Schools Not Reopening This School Year

Schools not reopening for in-person learning this school year.
Posted on 06/02/2021
This is the image for the news article titled Schools not reopening for in-person learning this school year.Today the Ontario government announced in a news release that remote learning will continue across Ontario for the remainder of the school year.

How does this impact KCDSB Families?


Students will continue with remote learning until the end of the school year, with the same support and guidance from their educators that has been in place since April. Students with special education needs who have been receiving in-school support will continue to receive support. There will be no regular in-class learning at any school in the province, including KCDSB this school year. For students enrolled in St. Isidore Virtual School, there will be no change.

Importance of Daily Attendance


With the weather being as beautiful as it has been and following today’s announcement, we understand it is easy to allow daily attendance to not be a priority. We also recognize the uniqueness of every family and that we have all been impacted by the pandemic in different ways. But the one consistency we can give our students is the structure the school day provides. That structure and predictability will reduce children’s stress levels and improve their learning outcomes. We know this is a hard request, but please stay with us and support your child in continuing to attend school every day until the end of the school year.

Daily attendance and engagement in learning are crucial in reducing learning gaps and supporting students with transitioning back to school in the fall. During times of uncertainty, the best thing for students is a predictable, consistent school routine. We also know that daily connection and interaction with educators and peers are instrumental to the mental health and well-being of students.

Please continue to connect with your child’s teacher and work together to best support your child’s learning.

Mental Health Supports are in Place


Now more than ever, the mental health and well-being of our students are a critical priority. We want to assure you that our Mental Health Team is working incredibly hard to meet the needs of our students. Students who are currently connected to a Mental Health Worker can continue to access support virtually. Support will continue throughout the summer. To access mental health supports, please email Sue Devlin, Mental Health Lead, at [email protected]

This is a very stressful time for many families, and living through a pandemic has created additional challenges for many in our community. School Mental Health Ontario has posted a number of excellent resources to help students, families, and staff navigate through this difficult period: www.smho-smso.ca.

Parents and families have been tasked with unprecedented demands. As a result of today’s announcement we are sharing a Parent’s Survival Guide, that may be helpful over the next few weeks of remote learning.

Internet Connectivity and Student Technology Support


As remote learning continues, if internet connectivity is an issue for your family, please contact your child’s school.

If your child or family is having technical issues during remote learning, please complete a support ticket using our Student Technology Support Services Form. An Information Technology Specialist will respond as quickly as they can. It is important to include all information on the form, including a telephone number and an email address.

COVID-19 Vaccination Information for Youth 12 and Over


Youth 12 + (at the time of immunization) and family members can book an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine at: Ontario.ca/bookvaccine or call 1-833-943-3900.

To help your family make an informed choice, please visit the KCDSB’s COVID-19 Youth Vaccination website for resources from the Ministry of Education and the Northwestern Health Unit. 

Grade 12 Graduation


Secondary staff have been working on plans to celebrate and honour the important milestone of graduation. They are working on various plans in partnership with the Northwestern Health Unit, with virtual and in-person components, and once the plans are finalized they will be communicated with all graduating students and families.

Year‐End Events and Graduation Celebrations


Each of our Principals and their school teams has established a plan to recognize and celebrate the amazing achievements of students. Your child’s Principal will be communicating these plans with you in the near future if they haven’t already.  

Safe Return to School for the 2021 – 2022 School Year


The government has advised that it will share plans for the safe reopening of schools in August. The first day of school for the 2021 – 2022 school year is Thursday, September 2, 2021. Kenora Catholic is preparing for a safe return to school in September, and we are hopeful for a gradual return to regular learning and more normal routines. We are planning for a conventional, in-person school opening of teaching and instruction, with enhanced health and safety protocols to keep schools safe.

The safety and well‐being of our staff and students are vitally important to us, and we will be working with the Northwestern Health Unit and the Ministry of Education to ensure that parents and students feel comfortable and confident in returning to school in the fall. We are committed to communicating with you throughout this process as more information becomes available.

Summer Learning Programs


Kenora Catholic is now accepting registrations for our fun, interactive and highly engaging Virtual Summer School Program! Our programs are appropriate for all learners and are designed to boost children's numeracy and literacy skills in a fun, virtual camp-like setting.  The programs focus on increasing well-being, connection, a sense of community, and student achievement through play, exploration, challenges and activities. Faith values are infused into all aspects of the program. The deadline to register is Monday, June 7, at 4:00 PM.

Access to Schools and Retrieval of Personal Items


Schools will be communicating with families about opportunities to access the school to retrieve personal items and clear out lockers.

Thank You


We know that this announcement is disappointing for many students and families who were hoping for a safe return to school. We will continue to work together and do all that we can to make the end of the school year and our graduation celebrations as special and meaningful as possible while following important safety protocols from the Northwestern Health Unit.

We are grateful to our students, families and staff for their incredible dedication and commitment during this very challenging time in our lives.
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