Back-to-Class

Barring a snow day, the return to in-class learning is set to resume Monday morning for students and teachers all across Ontario.

According to the Education Minister, the past two weeks have been spent supplying schools with PPE, distributing more HEPA filters where needed, and more time for teachers and students to get vaccinated. The province also announced schools will be supplied with rapid tests.

Brian Daly, Principal at St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary says his school is well equipped with PPE for the first week. While testing may show exposure to the virus schools are left wondering how they will replace teachers if they get sick. Daly’s biggest concern is being about to staff the school properly when some staff is either in quarantine or sick.

The province has also changed the way COVID-19 cases in schools are reported. Parents will only be notified of a potential COVID outbreak at their child’s school when 30% of the students and staff are absent.