and staff are welcome to continue to wear masks while at school and/or on the bus.
Enhanced Cleaning and Disinfection
Enhanced cleaning and disinfection practices will continue to be used by custodial staff.
Self-Assessment
We ask that all staff, students, and families continue to complete the daily self-screening. The self-assessment 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.
Reporting of COVID-19 Cases in Schools
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DDSB will continue to publicly report data on the COVID-19 Advisory page of the DDSB website.
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This data will be self-reported by parents/guardians and/or staff through normal absence reporting processes.