Hello,
We have been working on a Return to School for Student Retrieval of Belongings now that we know students will not be returning to classrooms this school year. This requires EA’s, Custodians and School Administrative Assistants to be present in the school to support this initiative. The following are some guidelines we will need to follow and this is predicated on approval from Durham Region Public Health to proceed.
First Principle – no one (staff, students or parents) enters the building unless they have passed the Ministry of Ontario Self-Assessment.
Phase One: Access Scheduling
- Principals and Vice Principals set staggered schedule for staff (Week One) and then students (Week 2-3) to enter building to pick up belongings consistent with all “social distancing expectations” and self-assessment guidelines. School Administrative Assistants will support this initiative and may be required to send emails to staff with times for staff to come to the schools.
Phase Two: Staff Access to Buildings (Week One) (this could be as early as next week)
- Secondary: Staff enter classrooms to package in labelled envelopes or clear plastic garbage bags any student materials that need to be returned (e.g., Art works, projects). Determination of where these materials are to be left will vary school by school.
- Elementary: Staff organize their own classrooms so that all student material is placed on the top of the student’s desk. This includes bulletin board displays, indoor shoes, gym clothes, lunch bags, notebooks. Any school owned material in student desks is removed and returned to classroom shelves.
- All: Remove any personal belongings needed before September (staff who are leaving/retiring – a day in June will be set aside for this if needed).
Phase Three: Student Access to Buildings (Week Two-Three)( could be week of June 1 and June 8)
- Principals and Vice Principals and Administrative Assistants on site for the entire time needed to accomplish the task. It could be that there are blocks of time from 9-1 and 1-3 determined by Administration at the school.
- Administration organizes flow map for building – e.g., students enter through front door, go to locker, drop off school property and go out a different door.
- Staff (ECE/Teacher/EAs) must provide a minimum of a two-hour time slot to support this process – staff who are immune-compromised, pregnant or over 60 will not be expected to attend. Any other individual family concerns can be addressed individually with the administration.
- Staff will be assigned to monitor hallways, entrance doors, exit doors and help with traffic flow. School Administrative Assistants may also help with tracking attendance. Custodial staff will provide support in removal of garbage and cleaning and disinfecting of schools.
- Staff ECE/Teacher/EA’s can volunteer to provide additional support beyond the 2 hour requirement.
Phase Four: Student Return of Equipment (Last week of June)
- On June 26 or 27 a drop-off day is scheduled for all grade 12 and/or leaving students to drop off Assistive Technology, musical instruments or any other school property.
I wanted you to know about this as soon as possible and as we know each school will be different depending on number of students and staff available. It is a work in progress and we ask for your patience. More information will be forthcoming as the schedule is developed and we meet with Principals tomorrow. We are reviewing our PPE stock for staff and I will confirm if staff who come in for the 2 hour shift should remove their personal items at the end of their shift. I would ask you to keep this confidential as the Chairs of the different Units until we receive approval to move forward and have defined dates in place. If you have any questions please get in touch.
Jackie McVeigh
Manager Employee Relations
Durham Catholic District School Board
