The Ministry of Education, with guidance from public health, provided direction on school opening to all boards on July 30th, 2020.

The first day of school is Tuesday, September 8, 2020 for Grade 1 -12. We will be ready to have your child(ren) back for learning.

The first day of school is Monday, September 14, 2020 for Kindergarten.

On July 30th, 2020 the Ministry of Education confirmed the following models for return to school in September:

Elementary: (Kindergarten to Grade 8) Students will attend school 5 days per week, with one cohort of students for the full day, including recess and lunch. Enhanced health and safety protocols will be in place. Students in GAINS classroom will be attending full time. Student who are in RISE classrooms will be attending RISE half day.

Secondary (Grades 9-12) Adapted model: Students attend school every other day (alternating Wednesdays), in smaller class sizes of approximately 15 students. Schools will operate on a quadmester schedule. Enhanced health and safety protocols will be in place.

*GECDSB is one of the 24 designated boards that will operate secondary schools on an adapted model involving combination of in-class and on-line learning.

The Education Act notes that schooling is mandatory for students under 18, so daily attendance (whether face-to-face or remotely) is expected.

The Ministry has noted that the decision to send a child to school for face-to-face instruction is the parent/guardian’s choice. If you chose not to send your child to school then a GECDSB at-home distance learning program will be provided.

Elementary – Should students want to move between remote (distance) learning and in-person learning, they will be able to do so only in October and February. Parents/Guardians would have to notify the school through an online survey by October 26th for a November 9th change and January 18th for a February 1st change.

Secondary – Should students want to move between remote (distance) learning and in-person learning they will only be able to do so at the end of each quadmester. Students would have to notify their school through an online survey two weeks before the end of the quadmester. The deadline to notify the school would be Quadmester 2 - October 26th, Quadmester 3 - January 18th and Quadmester 4 - April 6th.

*Regardless of the model you choose, changes can only be made on the above dates.

We are working with Windsor Essex Student Transportation Service (WESTS), the regional transportation consortium, and the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) to determine our back to school bussing plans. WESTS will be following public health directives about student health and safety on busses. Physical distancing requirements will result in a significant reduction in the number of students on each bus in September. WESTS will be sharing their safety protocols and scheduling with families shortly.

Students who were eligible for transportation last year are not required to re-register for the bus. You only need to re-apply for transportation if you have changed addresses or changed schools.

If your children are eligible for transportation but will not be riding the bus this year, we would appreciate you filling the opt-out form, which can be found at Bus Kids by scrolling down to the bus registration section. By completing this form it will assist us with planning physical distancing and a more accurate manifest of who will be riding.

No. Health screening should be taking place at home by parents/guardians.

• All buses will be equipped with a Health Canada approved disinfectant product, waste disposal bags, disposable cloths
• Drivers’ cockpits will be cleaned and disinfected at the beginning and end of each shift
• High touch surfaces that are accessible to students will be cleaned at the end of the morning runs, prior to the start of school to home trips, and at the end of the shift.
• Those surfaces include, but are not limited to, the inside hand railing, seats and any other parts of the bus that are commonly touched by students
• Bus drivers will keep a record of cleaning protocols

If students choose to opt back in, WESTS will work to put students on transportation. It may take longer, depending on loads on buses, and students may have to wait until WESTS is able to readjust seat assignments, however it isn’t WESTS intention to deny transportation for eligible students. All efforts will be made to accommodate. Parents are asked to work directly through the school should they change their minds and wish to re-opt back into transportation.

On advice from our Ministry and from health officials, contact tracing is a priority. Therefore, Massey’s full year courses will not be viable for 2020-21. All secondary schools will be following a quadmester timetable.

Please refer to the GECDSB Child Care Partner Overview for a comprehensive list of child care facilities.

If you are new to our board or have moved to another area within Windsor or Essex County, you are able to register your child at www.publicboard.ca or direct link at GECDSB Registration.

Please ensure that you have registered your child by Friday, August 21st to ensure placement in preferred learning model.

Physical distancing is an effective measure to minimize the risk of person-to-person transmission of COVID-19. The following measures are being implemented:

• Cohorting of students to limit the number of contacts;
• Visual cues, signage and floor markings, including directional arrows for traffic flow, where appropriate;
• Educating students about the importance of physical distancing;
• Adaptations to classroom settings and other shared spaces to provide as much space as possible between students and staff;
• Keeping lunchtime in the classroom or outdoors, where possible;
• Staggering measures to minimize traffic in shared spaces such as hallways and washrooms.
• All schools will develop school specific protocols including identifying entry/exit doors and parent pick up/drop off (Kiss and Ride) protocols.

