UPDATE: Return to In-Person Classroom Learning Delayed Until January 17, 2022 | Newsdesk

Dear Parents/Guardians,

The Ontario government announced today that, due to the impact of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, the return to in-person classroom learning at all publicly-funded schools in the province will be delayed until Monday, January 17, 2022.   This includes all elementary and secondary schools of the St. Clair Catholic District School Board.  

Online synchronous learning will begin according to the following schedule:

• Elementary Schools – Thursday, January 6, 2022.
• Secondary Schools – Asynchronous learning begins January 5, 2022; with synchronous learning beginning on January 6, 2022.
• Remote Learning School – learning for students enrolled in the virtual remote school begins on January 5, 2022.

Parents/guardians of students who require technology for online learning should contact their school.

As previously communicated, the Ontario government has updated the testing and isolation guidance for people who have been exposed to COVID-19.  The new guidance is reflected in the daily screening tool at: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/school-screening/  

The flow charts below indicate the steps you should take if you have symptoms of COVID-19; or, if you have concerns you may have been exposed to the virus.  For further information, you can visit the Ontario government website.

The health and safety of our students and staff remains our first priority.  St. Clair Catholic continues to follow the advice and guidance of the Ontario Ministry of Education, the Chief Medical Officer of Health and our partners at the Chatham-Kent and Lambton public health units.  Together, we are working to keep our staff and students safe.  Thank you for your support, as we continue to provide the best Catholic education possible, in the midst of an unprecedented global pandemic.  

We will continue to provide updates as information becomes available.

Sincerely,

Scott JohnsonDirector of Education