Public board releases school schedule

Editor’s note: The following information was taken from the Greater Essex County District School Board’s website and reflects the information available at press time. The schedule is set for the first two weeks as below, but is subject to possible change prior to the start of the school year next week.

In discussion with the Ministry of Education, the return to class for GECDSB students will follow an updated staggered approach for September. Students will begin their return to school starting on Thursday, September 10, 2020. Early Years students will begin their return on Monday, September 14, 2020.

A staggered approach to school startup, beginning on September 10, will provide the GECDSB additional time to reorganize staff assignments and student timetables for all in-person and virtual school classes, and will provide opportunities for schools to ensure that health and safety practices and new school protocols are reviewed and practiced before the full complement of students returns to each building. This approach allows staff to support our students’ successful return to the new school environment in smaller groups to learn and review these important health and safety measures.

All students in Junior/Senior Kindergarten to Grade 8 attending in-person (including those students in our GAINS classrooms) will be divided into two (2) groups: Group 1 and Group 2. These groups will be created alphabetically as one measure to keep all students from a family together. Schools will notify parents/ guardians of their child(ren)’s group assignment and return to school schedule shortly.

Grade 1 to 8 students in Group 1 only will attend school on Thursday, September 10, Monday, September 14, and will return for daily classes beginning on Wednesday, September16, 2020.

Grade 1 to 8 students in Group 2 only will attend school on Friday, September 11, Tuesday, September 15, and will return for daily classes beginning on Wednesday, September 16,

Early Years (JK/SK) students in Group 1 only will attend school on Monday, September 14, and will begin daily classes on Wednesday, September 16, 2020.

Early Years (JK/SK) students in Group 2 only will attend school on Tuesday, September 15, and will begin daily classes on Wednesday, September 16, 2020.

Secondary school students will be cohorted into two (2) groups: Cohort A and Cohort B.

Grade 9 students in Cohort A only will attend school, in-person, on Thursday, September 10 for a school orientation. Grade 9 students in Cohort B only will attend school, in-person, on Friday, September 11 for a school orientation.

Students taking Grade 9 and 10 courses in Cohort A only, will attend class on Monday, September 14. Students taking Grade 9 and 10 courses in Cohort B only, will attend class on Tuesday, September 15.

Students taking Grade 11 and 12 courses (Cohort A and B) will participate in their period 1 and 2 classes virtually (on-line) on Monday, September 14 and Tuesday, September 15, 2020.

All students in Grades 9 to 12 will follow their regular class schedule based on their Cohort (A/B) beginning on Wednesday, September 16, 2020.

STEPS classes will begin on Monday, September 14, 2020 and will attend classes daily.

Students in secondary MAPS programs will begin class on September 14 or September 15 based on their cohort (A or B) and will attend class daily beginning on Wednesday, September 16, 2020.

Students in Junior/Senior Kindergarten to Grade 12 attending the GEC Virtual School (online) will be divided into two (2) groups (Group 1 and Group 2). The virtual school will notify parents/ guardians of their child(ren)’s group assignment and return to school process shortly.

Elementary and secondary students in Group 1 only will take part in an orientation process for the virtual school on Thursday, September 10, will attend class on Monday, September 14, and will begin daily, online classes on Wednesday, September 16, 2020.

​Elementary and secondary students in Group 2 only will take part in an orientation process for the virtual school on Friday, September 10, will attend class on Tuesday, September 15, and will begin daily, online classes on Wednesday, September 16, 2020.