Index

COVID-19 Guide for Families

This information is based on guidance received from the Ministry of Education and our provincial and local health units. Our plans and processes may be subject to revision as provincial and local guidance changes. As new information is available, we will be updating our website. 

 These are our guiding principles for the return to in-person learning:

• Prioritize health and safety of students and staff 
• Maximize student learning time 
• Support student and staff well-being 
• Ensure equity of access to learning, supports and technology and extra-curricular activities 

 

Supporting the Return to In-Person Learning

Grand Erie has created a resource page to help parents and children with the return to in-person schooling. It contains ideas and helpful reminders to support a more successful transition back to school. 

 Visit Grand Erie's Supporting the Return to In-Person Learning webpage here.
 

Daily Screening

All Grand Erie students and staff are required to conduct daily self-assessments prior to attending any school or a Board facility using Ontario's COVID-19 School and Child Care Screening Tool.

• PLEASE NOTE: Symptoms listed have changed from last school year and are adjusted from time to time. Follow the symptom list described in the COVID screening tool linked above. If you require a symptom list in an alternate format, please contact gedsb-communications@granderie.ca
• If you are experiencing any symptoms, do not come to school. Follow the guidance provided on the completion of the screening
• Parents/guardians of elementary students should conduct their screening prior to leaving for school
• Staff and secondary students should conduct the screening before leaving for school. They will also be asked to verify at the start of school
   

Masking/PPE

All staff and students (K-12) are required to wear masks while indoors.

• Students must wear appropriate masks (cloth or medical/surgical, covering nose and mouth, secured with ear loops)
  • Non-medical cloth masks should be made of at least 2 layers of a tightly woven fabric. A tightly woven fabric will block light if you hold it up to a window
  • Neck "gaiters," mingle masks and mesh masks do not qualify as appropriate masking/face coverings (see information from the Brant County Health Unit and the Haldimand Norfolk Health Unit)
• Staff must wear medical/surgical masks
• Masks may be removed temporarily indoors for eating or drinking
• Students may remove masks while outside for recess or breaks. Students may continue to wear masks if desired
• Staff must wear masks outdoors if they can not maintain 2 metres of distance from each other or from students
• Additionally, staff must wear eye protection (face shield, goggles or safety glasses)​ during first aid, when monitoring an ill individual in the health room, during feeding activities, toileting, and when within 2 metres of anyone not wearing an appropriate mask
• Mask exemptions are only provided for medical reasons, with appropriate documentation

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Cohorts

• Cohorting of students will continue – a class is a cohort and will remain together throughout the instructional day
• Secondary students will continue in cohorts with two classes a day, following the Quadmester model
• Students are not required to remain in cohorts during recess, but distancing is encouraged
• Students may interact with students from other cohorts inside the school – wearing masks
• Cohorting will be maintained to promote safety during activities like music and physical education

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Physical Distancing

• Physical distancing will be promoted wherever possible (maintaining 2 metres distance from others)
• There will be school signage and markings to identify designated entry/exit doors and to provide reminders and guidance around physical distancing, hand hygiene, symptom awareness, mask requirements
• Occupant limits in bathrooms have been removed

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Cleaning and Hygiene

We will continue to follow many of the cleaning and disinfection protocols that were established last year, including supplying all classrooms with disinfection products and cleaning high touch points thoroughly on a regular basis.

Good hand and respiratory hygiene will be encouraged in the schools, and all parents/guardians should encourage their child(ren) to wash their hands regularly, and cough or sneeze into a tissue. Hand hygiene supplies will be available to all students.

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Ventilation at Schools

All classrooms and learning spaces at Grand Erie schools will meet the Ministry of Education’s ventilation requirements, including requirements for HEPA units, by the start of the school year. 

• Grand Erie continues to optimize air quality in classrooms and learning environments through improving ventilation and filtration
• All systems are working well and checked regularly
• Ventilation systems are on 2 hours before and after school occupancy
• High efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter units are in spaces with no mechanical ventilation
• HEPA filters are in every occupied full-day kindergarten classroom
   

Standardized Ventilation Measures Report:

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