Are all field trips cancelled for the remainder of the school year?
Yes, all overnight field trips are cancelled for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. Daily curriculum-based trips organized at the classroom level may resume once schools reopen.
Will I be reimbursed for hot lunches, etc. that my child has ordered?
Schools will work with vendors and provide you with information about any reimbursements for missed lunch orders.
How are refunds being provided for cancelled trips and events being processed?
Schools are working to provide refunds from payments made through school cash online. For families that paid by cheque or cash, the Board is looking to facilitate e-transfers.
How can I register my child for kindergarten if I cannot go into the school?
All of our elementary schools now offer online kindergarten registration. You can complete the registration online, and bring the required documentation in when schools reopen. If you prefer to complete a paper application, or your school is not offering online kindergarten registration, you can bring that information into the school once schools reopen.
Will schools be open for evening permit activities, continuing education and international languages?
No, schools will be closed from March 14 until at least the end of May. All activities, including permits, continuing education and international languages, taking place in school buildings are cancelled. Effective the week of April 6, adult day school, night school, adult ESL and e-learning offered through continuing education will resume online. Information will be updated on the Board website.
How can I register my child for French Immersion for September 2020 if I cannot go into the school?
You can complete your French Immersion registration once schools reopen.
Will Board meetings, Advisory Committee Meetings and other public trustee meetings continue?
On April 7, 2020, public meetings resumed, using electronic means, on a modified schedule in order to consider urgent matters. Members of the public are welcome to call into any public meeting to listen to the discussion. A list of committee meeting dates is posted on the Board website. Agendas will be posted the Friday prior to the meeting on the News and Events section of the Board website and will include connection instructions.
Please visit the website for updates on public meetings of the Board or contact Corporate Secretariat and Trustee Services at trustee.services@yrdsb.ca or call 905-727-0022 ext. 2217 or your local trustee.
Will registration for Adult Day school be rescheduled?
Yes, registration for Adult Day School is now open and Quad 4 started on April 7.
When will Summer School registration open?
The date for students to register for Secondary Summer School through My Pathway Planner has been postponed to April 20, 2020.
Will Summer Institute be open this summer?
To help reduce the spread of COVID-19, York Region District School Board is cancelling Summer Institute programming this summer. This is in line with public health guidelines. Summer Institute was scheduled to run July 6 - August 14. Families who are already registered for the program are being notified and full refunds will be processed for families who have paid. If you have not received a refund by June 1, please contact performanceplus.si@yrdsb.ca.
Will summer school programs still be offered?
While schools remain closed, we continue to offer credit and
non-credit summer school program opportunities for elementary and secondary
students. Please see the summer learning
during COVID-19 information to learn more. As a result of the school closures,
all programs will be offered in an online environment.
Will there be additional learning opportunities available this
summer to help bridge learning gaps?
Summer learning opportunities available through the York Region
District School Board are available on the Board’s website.
I have heard that other boards or schools have real-time video/audio learning from their teacher/educator. When will YRDSB introduce real-time video/audio learning?
Since YRDSB moved to online platforms to support learning at home, an asynchronous (not real-time
or live) approach to teaching and learning has been implemented. Teachers have been asked to design and deliver online learning in this manner to ensure all students have the opportunity to engage at times that are respectful of individual family circumstances. This approach was adopted to support a flexible, adaptable and equitable approach to learning. If required learning is only available at specific times of the day, some students may be unable to participate due to a variety of reasons including, but not limited to:
Access to necessary technology, which is often shared among family members
Shifting/challenging home circumstances which impede support for access and/or engagement with online learning opportunities
Bandwidth demands of simultaneous on-line learning across the board and province and the limitations of internet connectivity
As learning from home has now been extended to at least May 29, asynchronous learning will continue and synchronous learning may also be used by teachers to further complement learning opportunities for students. While the overall model for teacher-led learning from home is primarily asynchronous, teachers may include synchronous opportunities to support student learning where needed and appropriate. Synchronous (real-time or live) learning opportunities provide the benefit of allowing teachers to reinforce concepts in small groups or one-to-one settings. Teachers can also use real time connections to provide feedback to students.
If a student is not able to participate in a live conference, alternative asynchronous support is provided to ensure the student has access to the learning (e.g., posting of pre-recorded material or tasks for reference at a later time).
