In less than two weeks Toronto elementary public schools are slated to begin a staggered start of the school year.
Some boards, like the Catholic school board, will begin on September 8, but children with the Toronto District School Board are slated to begin on September 15.
It is a very stressful time for South Etobicoke parents, like others elsewhere, who are concerned and worried about what to do or steps to take to keep their young ones safe.
MPP Christine Hogarth has sent out a list of activities parents can perform to help keep their children safe in school.
Hogarth says all staff and students must self-screen every day before attending school.
“Unwell students and staff must stay at home,” she says, urging parents to use a self-assessment tool available at ontario.ca
Schools are required to immediately report any suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 to their local public health authorities.
Students from Grades 4 to 12 are required to wear non-medical or cloth masks indoors in school. Face coverings are encouraged for students up to Grade 3.
“The province is providing each school board funding to hire supply teachers and other school-based staff,” the release states.
Schools will teach students appropriate hand hygiene and provide break in schedules to allow students to wash their hands. Teachers and staff will also receive additional health and safety training.
Each student will be kept with the safe group of children and teachers as much as possible through the school day and extra teachers are being hired to support supervision.
Hogarth said up to 625 new public health nurses are being hired to provide rapid-response support to schools and boards, and facilitate public health and preventative measures.
Another 1,300 custodians are being hired and cleans supplies provided to ensure each school, and school buses, are thoroughly cleaned daily.
The schools will also ‘significantly’ limit visitors, including parents. They will also keep class attendance records, seating charts, lists of bused students and approved daily visitors for contact tracing.