Schools return to remote learning April 19

Limestone Learning Foundation
Schools return to remote learning April 19
Posted on 04/18/2021
Image of a student using a laptop

Update April 18, 2021: 

A reminder that students in the Limestone District School Board will transition to remote learning beginning Monday, April 19, 2021. This decision was made by the provincial government and the Ministry of Education to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.

Teachers will reach out to students and families on Monday to connect and get students set up for remote learning. Students will be provided with some asynchronous (scheduled) work for Monday. Classes will move to synchronous (live) learning beginning Tuesday and will ramp up over the course of the week. 

Families who may need a device, but who did not receive one before the break, can connect with their teachers to determine what arrangements need to be made to support students and families.

Elementary and secondary students with significant special education needs who attend full-time, self-contained district programs, and those accessing School to Community services who cannot be served through remote instruction, will be offered the option of face-to-face learning. This coming week, these learners will be primarily served through remote learning. These families will receive more details directly from educators beginning on Monday. Face-to-face learning for these learners would start toward the end of this week, or early next week. More details will be provided as more programming information becomes available. Remote learning will be offered to those who prefer not to attend face to face. 

There are no changes for the LDSB Virtual School.

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Earlier this afternoon, the Ontario government announced that all public schools in Ontario will move to remote learning following the April Break on Monday, April 19, 2021. This includes all schools in the Limestone District School Board.

The decision was made by Ontario’s Medical Officer of Health due to increasing COVID-19 numbers across the province, and the serious threat posed by the new Variants of Concern (VOCs). Because schools reflect what is happening in our communities, community transmission poses the greatest obstacle to keeping schools open. This is also why it is critical that everyone continues to follow local public health directives to limit the spread of COVID-19 wherever possible.

There is currently no return date in place, however, the Minister of Education has indicated that in-person learning will resume as soon as it is safe to do so. The board will share any updates as we receive them. It is unclear at this time whether the government will take a provincial or regional approach for reopening schools. 

As a precautionary measure, schools did start the process of working with families before the break to distribute devices to elementary and secondary students who might require them for online learning. Families who may need a device, but who did not receive one before the break, can connect with their school following the break. Educators will connect with families on April 19 as remote learning begins. 

While remote learning will be in place for the majority of students, elementary and secondary students with significant special education needs who attend full-time, self-contained district programs, and those accessing School to Community services who cannot benefit from remote instruction, will be offered the option of face-to-face learning, as was the case in January. These families will receive more details directly from educators on April 19. Face-to-face learning for these learners will start later during the week of April 19 to 23. Remote learning will be offered to those who prefer not to attend face to face.

There are no changes for the LDSB Virtual School.

Child-care centres located in schools will remain open, however, before and after school programs in schools will be closed during the remote learning period.

I know this news is both disruptive and challenging for many families. I also know how critical in-person learning is to support student achievement and well-being, and the board will continue to do our very best to provide students with mental health supports and resources.

Please stay well and continue to follow all public health directives to keep everyone safe and healthy.

Krishna Burra
Director of Education

 

 

 

 

The Limestone District School Board is situated on traditional territories of the Anishinaabe & Haudenosaunee.