TDSB Email to Families - March 17, 2022
Dear Parents/Guardians and Students,
As we prepare to return to school following March Break, we know it is with a range of emotions as we transition out of an intense emergency pandemic state and move to a more sustainable, long-term approach to managing COVID-19.
We recognize that adapting to this new reality will take time and that not everyone will have the same level of comfort as measures are lifted. It is ok to be anxious about the coming weeks and it is also ok to be excited and hopeful. Please do what makes you feel comfortable during this time and please respect the individual choices that other people make. No matter what others’ personal decisions may be, schools and all TDSB spaces should always be welcome, respectful and safe places for all.
For Monday, we wanted to remind you of some changes and provide some additional details to how schools will implement direction from the Ministry of Education and Toronto Public Health with respect to COVID-19 health and safety measures.
Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, responded to the TDSB’s request for more time to implement these changes, and reiterated their previous direction. Toronto Public Health responded by noting that all policies related to mask mandates in schools are the responsibility of the provincial government, but underscored their continued partnership with the TDSB as we continue to navigate health and safety measures together.
Revised Health Screening
Toronto Public Health has updated its screening for children/students/adults to align with the new direction from the Chief Medical Officer of Health with respect to isolation guidelines and masking requirements following a COVID-19 diagnosis or identification of being a close contact. Please do a daily self-assessment with this screening tool before coming to school and follow the isolation guidelines and other requirements, such as masking, as necessary. As of Monday, you do not need to provide verification of this self-assessment through either the Health Paper Pass or Health Screening App.
Masking
As of March 21, masks will be strongly encouraged in TDSB schools, though not required, except in the following circumstances:
- For days 6-10 after a self-isolation period of five days after a COVD-19 diagnosis. Learn more.
- If you are identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19. Learn more.
- In public spaces, including schools and childcares, for the first 14 days following travel outside of Canada. Learn more.
TDSB schools will continue to be mask-friendly environments. Masks will still be available to both staff and students upon request. Classroom environments will be inclusive of all students.
Cohorting and Physical Distancing
With the lifting of all cohorting and physical distancing requirements, students may now sit, work and play together. As schools move towards these more normal, pre-pandemic conditions, some activities such as extracurriculars and events, require a more thoughtful, phased-in approach in schools, as well as significant staff support. Please be patient as schools work to implement these changes in their local community.
This new direction also impacts our Severe Weather procedure. As classes can now combine, moving forward, when busses are canceled as a result of severe weather, schools will now remain open, in line with the Toronto Catholic District School Board with whom we share bussing services.
Thank you for your continued patience and support. We look forward to welcoming students back next week.
January 18, 2022 Jarvis Email to Families
Re: Return to School - Wednesday January 19, 2022
Dear Jarvis Families,
Tomorrow, Wednesday January 19, 2022, will be a late start. Classes will begin at 10 am. The school doors will open at 9:30 am for screening.
The safety and wellbeing of Jarvis students, staff and families is important to us.
As we prepare for the return to school tomorrow, we would like to update you with information. Please take a moment to review this information together with your Jarvis student.
Reminders/Changes
Updated Daily Screening Procedures – The screening questions and NOW screening tool have been updated. Please ensure that you complete your daily screening declaration each day before arriving at school.
A. Student Health Pass (IMPORTANT CHANGE):
Students not using the NOW Mobile App, or Health Screening App, are to use a paper screening form, Student Health Pass, that will be used every day of the week. At the end of each week the verification form, signed daily by your parent/guardian, will be handed into the main office and kept on file as the verification of your daily screening declaration.
- Students will show the Student Health Pass at the Jarvis doors—signed by your parent/guardian on the specific date/day of school—then proceed directly to class.
- There will no longer be a computer sign-in table located in the front hallway. Go directly to class.
- Students will be required to bring this form every day in order to enter the school building.
- Students without a screening verification may not be permitted to enter the building.
- Find an attached Student Health Pass for you to print and sign for Monday.
