Government of Ontario Announces All Grand Erie Schools Will Remain Closed for the Rest of the 2019-20 School Year

Today, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Education Stephen Lecce announced that the current COVID-19 closures for all publicly funded schools in the province will be extended until the end of the 2019-20 school year.

This means that all Grand Erie elementary and secondary schools will remain closed to students until the end of June. The closure includes all Adult, Alternative and Continuing Education sites as well as GELA (Grand Erie Learning Alternatives). Additionally, all Child Care Centres, Early ON and Before and After-School Programs remain cancelled, along with all school permits and Community Use of Schools permits.

While the remainder of the 2019-20 school year will not take place in a classroom, learning at home continues for all Grand Erie students, with minimum requirements outlined by grade by the Ministry of Education last month. Through the end of the school year (June 26), teachers will continue to provide learning at home through a variety of means, including video conferencing, posted videos, regular phone calls or emails to support student learning activities.

Final report cards will be issued to all students at the end of June. Schools will communicate with families as to when and how these will be distributed.

With today’s announcement, planning is underway to determine the safest and most efficient way for students to retrieve personal belongings from their school. This process will be communicated with families by schools once it has been finalized and approved by the respective local heath unit.

Minister Lecce also noted there would be enhanced summer learning opportunities for students this year. Details on what this means for Grand Erie students will follow once the Board receives direction from the Ministry of Education.

For the latest COVID-19 updates and information, visit: www.granderie.ca or follow the Board on Twitter (@GEDSB). Families can also contact Grand Erie via email (info@granderie.ca) or phone (519-756-6301 or Toll Free: 1-888-548-8878).

Important Updates:

• June 3: Director of Education Brenda Blancher sent this message to support the Province of Ontario's new testing for COVID-19.
• May 19: Director of Education Brenda Blancher sent this message to Grand Erie families to provide them with an update on closures for the rest of the 2019-20 school year.
• May 19: The Ministry of Education announced the extension of school closures to the end of the 2019-20 school year and shared this message from Minister Stephen Lecce.
• April 28: The Ministry of Education announced the extension of school closures to the end of May for COVID-19 and shared this message from Minister Stephen Lecce.
• April 26: Director of Education Brenda Blancher sent this message to Grand Erie families to provide them with an update on school closures for COVID-19.
• April 7: Director of Education Brenda Blancher sent this message to Grand Erie families to share the board's decision to cancel all trips, events and activities for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year due to COVID-19.
• March 31: Director of Education Brenda Blancher sent this message to Grand Erie families to provide them with an update on COVID-19 closures and next steps for student learning.
• March 31: The Ministry of Education announced the the extension of school closures related to COVID-19 and shared this message from Minister Stephen Lecce.
• March 27: Director of Education Brenda Blancher sent this message to Grand Erie families to provide them with another update on COVID-19 and the continuation of learning.
• March 25: The Brant County Health Unit shared this message for school community members. Find COVID-19 information from the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit here.
• March 24: Grand Erie's Mental Health and Well-Being team shared this resource: How to Talk to Children about COVID-19.
• March 23: Director of Education Brenda Blancher sent this message to Grand Erie families, providing them with a number of COVID-19 related updates.
• March 20: The Ministry of Education announced the launch of Learn at Home, an online portal for students and families during the province-wide closure of schools due to COVID-19.
• March 17: The Ministry of Education cancelled all standardized testing for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year. This includes the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) and EQAO for Grade 3/6 students.
• March 17: Grand Erie's Education Centre will be closed during COVID-19 closures, with all staff working from home.

Grand Opening of the Snoezelen Room

Elgin Avenue Public School welcomed staff, students and community to the Grand Opening of the Snoezelen Room on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

On hand for this special occasion was Chair of the Board Carol Ann Sloat, Trustee Rita Collver and Superintendent Liana Thompson as well as several members of the community that contributed to the fundraising, and Elgin staff members.

Allie Richardson (teacher of students with autism), Lori Minarik (EA working with students with autism) and Samantha Nicholson (Principal) worked together for over three and a half years to fundraise for this $30,000 project. The Elgin community, parents, local charities and the Grand Erie District School Board all came together to make this project a huge success.

A Snoezelen Room is a multi-sensory environment that provides a controlled, safe, relaxing space for individuals with a variety of sensory needs. The room is set up to give individuals a positive space where they can meet their specific needs in a calming atmosphere. This atmosphere helps in reducing fear, anxieties, repetitive behaviour, self-abusive behaviour and aggressive behaviour so that students are better able to learn. Students at Elgin in both self-contained classes and in the regular classes will be able to access the room to help meet their sensory needs.

According to Seth, a student who accesses the room daily, “It is the best room ever!!!”