Thousands of children in Brantford and Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk counties slung backpacks over their shoulders on Tuesday for Day 1 of the first school year to start without COVID-19 restrictions since the pandemic hit.
“We are very excited to be starting the 2022-23 school year in a teaching and learning environment that is much closer to normal for students, staff, and families,” said Tracey Austin, manager of communications at the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board. “We are so proud of the hard work, ability to pivot, the creative solutions and resilience exhibited by everyone over the past two years.”
Austin said staff are happy to see that sports and extracurricular activities have also summarized, adding that after-school additional tutoring services will soon be available for both elementary and secondary students.
This year, the Catholic board has 7,743 elementary and 4,338 secondary students in 31 schools. Of those, 53 elementary and 37 secondary students have opted for remote learning.
“As a reminder, students, staff and visitors are encouraged to self-assess for symptoms of illness using the COVID-19 School and Child Care Screening Tool,” she noted. “Masks are recommended, but not required for students, staff and visitors.”
She said schools will promote respectful and inclusive environments for those who choose to wear, or not wear, masks.
Rapid antigen tests are available upon request, and hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette will continue to be promoted, she said.
The Grand Erie District School Board’s projected enrollment for 2022-23 is 18,360 elementary and 7,500 secondary students across its 72 schools, of which 30 are in Brantford.
“We are seeing positive early signs of higher than projected enrollment at our schools, however, final numbers are not yet available,” said Grand Erie manager of communications Dave Smouter. “Grand Erie is also welcoming more than 20 students from the Ukraine in schools across the district.”
About 220 Grand Erie students are enrolled this year in online learning.
The transportation consortium that serves students in the region is experiencing a school-bus driver shortage.
Philip Kuckyt, manager of transportation services, said a small number of buses are running behind schedule, mostly serving the Haldimand area.
“Families will be notified of any delays, as early as possible each day, by our bus companies who post details to the Student Transportation Services, Brant Haldimand Norfolk website ( stsbhn.ca ) which triggers notifications to families via email subscriptions and (a special ) app.”
As he waited for his son outside of Branlyn-Notre Dame School in Brantford on Tuesday afternoon, Colin Durdon said neither of his children is enthusiastic about returning to school.
Son Grady started Grade 7, while daughter Abby is in Grade 10 at Pauline Johnson Collegiate.
“Both were a bit nervous to go back, but they’re here,” he said. “It’s hard to get into the swing of things.”
He said the family spent two weeks north of Timmins at a fly-in hunting and fishing camp owned by his in-laws.
“Coming back from exciting stuff like that, I don’t blame them.”
Ontario’s top doctor announced last week that people who test positive for COVID-19 no longer have to isolate for five days, but can return to work or school once their fever is gone and their other symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours.
Dr. Kieran Moore said people should wear a mask for 10 days after the onset of symptoms and keep up-to-date with their vaccinations, calling the combination a “pragmatic and practical” approach for work and school environments.
He also pointed to better ventilation and environmental cleaning in schools, combined with the level of immunization across Ontario, in saying the province can now take a “more permissive approach.”
However, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation have said they’re worried allowing children and educators to return to the classroom while still potentially contagious could cause the virus to spread faster in schools.
With files from Canadian Press