The Province, in consultation with Ottawa Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Vera Etches, announced today Ottawa-area schools would reopen for in-person learning on Monday, February 1, 2021. The government advised it would be implementing provincewide targeted asymptomatic testing and more comprehensive screening protocols. Students in Grades 1-3 will now be required to wear masks on school buses, in class and outdoors where physical distancing cannot be maintained. Here is some information on how this will affect OCSB families.
Self-Screening Tool
Please remember to use the Ottawa Public Health Self-Screening Tool to check your child for symptoms before sending your child to school. If you are concerned your child may exhibit symptoms and do not know where to get your child or family member tested, visit OttawaPublicHealth.ca/COVIDTesting for detailed information. All staff will also need to complete a self-assessment before going to work on Monday.
What’s New – Mandatory masks (Grade 1 to 12)
Your child will need to wear a mask if they are in Grades 1 to 3. Students in Grades 1 to 12 must wear non-medical or cloth masks indoors in school, including in hallways and during classes, on school transportation and outdoors during recess where students cannot maintain physical distancing. Exceptions will be made for students who are unable to wear masks for medical reasons. Physical distancing requirements will continue to be enforced at our schools.
High school cohort class schedule
Secondary students will receive notification from their school by Sunday evening about which Cohort they are in for semester two, which begins on Monday, February 1. School staff will notify parents whether their child is in the Cohort that starts in-person on Monday, February 1 or the Cohort that begins asynchronously at home on Monday. Secondary cohorts will continue to rotate one day of in-person learning followed by one day of asynchronous learning at home.
Transportation
The Ottawa Student Transportation Authority is working on providing full school transportation service for the new return date of February 1st. Please consult the Ottawa School Transportation Authority website for information related to transportation to and from school. We anticipate there may be some delays due to the short turnaround time.
Extended Day Programs resume Monday
We’re back! If your child was registered in one of our Extended Day Programs, they can return on Monday, February 1, at all locations that were open before the lockdown. If you’re interested in sending your child to the Extended Day Program at an OCSB school, see our Child Care Programs page on the OCSB website for locations and registration details.
Ottawa Catholic Child Care Corporation and ESL child care programs
The Kindergarten and School-Age Children child care programs operated by the Ottawa Catholic Child Care Corporation, will reopen on Monday, February 1. Toddler and preschool programs will also continue to remain open.
Our ESL child care programs at St. Patrick Adult High School and St. Joseph Adult High School remain closed.
EarlyON Centres remain closed
EarlyON Centres remain closed for in-person programming and will continue to offer virtual programming at this time. They will remain closed until further notice as they are community programs and must adhere to the stay-at-home orders. Please visit our EarlyON section on our website for additional information.