The Ministry of Education has directed all elementary schools (JK to 8) in Ontario to reopen with a conventional in-person delivery model of teaching and instruction, with enhanced health and safety protocols in place. In this model students attend school full time, five days per week starting on September 14, 2020.
Elementary students will be grouped together in a cohort for the full day, including recess and lunch. School schedules will include staggered recess and lunch times in consistent larger groups of students.
In addition to being in a cohort, students will be continually supported and reminded to practice physical distancing, proper hand washing and respiratory etiquette. Students will require significant support to understand the new routines of hand washing practices and physical distancing. Our schools will be clearly marked to support these practices and staff will provide reminders and scheduled opportunities throughout the day.
Students in Kindergarten through 8 are required to wear a mask indoors, on school transportation and outside when physical distancing cannot be maintained. School administration will maintain records of all student contacts (both peer and teachers) during instructional times and recess/lunch breaks.
For families requesting a mask exemption, this is to be provided in writing to the school principal. All requests will be reviewed by the Mask Exemption Review Panel. Until an exemption is approved, students are required to wear masks.
Instructional Expectations
- Each day includes 300 minutes of face-to-face instructional time with students.
- Timetables will limit, as best as possible, the number of specialty teachers, while maintaining delivery of all subject areas in the Ontario curriculum.
- Kindergarten programs will continue to support play-based, inquiry and outdoor learning opportunities.
- Increased outdoor learning opportunities will be encouraged.
Operational Expectations
- School will begin and end at regular times.
- Schedules will include time for washroom use/drinks/hand washing opportunities.
- Staggering of recess and lunch will occur.
- Contact points will be minimized throughout the day.
Staggered Start
A staggered start will help us ensure that all health and safety protocols are in place at our schools, allow students more time to learn new school routines in smaller group settings and help parents to adjust to the drop off and pick up routines with reduced congestion.
The schedule for students will be determined and sent to families as soon as possible. Parents and guardians should be prepared to make alternate child care arrangements for the first two weeks of the school year.
Kindergarten
Our Full Day Kindergarten In-Person classes will continue to engage our youngest students in learning through play- based and inquiry opportunities.
The programs focus on children’s learning development within four frames (topics):
- Belonging and Contributing
- Self-Regulation and Well-Being
- Demonstrating Literacy and Mathematics Behaviours
- Problem Solving and Innovating
For Kindergarten students who select In-Person learning, active play-based learning opportunities will be provided outdoors, when possible. In the Kindergarten classroom, students will participate in engaging learning times, at several spaces around the classroom (not solely at a table or desk), with physical distancing measures in place.
What does In-person Kindergarten learning look like, sound like, and feel like in Thames Valley? |
As a board, we are committed to providing learning opportunities that build on the Ontario Ministry of Education Kindergarten Program. Inquiry and play-based learning focuses on development within four frames that align to how learning naturally happens:
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What will my child be doing during In-person Learning in the Kindergarten classroom? |
Children will:
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How are educator teams preparing to welcome my child to Kindergarten? |
Educator teams will:
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What will the first weeks look like for my Kindergarten child? |
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What Enhanced Safety Measures are being put in place to ensure the health and safety of my child and their educators? |
TVDSB has developed protocols in consultation with the Middlesex-London and Southwestern Public Health Units and is following the Ministry of Education Guide to Reopening Ontario’s Schools. These protocols and enhancements to health and safety at our schools can be found on our TVDSB website in our Return to Learn section – a resource document for our TVDSB Community. The most relevant information for our Kindergarten children includes:
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Helping your child be prepared for Kindergarten
Our parents and families play a vital role in promoting positive messages about attending school. When you are preparing your child for coming to school in the fall, reassure your child that school is a safe place to learn, play and grow. Practice hand washing, opening food containers, doing up zippers, putting on own shoes, opening lunch bag, and your morning routine.
Gradual Entry for Kindergarten Year One (K1) and New Year Two Students (K2)
Our JK (K1) and NEW K2 (SK) students will be supported through a process we refer to in TVDSB as gradual entry. Gradual entry means students who are new to the school (K1 students and new K2 students) start on different days throughout the first week (September 8-11), gradually as the week progresses. By Friday, September 11, 2020, all Kindergarten students will have started their year in the Full Day Kindergarten program. A specific schedule is provided to Kindergarten families by the school prior to the first day of school.
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