Back to School during the pandemic ...a discussion thread

[MamaLema]

For those on here with kids/grandkids in Ontario schools, or day care, I think this is a very useful site. I know I will be checking it often to be informed.

https://www.ontario.ca/page/covid-19-cases-schools-and-child-care-centres

This is great info. Thank you for sharing.

 

[AngelDisney]

We were told by our board that switching from in person learning to virtual or vice versa would be possible for everyone after quad 1. But nothing was ever mentioned about spot availability. Now I’m thinking it will not be as simple as they made it sound, especially for those trying to move from virtual to in school where cohorts are limited to 15.

There is already a long waitlist to go onto virtual at our board . They could not accommodate all the requests and these were made before their final deadline. My son has a friend on the waitlist. They would not process students to switch from virtual either - many who later found out and disliked the idea that the virtual school is a separate entity from their home school, with its own admin, guidance, principal etc. with students all across the school board, .

I said it was based on availability because if you want to add a teacher for additional classes, you need to first have enough students to open one course. Then two courses to fit into the timetables of all added students. Then hire a teacher that has the qualifications to teach the two courses. With students demand all over the place, I don’t see all students who prefer to go back to in-school learning can be accommodated all at once. Also in this case, newly added classes would probably be taught be long-term occasional teachers as teachers have contract by semesters unless it’s a full year school. One quad is half a semester and you cannot hire a contracted teacher this way. So it would not be a regular teacher from day school teaching the new classes.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

Were the parents tested too? Just wondering where the child would have got it. I have a 3 year old grand-daughter who just started preschool, so the situation interests me. She only has 4 kids in her class but it is still a concern.

I understand your concerns, I can add a bit to the conversation based on my own experience. I am an RECE who works in Regionally operated childcare in a GTA municipality.

Our seven centres have operated throughout the pandemic providing emergency 24/7 care for frontline workers, as of July 2nd we have reverted back to regular childcare and early learning programs with new regulations on ratios, cohorts, screening, cleaning and best practices.

As another poster has said the amount of cleaning being done in childcare centres at the oversight of our local public health department and very strict Ministry of Ed guidelines is more then abundant.
Our screening process is very strict and unforgiving. I’ve seen children that I suspect are cutting teeth and running a low grade fever - refused entry or sent home for further investigation by the family physician. Staff are held to the same standards, if we feel unwell it is on us to remain home.

Since our centres reopened on March 30th through today - we have not had a single positive covid case across all seven centres. Staff have been tested, as well as children where their own doctors chose to err on the side of caution.
That said.. it can happen at any time - we are only too aware of what can and does happen. We feel we are doing our part (well) where we feel uncertain is around what our families are exposed to away from our centres and what they may inadvertently expose their kids and ours to as our world returns to more normalcy or becomes overwhelmed with covid fatigue, leading to choices that may not be in the interest of the greater good.

We continue to do our best... and rely on others to do their part.

 

[bababear_50]

MamaLema

Hi Hon
I just wanted to drop by and say I am so sorry this is happening to you.
So many thoughts went through my mind,does she have family that needs her?,,does she have enough supplies and food for a quarantine?,,does she have family needs/responsibilities that she usually meets and is there someone else to do those things. Is her home big enough to quarantine from the rest of the family? Does she have a family doctor that is readily available to her. Is she losing all her sick days?
I know my school staff would be like a team crowding around the person to make sure the staff member had all the things she/he needed.
I am not sure where you live but I am in Mississauga and if I can be of any help please just PM me.
Rest well and know many people care about you.
YOU WILL GET THROUGH THIS!!!!!!
GIANT HUGS
Mel

 

[damo]

I understand your concerns, I can add a bit to the conversation based on my own experience. I am an RECE who works in Regionally operated childcare in a GTA municipality.

Our seven centres have operated throughout the pandemic providing emergency 24/7 care for frontline workers, as of July 2nd we have reverted back to regular childcare and early learning programs with new regulations on ratios, cohorts, screening, cleaning and best practices.

As another poster has said the amount of cleaning being done in childcare centres at the oversight of our local public health department and very strict Ministry of Ed guidelines is more then abundant.
Our screening process is very strict and unforgiving. I’ve seen children that I suspect are cutting teeth and running a low grade fever - refused entry or sent home for further investigation by the family physician. Staff are held to the same standards, if we feel unwell it is on us to remain home.

Since our centres reopened on March 30th through today - we have not had a single positive covid case across all seven centres. Staff have been tested, as well as children where their own doctors chose to err on the side of caution.
That said.. it can happen at any time - we are only too aware of what can and does happen. We feel we are doing our part (well) where we feel uncertain is around what our families are exposed to away from our centres and what they may inadvertently expose their kids and ours to as our world returns to more normalcy or becomes overwhelmed with covid fatigue, leading to choices that may not be in the interest of the greater good.

