Local school boards offer reassurance and options as classrooms set to reopen Monday

With students set to return to in-person learning on Monday, local school boards will offer an alternative for those who may feel uncertain about children being back in class.

The Waterloo Region District School Board, Waterloo Catholic District School Board and Upper Grand District School Board have announced they will offer temporary, asynchronous learning for elementary students.

Upper Grand said the temporary program is for students who were enrolled for in-person learning. It will provide asynchronous resources for students to work on, meaning there would be no Google meetings with their teachers.

It's being offered to regular programs as well as French immersion students.

"Temporary remote is not intended as a long-term replacement for in-person learning, but to provide an option that supports the continuation of learning while students are temporarily absent from in-person learning and completing work at home," Upper Grand said in a statement to parents and caregivers.

Lila Read, associate director at Waterloo Region District School Board, said the online option will begin Wednesday and is for "families who, for whatever reason at this time, don't feel comfortable having their child attend in-person learning."

She said it's not meant for students who have to stay home in self-isolation or because they're symptomatic or have tested positive for COVID-19. In those cases, students will continue to be in contact with their classroom teachers to get virtual learning options.

Loretta Notten, director of education for the Waterloo Catholic board, said asynchronous learning will be for those families that don't want to send their children back to the classroom just yet.

"In elementary, what we are proposing is both in the morning and in the afternoon to have a 20 to 30 minute check-in where the student has the opportunity to see their teacher, see their classmates, do a bit of a social check in and hear a little bit of what the learning is intended to be that morning and that afternoon," Notten said. 

"We're going to try to provide that option for approximately four weeks and then see where we're at and [after that] the commitment will be for two weeks at a time."

WATCH | Ontario schools prepare to return to class on Monday.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce announced this week that students will return to the classroom on Monday, even as COVID-19 cases soar in the province.

He said the government will give students more rapid tests to use and better personal protective equipment, like N95 masks, were sent to schools.

He also said there will also be enhanced screenings for students and staff each morning.