Return To School - February 8th

​PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE: We are looking forward to welcoming students back to in-person learning on Monday, February 8th . This past school year has been certainly challenging with all of the unknowns, but as a school community, we pulled together and made the best of a difficult situation. As we prepare to return to school after the winter break and recent school closure, it is important that we continue to remain vigilant in ensuring that we do everything we can to keep our students safe and healthy. We want to assure you that our staff continues to work diligently with the Simcoe District School Board, in partnership with Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit to ensure that the enhanced public health measures are in place as we continue to work through the ongoing pandemic. We will need to rely on all community members’ patience, kindness and flexibility as we flourish within this new normal. These are unprecedented times, but as a school community, we’ve done a remarkable job in working together to promote a healthy and safe learning environment for our children.

Communication from the school will be coming regularly, so please ensure that your preferred email address is provided to our school office – you can update your email address by emailing chrishadfield@scdsb.on.ca 

Outlined below are many of the safety measures that will continue to be in place for the 2020-2021 school year at Chris Hadfield Public School. It will be important to follow all the existing protocols, as these are best practices that have been laid out by SMDHDU to promote a safe learning environment for all of our students. Please read carefully, and retain this document for further use – much of this is a review from the Fall’s Return To School document, updated with the new health and safety directives from the Ministry and Public Health Authority. 

COVID-19 SELF ASSESSMENT: It is imperative that each day prior to coming to school, students need to complete the Covid-19 Self Assessment Tool: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/self-assessment/ Students who are exhibiting any symptoms need to remain at home. Staff will be following this same protocol as this will be instrumental in ensuring a healthy learning environment.

SHOWING SIGNS OF COVID-19 AT SCHOOL: If students begin to show signs of Covid-19 at school, they will be guided to an isolation room (formerly our multi-purpose room). Parents/Guardians will be called and will need to come to the school to pick up the students immediately. If parents/guardians are unable to come, they will have to make alternative arrangements for pick up of their child. Families must come up with a plan for such an event, as students need to be picked up in an expedient manner. 

TECHNOLOGY RETURN: On Monday, February 8th in-person students who have been loaned technology (i.e. chromebook, ipads, SEA, etc.) from the school are asked to return it to school on this day. There are two options for families to return the technology and charger. They can send the technology (with charger) back with their child who can hand it into their teacher, or staff will be available from 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. to receive returned technology with charger, outside the main doors of the school. It is important that we receive the borrowed technology (with charger) back at school on Monday, so that we are able to disinfect them and prepare them for student use as in-person learning has returned. Learn @ Home students who borrowed technology in the Fall and are continuing with this platform, do not need to return the devices at this time. Thank you for your co-operation. 

FACE MASKS/COVERINGS: Face masks are now mandatory for all students (Kindergarten – Grade 8) and must be worn at all times, including when outside for recess. Face masks/coverings must be provided by the home and masks must cover the nose and mouth. We would recommend using this weekend to prepare your child for wearing a mask in an effort to get ready for a return to school. While we will provide coaching and prompting of students to assist them with mask wearing, students who refuse to wear a mask will be sent home, as this is a SCDSB (in consultation with Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit) directive for in-school learning. All staff will be wearing medical graded face coverings while in the school. With students now wearing masks outdoors, families may want to send their child with multiple masks for the day, in case they become wet. 

NO PARENTS/VISITORS IN THE BUILDING: As part of the enhanced health and safety measures, there will be no parents, visitors or volunteers allowed in the building at any time. We would ask that you do not pick up your child at school during the school day, unless it is absolutely necessary (extenuating circumstances only). If early dismissal cannot be avoided, we would ask that you call ahead. You will need to buzz the office from outside the front doors and wait until school staff can direct your child outside. Be prepared to wait and we ask for your patience. At no times will parents/guardians be allowed in the building. If you need to communicate with your child’s educators, it will need to be done through phone or email. 

GYM/LIBRARY: The gymnasium and library will be closed for the 2020-2021 school year, unless otherwise directed by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit. 

ARRIVE ON TIME: Our school day begins at 9:15 a.m. and students can arrive between 9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. and they can go directly to their classrooms (There is no supervision before 9:00 a.m.). After 9:15 a.m., the only school doors that will be opened for student entry are the front doors of the school. For students arriving late (after 9:15 a.m.), they will need to go to the front entrance of the school and line up (physically distance – 2m apart) and prepare to wait for school staff to come out, sign them in and allow entrance into the building. Students/Families arriving late must be prepared to wait (potentially lengthy waits) as we work through this process. Students who are late, must be accompanied by a parent/guardian as there will be no supervision for late students. We will ask for your co-operation and assistance with this matter. It would serve everyone’s best interests for students to arrive prior to 9:15 a.m. to avoid long waits. 

LUNCHES: Students will need to come prepared daily with their snacks, lunch and reusable water bottle for the day. Parents/guardians will not be allowed to come to the school during the day to drop off food or drink – this will no longer be an option as part of our enhanced health and safety protocols. Students are asked to remain at school for lunch. We will have “Grab and Go” snacks available at school for students who forget their lunch – but it will be essential that students have the food and drink they need each day. Snack/lunch sharing is not permissible. The hot lunch program and selling of food at school is closed until further notice. Water fountains have been turned off and bagged, but water bottle refill stations will be available for student and staff use. As a school we are promoting the Boomerang Lunch concept. This is for students to bring home any of their own garbage to dispose at home in an effort to reduce the handling of garbage and recycling in classrooms throughout the pandemic. 

FIELD TRIPS/ASSEMBLIES/CO-CURRICULAR: At this time, only virtual assemblies, presentations, field trips and co-curricular activities are permitted. 

STUDENT PERSONAL BELONGINGS: It is essential that students limit the personal belongings that they bring to school. All student personal items will remain at their assigned desk or table spot. Please label your child’s belongings to support this. Recess and Nutrition Breaks: Students will remain in their cohort (class) during all recess and nutrition breaks as is current protocol. Students will have assigned areas to enjoy in their cohort to avoid Covid-19 transmission. 

End of Day Dismissal: To avoid congregating at the end of the day, we are having a staggered dismissal: 

Kindergarten Students – can be picked up as early as 3:15 p.m. and as late as 3:35 p.m. 

Grades 1 to 5 Students – will be dismissed at 3:35 p.m. 

Grades 6 to 8 Students – can be dismissed as early as 3:20 p.m. and as late as 3:35 p.m. – these students are welcome to stay in their classroom until 3:35 p.m. if they are picking up siblings at the end of the day 

Learn @ Home Students: On Monday, February 8th, Learn @ Home students will continue with the remote learning platform that they’ve been following since the Fall. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE RETURN TO SCHOOL PLAN FOR SCDSB SCHOOLS, PLEASE VISIT: https://www.scdsb.on.ca/covid-19