Schools will create learning areas that promote physical distancing and focus on safety.

School health and safety plans will be restricting the number of visitors to the school. This will result in a change of practice from previous years.

School health and safety plans will be restricting the number of visitors to the school. This will result in a change of practice from previous years. Your specific school entry plans will be shared prior to the start of school.

Physical distancing measures are a requirement of our health and safety plans. In cases where physical contact is required staff will be wearing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment.

Cohort C will be run as a virtual school. GECDSB teachers will be leading the program but may not be associated with your home school. It will not be a teacher who is offering in-person learning at school.

Multi-student desks will not be used for more than one student.

Student messaging about social distancing will be reinforced. Staff supervision of students during this time frame will include a focus on social distancing.

Large in-person gatherings are not permitted at this time. Ministry of education/Ministry of Health will provide direction on when this is appropriate to do so

Ministry of Education rules on cohorting applies to students. Efforts will be made to limit the number of teachers in contact with cohorts each day.

Classes will be organized prior to the school year based on number of students attending in each model. Efforts will be made to limit class size.

Where possible and appropriate, the timing of recesses, lunches, and bathroom breaks should be staggered to support cohorting.

• All staff will be provided with appropriate PPE to safely interact with each other and with other students, such as masks and face shields, removing only when eating.
• Spec Ed – medical grade masks, face shields, gowns and gloves
• Custodians – medical grade masks
• All other board staff – medical grade masks
• Students in grade 4 – 12 inclusive are required to wear a non-medical or cloth mask
• Student in JK – Grade 3 are strongly encouraged to wear a non-medical or cloth mask
• Students who have lost their mask or do not arrive at school with a mask will be provided with one from the school – all schools will have a supply of masks on hand for this purpose
• Training to all staff on how to don and doff PPE in a safe manner
• Isolation kits for all board sites in the event that a staff member, student or essential visitor becomes ill
• Instructions on use
• Alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Disposable gloves
• Disposable medical masks
• Face shields
• Disposable gown

Please refer to the Back to School Reopening Plan – Outbreak Plan for details.

Please refer to the Back to School Reopening Plan – Outbreak Plan for details.

Teachers will provide work to students who are required to stay home during the quarantine period.

A supply of non-medical masks will be available at schools for those students who require one.

Lockers will not be available for use. Refer to DC

At this time, students who received board technology will be allowed to keep the technology.

The request for technology process will be open shortly for families to access devices from the board.

Siblings will be kept in the same cohort, where possible.

Both programs will follow the Ontario Curriculum expectations in a general sequence covering broad topics.

Health and Physical Education (HPE) is an essential component of the curriculum. Logistics may vary between school sites based on a number of factors, including gymnasium size, indoor space availability and outdoor space availability. All schools will assess their site specific layout and make site specific plans to accommodate physical education for all students. Proper hand washing and personal hygiene routines will be incorporated before entering any space for Health and Physical Education classes. There will be a focus on activities that do not use equipment to support the effort for reduced contact and possible contamination of resources.

A confirmation will be sent out to families.

Yes, the calendar will be updated to show the current model of program delivery.

Confirmation is required for placement of students in preferred learning model.

A confirmation will be sent out to families. Responses can be adjusted at that time.

Daily assessment of children’s health for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 is the parent/guardian’s responsibility. Symptoms such as cough, fever, or headache are to be monitored and students are to stay at home until they are well. They will not be permitted to attend school. Please refer to Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU About COVID-19)

If you, or any of the people in the household, have a confirmed case of COVID-19, your child must remain home, and you must follow the advice of your health provider.

All staff members will be expected to conduct daily self-assessments prior to entering our schools.