We continue to do our best... and rely on others to do their part.

I know her little school is doing screening. They asked her how she was feeling the other day as she was being dropped off and she replied, "I just sneezed once at home." She's a funny bunny.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

I know her little school is doing screening. They asked her how she was feeling the other day as she was being dropped off and she replied, "I just sneezed once at home." She's a funny bunny.

My little grands are the same way

At the beginning my GD had my GS convinced that if he went outside of the house - the virus could (read would) make him die... he was convinced she was correct. Took allot of patience & perseverance to get him outside and enjoying it.

Oh those out of the mouths of babes moments! lol

 

[MoreTravels]

I said it was based on availability because if you want to add a teacher for additional classes, you need to first have enough students to open one course. Then two courses to fit into the timetables of all added students. Then hire a teacher that has the qualifications to teach the two courses. With students demand all over the place, I don’t see all students who prefer to go back to in-school learning can be accommodated all at once. Also in this case, newly added classes would probably be taught be long-term occasional teachers as teachers have contract by semesters unless it’s a full year school. One quad is half a semester and you cannot hire a contracted teacher this way. So it would not be a regular teacher from day school teaching the new classes.

This is how some independent schools handle the in-person and virtual students.... they group them in the same class. Let's say you have a cap of 24 students per class. Out of those students, about 1/3 of them will not feel comfortable coming in. So you will have about 16 students in classroom and 8 at home. All the classes are simultaneously livestreamed on Zoom. The two groups of students can see each other virtually and participate. The teachers talk to the camera at the rear of classroom and live audience at the same time. If any student is feeling unwell that day or even the teacher, then they just have to phone in the school and switch instantaneously to virtual learning for those 14 days.

This allows:
1. Smaller class size, cap at full size, but practically about 1/3 less
2. Students not to miss a single day of class regardless their quarantine status
3. Less fear from parents that they have no option but to send a sick kid back to school

My kid's class currently has 10 students... another 6 stay home. They say hi to each other and eat lunch virtually together. So the number can be between 1 to 16 students throughout the school year. The teachers will be hired for the full year and there is no need for staffing change.

 

[Silvermist999]

This is how some independent schools handle the in-person and virtual students.... they group them in the same class. Let's say you have a cap of 24 students per class. Out of those students, about 1/3 of them will not feel comfortable coming in. So you will have about 16 students in classroom and 8 at home. All the classes are simultaneously livestreamed on Zoom. The two groups of students can see each other virtually and participate. The teachers talk to the camera at the rear of classroom and live audience at the same time. If any student is feeling unwell that day or even the teacher, then they just have to phone in the school and switch instantaneously to virtual learning for those 14 days.

This allows:
1. Smaller class size, cap at full size, but practically about 1/3 less
2. Students not to miss a single day of class regardless their quarantine status
3. Less fear from parents that they have no option but to send a sick kid back to school

My kid's class currently has 10 students... another 6 stay home. They say hi to each other and eat lunch virtually together. So the number can be between 1 to 16 students throughout the school year. The teachers will be hired for the full year and there is no need for staffing change.

This is exactly how everyone thought the virtual classes would be run in Ontario public secondary schools. Instead the boards were instructed to create separate virtual schools, comprised of students from various schools across the board.

As an example, our board has created three virtual elementary schools each with its own principal, vice principals , guidance, teaching staff, admin, etc. and one virtual secondary school, also with its own separate staff. Not only does this create obvious issues with staffing but the children in the virtual schools are isolated from their friends who have chosen in person classes.

 

[Frozen2014]

This is how some independent schools handle the in-person and virtual students.... they group them in the same class. Let's say you have a cap of 24 students per class. Out of those students, about 1/3 of them will not feel comfortable coming in. So you will have about 16 students in classroom and 8 at home. All the classes are simultaneously livestreamed on Zoom. The two groups of students can see each other virtually and participate. The teachers talk to the camera at the rear of classroom and live audience at the same time. If any student is feeling unwell that day or even the teacher, then they just have to phone in the school and switch instantaneously to virtual learning for those 14 days.

This allows:
1. Smaller class size, cap at full size, but practically about 1/3 less
2. Students not to miss a single day of class regardless their quarantine status
3. Less fear from parents that they have no option but to send a sick kid back to school

My kid's class currently has 10 students... another 6 stay home. They say hi to each other and eat lunch virtually together. So the number can be between 1 to 16 students throughout the school year. The teachers will be hired for the full year and there is no need for staffing change.

