Niagara students to return to the classroom Monday

Additional measures are being put in place to minimize the spread of COVID-19 among students

Directors of education for Niagara’s largest school boards say they are ready and eager to see their students return to the classrooms Monday.

Ontario Minster of Education Steven Lecce announced Wednesday afternoon that in-person classes at most schools across Ontario — including Niagara — will resume next week, following an extended closure that began in mid-december to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

District School Board of Niagara education director Warren Hoshizaki said letters are being sent to the families of all its schools, at both the elementary and secondary levels, regarding the announcement.

“We are pleased that our schools are opening to in-person learning on Monday,” he said in a statement. “We believe the best place for students to learn is in-person, in their classrooms with their teachers, and we are ready to welcome everyone back.

“With Monday coming quickly, families will get a letter from their school tonight (Wednesday) that contains what they need to know so

their child is prepared to return to school. This includes guidance on the new safety protocols. Students and families are always encouraged to contact their principal with any questions they have.”

He said more information for families will be posted on the board’s website for COVID-19 updates.

“We will continue our weekly meetings with Niagara public health and will ensure our schools meet all the required health and safety protocols,” Hoshizaki said. “The safety of our staff, students and their families is our greatest concern.”

Niagara Catholic District School Board education director Camillo Cipriano said he looks forward to welcoming students and staff back to the classrooms.

“Schools are just bricks and mortar buildings until our students and staff bring them to life. I know the principals, staff and special needs students that have been in our schools during this closure have found them far too quiet, so we all look forward to seeing schools come to life again,” he said.

“There will be new enhanced safety protocols in place, including the mask requirement for students in grades 1 to 3, which we will communicate to our families and staff later today (Wednesday) or tomorrow.”

Cipriano said the board’s facilities services department staff have been taking advantage of the extended closure to complete projects within the facilities while there were few or no students present.

As a result, he said “we know that our schools will be safe and clean for students and staff on Monday.”

In a media release, Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff, parliamentary assistant to Lecce, shared the enthusiasm regarding the announcement.

“I am very pleased that students in both public and independent schools across Niagara will be able to return safely to in-person class,” Oosterhoff said.

“We know that parents and students alike will be happy to return to safe and secure learning environment. This important step is being taken on the advice of our chief medical officer of health, Dr. David Williams, and is based in his confidence in the safety of Ontario schools.”

Lecce, however, warned schools could be shuttered again if cases of the coronavirus increase.

“If things change — if trends move in the wrong direction — we will not hesitate to act,” he said, adding local public health departments have the authority to close schools if they feel that’s required to protect the community.

Williams said he hopes that won’t be necessary.

“When we reopen the schools we want them to stay open, because it’s very important to have all our children back in school.”

Additional measures are being implemented in schools, including increased asymptomatic testing of students and staff, mandatory mask requirement for students in grades 1 to 3, and masking requirement for grades 1 to 12 outdoors, where physical distancing cannot be maintained; providing 3.5 million high quality cloth masks to Ontario schools as a backup supply for grades 1 to 12 students; enhanced screening for students and staff who may have symptoms in secondary schools; efforts to discouraging students from congregating before and after school; and increasing staffing levels by providing temporary certification of eligible teacher candidates who are set to graduate in 2021.