Dear Families,
As you may have heard in the media earlier today, the Minister of Education released three potential scenarios for the reopening of public schools in the fall: continued remote learning, a return to in-school learning that follows public health directives, or a blended learning model of remote and in-school learning.
Ontario Prepares for the Safe Reopening of Schools
The Ministry also announced that it will not make a final decision on what a return to school would look like until early August. This means we will not be able to share our Limestone-specific plans with you until then.
We know you have many questions about what this will all mean for students, families and staff. We ask for your continued patience while we work through the complex planning required to ensure the safety of everyone in our school communities.
The Limestone District School Board has been working on various contingency plans for a while now and these guidelines from the government will help us formalize our plans. There may also be an opportunity for us to implement a regional model, based on direction and guidance from KFL&A Public Health, that could differ from other school districts in the province.
Limestone staff will review and adapt these plans as required to meet the needs within our school district. We will use feedback we have received from students, families and staff to help inform our plans. We will be reaching out to families early next week seeking your perspectives on school re-entry. Again, this information will help us with our planning. The turnaround time will be short so we would ask that you keep an eye on your email, and respond as quickly as you can.
Please know that our plans for re-entry will ensure that we maintain a healthy and safe environment for everyone who learns and works in our schools and sites; that we will support vulnerable students who may need special assistance; and that we will provide continuity of learning opportunities for all students.
We were encouraged to see recent funding announcements to support enhanced mental health supports for students and access to technology. We look forward to learning in the coming weeks how this will support our work in Limestone.
While there are still many unknowns regarding the new school year, please know staff are continuing to work hard to provide the very best opportunities for all students. We will continue to communicate with families over the coming weeks and months to share the latest news and updates.
In the meantime, please take care.
Debra Rantz
Director of Education
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May 19, 2020 Message from the Minister of Education to Ontario Families
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April 28, 2020 Message from the Minister of Education to Ontario Families
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April 17, 2020 Message to Families
April 9, 2020 Message to Families
April 2, 2020 Message to Families
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March 31, 2020 Message from the Minister of Education to Ontario Families
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March 23, 2020 Message from the Chair of the Board
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Frequently Asked Questions re COVID-19
Talking with children and youth about COVID-19