​

We are happy to report that after extensive consultation with both our coterminous school boards and the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU), we plan to return to a normal four-period schedule for our second semester, which begins for students on February 3, 2022. This should come as welcome news to our secondary school communities.
Since September 2021, in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19, the WECHU has directed all high-risk contacts exposed within the school setting to isolate for 10 days from exposure date, regardless of immunization status.
Starting semester two, the WECHU will change its case and contact management of asymptomatic fully vaccinated secondary students. This new procedure will change how cohorts will return to school after being dismissed following confirmation of a positive case of COVID-19.
Please note that these plans may change depending on the spread of the Omicron variant and any new provincial guidelines that may result.
Here is what the new guidelines will mean for second semester according to the WECHU:
• All secondary students exposed to COVID-19 within a cohort will be dismissed from attending 
school.
• Students who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be directed by WECHU to immediately 
obtain a COVID-19 PCR test.
• Students who are fully vaccinated, asymptomatic and receive a negative test result on their PCR 
test will be eligible to return to school for learning following their school's procedure to be 
announced in January.
• Students who are unvaccinated or symptomatic are required/directed to isolate at home for the 
full 10 days from the date of exposure, and follow the directions provided by the WECHU.
Details of how students can provide verification of full vaccination and confirm a negative PCR test are still being finalized and will be communicated by your school's administration in the new year.
We strongly encourage students who are not fully vaccinated (2 doses) to take advantage of this seven-week window (Dec. 16 – Feb. 3). This way, they will be able to return more quickly to in-person learning if they are a part of a cohort that gets dismissed during the second semester.
These changes are the best way forward to ensure that our students and staff can get back to a normal secondary schedule beginning February 3, 2022. 
 

Larry Ash

Principal

Belle River D.H.S.