1. Hand washing: Students will have access to soap and water for use. Elementary students will be taught how to wash their hands properly and to try to avoid touching their face, eyes, nose and mouth as much as possible. There will be age-appropriate signage, designed by the WECHU, placed throughout the school to remind children to perform hand hygiene. A regular schedule for routine hand hygiene will be part of the day. Hand sanitizer will be provided in each classroom and common area.
2. Physical distancing: Maintaining two metre distance from others will be taught. We recognize that it may be difficult for some of our students who are younger or have special education needs. To encourage physical distancing and minimize transmission:
   • Students will be organized into smaller groups.
   • Classroom tables and chairs will be arranged differently.
   • The number of adults that interact with students throughout the day will be minimized.
   • Possible staggering of drop-off and pick-up times.
   • Recess/snack, lunch and class transition times may be staggered.
   • There will be arrows indicating hallway/staircase flow.
   • Large group gatherings and assemblies will be canceled.
   • Encourage more outside activities.
   • Eating lunch or snacks will be within the classroom or outside.
3. Coughing and sneezing etiquette: Coughing into a tissue and then safely disposing of it or coughing into sleeves will be stressed.
4. Staying home if student feels ill.
5. More guidance around the use of PPE in consultation with the Windsor Essex County Health Unit will be communicated.

Playground equipment and school tracks are currently not available for use. These will open when we receive notice that it is safe to do so from a public health perspective.

All students, grades 4-12 must wear masks. Masks are also highly recommended for students grades K-3. All staff are required to wear masks.

We will be limiting parents/guardians, volunteers, guests and others into our school unit the risk of transmission is lower, and on advice of our Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.

A health and safety risk assessment are being completed for each of our schools to identify risks. Safety plans are being developed from the risk assessments to address/mitigate risks. The WECHU has been consulted and has approved our framework for risk assessments and processes. We will be enhancing our regular cleaning practices especially with high touch surfaces areas, such as doorknobs, water fountain knobs, light switches, toilet and faucet handles, electronic devices and tables, which will be disinfected at least twice a day. Porous materials, such as rugs, plush animals, will be removed. Learning materials will either be removed or disinfected after use.

Our Building Systems Officer has reviewed the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers “Reopening School Guidelines”

• The board will be following the guidelines in the areas of equipment scheduling and increasing ventilation rates
• Older schools actually have better ventilation rates that newer schools
• We are circulating air by mechanical systems in school buildings. Systems vary between ages of school buildings, but every school constructed has a mechanical system to provide ventilation.
• Ventilation measures are provided in every school classroom. A majority is controlled centrally so that we can increase the ventilation rates remotely. We will do that until such time as the weather will no longer allow this. We can review at that time other options.

For most of our schools either built after 1995 or where major mechanical upgrades have been installed after 1995, the systems would typically operate in the following parameters, which would include:

1. Following ASHRAE Standard 62 for ventilation
2. Equipment scheduled operate as follows:
1. from 6AM to 30 minutes after the last bell on Monday
2. from 7AM to 30 minutes after the last bell on Tuesday through Friday
3. Systems are off on Saturday and Sunday
4. Ventilation operates whenever the equipment is turned on during scheduled times

For most of our schools built prior to 1995 where no major mechanical upgrades have been implemented, the systems would typically operate in the following parameters, which would include:

1. Operate at 100% outdoor air ventilation rates when 1 major fan system is present
2. Pneumatic unit ventilators with varying degrees of outdoor air
3. Equipment schedules operate as follows:
1. from 6AM to 30 minutes after the last bell on Mondays
2. from 7AM to 30 minutes after the last bell on Tuesdays through Fridays
3. Systems are off on Saturdays and Sundays
4. Ventilation operates whenever the equipment is turned on during scheduled times
4. For some of our schools, increasing ventilation rates is not possible, either due to the type of control system or the non-existence of forced supply air systems. These schools will be encouraged to open windows as much as possible.

For the GECDSB, the forced air ventilation systems installed after approximately 1995 follow the ASHRAE 62 standard for ventilation as per the Engineer of Record’s direction. For the majority of our ventilation systems, the amount of outdoor air can be increased remotely.

• While outdoor air temperatures remain moderate, we anticipate that increasing outdoor air flow rates to 100% since outdoor temperatures will not cause significant comfort issues.
• As outdoor air temperatures rise above 25°C-30°C (77°F-86°F), building cooling systems at 100% outdoor air ventilation rates will lose effectiveness and will not be able to properly cool the spaces.
• As outdoor air temperatures fall below 5°C (41°F) while running 180°F water temperatures (in buildings with hydronic heating), building heating systems would not be able to properly heat the spaces. As outdoor air temperatures would fall below 0°C (32°F) significant equipment damage could occur if systems were to operate at 100% outdoor air.
• Where possible and while equipment would not be damaged, systems will run with 100% outdoor while indoor thermal comfort will not be affected.
• Outdoor air ventilation rates will be reduced from 100% outdoor air to ensure that equipment is not damaged and thermal comfort is maintained.

