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SECONDARY SCHOOL FAQ

Review the School Re-Opening Parent Guide here:

Back-to-School Frequently Asked Questions - Secondary

Click a link below to jump to a sub-section of the Back-to-School FAQ:

  • 2020-21 SECONDARY ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION
  • LEARNING OPTIONS - GENERAL
  • ONLINE LEARNING OPTIONS - GENERAL
  • IN-CLASS AND ONLINE LEARNING OPTIONS - SECONDARY
  • FACE MASKS
  • SCHOOL DAY PROCEDURES
  • TRANSPORTATION
  • COVID-19 PROCEDURES

2020-21 SECONDARY ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION

Are final exams still being written?

Examinations will not occur on the current designated dates in the 2020-21 school year calendar. These dates will be deemed Culminating Activity/Credit Rescue assessment days for each Quadmester.

For 2020-21, Grand Erie confirms that all final culminating activities shall be no greater than 10% of the final mark.

Culminating activities are administered at or towards the end of the course to allow the student an opportunity to demonstrate comprehensive achievement of the overall expectations for the course. Teachers can provide a broad range of culminating activities to allow students to more effectively demonstrate their learning.

Will I receive a midterm report card?

While no formal mid-term report will be issued, “communication with parents/guardians and students about student achievement should be continuous throughout the course, by means such as parent-teacher or parent-student-teacher conferences, portfolios of student work, student-led conferences, interviews, phone calls, checklists, and informal reports.” (Growing Success, p. 54)

Teachers shall share “a mark to date” with students and their parents/guardians for those who are not yet meeting minimum course expectations and are at risk of not earning the credit. A percentage mark update is especially important for Grade 11 and 12 courses so informed decisions can be made regarding full disclosure and withdrawal from courses.

Withdrawal dates typically occur within 5 days of the issuing of the first (mid-term) report card.

For the 2020-21 school year, course withdrawal dates have been determined based on the completion of approximately 75% of the total course hours. Grand Erie’s Grade 11 and 12 course withdrawal dates are:

  • Quad 1 - October 28
  • Quad 2 - January 19
  • Quad 3 - March 29
  • Quad 4 - June 9

For students that withdraw from a Grade 11 or 12 course after the posted deadline or “drop date,” the course would be recorded on their Ontario Student Transcript (OST).

Final report cards will be sent at the completion of courses at the conclusion of the Quadmester.

Do I still need 40 hours of Community Involvement to graduate?

For students graduating in the 2020-21 school year, the community involvement graduation requirement will be reduced to a minimum of 20 hours.

Rules regarding eligible and ineligible activities for all secondary students, as well as how community involvement hours are reported has changed for this year. Please visit this link for more information.

I am graduating this year. Do I still need to meet the literacy graduation requirement?

The literacy graduation requirement has been waived for students graduating in the 2020-21 school year. For students not graduating this school year, there may be an opportunity to attempt the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test online in spring 2021 to obtain this graduation requirement.

LEARNING OPTIONS – GENERAL

Can students switch from online learning to in-class attendance (or vice-versa)?

Yes. There are specific dates when these switches can take place in order to ensure a smooth transition for all students.


SECONDARY OPT IN/OPT OUT TIMELINES

*this is last system change over date for the remainder of the year

Dec. 18 – Messaging and Declaration link shared with families via home school/virtual school

Jan. 6 – Last date for declaration completion. Link closes at 4 pm

Feb. 2 – First day Quad 3 in new learning model for students who have requested a change in learning models.

As always, if extenuating circumstances present themselves after this final declaration, families are encouraged to connect with their child’s principal.

 

ELEMENTARY OPT IN/OPT OUT TIMELINES

*this is last system change over date for the remainder of the year

Jan. 4 – Messaging and Declaration link goes shared with families via home school/virtual school

Jan. 13 – Last date for declaration completion.  Link closes at 4 pm

Feb. 15 – Family Day

Feb. 16 – First day for students who have requested a change in learning model.

As always, if extenuating circumstances present themselves after this final declaration, families are encouraged to connect with their child’s principal.

​​​​​​​

Can children from the same household choose different learning models?

Yes. Parents/Guardians are encouraged to make decisions based on the individual needs of each child. 

What is the difference between online learning and homeschooling?

Online learning delivers curriculum for students who wish to learn at home, with teacher supports. Students will be engaged in learning activities online for a significant portion of the day. Synchronous learning (a teacher working live with students) will happen at certain times each day, but not for the full day. There will be times during the school day when students will need to work with some independence online.

Homeschooling is entirely parent-led and does not include teacher support from Grand Erie. Parents who wish to teach their children at home are required to notify the Board of their intention to do so. For more information, see Procedure 107 – Home Schooling.

I would like to access home instruction for my child this September. Is this possible?