This to me is a big thing. My DD is in school where is class is in-class only. I have to question what will happen if she gets a cold. If its a nose cold, so prob not flagged as covid, the mask situation will be horrible with congestion or runny nose. Does she stay home for the week until the cold is gone?

And if it is a cough (but just a cold), I'm sure they'll send her home. And what if someone tests positive either in the class, or someone we know where just DD has to quarantine (i.e. not the entire class). That would eliminate missing 2 weeks of school.

 

[hdrolfe]

This to me is a big thing. My DD is in school where is class is in-class only. I have to question what will happen if she gets a cold. If its a nose cold, so prob not flagged as covid, the mask situation will be horrible with congestion or runny nose. Does she stay home for the week until the cold is gone?

And if it is a cough (but just a cold), I'm sure they'll send her home. And what if someone tests positive either in the class, or someone we know where just DD has to quarantine (i.e. not the entire class). That would eliminate missing 2 weeks of school.

We've been instructed that any type of illness, even mild, is stay home. I also wonder how it will work since I'd like him to keep on learning from home but how will he just switch over? Then of course he also wishes to do the online version now, and at first they said it would be possible to switch to online at any point but I don't think that's the case any more. The whole things is such a mess. I am glad he went for even a few days though, he has reconnected with a few friends who he spent time with yesterday (outside, and now playing minecraft together).

I can't wait for this to be over... it feels endless.

 

[FigmentSpark]

This is how some independent schools handle the in-person and virtual students.... they group them in the same class. Let's say you have a cap of 24 students per class. Out of those students, about 1/3 of them will not feel comfortable coming in. So you will have about 16 students in classroom and 8 at home. All the classes are simultaneously livestreamed on Zoom. The two groups of students can see each other virtually and participate. The teachers talk to the camera at the rear of classroom and live audience at the same time. If any student is feeling unwell that day or even the teacher, then they just have to phone in the school and switch instantaneously to virtual learning for those 14 days.

This allows:
1. Smaller class size, cap at full size, but practically about 1/3 less
2. Students not to miss a single day of class regardless their quarantine status
3. Less fear from parents that they have no option but to send a sick kid back to school

My kid's class currently has 10 students... another 6 stay home. They say hi to each other and eat lunch virtually together. So the number can be between 1 to 16 students throughout the school year. The teachers will be hired for the full year and there is no need for staffing change.

This would be ideal, but I know with our board, they were already trying to lower the class sizes and the best way was to consolidate the virtual kids into wherever there was room, which might be a totally different school.

You said about a 1/3 might go virtual, but our board found only about 15% went virtual, not necessarily from the same schools, so they did the consolidation thing to best use the teaching resources they had and not have to have cameras in every single classroom (also an investment).

 

[scrappinginontario]

This is exactly how everyone thought the virtual classes would be run in Ontario public secondary schools. Instead the boards were instructed to create separate virtual schools, comprised of students from various schools across the board.

As an example, our board has created three virtual elementary schools each with its own principal, vice principals , guidance, teaching staff, admin, etc. and one virtual secondary school, also with its own separate staff. Not only does this create obvious issues with staffing but the children in the virtual schools are isolated from their friends who have chosen in person classes.

Not everyone thought this way. I’m in Ontario snd understood from early on that in our board the virtual students would not be part of their regular school or class. Our board has created 6 separate virtual schools for our elementary students.

While it may be ideal that the teacher live stream their teaching so that both students at home and those in the class are ‘together’ it’s not always possible due to the physical limitations of the school. Not all schools have the equipment or the wifi to support this.

In my daughter’s school approx 1/6 students chose virtual learning. This allowed the school to use the additional room in the classrooms to get the recommended 1M distancing. There will be 22 or 23 children in her 6/7 split when all attend together.

The entire school and all portables are being used to capacity. I truly don’t know what would happen if students learning virtually requested to return to the classroom as I’m not sure how they would accommodate all of those 100+ students plus maintain the distancing of those currently there unless some of them request to move to virtual.

This weighed into my decision as a parent when I chose the learning style we did. I knew from early in August that I needed to be prepared to stay in whatever stream I chose for the entire year as there was no guarantee there would be room for her in the other stream should we choose to switch.

 

[hdrolfe]

So my son's school board had originally said the virtual kids would be "attached" to an in class teacher, so they'd be with their friends. They would get some kind of message at the start of the day on what to do and then could speak to a different teacher for help if necessary. Then more kids signed up for virtual than expected and the province said it had to be 225 minutes of synchronous learning. The original plan went out the window. The original idea would have made it easier to switch between online and in class for sure.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

Not everyone thought this way. I’m in Ontario snd understood from early on that in our board the virtual students would not be part of their regular school or class. Our board has created 6 separate virtual schools for our elementary students.