The following changes will be implemented for all occupied buildings:

1. Outdoor ventilation rates will be increased to 100%, except when the following conditions are present:
1. When thermal comfort cannot be maintained, as identified above
2. Below 2°C (35°F) outdoor air temperatures, mixed air dampers will not allow mixed air temperatures to fall below 2°C (35°F). This temperature setting may be increased to satisfy thermal comfort requirements.
2. Equipment schedules will be increased to operate as follows:
1. Equipment will turn on at 4AM and run until 2 hours after the last bell, from Monday through Friday
3. Where practicably possible, VAV systems will increase to 100% air flow rates when their respective air handlers are in economizer mode.

We will change air filters on a 30 day cycle (rather than 3 months), increase from MERV 8 to MERV13 filters

Custodial staff will perform routine cleaning of general facilities through the day and will conduct enhanced cleaning of high touch surfaces twice daily including:

• light switches
• handrails
• door handles
• faucet handles
• toilet handles
• bottle fill stations
• countertops
• sinks

Students will be allowed to use the washrooms at non-designated times when necessary. Schools will have protocols specific to their schools that include hygiene, physical distancing, washroom occupancy, etc.

We will be using Virex and Oxiver which are approved with Drug Identification Numbers (“DIN”).

Classrooms with sinks have had a wall mounted soap dispenser installed. Classrooms without sinks have had a wall mounted hand sanitizer dispenser installed. Students will be provided opportunities to wash their hands throughout the day.

Any student who starts to exhibit any symptoms of COVID-19 while attending class will be immediately moved into the school’s designated Health Waiting Area. Parents/guardians will be called and asked to pick up their child as soon as possible.

Board protocols are being developed, with guidance from WECHU, for dealing with students who present as ill during the school day.

We have staff who are dedicated to student mental health. At the classroom level, there will be materials and support for staff to use with their students.

To welcome back our students to a safe and nurturing environment and to develop solid relationships between and among our students, we must all prioritize mental health and well-being upon returning to school. Our school-based staff has dedicated time on the first PD days (as well as sessions throughout the year) to learn how to:

• promote student social connection after school absence due to pandemic
• promote appropriate ways to respond to students who are anxious
• build a mentally healthy positive classroom
• monitor student reaction and how to support as they adapt to the new environment
• address stigma and intolerance associated with COVID-19 through a mental health lens

Additional social emotional learning resources will be available to our school-based staff members to integrate into their lessons and activities for tier one and two learning.

We are anticipating that our programs will be a “grab and go” model, ensuring our social distancing measures are in place. We are working with our community partners to determine funding levels for 2020-2021.

Children take their cues from their parents/guardians. Being positive about the future, practicing good preventative strategies, and answering their questions honestly and openly will make for a smoother transition. We will share resources with families as they become available.

Yes. The Individual Education Plan outlines the student’s needs, accommodations and modifications. These plans will be followed in all models of delivery.

The GECDSB is planning to offer regular, everyday timetabling plans for students who are in full day self-contained classrooms (GAINS and STEPS) except if we are in a remote (at-home) delivery model. More information will follow for families affected.

We are planning with Maryvale and New Beginnings that students will attend full day, every day except if we are in a remote (at-home) delivery model. We are having ongoing conversations with Regional Children’s Centre. More information will follow for families affected.

Students who are in our partially self-contained (half day) RISE programs will attend in their homeroom classroom for half the day and in their RISE classroom for the other half of the day. RISE classroom have a cap of 11 students.

As long as your child is registered for school, and has met the criteria for School Based Rehabilitation Services, John McGivney Children’s Centre we will continue to offer their services to GECDSB students. They will offer virtual services as well as services in-Centre if the parent wishes to come in as well as in school if the student is attending in person.

We have been directed by the Ministry to provide our “most complex students” the opportunity to attend 5 days per week. These are often students who do not respond well to virtual learning, their alternative curriculum is better provided in person. STEPS classrooms are capped at 10 students.