- Printed forms will be provided for students on Monday, for students who are unable to print from home.
See more information and links in the message below.
B. NOW Screening Tool:
Students may continue to use the NOW mobile app to complete their health self-assessment, then show the QR code (which will also display your name, date and green check mark—all on the same screen) to staff at the Jarvis Street doors.
Students can also use their computer while at home to complete their health self-assessment at the following link: Health Screening App; then take a picture of their QR code screen (including your name, date and green check mark—all on the same screen) using their phone; then present the picture of their QR code at the Jarvis Street doors.
Masks – It is essential that all students wear their masks to cover their mouth and nose. Although masks may tend to slip down during the day, ensuring that your mask is being worn properly helps us all to keep one another, and our families, safe.
Washrooms – Students are reminded that there is a capacity limit of 2 students in the washroom. Parents/guardians are asked to speak with their Jarvis student about not hanging out in the washroom, as it can become a health and safety concern. Students who are frequently loitering in the washrooms will have phone calls home and follow up.
Office Procedures
Please note that we are streamlining the flow of people in high traffic areas. For the time being, students are asked not to visit the main office. Please call the office when in need; Or, email Diane.Ledo@tdsb.on.ca with your inquiry.
Guidance Office
- Guidance counsellors will see students by appointment only.
- Students are to call or email their guidance counsellor in the case of an emergency.
Ms. Beaudry (Alpha A-J) – Martha.Beaudry@tdsb.on.ca
Eric Johnston (Alphas K-Z) – Eric.Johnston@tdsb.on.ca
Rosa Amorim (Senior Office Assistant) - Rosa.Amorim@tdsb.on.ca
Please contact us if you have any additional questions or concerns. We will continue to update you with important information as it becomes available.
Be well and safe.
Michael Harvey
January 18, 2022 - SNOW DAY - School Closed to In-person Learning
(See TDSB email sent late Monday evening below:)
Good Evening Parents/Guardians and Students,
Thank you for your patience today amid a blizzard that dropped more than 40 cms of snow in some parts of the Greater Toronto Area. I recognize that last night’s last minute change of plans was difficult for many families given the many last minute transitions you’ve endured throughout the pandemic.
This evening, the City of Toronto has declared a major snow storm condition in Toronto in response to the significant snow and is encouraging residents to stay home after this snowfall to allow roads and sidewalks to be cleared properly.
At the TDSB, we are also faced with a number of concerns:
- Students may not be able to walk to school safely given the road conditions and snow drifts in some neighborhoods.
- School bus operators say many buses will likely be delayed, experience issues, and in some cases cancellations.
- While plowing on and around school grounds is underway, it will likely not be complete prior to the start of the school day and schools may or may not be accessible.
- We know that staff, who live across the GTA, may not be able to make it into school, which would require mixing of classes and cohorts which TPH has asked that we avoid doing except in emergencies as part of the ongoing COVID-19 safety measures.
- There are 36 TDSB schools that must first have the heavy snow removed from their roofs prior to occupancy, something that could not be done today due to weather and road conditions. Please note that any child care centres located in those schools (listed below) will be closed tomorrow as a result.
With all of this in mind, we have made the decision to close all schools to in-person learning for Tuesday, January 18. Students will not participate in live remote or virtual learning. Where possible, teachers will provide voluntary class work through established online platforms for students who wish to continue their learning. Students may also work on previously-assigned work or spend time reviewing material previously covered.
Please note that child care programs (serving infant, toddler and preschool-aged children) can remain open to families, however families are encouraged to connect directly with the operator to confirm they are open. Before and After-School Programs and Extended Day Programs will be closed. EarlyON programs will be closed to in-person programming, however families can participate in virtual programming.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Sincerely,
Colleen Russell-Rawlins
Director of Education
January 17, 2022 6:00 a.m. -SNOW DAY
REMOTE LEARNING FOR TODAY
January 16, 2022 TDSB Email to families
MESSAGE FOR FAMILIES
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Environment Canada has issued a Snowfall Warning for the City of Toronto with a significant amount of snow in the forecast for overnight and tomorrow. Given the forecast, the snow may impact our ability to run school buses and open schools to in-person learning. As usual, we will assess the situation first thing in morning and make a decision and share it by 6 a.m. as per the TDSB’s Severe Weather Procedure.
