Back to School during the pandemic ...a discussion thread

[bankr63]

The students in Virtual School are still students of their day school. The day school is overseeing scheduling and providing support when needed. So, I don’t think it’s possible to cross school boards due to funding.

This is probably depending on jurisdiction. I know for Ottawa's largest board (OCDSB), and I assume other parts of the province of Ontario, that the students are not enrolled in their home school. There are 7 virtual schools (6 Elementary, 1 Secondary) for the OCDSB alone with separate administration and staffing for each virtual school. This is to accommodate scheduling of staff and students; it would be near impossible to schedule anything larger - remember that students should not have overlapping classes for example, and a teacher can only handle a certain amount of marking and assessment.

 

[bankr63]

I reload the board dashboard multiple times a day wondering if this is the time I'll see cases in their schools.

If this is the OCDSB dashboard, it is only updated once per day. I'm not sure what time it is updated, but the date of last update is at the top of the chart. If it is the provincial dashboard covid-19.ontario.ca then it is updated once a day, weekdays only, at 10:30 AM. No need to keep checking back. I would think the Ottawa dashboard is probably updated at the same time the numbers are reported to the province.

 

[hdrolfe]

This is probably depending on jurisdiction. I know for Ottawa's largest board (OCDSB), and I assume other parts of the province of Ontario, that the students are not enrolled in their home school. There are 7 virtual schools (6 Elementary, 1 Secondary) for the OCDSB alone with separate administration and staffing for each virtual school. This is to accommodate scheduling of staff and students; it would be near impossible to schedule anything larger - remember that students should not have overlapping classes for example, and a teacher can only handle a certain amount of marking and assessment.

Ottawa Catholic board is the same. It wasn't supposed to be but I guess the large uptake for the online version had them alter plans pretty quickly.

 

[scrappinginontario]

I was told on the weekend that my nephew's Gr 3 class and niece's Gr 7 class were told by their teachers that they could take off their masks while seated at their desks. Seriously?!! We had an outdoor visit with them on the weekend with the understanding that she had been wearing masks in school. If I'd known before the visit that she (the Gr 7) wasn't wearing one inside the classroom we wouldn't have gotten together with them, let alone with my parents who are in their 80's. Yes, we were outside taking advantage of one last visit before it too cold but I was shocked when I heard what they'd been doing. Our board's website says all children grade 4 and up must wear a mask at all times while inside.

I questioned my daughter (Gr 6) and thankfully this is not happening in her school.

 

[wdwmom3]

I was told on the weekend that my nephew's Gr 3 class and niece's Gr 7 class were told by their teachers that they could take off their masks while seated at their desks. Seriously?!! We had an outdoor visit with them on the weekend with the understanding that she had been wearing masks in school. If I'd known before the visit that she (the Gr 7) wasn't wearing one inside the classroom we wouldn't have gotten together with them, let alone with my parents who are in their 80's. Yes, we were outside taking advantage of one last visit before it too cold but I was shocked when I heard what they'd been doing. Our board's website says all children grade 4 and up must wear a mask at all times while inside.

I questioned my daughter (Gr 6) and thankfully this is not happening in her school.

Are they in Ontario? My understanding is that grade 4 and over mover wear the masks except when eating. Are there classes small enough that they are actually able to space out well? If not the school is not following what the should be

 

[scrappinginontario]

Are they in Ontario? My understanding is that grade 4 and over mover wear the masks except when eating. Are there classes small enough that they are actually able to space out well? If not the school is not following what the should be

Yes they are in Ontario. I contacted the school board today and they are contacting the principal. I feel it should be my brother's responsibility to take it further as it's his children's classes but I felt I was doing the correct thing to bring it to the school board's attention. Their website clearly states that masks are to be worn at all times (except when eating) in grades 4 and above. At my daughter's school the children are not even allowed to talk while their masks are off for eating.

They are in average sized classes. If I believe my child is wearing their mask at school I would be greatly disturbed if the teacher was telling them differently.

