Dear Students and Parents,
Since our return from the March break, teachers, principals and vice-principals and support staff, like all Ontarians in non-essential businesses, have been under strict orders to stay home in the interest of public safety as COVID-19 continues to spread. No one has been permitted to go into schools so that the deep cleaning our caretakers did over the break has maximum, uninterrupted impact. Our number one priority as Ontarians and Canadians right now is to stay healthy and stay home.
At the same time, we have been getting ready to support distance learning given that the school closure is going to extend beyond April 6th. We have been engaged in much planning so we can do as much distance learning, led by your teacher, as we can beginning April 6th. For most of our students, digital learning tools such as Google Classroom will allow you to continue your learning and engage with your teacher and fellow classmates. It will not be perfect and we are working on a number of issues such as what to do if you do not have access to internet or a device at home. As well, if you have an individual education plan, we want to find ways to support you.
Our teachers, principals, vice-principals and other support staff have started to contact you as we get ready for what might be possible and we thank you for the positive messages you have sent us! As you are awaiting further details, we want to remind you that the Ministry of Education has launched a Learn at Home portal, where you can find many resources, tips and suggestions.
As our schools make the dramatic switch from our classroom spaces to a complete distance learning model, we want you to know we miss you and are thinking of ways to do what we can to keep faith-filled learning happening at this extraordinary time. If you are feeling worried about all this, you are not alone. We are working hard to eventually re-connect with everyone as best we can. Please continue to stay safe and stay home, continue to take care of one another and we ask you to especially pray for people affected by COVID-19 and for essential workers.
