The back-to-school countdown is on. Here’s what we know and don’t know about Hamilton schools in September
Weeks away from the start of a new school year, Hamilton families are still waiting to find out what September will look like for kids.
In the absence of a formal plan, which the province is expected to announce early next week, Hamilton school boards say they have been planning for all eventualities.
But all of that planning could be impacted by the upcoming guidance," said Pat Daly, chair of the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board (HWCDSB).
Here's what we know - and don't know - about Hamilton's return to the classroom in the fall:
What do we know about guidelines?
Health and safety requirements - such as screening, masking, hand hygiene and physical distancing - are expected to be announced in early August as part of the ministry's back to school plan.
Ontario's chief medical officer of health said earlier this week he's hopeful for a normal return" to school, and has provided health and safety guidance to the ministry of education.
Boards have echoed this expectation.
We are cautiously optimistic that this will feel like a more normal' school year than 2020-21," Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) spokesperson Robert Faulkner said in an email to The Spectator.
At the Catholic board, staff are hoping for a largely in-person year, Daly said.
Our planning has been focused on our students and our staff well-being, and we know as normal as possible is essential for that," he said.
Daly said cohorting is expected to be in place at least for the first part of the year."
In person, remote or both?
As directed by the province, Hamilton school boards are offering in-person and remote options for students from kindergarten to Grade 12.
We are preparing for a variety of scenarios, as we did in the 2020-21 school year," Faulkner said.
Ministry guidance will dictate whether secondary students reopen fully in person, or in an adaptive model for secondary schools, where students may attend every other day for a full day," he said.
Secondary students with the public board concerned with the ongoing global pandemic" will learn remotely through the board's existing eLearning program, an asynchronous model where students learn at their own pace.
At the public board, about 1,800 elementary students - about four per cent - have indicated a preference for remote learning for the 2021-22 school year. At the secondary level, there are fewer than 400 students - about three per cent - who plan to learn virtually in the fall.
Between two and three per cent of all students at the Catholic board plan to learn remotely in the fall.
Will students have an opportunity to transition?
Elementary students at the public board wishing to switch learning models will have an opportunity on Oct. 7. At the secondary level, the board is allowing this transition via timetable changes," Faulkner said.
The Catholic board will not formally offer an opportunity to make the switch.
We would never say in every circumstance no,'" Daly said. If there was some compelling reasons why parents wanted to change their original indication, then I would encourage them to speak to the principal."
In the spring, the board asked students to choose in person or remote, and stick with it for the entire school year.
Will Hamilton boards use the quadmester model?
Hamilton's public and Catholic boards are planning to use the ministry-directed quadmester system, which divides the school year into quarters, each with two classes.
Public health has stated that the quadmester model is the preferred learning model to support contract tracing and reduce the number of students or staff who might require to self-isolate due to a positive COVID-19 case," Faulkner said.
Remote learners will also follow the quadmester model.
This means students will take two classes - instead of four - at a time and each day will consist of two, 150-minute periods with a lunch break in between.
Some boards - including in Toronto, Halton and Lambton County - have scrapped the quadmester in favour of another model.
Daly said there's no question" that the quadmester is more challenging for students and staff.
Subject to public health and medical experts, our preference clearly would to be a return to the normal model," he said.
How are boards planning for extracurriculars?
Hamilton's Catholic board said staff is seeking advice from provincial sports, music and other organizations, and are hoping and planning for as close to a full return as possible," Daly said.
The public board said it is planning for various scenarios," but is waiting on guidance from the ministry.
Will vaccines be mandatory for staff and students?
The province has not indicated that COVID-19 vaccines will be required for students and staff at public schools. However, chief medical officer of health Dr. Kieran Moore told reporters Tuesday there would be different rules for those fully vaccinated.
If exposed to a positive COVID case, students with two shots will be able to return to class immediately after being tested. Unvaccinated students will be required to self-isolate at home.
The Hamilton Spectator did not receive a response from public health by deadline regarding local stipulations around vaccines and contact tracing in schools.
Boards say they are following provincial and public health guidelines.
Through social media and other avenues, public health and school boards have been encouraging young people - in Hamilton, the most vaccine-hesitant group - to get vaccinated immediately. One in three among ages 12 to 34 missed the July 27 deadline for a first shot to be fully protected in time for school.
As of July 26, nearly 67 per cent of youth ages 12 to 17 have received a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to public health. About 46 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Kate McCullough is a Hamilton-based reporter covering education at The Spectator. Reach her via email: kmccullough@thespec.com