I am having trouble with the technology provided by the Board/accessing online learning platforms. Who can I contact for tech support?
Students and families can fill out the Student Tech Help form for support with student echnology and accessing online learning platforms.
What if I don't have access to technology or the internet and can’t access online learning resources?
We have been identifying opportunities to support the continuity of learning and caring for all of our students. We know not all of our students have the technology they need to access these resources, and we want to hear from our families.
Will teachers have office hours and will office hours reflect the entire school day?
Yes, teachers will have office hours and communicate these to students and families. Office hours will take place during the previous regular school instructional day and teachers will be available in “real time” to respond to student questions. Depending on the platform the teacher selected, this may be a different experience with each teacher. We are mindful of each child’s context and know that not all students will be available to attend teachers’ office hours, so this time is not mandatory for students. It is meant to be a drop in for students as they require. Office hours are only one part of teachers’ responsibilities in the Learning and Caring continuity of learning plan, which also includes planning lessons, posting assignments and tasks, reviewing and responding to student learning activities and assessing student work in an ongoing manner. As such office hours won’t take place for the entirety of a regular instructional day so that teachers can continue to support the continuity of the learning plan for your child.
I/My child was expecting to write an EQAO assessment this school year. Will EQAO tests, including OSSLT, continue during the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year?
No, the Ontario Ministry of Education has given notice to cancel EQAO assessments for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. The Minister has stated that this decision will not affect students’ ability to graduate.
My child has an IEP and access to supports at school. How will these supports be provided now?
Teachers are reaching out to families to determine the best way to support students’ individual learning needs and the Board is preparing resources to support students with special needs through our Learning and Caring Plan. As educators plan online learning opportunities, they will consider the strengths and needs of students with special education needs as noted in students’ IEPs. This may include assessing the appropriateness of online learning materials and resources for students.
My child has been receiving English as a Second Language supports. How can I continue to support English language learning at home, and will they receive additional support in completing online assignments and learning?
Online learning with English language learners (ELLs) will be customized to meet the needs of students at various STEPs (Steps to English Proficiency). Educators will continue to provide the necessary accommodations and modifications for ELLs. This may include assessing the appropriateness of online learning materials and resources for students.
I recently completed the ‘Access to Technology’ Questionnaire indicating that my child will require access to a device or internet access to continue learning at home. When can families expect to receive the technology requested?
Technology is currently being distributed to families who requested it. School principals are contacting families with information on a process to obtain the technology.
Will entire classes be meeting together online?
Teachers determine time frames each instructional day that works best for them to be available for office hours in “real time” to respond to student questions. Depending on the learning platform that has been selected, this may provide various opportunities to connect with students.
Please note that we do not mandate specific learning times for students for various reasons (e.g., access to technology, individual circumstances). There is no expectation that all students “attend” a teacher’s office hours. Office hours are meant to be a drop-in time for students when they know a teacher is “available”
Will elementary students receive final report cards?
All Kindergarten to Grade 8 students will receive a final report card at the end of the 2019-20 school year. Elementary students will continue to be assessed throughout the remainder of the school year to support their ongoing learning. Teachers will use the assessment information gathered prior to March 13 to determine final marks, as well as information gathered during the school closure when the assessment evidence is in the best interests of the student. Similarly, Kindergarten teachers will use key learning and growth information gathered prior to March 13 to develop the Kindergarten Communication of Learning. Teacher comments associated with student growth can also be included from the time of school closure if it is beneficial to the student.
How often will teachers give tasks to students?
Teachers will use their professional judgement with regard to how often to provide their students with tasks. The frequency will be influenced by a number of factors, including student needs, grade level, subject matter, course content, or pace of unit.
How often will teachers communicate with parents?
Teachers conduct ongoing assessment of their pupils’ progress, evaluate their achievement, and report results to pupils and their parents regularly via telephone, email, informal reports or online platforms (i.e. TeachAssist). In addition, teachers will reach out when there are concerns about a student’s progress.
Do parents need to send work back to teachers?
Elementary students will continue to be assessed throughout the remainder of the school year to support their ongoing learning. Teachers will communicate with their students and their families with regard to the expectations for what assignments are to be sent back to teachers and how they expect the work to be submitted.