Home instruction will not be offered at this point in time. 

JUMP BACK TO TOP

ONLINE LEARNING OPTIONS – GENERAL

What kind of supports will be in place for students who fall behind, or parents who are struggling to assist with online learning?

Each student will work with a designated teacher who will provide curriculum and learning supports in the online format. This teacher will be available to assist students’ needs and to answer any questions from parents. If your child has an Individual Education Plan (IEP), the Learning Resource Teacher can also support your child and your child’s teacher.

Will assistance be available for families encountering difficulty with the online learning platform?

Yes. Parents should bring any technical difficulties to the attention of their child’s teacher, who will work with Grand Erie Information Technology staff to find solutions.

Will devices (i.e., laptops or tablets) be available for students opting for online learning? Are there alternatives to using technology?

Devices, and internet access, will be available to students. Schools will assess technology needs and arrange for the distribution of devices and internet access.

Families opting for online learning should be aware that this learning option is delivered online, not through mailed correspondence or any other method.

JUMP BACK TO TOP

IN-CLASS AND ONLINE LEARNING OPTIONS – SECONDARY

What does the in-class learning model look like for secondary students?

In-class learning will occur in quadmesters. Students will attend school, in person, five days per week with 300 minutes of instruction daily. Student will take two courses per quadmester. Students will take one course per day for a full week. They will then alternate weekly between the two courses. There will be one break in the morning, and one in the afternoon as well as an opportunity for lunch. Students are encouraged to remain on school property for the entire school day. Students in each grade will have a designated door for entry and exit. Washroom breaks will be tracked so that only one student per class will use the washroom at a time.

What does the online learning model look like for secondary students?

Online learning will occur in quadmesters, similar to the model used for students who are attending in-person. Students will be expected to be online five days per week. Students will take two courses per quadmester. Students will take one course per day for a full week. They will then alternate weekly between the two courses. There will be one break in the morning, and one in the afternoon as well as an opportunity for lunch. Students will receive a minimum of 220 minutes of synchronous learning per day for each course they’re enrolled in. Students participating in online learning will be in class groupings with other secondary students throughout Grand Erie, not just students in their home school. Students will require a device and internet in order to participate in online learning. Brightspace will be the primary platform for course content delivery.

What is a quadmester?

Instead of dividing the school year into two semesters, the quadmester model breaks it up into four quadmesters. In this model, students take two classes at a time over the course of four quadmesters rather than eight courses over two semesters. This allows students to obtain the same number of credits, but establishes a schedule that decreases movement throughout the school during COVID-19.

When will students receive their timetables for September?

Schools will provide more information about timetables after August 27. Time is required to compile the information from the return to school survey around students’ selections to determine next steps.

Will secondary school students in Grand Erie be part of a cohort model, attending class in-person some days, and taking part in online learning the remainder of the time?

No. Secondary school students in Grand Erie will be returning to school in-person five days a week, unless parents opt for online learning. The Ministry of Education has mandated certain school boards across the province – generally those with larger populations – adapt the cohort model for secondary school students. Grand Erie was not one of those school boards.

How will physical education classes work?

Physical Education will focus on individual sports or health units and will operate classes outdoors, where possible.

How will lunch work?

Grade 9 and 10 students will have lunch in their Period 1 classroom, if possible. Grade 11 and 12 students will have lunch in the cafeteria to meet physical distancing requirements.

JUMP BACK TO TOP

FACE MASKS

Are masks mandatory for all Grand Erie students?

Following updated guidelines set by the Ministry of Education in January 2021, students in Grades 1-3 are now required to wear masks when at school. Additionally, on January 25, 2021, Grand Erie District School Board Trustees passed a motion that mandated masks for students in Kindergarten. This means that ALL Grand Erie students (Kindergarten to Grade 12) are required to wear masks when at school or while using Student Transportation Services Brant Haldimand Norfolk (STSBHN). Masks must also be worn outside, when social distancing cannot be maintained.

I do not have a mask for my child. Will one be provided?

Yes, schools will provide a non-medical mask to students who don’t have one.

If my child cannot wear a mask, would another option – such as a face shield – be acceptable?

While non-medical masks are what the Ministry of Education has mandated for students, in cases of medical or other exemptions, a face shield is an acceptable alternative. Families will be required to provide this face shield for their child.

My child’s school is not air conditioned. What will be done to ensure air circulation is sufficient, especially when students are expected to wear masks all day?

While students in Grades 4-12 will be required to wear their non-medical mask all day, schools will provide opportunities for students so they can safely remove their mask, and will build these breaks into the regular school day.

Will teachers and support staff be wearing masks?

Yes. Teachers and support staff will be wearing masks and other PPE.

