Additional information and supports for learning during remote period

Additional information and supports for learning during remote period
Posted on 01/05/2022
Additional information and supports for learning during remote period

As educators and families participate in remote learning between January 5 and 17th, we wanted to provide some additional information to support you during this period.

We have prepared some information for families who speak Arabic and/or Somali.  Here are YouTube links to the information in video format. 

COVID Update About School Closures - Arabic

COVID Update About School Closures - Somali

Remote learning technical assistance

We have compiled a series of resources that provide step-by-step instructions for students and parents on how to use our Learning Management System, Google Classroom and the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Here are the links to a few of these resources. Learn more about learning remotely in the student portal and on our website.

Online Etiquette and Privacy

Online etiquette helps create a positive learning environment. Please be respectful of the privacy of other students and teachers. Please do not record the lessons, take pictures or screenshots or share/post pictures of the online class and please don’t share online work on social media platforms without first obtaining consent.

Technology support

If your child needs to borrow a Chromebook or an Internet hotspot or is a student with special education needs who requires access to SEA equipment and you have not already heard from the school, please call or email the school for details on how to make this request. Please note, hotspots are limited and are prioritized based on need (eg. rural and financial need). 

Special Education

During the shift to remote learning, most students with special education needs will be learning remotely with their classroom educators. All students with special education needs will learn remotely on January 5, 6 and 7th.  Here is a resource for parents:

Top 10 ASD Remote Learning Strategies for Parents (PDF)

Beginning Monday, January 10th, students in some specialized programs classes will have the option to learn in-person:

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Program;
  • Developmental Disabilities (DD) Program;
  • Physical Support Programs (PSP);
  • Clifford Bowey Public School; and
  • Crystal Bay Centre for Special Education.

Families with children eligible for in-person learning in specialized program classes will be contacted by the school.

Extended Day Program 

The OCDSB Extended Day Program will not be offering care during the remote learning period. Further information has been emailed to EDP families. During the period when elementary schools are operating virtually, licensed child care centres, authorized recreation and skill-building providers and district school boards will be prohibited from serving school-aged children. All before and after school programs are not permitted to operate during this period.

Child care for non-school aged children (i.e. children aged 0-4)

Will remain open for the duration of this time-limited public health action. This includes child care offered in licensed child care centres and in home-based settings.

Emergency Child Care (ECC)

According to the Ontario announcement, during this period of remote learning, free emergency child care will be provided for school-aged children of eligible frontline workers. This is scheduled to begin on Monday, January 10. The full list of eligible workers can be found here, which includes some education staff members.

Update: The City of Ottawa has posted information on its website about emergency child care. Starting Monday, January 10, emergency child care services will be available at no cost to prioritized frontline healthcare workers in Ottawa. Learn more and view the list of ECC providers.

Mental Health and Well-being

The surge in Omicron and the return to remote learning has left many families and students feeling a range of emotions. For some, the news has been a welcome relief, while it has left others feeling frustrated and worried. The OCDSB mental health team has prepared some simple tips to support students and parents with well-being during remote learning. Learn more about these and other resources.

OCDSB Learning Support Services professional staff will be checking in with all students with mental health needs on their existing case loads during the period of virtual learning. Moreover, should school staff become aware of additional students experiencing mental health needs, referrals can be made to social work and psychology staff. 

Mental health resources and supports

For services and support available to help, please reach out to the following community resources or contact your school administrator.

Ventilation

You may also be interested in reviewing this background information on ventilation from September, which provides information on the more than 2300 HEPA air filtration units currently in use in schools along with detailed reports on ventilation upgrades at each OCDSB school. New units are expected from the Ministry and plans are underway for deployment.

Preparing for the safe return to in-person learning

As educators support remote learning, the OCDSB will also be preparing for the return to in-person learning as early as Monday, January 17th. Ahead of this, we will share further updates on additional safety measures in place.
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