While it may be ideal that the teacher live stream their teaching so that both students at home and those in the class are ‘together’ it’s not always possible due to the physical limitations of the school. Not all schools have the equipment or the wifi to support this.

In my daughter’s school approx 1/6 students chose virtual learning. This allowed the school to use the additional room in the classrooms to get the recommended 1M distancing. There will be 22 or 23 children in her 6/7 split when all attend together.

The entire school and all portables are being used to capacity. I truly don’t know what would happen if students learning virtually requested to return to the classroom as I’m not sure how they would accommodate all of those 100+ students plus maintain the distancing of those currently there unless some of them request to move to virtual.

This weighed into my decision as a parent when I chose the learning style we did. I knew from early in August that I needed to be prepared to stay in whatever stream I chose for the entire year as there was no guarantee there would be room for her in the other stream should we choose to switch.

I believe we are in the same school district. I watched my daughter struggle with her decision to send my sweet little grandkids back to school feeling unsure every step of the way. She texted me early Friday with the surprising news that my GS who is going into grade two only has 15 children in his class & my littlest grand (GD) has 17 children in her grade one class. These numbers make their social distancing easier to achieve and we are grateful. Their school has struggled with under enrollment for several years as many in the catchment area have opted for french immersion which is offered at a school three blocks away.

We are waiting to see how those wanting to switch back to in class learning from virtual classes once the low in class numbers become known - impacts the current situation.

 

[bookbabe626]

I think the biggest misconception the public has is that having a third of the kids opt for virtual school will make in-person classes smaller. That’s not the case. The only reason in-person classes are any smaller in Toronto is that students are only attending every other day, so that half of each class is in Cohort A and half is in Cohort B. The actual class cap is the same as pre-covid.

I’m a retired TDSB high school guidance counselor. My school called me and asked me to work last week and this upcoming week because of all the changes. We lost 16 teachers (about 1/3 of our staff) to surplus/virtual school on the Friday before Labour Day weekend, meaning 90 classes had to be collapsed, and pretty much the whole school had to be retimetabled. This process usually takes about four to six weeks each spring. Our poor VP is trying to get it done for Monday morning so teachers can find out what they’re teaching.

Our priority with the students has been to get them two of the classes they actually picked in quad one, then guidance will have some breathing space to get their other six classes fixed/replaced (since a lot of one-off electives were cancelled).

And, to add to the confusion the board let kids swap back and forth between in-person and virtual all week. And there‘s the usual influx of new registrations and incoming international (visa) students to find timetables for.

I’ve never been so glad to be retired. I feel so sorry for teachers, students and parents having to deal with this chaos.

 

[pigletto]

I think the biggest misconception the public has is that having a third of the kids opt for virtual school will make in-person classes smaller. That’s not the case. The only reason in-person classes are any smaller in Toronto is that students are only attending every other day, so that half of each class is in Cohort A and half is in Cohort B. The actual class cap is the same as pre-covid.

I’m a retired TDSB high school guidance counselor. My school called me and asked me to work last week and this upcoming week because of all the changes. We lost 16 teachers (about 1/3 of our staff) to surplus/virtual school on the Friday before Labour Day weekend, meaning 90 classes had to be collapsed, and pretty much the whole school had to be retimetabled. This process usually takes about four to six weeks each spring. Our poor VP is trying to get it done for Monday morning so teachers can find out what they’re teaching.

Our priority with the students has been to get them two of the classes they actually picked in quad one, then guidance will have some breathing space to get their other six classes fixed/replaced (since a lot of one-off electives were cancelled).

And, to add to the confusion the board let kids swap back and forth between in-person and virtual all week. And there‘s the usual influx of new registrations and incoming international (visa) students to find timetables for.

I’ve never been so glad to be retired. I feel so sorry for teachers, students and parents having to deal with this chaos.

And this right here is why I believe every one working in a school right now deserves our patience and grace. There is so much going on behind the scenes and staff is scrambling to make it all work somehow. If you look at the comments section for our boards social media pages it’s just hundreds of people complaining and ripping into the schools and staff for every little thing under the sun. We have to give these people a break. So many of them are likely doing the best they can.

 

[wdwmom3]

March break ends today!!!

 

[quandrea]

March break ends today!!!

Not everywhere. Peel just announced that online high school is delayed until September 22. Online elementary begins September 21.

 

[Disneylover99]

Not everywhere. Peel just announced that online high school is delayed until September 22. Online elementary begins September 21.

Toronto Board hasn’t started yet either.

 

[wdwmom3]

Not everywhere. Peel just announced that online high school is delayed until September 22. Online elementary begins September 21.

Yes I know. But for us it has. Who knows if it will last though.