WRDSB planning for full-time in-person learning this fall
The Waterloo Region District School Board is hopeful it will be bringing back students full-time for in-person learning come this fall.
“And ensure they’re safe and that their mental health and well-being is at the forefront,” Lila Read, Associate Director of WRDSB said.
As mandated by the province, remote learning will still be an option for students. WRDSB said dedicated teachers will assist with offering that mode of learning.
For secondary students, there will be modified semesters with alternating weeks.
“Students take four courses but they’ll only be doing two courses each week,” said Read.
Only five per cent of the student population is enrolled in remote learning for September compared to the current school year where there's around 25 to 30 per cent of the student population enrolled.
The union representing secondary students admitted that virtual learning has been a challenge for many.
“Students were disengaged. Teachers got a little bit demoralized looking at screens of little black squares,” said Rob Gascho, president of Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation Waterloo Region chapter.
Both secondary and elementary unions said they're staying cautiously optimistic for the fall.
“But still a little bit of trepidation mixed in there just with any certainty that we have just come to expect to live with throughout this pandemic,” said Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario Waterloo president Greg Weiler.
The road to normalcy might still be a long way away, some say.
“No one is expecting September to start off like it would have pre-pandemic,” said Weiler.
The school board says these plans are just a guideline for now.
In the event of a change in the public health situation, cohorts of 15 students and a quadmester model, like this year, could be adopted.
But the school board said that plan would be adjusted.
Students wouldn't spend more than three consecutive days in person or at home, a choice that the board said is best for the well-being and learning of students.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.