School Reopening

Assessment, Evaluation and Communication (AE&C)

• Assessment, evaluation and reporting activities will focus on the achievement of overall expectations outlined in the Ontario Curriculum.

• To support learning for all students, educators will continue to provide assessment and evaluation of students’ work and progress. 

• The Ministry of Education will release more information regarding Assessment and Evaluation (e.g., requirements for Elementary Progress Report). Once we have more information, we will provide it to families.       

Kindergarten

Learning will continue across the Four Frames for Learning (Belonging and Contributing, Problem-solving and Innovating, Demonstrating Literacy and Math Behaviours and Self-regulation and Well-Being) within a play-based model that adheres to health and safety protocols.

Specific focus will be on:

• Establishing/teaching classroom routines for hand hygiene, physical distancing, protocols for lunch/snack, access to manipulatives/toys, organization of personal belongings, washroom, etc. and sharing these routines with families.

• Implementing a supported kindergarten entry model that supports both Year 2 and Year 1 learners.

Timetables

The Arts - Drama/Dance

Due to physical distancing requirements, teachers may choose to focus on creation/interpretation to address the overall curriculum expectations.

The Arts - Music (Instrumental and Vocal)

In order to support the Health and Safety protocols, the following will be in place: 

• No singing/ vocal music 

• No playing of wind/brass instruments in schools

Teachers will continue to support learning and achievement through a balance of the three overall expectations within The Arts curriculum, which will include experiences and opportunities to play/perform as well as compose, arrange, investigate and analyse music from a range of time periods and cultures, with an emphasis on local and world contemporary artists and composers.

The Arts - Visual Arts

Visual Arts programs will continue and safety protocols will be maintained. It is acceptable, but not required, for students to bring their own materials for personal use in Visual Arts classrooms.

French

Instruction in French will continue.  

Health and Physical Education

COVID-19 will affect how Health and Physical Education can be delivered and we are awaiting provincial guidelines related to physical activity. Please see COVID-19 Pandemic: Return to School Canadian Physical and Health Education Guidelines. 

Revised Elementary Math Curriculum

On June 23, 2020, the Ministry of Education released a new Elementary Math Curriculum focused on “fundamental mathematics concepts and skills, as well as on making connections between related math concepts, between mathematics and other disciplines, and between mathematics and everyday life.” The new curriculum will be implemented starting in September 2020. The Ministry has indicated that there are plans to make the Elementary Math Curriculum website interactive and to include supports such as sample questions, long-range plans as well as information for parents. 

The new math curriculum for Grades 1 to 8 includes six major areas called “strands”:

1. Social-Emotional Learning Skills and the Mathematical Processes

2. Number (Number Sense, Operations)

3. Algebra (Patterns and Relationships, Equations and Inequalities, Coding, Mathematical Modelling)

4. Data (Data Literacy, Probability)

5. Spatial Sense (Geometric and Spatial Reasoning, Measurement)

6. Financial Literacy (Money, Finances)

Outdoor Education

Curriculum-based outdoor education programming for students in Grades 2, 4 and 7 will continue, however, until further notice, all field trips are cancelled. As such, there will be no environmental literacy and outdoor learning at YRDSB Outdoor Education Centres (i.e., Swan Lake, Milne, Burrlington, Vivian, and Sibbald Point).  Outdoor Education Centre staff members will provide outreach programs to schools. 

Reading Recovery 

Beginning in September, Reading Recovery teachers will provide one-to-one literacy support for Grade 2 students who were unable to finish or access Reading Recovery lessons in the 2019/2020 school year. 

Grade 1 Reading Recovery implementation is planned to resume in November 2020 for the remainder of the school year, provided it is safe to do so.

Science

Science programs will continue and safety protocols will be maintained. (e.g., students will be provided with gloves and goggles where appropriate).

EQAO

Primary and Junior EQAO assessments will not take place during the 2020-21 school year. 

Special Education 

We recognize that all our students are unique and will have different needs when we return to schools and classrooms. Our staff are committed to following Public Health guidelines to provide the safest environment and care for our students and staff. Learn more about special education services and supports. 

English Language Learners 

All English Language Learners will have access, as appropriate, to: 

• School-Based ESL/ELD program supports, Elementary & Secondary or

• Regional ELD Programs, Elementary & Secondary

Culturally and linguistically responsive ESL/ELD Program Models are informed by a variety of school and student factors. Programs will continue to be flexible and responsive to shifting/challenging home or community circumstances to address equity of access, safety and privacy for all students. 

ESL/ELD teachers will provide in-class support to students, while adhering to all Health and Safety considerations. 

Due to safety protocols, physically withdrawing English Language Learners from multiple homeroom classes and re-grouping them for “Intensive” or “Tutorial” Program Support may not be possible.  

Before and After School Child Care

Supporting Students/Families with Digital Tools 

Support will be provided for students and their families to access and use the digital tools needed for online learning. If you need support, please speak with your school. 

Translation and Interpretation Support

Where possible and time permits important documents are translated based on YRDSB’s welcome centre registration data. In some cases, due to the urgency of communications, not all documents are translated. Please speak to your school for support as needed. 

To help remove barriers that limit access to information and participation in learning opportunities, the following Translation Software Tips for Families is available.

Shared Learning Materials and Resources (e.g., textbooks)

Students who have school materials, such as textbooks, from the 2019-2020 school year are asked to return them to the school as soon as possible.