JUMP BACK TO TOP

SCHOOL-DAY PROCEDURES

What if I need to visit the school or speak to my child’s teacher? How will visitors to the school be handled?

All visits will need to be scheduled with the school and/or approved by the Principal. An appointment must be made to speak with your child’s teacher or principal, preferably in a virtual manner. Grand Erie will review and monitor this decision as the school year progresses.

Will class sizes be smaller?

The Ministry of Education has not made any changes to class sizes in Grand Erie for the 2020-21 school year.

How will classrooms be arranged to allow for physical distancing?

Classrooms will be cleared of excess furniture to maximize space for desks, and every effort will be made to arrange seating that allows students to maintain distance from one another.

During the school day, will my child’s class be kept apart from other classes?

Yes. Assemblies and activities that bring more than 50 students together will not be taking place at this time.

Will food be available for purchase in secondary school cafeterias?

For the start of the 2020-21 school year, there will be no food served in school cafeterias. Grab and go items will be available through each school’s Nutrition Program. Grand Erie will review and monitor this decision as the school year progresses.

How will physical education classes work?

Physical education will move forward, with activities that allow for physical distancing and limit the use of any shared equipment. Where possible, gym class will take place outdoors rather than in the gymnasium.​

Will field trips take place this year?

Field trips will not be possible until further notice, and educators will seek opportunities to replace out-of-classroom learning experiences with virtual ones.

Will sports/athletics and extracurricular activities be happening?

Given current public-health guidelines, athletics/sports will not proceed at this time. Extracurricular activities and clubs may be able to meet, with physical distancing guidelines in place. Schools will provide more information in September as to whether these kinds of activities can move forward.

Will students have access to water fountains?

While water fountains will be inaccessible, alternatives such as water filling stations or water coolers will be made available for students to fill up their personal reusable water bottles.​

JUMP BACK TO TOP

TRANSPORTATION

What changes are being made to school-bus transportation?

Students will be assigned seats, and a record of the seating plan kept for contact tracing. Students who live in the same household or who are in the same classroom should be seated together. As physical distancing is difficult to maintain on a bus, the use of non-medical masks for students is strongly encouraged. Students in Grades 4-12 will be required to wear masks at all times while riding the bus and transferring between buses. Student Transportation Services Brant Haldimand Norfolk will be sharing more information with families soon.

What about rural bus routes, where ‘transfer hubs’ often mean students from more than one school come into contact with each other?

To minimize the probability of transmission, the use of masks will be required for all students in Grades 4-12 and highly recommended for students in Kindergarten-Grade 3. Hand hygiene practices will be promoted while riding the school bus. The use hand sanitizer before entering the bus is strongly recommended for all students as is physical distancing when moving between buses.

How will physical distancing be possible on a school bus?

Because physical distancing is difficult to maintain on the school bus, students in Grades 4-12 will be required to wear a non-medical mask while riding the bus and transferring between buses. It is strongly recommended that students in Kindergarten-Grade 3 also wear a non-medical mask while riding the bus and while transferring.

How often will buses be cleaned?

Buses will be cleaned at least twice per day with an approved disinfectant spray, known to be effective against COVID-19. The disinfecting will be performed by the school bus driver and take place before students board the bus in the morning and afternoon.

What additional disinfecting measures are being taken on school buses?

School buses will have their high touch surfaces disinfected at minimum of twice daily. High touch areas are defined as: seats sides and tops, hand railings, interior windows and wall section below passenger windows. The disinfectant(s) used are approved by Health Canada and shown to be effective in neutralizing COVID-19.

Is walking or riding to school with a friend(s) still possible?

Yes. Active transportation is strongly encouraged, with physical distancing guidelines observed by students from different households walking or riding together.

JUMP BACK TO TOP

COVID-19 PROCEDURES

What health & safety protocols will be in place at schools this September?

Grand Erie will utilize a number of health and safety strategies:

  • all non-essential furniture, supplies and equipment will be removed from classrooms to assist with physical distancing
  • masks are mandatory for students in Grades 4-12 and highly encouraged for those in Kindergarten-Grade 3
  • staff will be required to wear medical masks and eye protection or face shields
  • regular hand-washing and/or hand-sanitizing will be built into the school day and encouraged often
  • where possible, adjustments will be made to the HVAC systems in schools, and windows will be opened, ceiling/floor fans will be used to help with ventilation
  • there will be signage placed to encourage physical distancing and the use of arrows to create one-way hallways, if required
  • there will be increased cleaning and disinfecting of touch points, bathrooms and shared items

Will hand sanitizer be available in schools?

Yes, hand sanitizing stations will be available in all schools, and its use encouraged as students, staff or visitors enter and exit the building.

Grand Erie District
School Board

349 Erie Avenue

Brantford, ON N3T 5V3

519-756-6301

1-888-548-8878


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