Labour Update

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2022

Grand Erie is anticipating Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) staff will continue to participate in a provincial political demonstration and will not report to work on Monday, November 7, 2022. In the event that the political demonstration continues Monday and through the week, schools will remain closed to students. 

This does not impact ongoing virtual or elearning instruction, or programs that are run out of facilities other than Grand Erie schools, including students who participate in off-site learning programs through GELA, NATIONS/New Start programs, or employer-based co-op programs.

Students can expect to continue with independent remote learning. Teachers will continue to provide learning opportunities online and be available to support learning.

Items for pick-up

If your child has personal items or medications still at school, please arrange with your school Principal a time to pick them up.

Extracurriculars

All extracurricular activities, field trips and sports and athletics are postponed.

Childcare

All school-based before and after care programs will be closed as well. Only childcare programs with their own custodial services will continue to operate, namely:

• YMCA Daycare – Central Public School
• Maawdoo Maajaamin Child Care – Hagersville Secondary School
• Today's Family – Lakewood Public School
• Brantford Little School – Pauline Johnson C&VS
• Bellview Y Child Care Centre
• Haldimand-Norfolk R.E.A.C.H., Mapleview Child Care Centre
• Haldimand-Norfolk R.E.A.C.H., McKinnon Park Child Care Centre
• Edith Monture Y Child Care Centre

Technology needs

We are collecting information to determine technology needs for remote learning.

If your child needs a device, connectivity or SEA technology sent home, please fill out this survey by the end of Monday, November 7. We will update you Wednesday, November 9 with more details on next steps.

Families who may need translation support for the survey should reach out to their school Principal for support.

Technical Support

You can find information and support documentation on our Remote Learning web page.

If you are experiencing technical issues, please review the information on the link provided, or ask your child’s teacher for help with login.

Without the 920 CUPE workers in our schools and facilities, we cannot ensure safe conditions for students. We cannot be sure of supervision and support for all students, safe operation of water and sanitation systems, or clean conditions in our schools.

Our hope is, like yours, that the Province and CUPE can resolve this situation. We will provide further updates as more information becomes available.

Grand Opening of the Snoezelen Room

Elgin Avenue Public School welcomed staff, students and community to the Grand Opening of the Snoezelen Room on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

On hand for this special occasion was Chair of the Board Carol Ann Sloat, Trustee Rita Collver and Superintendent Liana Thompson as well as several members of the community that contributed to the fundraising, and Elgin staff members.

Allie Richardson (teacher of students with autism), Lori Minarik (EA working with students with autism) and Samantha Nicholson (Principal) worked together for over three and a half years to fundraise for this $30,000 project. The Elgin community, parents, local charities and the Grand Erie District School Board all came together to make this project a huge success.

A Snoezelen Room is a multi-sensory environment that provides a controlled, safe, relaxing space for individuals with a variety of sensory needs. The room is set up to give individuals a positive space where they can meet their specific needs in a calming atmosphere. This atmosphere helps in reducing fear, anxieties, repetitive behaviour, self-abusive behaviour and aggressive behaviour so that students are better able to learn. Students at Elgin in both self-contained classes and in the regular classes will be able to access the room to help meet their sensory needs.

According to Seth, a student who accesses the room daily, “It is the best room ever!!!”