DCDSB - Extended School Closures

December 21, 2020

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Today the Premier announced a province wide shutdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19 effective Saturday, December 26, 2020. Click here to view details about the shutdown outlined by the province. As part of this shutdown, all schools in the province will be closed to students from January 4-8, 2020.

What does this mean for your child after the Christmas holiday?

All Elementary and Secondary students currently enrolled in the virtual learning model will continue to receive regular instruction with their teachers, beginning January 4, 2021, as per their usual practice.

Students who currently attend class in person at the school will be asked to connect online during the period of closures. Return to face-to-face learning is scheduled as follows:

• Elementary students (Kindergarten to Grade 8) will return to in-school classes on Monday, January 11, 2021
• Secondary students (Grades 9 through 12) will return to in-school classes on Monday, January 25, 2021

Beginning on January 4, 2021 and continuing during the period of school closures, staff will engage with students using our online learning platforms. While we recognize that this may be a challenge for some households, we respect provincial protocols to keep everyone safe and ask that you encourage your child to connect with their teachers online on January 4, 2021. More information will be forthcoming.

In the event of extended closures, the Durham Catholic District School Board will continue to follow the direction of the Ministry of Education, in terms of expectations for teaching and learning, evaluation and assessment, and we will update families with next steps.

Thank you for your continued cooperation and understanding. By working together as a community, it is our hope that students and staff can return to the classroom as soon as possible.

I hope that you and those you love are finding ways to have a safe and happy Christmas! Please know that you are all in my prayers.

Yours in Faith,

Tracy Barill
Director of Education