Thames Valley school board officials have made the choice to temporarily close Port Burwell Public School as it grapples with a COVID-19 outbreak.
The school board announced the closure Thursday evening citing that school operations and instruction pose a challenge with the current number of cases interrupting several classes.
"Effective Friday November 19th, 2021, students at Port Burwell Public School will temporarily transition from in-person to virtual learning until returning to school Monday, November 29, 2021," a release from the TVDSB read. "Classroom teachers will contact families with information for virtual learning. Families requiring technology to support students to access virtual learning are asked to contact the school office."
On Thursday the school reported two additional cases of COVID-19 for a total of eight active cases. The school board reported new cases of the virus at four other schools including Algonquin Public School, Elgin Court Public School, Pierre Elliot Trudeau French Immersion Public and Westfield Public School.
Port Burwell P.S. is not the only school in the London-area dealing with an outbreak. Mary Wright Public School, Notre Dame Catholic, St Vincent De Paul Catholic Elementary, and St. Nicholas Senior Catholic. All schools remain open.
The school board also acknowledged that these interruptions can be challenging to families and students and mental health supports are available and some options for help can be found on the board's website.