The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board has announced how their learning models will be impacted due to the incoming Ontario-wide shutdown.

On Monday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic will begin on December 26th . As a result, Ford announced that school closures over the winter break will be extended.

Students from Kindergarten to Grade 8 will resume classes on Jan 11th. High school students will return remote learning on the 11th and return to in-class studies on January 25th

“I want to be clear, schools are not part of the problem of COVID in our communities,” said Premier Doug Ford during his press conference today. “But out of an abundance of caution school break will extended. Asking students and staff to stay home a little longer will make sure we do what is needed to control the spread.”

The HWDSB is released a statement on Tuesday that detailed the model changes:

• Elementary and secondary schools will move to teacher-led remote learning when students return from the winter break on January 4, 2021.
• Elementary and secondary students will participate in remote learning from January 4 – 8, 2021 in accordance with PPM 164 Requirements for Remote Learning, which provides specific expectations around synchronous learning.
• Elementary school students will return to in-person learning on January 11, 2021.
• Secondary school students will continue learning remotely until January 25, 2021 and resume in-person learning on that date.

The HWDSB said they will provide more information this week regarding technology pick-up dates for elementary students (families) who have indicated they require a device.

The HWDSB says they will continue to make provisions for continued in-person support for students with special education needs who cannot be accommodated through remote learning for whom remote learning is challenging.

During this lockdown period, child care centres, authorized recreational and skill-building programs and home-based child care services will remain open.

From January 4 to 8, 2021, when elementary students move to remote learning, before and after school programs will be closed. Ontario will provide emergency child care for health care and frontline workers.