Province postpones March Break to mid-April
“APRIL BREAK” MAY NOT HAVE the same ring to it, but that’s this year’s timing for the weeklong interlude from school.
Provincial Minister of Education Stephen Lecce announced last week March Break would be postponed rather than cancelled.
“To fight against COVID-19, and under best advice made to us from medical experts, Ontario is postponing March Break until the week of April 12. This decision was made on advice from public health officials, including the province’s chief medical officer of health and many local medical officers of health as well,” said Lecce via an online briefing, noting the move was necessary to help ensure schools remain a safe place.
“At this time, it is critical that we continue to prioritize the health and safety of students, staff and their families. So we can continue with the safe return to in-person learning, postponing March Break – not cancelling it – is an important way that schools can help to limit community transmission.
“We recognize that congregation is a key driver of the spread of COVID-19, something we realized over the winter break, and we will not take that risk again with your child, with our staff, with Ontario families. The decision is all the more important as we move to protect our communities from the emerging variants of this disease,” said Lecce, referring to a more-transmissible UK variant and the recently discovered Brazilian strain.
“I recognize that this is one more change in the year that has been challenging for so many students and our education staff who continue to work so hard, but is one made on the best advice of public health officials
to keep them safe and to keep our schools open in this province. It is of the utmost importance that we do not travel at this time, especially as we head into the month of March.
While the postponement doesn’t apply to private schools, the provincial government is requesting that such institutions follow suit.
“We’re asking everyone in the education space to work with us, collaborate in the interest of public health so that we can get back to some normal and keep our kids safe both in public and private schools in Ontario.”
Local MPP Mike
Harris weighed in on his government’s decision to postpone the break. “In my opinion, it’s a good idea, especially given what’s happening with the pandemic right now and what we saw happen over Christmas and the New Year’s holiday, and holidays where we did see a rise in cases.
“I’ve got five kids in the public school system here in Waterloo Region, and I firmly stand behind the decision of the Minister of Education, which of course has been supported by Ontario’s chief medical officer.”