Reminders of health and safety guidance during the sixth COVID-19 wave

Posted April 12, 2022

April 12, 2022


COVID-19 continues to persist in our communities, and the Upper Grand District School Board would like to remind all staff, students and families of the important health and safety protocols and recommendations.

Guidance Reminders

Public Health officials expect the sixth wave of COVID-19 to last for another several weeks, and we are asking for everyone’s help to get us through this latest wave. 

Although wearing a mask in school is no longer mandated by the province, the UGDSB is asking everyone to continue to wear a mask indoors and when distancing cannot be maintained. Public health officials highly recommend the continued wearing of masks indoors. 

We also ask everyone to continue to follow all health and safety protocols, including frequent hand washing, distancing when possible, and screening daily before coming to school/work. If you have symptoms or are feeling unwell, please stay home.

As a reminder, school offices have rapid antigen test kits available for student and family use.

Following these measures will help with pressures in schools, including student and staff absences, and an increase in staff shortages.

Keeping Schools Open

Since in-person learning resumed in January, the UGDSB has been monitoring staff absences on a daily basis. We are using many strategies to ensure that student safety and supervision is maintained.

This includes:

  • The use of our regular supply staff 
  • The use of emergency supply staff
  • The redeployment of centrally assigned staff

Unfortunately, staff shortages may result in the collapsing of classes, and potentially closing schools temporarily. Whenever possible, we would make these decisions as early as possible to allow families time to make necessary arrangements. 

If a school or class must close temporarily, students would be supported online through asynchronous learning via their Google Classroom environment and/or UG2GO. 

We are very appreciative of our staff in schools who have worked hard to ensure the continuity of learning in schools whenever a staff member is absent.  

Through working together and following the health and safety recommendations, we hope to keep the operation of our schools and classes running as regularly as possible. We’re asking for everyone’s help as we get through this latest wave together. 

Thank you for your continued support. 

Categories: News