April 9^th

By following public health advice, we can all have a safe and restorative spring break and ensure classes return safely post break.

• Undertake Cleaning

Where possible, private schools should consider using the break to undertake cleaning so that all students and staff have the assurance of returning to a safe learning environment.

• Asymptomatic Testing

For the week of April 12th-18th, pharmacies that offer testing and assessment centres across the province will accept appointments from students and education staff for asymptomatic testing.

• Remind Parents/Students

Parents are encouraged to take advantage of this testing capacity to have their children tested to support a safe return to school on April 19^th. Children attending child care, and child care staff, will also be eligible to access this testing.

Schools are also encouraged to remind parents and students about provincial Grades 1-8 supplemental, curriculum-linked activities they can access during the April break at TVO Learn and TFO IDÉLLO, apprendre à la maison. These opportunities allow students to reinforce learning. Secondary students can continue to access TVO's Independent Learning Centre (ILC) Open House and Portes ouvertes pour les cours TVO ILC in French-language.

• Absence Reporting

Absence reporting will resume on April 19^th, 2021. Although no daily reporting is required to the Ministry during this period, we understand that local public health units (PHUs) may still require contact with private schools during this period to support contact tracing, if necessary.

• Prepare to Reopen

When school reopens on April 19^th, it is an opportunity for staff to provide students with a refresher on health and safety measures on the first day of class. Schools will practice the Educator Guide - that focuses on COVID-19 safety protocols, including hand hygiene, physical distancing and proper masking, to prepare resuming in person schooling post break.

The guide includes developmentally appropriate classroom activities and discussion questions for engaging students in refreshing their learning about health and safety protocols. These protocols, developed in concurrence with leading health advice, have kept schools safe to date. By refreshing our memories on them as we return to the class, we can ensure they continue to keep schools safe.

• Health and Safety Measures

When classes resume, private schools should continue adhering to the public health and safety measures in place, which may include on-site confirmation, monitoring and reinforcement of self-screening for all school staff and students and providing updates to parents, guardians, and the school community. These steps will help ensure that students and staff with symptoms do not enter schools.