The director of education for the Avon Maitland District School Board says teachers are going to be extremely busy leading up to the opening of school in September.
Lisa Walsh said in the week before the official opening, teachers will have three full-day Professional Activity Days, in which they'll be trained on several changes to the curriculum.
"So there's the new math curriculum, anti-bullying legislation, mental health and well-being information, violence prevention training, anti-discrimination, anti-racism, COVID-19 training and mandatory health and safety training," said Walsh.
There will also be some significant changes in the classrooms.
"They will be making sure that their desks in their classroom are spaced appropriately, at least one metre apart, or that their cohort, if they have smaller cohorts within the larger cohort. So, for example, if you had a class of 20, you might put the desks in five groups of four in the classroom," explained Walsh.
The ministry is also allowing a staggered two-week re-opening to make sure everything is ready for students and she says they'll take advantage of at least part of that.
Walsh also had a recent opportunity to talk with one of the authors of the Sick Kids report. It was released July 29 and covered back to school strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But even with the best-laid plans, some cases are anticipated.
"We can't bubble wrap people. They're going to be on buses, they're going to go home and have dinner with their family and be with their family, who have also been in various places throughout the day and in contact with various other people," explained Walsh and added the key for them is to be ready if there is a case.
Walsh said the successful return to school is not going to be up to one group and will require the cooperation of school boards, teachers, parents, students, and the community.