 

[wdwmom3]

Yes they are in Ontario. I contacted the school board today and they are contacting the principal. I feel it should be my brother's responsibility to take it further as it's his children's classes but I felt I was doing the correct thing to bring it to the school board's attention. Their website clearly states that masks are to be worn at all times (except when eating) in grades 4 and above. At my daughter's school the children are not even allowed to talk while their masks are off for eating.

They are in average sized classes. If I believe my child is wearing their mask at school I would be greatly disturbed if the teacher was telling them differently.

I think you did the right thing. We are in Ontario and my son has to wear his mask at all times except when they are eating their lunch. That was the entire point of the government mandating the masks for grade 4 and up.

 

[pigletto]

My daughter is 23 and messaged me last night saying that on the official Facebook page for her old high school there are photos posted by staff of the kids “enjoying their fitness class outdoors “. It’s a grade 11 girls class . In one photo they are all piled on a park bench , 12 of them , with no masks. In the other all piled together on the grass , with the teacher , no masks . And I’m not talking standing close together . Their heads are pressed together .. inches from eachothers faces , including the teacher. She was surprised and ticked off since she works with adults and kids with disabilities and knows how vulnerable they are and how people just don’t seem to care. I told her to write her concerns to the board since they are responsible for those kids and she did . I was proud of her . They didn’t bother to answer her but the pictures came down .

She was so polite and just pointed out that the school ..”has a strong voice in the community and could be leading by example in a time when we need strong guidance to keep our community safe and thriving . “

I’m the first one to say that schools are doing the best the can . But a bunch of 16 year olds and their teacher ignoring social distancing and posting it on social media is just ridiculous .

 

[scrappinginontario]

My daughter is 23 and messaged me last night saying that on the official Facebook page for her old high school there are photos posted by staff of the kids “enjoying their fitness class outdoors “. It’s a grade 11 girls class . In one photo they are all piled on a park bench , 12 of them , with no masks. In the other all piled together on the grass , with the teacher , no masks . And I’m not talking standing close together . Their heads are pressed together .. inches from eachothers faces , including the teacher. She was surprised and ticked off since she works with adults and kids with disabilities and knows how vulnerable they are and how people just don’t seem to care. I told her to write her concerns to the board since they are responsible for those kids and she did . I was proud of her . They didn’t bother to answer her but the pictures came down .

She was so polite and just pointed out that the school ..”has a strong voice in the community and could be leading by example in a time when we need strong guidance to keep our community safe and thriving . “

I’m the first one to say that schools are doing the best the can . But a bunch of 16 year olds and their teacher ignoring social distancing and posting it on social media is just ridiculous .

Please thank your daughter. While those 16 year olds may not get sick themselves, it's the older people they interact with that are often at risk.

 

[bankr63]

So today the wheels are starting to get VERY wobbly. DW's class had 3 kids sent to isolation and then home throughout the day. Her class had to be evacuated and sanitized each time. There are about 25 classes in her school. Imagine the load on the principal and VP who must escort and accompany these kids until they are picked up to go home. Apparently one school in the district has 16 teachers out today. The board office had to drop in a whole department of staff and the local trustee to cover as there are not enough substitutes available.
At a staff meeting the administration started talking about what would happen WHEN schools are closed, not IF schools are closed. This was probably not an official board line, but more likely based on the kind of days the administration (and staff) are dealing with. Two weeks to Thanksgiving - will the schools make it that far?

 

[AngelDisney]

This is probably depending on jurisdiction. I know for Ottawa's largest board (OCDSB), and I assume other parts of the province of Ontario, that the students are not enrolled in their home school. There are 7 virtual schools (6 Elementary, 1 Secondary) for the OCDSB alone with separate administration and staffing for each virtual school. This is to accommodate scheduling of staff and students; it would be near impossible to schedule anything larger - remember that students should not have overlapping classes for example, and a teacher can only handle a certain amount of marking and assessment.

This is TDSB and I just helped a few students changed their virtual school timetables today as a student success and SHSM teacher. I am supposed to support all our students in virtual school if they got referred by their VS teachers. I don’t know about other school boards. They may have different practices. And anything can change as we reflect and move forward.

