Based on advice from the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, and in alignment with community measures, the province is returning schools to a more typical learning environment while maintaining protective measures- like rapid tests, ventilation improvements, extensive cleaning protocols, screening, and continued access to free masks for students.
TVDSB acknowledges and respects that some families may feel uneasy about these changes to health and safety protocols, and we welcome and support personal and family choice.
Thames Valley continues to follow direction from local public health units. Several COVID-19 related health and safety measures are provided below.
Masking
As of Monday, March 21, the Ontario Government has removed the requirement for masking. Thames Valley highly encourages masking for students, but honours and respects personal and family choice. Masking will no longer be mandatory for students, staff and approved visitors in schools, school board offices and on student transportation.
As some students may choose to continue to wear masks at times, or consistently, for the remainder of the school year, free student masks will continue to be provided.
International Travel
Under current federal travel requirements, upon return from international travel, individuals must wear a mask at all times when in public spaces (including schools and child care centres) and maintain a list of all close contacts for the first 14 days in Canada. In addition, these individuals are required monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. Therefore, as a reminder to families who may travel outside of Canada over March break, a mask must be worn when at school for the 14 days upon return.
Cohorting and Social Distancing
Cohorting and social distancing (indoors and outdoors) will no longer be required in schools. Assigned seats and cohorting will no longer be required on student transportation.
Students can play and learn together across cohorts, classes and grades, both indoors and outdoors and during lunch and recess. Shared spaces, such as libraries, technology labs, theatres and music rooms can be fully utilized without distancing.
Limitations on in-person gatherings and assemblies will also be removed; therefore, Thames Valley is pleased to share that school staff and volunteers can plan and host in-person events (e.g., proms, graduation ceremonies, and assemblies).
COVID-19 School and Child Care Screening
The ministry’s COVID-19 School and Child Care Screener remains in place and is required to be completed daily by students prior to attending school or boarding student transportation.
Daily on-site confirmation of screening for all students and staff is not required, therefore, the two-step digital confirmation process for elementary and secondary students is no longer in place.
Each student in Thames Valley must continue to self-screen every day before attending school using the COVID-19 school and child care screening tool.
There are very important changes to the COVID-19 screening process regarding isolation requirements.
Isolation, in general, for household members of COVID-19 -positive or symptomatic individuals is not required if:
- The individual has already tested positive for COVID-19 in the previous 90 days
- The individual is older than 18 and has received their booster dose (three doses)
- The individual is younger than 18 and are fully vaccinated (two doses)
Household members who do not meet these criteria must self-isolate.
School Visitors & Spectators
Thames Valley will be taking a cautious approach to fully opening our schools and allowing visitors in our schools.
Effective Monday, March 21, parents and caregivers dropping off or picking up their child from before and after school programs or child care centres will not be required to provide proof of vaccination to enter the building or wear a mask.
Beginning Monday, March 28 visitors to schools and spectators in schools will not be required to provide proof of vaccination or wear a mask.
Athletics & Extracurricular Activities
Effective Monday, March 21, there will be no more restrictions on athletic activities, music or singing within Thames Valley.
Remaining Health and Safety Measures in Schools for the 2021-22 School Year
Thames Valley is committed to the health and safety of students and staff. There are several health and safety measures that will continue to be enforced.
- Hand Hygiene and Enhanced Cleaning and Disinfecting
We will continue to support and encourage good hand hygiene in all our schools. Enhanced cleaning protocols will also remain in place.
- Rapid Antigen Tests (RATS)
The Province of Ontario will continue to supply us with Rapid Antigen Tests for staff and students who may wish to use them. As a reminder, staff and students can also access RATs via participating community locations. Please see https://covid-19.ontario.ca/rapid-test-locator for specific locations.
- Ventilation Measures
Significant improvements have been made to ventilation and filtration through the implementation of various measures across Thames Valley. Additional HEPA filter units provided by the Ministry will be deployed to schools and classrooms as they are received. TVDSB continues to implement regular maintenance and filter changes on all mechanical systems. As additional precautions, TVDSB has been completing operational enhancements to increase the frequency of filter changes extending operating hours of the systems to increase the number of air exchanges.
Absence Reporting
Thames Valley will continue to report daily attendance and school closures to the Ministry through the COVID-19 Absence Reporting Tool (ART). This data will be entered daily by 10:30 a.m. by school principals, excluding weekends and public holidays.
Data is current as of 2 p.m. the previous business day. These absences are presented as percentages of total combined student and staff absences.
Any school that reaches the 30% absence level (or higher) is reported to the public health units. As a reminder, no personal information is being collected by the Ministry.
This information can be found on the Ontario Ministry website at this link: https://www.ontario.ca/page/covid-19-school-closures-and-absenteeism
School closures will be updated daily on our COVID-19 advisory page found at this link:
https://www.tvdsb.ca/en/our-board/covid-19-advisory-page.aspx
Mental Health & Well-Being
These changes will impact individuals and families differently. Children and youth may feel excited, anxious, relieved, or worried. During these times, checking-in with them, listening and validating how they are doing is helpful. If you are concerned about the well-being of your child, please connect with their educator or administrator.
For mental health and well-being resources, please visit www.tvdsb.ca/mentalhealth.
