News & Announcements
Remember to screen daily for symptoms before leaving for school
For school operations and health and safety information, please use the links below:
Notice: Temporary cancellation of bus routes due to bus driver absences
The Transportation Consortium (STWDSTS) that provides student transportation services to the Upper Grand DSB and neighbouring school boards is advising that due to COVID-19, the Omicron variant and isolation requirements, they may experience higher than normal absence rates for school bus drivers. To address bus driver shortages and avoid cancelling bus routes at the last minute in the morning, some bus routes in the UGDSB will be proactively cancelled to free up drivers.
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Monitoring School Absence Rates in the UGDSB
As an additional measure and layer of communication to keep our communities informed, the UGDSB has launched a pilot initiative to track school absence rates on a daily basis. This process is a pilot program and may evolve as required.
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Planning for potential staff shortages at schools
Due to the widespread presence of COVID-19 in our communities, the Upper Grand District School Board recognizes that staff shortages may be prevalent next week as students and staff return to school. The UGDSB will employ numerous strategies to ensure that student safety and supervision is maintained. However, we recognize that in some extreme cases classes and/or schools may have to transition to remote learning temporarily.
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Reminder to screen daily for symptoms before leaving for school
Families are reminded to complete the school screening every day before students leave for school.
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Information on student instruction for Friday January 14, 2022
As staff work to prepare their classrooms for in-person learning on Monday we want to inform families/caregivers that regular synchronous instruction may be interrupted on Friday to allow staff time in our schools to be ready to go for Monday.
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Wear and care of cloth masks for students
Public Health officials have stressed that wearing a well-constructed, well-fitted and properly worn mask or face covering is one the key protective measures we can take to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. Families are encouraged to review the following information about the proper use and care of cloth face masks.
Protective health and safety measures during in-person learning
The provincial government has announced that Ontario schools will reopen to in-person learning starting on Monday January 17, 2022. The Upper Grand District School Board has many protective health and safety measures in place at our schools. Please read below for reminders and updates regarding these protective measures.
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UGDSB launching temporary remote option for elementary students once in-person learning resumes
The Upper Grand District School Board is developing a Temporary Remote Learning Option for elementary students that will be launched once in-person learning resumes.
Revised criteria for UGDSB student mask exemptions
As a result of the continued spread of COVID-19 and the increased transmissibility with the most recent variant, the Upper Grand District School Board has revised the criteria for granting student mask exemption requests. Please review this information for details.
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January Wellness Works: this month is Empathy
Hello parents, guardians and families! This month we are exploring the theme of EMPATHY with students as a part of their mental health skill building. Empathy is about being able to consider what someone else may be going through and imagining how they might be feeling or ...Read more about January Wellness Works: this month is Empathy »
Province directs schools to shift to remote learning from January 5-17, 2022
On Monday January 3, 2022, the provincial government announced that all Ontario schools will shift to remote learning from January 5 to at least January 17, 2022. Please read on for important information for families in the UGDSB.
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Resumption of school delayed until Wednesday January 5, 2022
Today, the province of Ontario announced that the resumption of school will be delayed following the winter break. All schools will resume classes on Wednesday January 5, 2022. There will be no classes on Monday January 3 or Tuesday January 4. This direction is for all students including those enrolled in the elementary or secondary remote programs and for those in our special education self-contained classrooms.
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Letter to parents/guardians: Information for the winter break
December 15, 2021 Dear parents and guardians, Thank you for your ongoing efforts that have made for a successful first four months of school, and for adhering to public health and safety measures that have ensured schools remain a safe place for our students and staff. We understand that there may be ...Read more about Letter to parents/guardians: Information for the winter break »
Information from the province on student rapid antigen testing over the winter break
On behalf of the Government of Ontario, the Upper Grand District School Board is distributing take-home rapid antigen screening kits to every elementary and secondary student who chooses to participate. Kits will be distributed prior to the winter break.
UGDSB Kindergarten Registration starts in January – here is what families need to know
Kindergarten registration for the Upper Grand District School Board is fast approaching. Registration for new UGDSB Junior Kindergarten (JK) and Senior Kindergarten (SK) students for September 2022 will take place between January 4-21, 2022.