 

[scrappinginontario]

So today the wheels are starting to get VERY wobbly. DW's class had 3 kids sent to isolation and then home throughout the day. Her class had to be evacuated and sanitized each time. There are about 25 classes in her school. Imagine the load on the principal and VP who must escort and accompany these kids until they are picked up to go home. Apparently one school in the district has 16 teachers out today. The board office had to drop in a whole department of staff and the local trustee to cover as there are not enough substitutes available.
At a staff meeting the administration started talking about what would happen WHEN schools are closed, not IF schools are closed. This was probably not an official board line, but more likely based on the kind of days the administration (and staff) are dealing with. Two weeks to Thanksgiving - will the schools make it that far?

WOW!!! May I ask what school board your wife works for? Sorry she had to go through this. Sounds like her days in the classroom may be numbered and they may soon be sent to virtual.

 

[tonga]

My son is in the Ottawa Catholic School Board but doing virtual academy. He is in Grade 7 and still technically enrolled in his home school. We receive regular communication from the school, heard from the resource teacher to set up his IEP etc.

The French school where a lot of his friends attend sent home all the Grade 7 and 8 students for today and tomorrow to learn virtually as there are too many absent teachers.

 

[AngelDisney]

One of our students tested positive today and he was in school last Friday. We are not informed of who the student is yet, and probably we will have to close down soon! Waiting for more info and direction from Admin.

 

[Silvermist999]

Are any of the schools closing down for one case? There are so many schools on that list reporting one case. All the schools around here with one case are still open.

 

[AngelDisney]

Are any of the schools closing down for one case? There are so many schools on that list reporting one case. All the schools around here with one case are still open.

I don’t know. It’s two cases with students in the same neighbourhood now. Two schools are in the same community. Hope it’s isolated! Many students cannot handle distance learning!! Fingers crossed!

 

[pigletto]

Our board has a school with three cases and they declared it an outbreak but didn’t close. They did however close five classrooms and isolate the students. One would hope that the plan isn’t to shut entire schools down for one case . They would be closing over and over. Isn’t this specifically what the cohorts are for ?

 

[ottawamom]

I don't have children in school but just reading all these reports I'm getting a scratchy throat and a headache.

Good luck to each and everyone of you during this unusual Fall school season.

 

[MoreTravels]

Is any of you allowing your kids to join team sports yet, like indoor soccer, hockey, or basketball? I am so undecided. Those program organizers say they cannot play tournament yet but they will allow team registration for skill practicing. I know if I don't sign up my kids for something this year, it will hard to make them join any team next year as they don't know any teamate and have lost the sport skills to be competitive... but I am worried about COVID at the same time. If they join, they will meet 10 other local kids from 10 different local schools (eg, public, private, catholic, French immersion, etc) so there is no "bubble or cohort" any more. So I just bring them home from school and they do their homework and watch TV...

 

[wdwmom3]

Is any of you allowing your kids to join team sports yet, like indoor soccer, hockey, or basketball? I am so undecided. Those program organizers say they cannot play tournament yet but they will allow team registration for skill practicing. I know if I don't sign up my kids for something this year, it will hard to make them join any team next year as they don't know any teamate and have lost the sport skills to be competitive... but I am worried about COVID at the same time. If they join, they will meet 10 other local kids from 10 different local schools (eg, public, private, catholic, French immersion, etc) so there is no "bubble or cohort" any more. So I just bring them home from school and they do their homework and watch TV...

my son is playing hockey and just finished up soccer. For hockey they have cut numbers and only playing 4 on 4. No change rooms. Kids arrive fully dressed. The kids have to wear masks until they put helmets on and they have them sitting spaced on the bench. Only one parents is allowed to watch and mush wear a mask too. We have to fill out a screening form before every game.

They are also trying to limit contact by telling the kids to get no closer then one hockey stick apart.

Remember a sport is a bit different then sitting near people doing things. The kids are constantly moving so they aren’t close to each other for more then a few seconds. Also they are in a large arena with few people. We also have no tournaments in other cities.

If they are doing skills development its even easier to keep the kids spaced out.