The trustees for Windsor-Essex's English Catholic school board are expected to receive a plan for the safe return of students.
The Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board is expected to get information on the district's 2021-2022 return-to-school plan at a special meeting Tuesday night.
According to the report, the board will open all its buildings to in-person learning, with enhanced safety and COVID-19 prevention protocols.
All staff and students attending in-person must self-screen every day, use hand sanitizer when entering, and wear a face covering. Face coverings must be worn indoors all day except when eating or drinking, though they can be removed outdoors for recess.
All students in grades kindergarten through eight will have five hours of instruction each day, in one classroom with one teacher where possible. Common spaces such as cafeterias and libraries will be open with physical distancing expected.
This Thursday, parents of K-8 students will be told who their students' teachers will be for the year, as well as which entrance door their children are assigned to use.
Secondary school students will also have five instructional hours per day. The four-course semester model will resume, but with two periods per day, consisting of two 150-minute periods and a 40-minute lunch break. Students will attend periods one and two in the first two weeks, then periods three and four the next two weeks, rotating through at least the end of the first semester.
Grade nine students will receive their class schedules via their school email accounts before their school's orientation day. Students in grades ten through 12 will receive their schedules online starting this Friday.
Parents wanting to use remote learning were to have their preferences selected by early June of this year. Elementary students will stick to their chosen method for the entire 2021-2022 academic year. Secondary students who choose virtual learning for fall 2021 will have the option of switching to an in-person model in February 2022. High school students who choose in-person must remain in that model for the entire year.
The full report was approved last week by the new WECDSB Director of Education, Emelda Byrne, and will be posted to the board's official website after Tuesday night's meeting. In the meantime, parents can get a look at it by accessing the agenda for the meeting.
Tuesday's special trustee meeting comes one week before the scheduled start of classes on September 7.