If the decision is made to cancel buses and close schools to in-person learning, all schools will be moving to remote learning for the day.
While we had shared last month that if buses were cancelled, it would be a typical “snow day” (no live learning), as the entire system has already been learning remotely for almost two weeks and given the disruptions to students’ learning, we feel it would be best to extend remote learning for one additional day in Kindergarten to Grade 12. This is especially important as we anticipate an increased number of students and staff absences as a result of COVID-19 and related isolations over the upcoming weeks.
Again, the final decision will be made first thing in the morning and we will share that decision by 6 a.m. so that families can plan accordingly.
Thank you.
School Appointments - Parent Instructions
Tuesday, November 9, 2021
1. Go to our school appointments web site:
2. If you have already registered, login and proceed to step 4. If not, register for an account by clicking the "REGISTER" menu tab and filling in the on-line form. Choose a user id and password for yourself and then click the "Register Now" button.
3. Add your children into the system by clicking the "Add a Student" button. Click "Insert New" button to add more children.
4. Click the "date" icon beside each child's name to schedule appointments. Select the staff you wish to book appointments with and the "View Calendars" button. Use the "Ctrl" or "Command" key to select multiple staff to view at the same time.
5. Click on available time slots to book your appointments and then click the "Book Appointments" button to save your bookings.
Quad 2 Structure information
Good evening,
Earlier in Quad 1 Jarvis families were asked to complete a survey regarding remote learning through Jarvis for Quad 2.
Families that completed the survey before the deadline and have now been scheduled into remote learning at Jarvis for Quad 2 will receive a confirmation email shortly.
As you may already know, students who are switching from in-person to virtual learning in Quad 2 will receive remote (at home) instruction through our school, and not through the Virtual School.
With more than 8,500 secondary students across the TDSB switching to virtual learning for Quad 2, this decision was made to maintain stability, avoid a significant reorganization, and ensure that students continue to have access to the courses they want and need.
Students who are attending in-person classes during Quad 2 are scheduled into Cohort A and in some cases, Cohort B due to class sizes. Students scheduled into remote learning at Jarvis are scheduled into Cohort B of each class. Some classes are completely remote in Cohort B and some classes have a combination of in-person and remote students in Cohort B. For classes that have a combination of in-person and remote students, the teacher will provide simultaneous learning for all students using their online platform. Students will learn if their Cohort B class is fully remote or a mix of in-person and remote learners at the first class. The makeup of each Cohort B classes may change over the course of Quad 2, depending on student needs. Students learning remotely will be required to log on to the online platform and be present and active from 8:45 a.m. -12:30 p.m. for their Day 2/4 (Cohort B) classes. All students will continue to participate in live afternoon online sessions each afternoon and Independent learning from home on alternate mornings.
To better support students in this new mode of learning and strive for equity for all students we will be providing revised parameters and guidelines for online learning for all Jarvis students during the first week of classes. We will also share the revised guidelines for online learning with families to help better understand how to support their child.
Beginning Quad 2, the TDSB is expecting schools to record attendance in the morning when students are learning from home/asynchronously. This will allow automated calls to go out and notify parents/guardians about their child’s attendance during the Independent at-home period (which begins at 8:45 a.m.). More information will be shared regarding the new attendance procedure during the first week of classes.
Students will receive Quad 2 timetables electronically on Friday, November 20. Students can access the timetable using TDSB Connects App and selecting November 23, 2020 from the Timetable feature. Please go to the TDSB website for additional information, if needed.
Please contact me if you have any questions.
Thank you for your continued support, patience and flexibility.
Sincerely,
Michael Harvey
Principal