Local school boards prepare for remote learning

In keeping with the province-wide lockdown to limit the spread of COVID-19, both the Limestone District School Board (LDSB) and the Algonquin & Lakeshore Catholic District School Board (ALCDSB) have confirmed that in-class learning for students will temporarily be suspended. All students will shift to remote learning after the December break.

The provincial mandate from the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, has stipulated that elementary and secondary school students province-wide will attend classes through remote learning from Jan. 4-Jan. 8, 2021. In-person instruction will not be permitted during this period.

Following that initial week of remote learning, however, there will be a difference in the timing for a return to in-person classes depending on whether students attend an elementary or a secondary school.

Both ALCDSB and LDSB note in their statements that while the plan is for elementary students to return to in-person learning on Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, secondary students will continue learning remotely until Monday, Jan. 25, 2021.

The two School Boards also note that these plans are subject to change, depending on community health circumstances and direction from the provincial government and/or public health related to COVID-19. 

ALCDSB’s statement provides the following clarifications for their students:

• Elementary school students can return to in-person learning on Monday, Jan. 11, 2021.
• Secondary school students will continue learning remotely until Monday, Jan. 25, 2021, at which point they can resume in-person learning.
• Secondary students currently in a CO-OP will begin Jan. 4 in remote learning with their CO-OP teacher until deemed appropriate to return to their placements.
• Grade 7/8 students at St. Paul Catholic Secondary School will follow elementary timelines.
• Those students already enrolled in remote learning through the ALCDSB Virtual School are not impacted by these changes and will continue their regular programming.
• Schools will continue to provide access to their on-site childcare centres.
• It is the goal for ALCDSB that synchronous learning will commence after the distribution of technology to students, likely towards the middle of the week Jan. 4th-8th, 2021.

ALCDSB also notes that teachers will be in contact on the afternoon of Jan. 4th to provide further information and material for students.

LDSB’s statement provides the following clarifications for their students:

• All students will move to remote learning the week of Jan. 4 to 8, 2021. 
• Elementary students (Kindergarten to Grade 8) will move to remote learning for the first week of school (Jan. 4 to 8, 2021) with face-to-face learning resuming on Monday, Jan. 11, 2021. 
• All in-class learning for secondary students (Grade 9 to 12) will move to remote learning until January 22, 2021. At this point, secondary students will return to face-to-face learning on Jan. 25.
• There is no change to learning for students enrolled in the LDSB Virtual School.
• Child-care centres in schools will remain open.
• However, before and after school programs will be closed from Jan. 4 to 8, 2021, when elementary students move to remote learning.

Parents and guardians with questions about their student’s situation, about access to synchronous learning online, or about other supports that are in place to enable participation are encouraged to contact their student’s teacher on Jan. 4.

Mental health resources remain available to students and families, including Kids Help Phone, which offers 24/7 counselling and referral services across the province. To use this free resource, children can call 1-800-668-6868, or text CONNECT to 686868.

To contact the ALCDSB:
151 Dairy Ave, Napanee, Ontario K7R 4B2 
Phone: (613) 354-2255
Email: [email protected] 
www.alcdsb.on.ca

To contact the LDSB:
220 Portsmouth Avenue, Kingston, ON K7M 0G2
Phone: 613-544-6920
https://www.limestone.on.ca/contact_us