Return to School
The Durham District School Board’s priority is the safety and well-being of our students and staff, particularly as we prepare for the return to school in September. We know that the first day of school will be filled with some excitement and that there may also be some anxiety due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the length of time since students have been in school.
We want the return to school to be safe and successful for everyone. We have involved the Durham Region Health Department as part of our planning, while also following the directions of the Ministry of Education to ensure that our schools and workplaces are safe.
We will be 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 will outline important information for students, parents and guardians about what a school day will look like, our new health and safety protocols, well-being resources and more. It also outlines information about DDSB@Home, our virtual school that will offer 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 Ministry of Education released their direction to school boards on Thursday July 30 about what the school day will look like. We have since received more information from the Ministry and our most updated information is posted below.
Elementary Schools | ||||||||||
Elementary students will attend school five days per week, with students grouped together in a cohort for the full day, including recess and lunch. Students will still receive 300 minutes of face-to-face educator instruction. Enhanced health and safety protocols will be in place (i.e. enhanced cleaning, handwashing breaks, students eating lunch in their classroom, etc.) and the full range of the elementary curriculum will be provided. The school day will be very similar to what families and students are used to, with the exception of potential changes around bell times and staggered times for entry, exit and recess. The Board of Trustees passed a motion on August 12 to exceed the Ministry of Education’s guidance on class sizes and physical distancing of students to ensure that all classes allow for the distancing of students, at a minimum of one metre. While the Ministry of Education has made wearing a mask mandatory for students in Grades 4 to 12, the DDSB will be actively encouraging all students to wear a mask, unless they have a medical need. Specific programs will be developed to teach all students the importance of wearing a mask. Specific details about bell times can be found on your child(ren)’s school website. Sample Timetable for Elementary SchoolsStaggered Starts for Elementary In-person Families During the First Two Weeks of School
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Secondary Schools | ||||||||||
Secondary schools in Durham will open with a hybrid model that combines in-person and remote learning. Students will be placed in cohorts of approximately 15 students, will attend every other day and on alternate Fridays. This will be delivered in a “quadmester” format which involves a four-semester school year for each quadmester. This limits the number of contacts students have in a day and provides the opportunity to earn two credits at a time. Each quadmester is approximately 45 days of instruction (9.5 weeks). Students will be required to wear masks while in school and the same enhanced health and safety protocols will be implemented. Each day, students will have the opportunity to attend a Study Hall staffed by a teacher to provide additional assistance with independent work. The DDSB continues to review programming for students with a high level of special education needs who may require daily attendance and instruction at the secondary level. Specific details about bell times can be found on your child(ren)’s school website. Draft Sample Schedule for Secondary SchoolsTerm Dates and Cohorting Days
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Transferring Between DDSB@Home and In-Person Learning | ||||||||||
Please visit the Elementary Students or Secondary Students sections below for more information about the process and deadlines to transfer to/from DDSB@Home.
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Welcome to the DDSB@Home virtual school. As of August 18, there are 13,635 students (2,886 secondary and 10,749 elementary) registered for DDSB@Home. Due to high enrollment, we will be hiring additional school administrators to support the organization of the school. We know that your child being in the same virtual school as their regular classmates is important to you and we will try to keep schools together as much as possible as we shift into a virtual learning environment.
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). Students attending DDSB@Home will be given opportunities to maintain a connection with their home school through events such as virtual assemblies, special events and other activities, when possible. Families will continue to receive relevant e-mails from their home school to help maintain this important connection.
Throughout the return to school, educators will be focusing on mental health and well-being to support students learning virtually, understanding that they are adjusting to a different format with different classmates. We are preparing to offer a robust and innovative program and are excited to welcome your child(ren) back.
We received a memo from the Ministry of Education on Friday August 14 that outlined the Ministry’s minimum requirements with respect the setup of virtual schools such as DDSB@Home.
Staying safe and healthy during the school year is the most important way that we can protect ourselves and each other from COVID-19 when in schools or any public place. All of us have a responsibility to stay safe. The DDSB has developed a Draft Return to School Guide based on the direction of the Government of Ontario and in consultation with the Durham Region Health Department. Here is a summary of some of the steps we will be taking:
Daily Checklists: Elementary and Secondary |
Masks |
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Hand Washing |
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Enhanced Cleaning and Disinfection |
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Self-Assessment |
Every morning parents/guardians must screen their children before they board the school bus, come to school or childcare. DDSB staff and bus drivers will also be performing a self-screening before coming to work. It is critical that everyone conducts a self-assessment daily to check if they have any of these symptoms and they must stay home if they do.
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School Bus Safety |
Durham Student Transportation Services is implementing new procedures to ensure the safety of everyone who requires bus transportation. Bell times may be staggered to avoid crowds at the start and end of the school day. Parents and guardians will be notified of any changes to these times. They can also check with their school for more information.
For more information on student transportation, please visit the DSTS COVID-19 Webpage |
Physical Distancing Strategies |
The DDSB is developing strategies that will 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
Large gatherings/assemblies
Lunch Breaks
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The implementation of our enhanced health and safety protocols will reduce the risk of transmitting the COVID-19 virus. 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. However, until the virus is eliminated around the world, there is still a risk of contracting the virus. As a result, the Ministry of Education has established COVID-19 outbreak protocols that we are supplementing in the event that someone feels sick and/or contracts the virus.
Contact Tracing |
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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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DDSB Updates
The following is a list of updates and resources provided for our school communities during COVID-19:
Updates to the Board of Trustees | ||||||||||
DDSB Update on Return to School #1 - June 24, 2020 DDSB Update on Return to School #2 - July 8, 2020 DDSB Update on Return to School #3 - August 10, 2020 DDSB Update on Return to School #4 - August 25, 2020 DDSB Update on Return to School #5 - September 8, 2020 DDSB Update on Return to School #6 - September 21, 2020 |
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Press Releases | ||||||||||
DDSB Expresses Grave Concern over Ontario’s Plan to Reopen Schools – August 12 | ||||||||||
Letters/Updates to Families and Guardians from the DDSB | ||||||||||
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