WCW Back to School Plan
Welcome to the 2020/2021 School Year!
We are looking forward to welcoming all of our new and returning students back to William C. Winegard this September!
As you are aware, the Upper Grand District School Board has put extensive plans in place for the school year. Our school has now created plans that include both operational changes (how we manage the people and resources within the school) and health and safety changes (our response to the COVID pandemic). We hope this document will help answer your questions about the specifics about the opening day and first week of school. Please note we will continue to make updates to the plan as new information becomes available.
Please also look through our board Parent Handbook, for more detailed information about the changes for this school year. There is also a link to the Board Website and the Parent Question and Answer (Q&A) page.
Link to Board Website and Parent Q & A
Staggered Entry
To ensure the safety of our students and to provide additional time for staffing our schools, the staggered entry schedules for all UGDSB elementary schools, secondary schools and full-time remote learning schools have changed.
The reason that additional time is required is due to the extension of the board’s student pre-registration period, which pushed back staffing timelines and also impacted the time available for schools to timetable and schedule appropriately.
Please review the revised schedules:
https://www.ugdsb.ca/blog/changes-to-ugdsb-staggered-entry-schedule-for-elementary-secondary-and-remote-schools/
Before Coming to School
COVID-19 Screening:
– All parents must screen their children every day before leaving home for symptoms of COVID-19. If there are symptoms, children need to stay home from school. If COVID-19 is suspected, testing is recommended.
– Link to self-screening tool
What to Bring to School
Please keep your child’s personal items to a minimum! To support a safe and comfortable environment, students are asked to bring the following items clearly labelled with the student’s name:
– Knapsack or tote bag for personal belongings
– Face masks – they may need more than one
– Personal water bottle
– Seasonal outdoor wear (we are not requiring ‘indoor shoes’ at this time)
– Only those items that are necessary for the day (e.g., pencil case, calculator, pens, pencils)
– Students may bring their own devices, but they must be wiped by the student upon entry
and before leaving at the end of the day
Note: Lockers and change rooms will not be used for the 2020/2021 school year. Students will be required to keep all personal belongings with them throughout the day.
Note: Additional information will be provided to families about how the school will help students manage winter boots and coats when cold weather arrives.
How Will I Know What Class My Child is In?
You will have received a phone message and email from the board sharing staggered entry information. Please note the plan has also been posted on the school website. Your child should only attend the school on the correct staggered entry days.
Your child’s teacher will call on September 8th or 9th. Aside from introducing themselves, they will confirm start date information, provide class information and let you know where to meet on the first day.
Please understand that this placement can not be changed.
First Day Procedures
Morning Drop Off:
Please drop your children off at the tarmac area. There will be staff available on the tarmac to help direct any students. Teachers will be waiting at grade level signs from 8:30am – 8:35am on Thursday for the first staggered entry group and on Friday for the second group. Arrival closer to 8:30am is recommended to reduce the number of people at the school. The school day will begin at 8:35am and end at 3:05pm.
We will have a table setup at the front of the school if you have any questions or wish to drop off medications.
We are encouraging families to walk, or park on the side streets and limit the use of the drop off zone. If social distancing can not be maintained we will have to close the parking lot during drop off and pick up.
To meet our distancing requirements, we also ask that you leave the school property once your child’s class is found and you’ve said your good-byes.
If your child takes the bus:
Your child will be greeted by a staff member who will unload busses one at a time. That staff member will ensure students know where they are meeting their teacher. They will also be shown how to find non-classroom staff who are available to help them if they become unsure of where to go.
We ask that each household limit themselves to 1 parent/guardian accompanying children. This is to aid in physical distancing for the safety of our students, staff and community.
Please note all climbing structures on the school yard are closed for the start up of school.
Students Riding the Bus
Students will wear masks while on the bus. Special circumstances may dictate that a student cannot wear a mask – please contact the school if needing to discuss this matter. There will be a seating plan for students riding the bus. The operator of the bus will be wearing PPE.
The school board does not decide the COVID-19 safety protocols for student transportation. For more information, visit the STWDSTS website at https://stwdsts.ca.
If you are opting out of taking the bus, please ensure your choice is updated with Transportation.
Class Meeting Location:
Designated Entry Doors
To facilitate speedy entry in the morning and to limit unnecessary travel through the building, each grade/class will be assigned an entry/exit door. This will be the only door that students will use for entering the building, for accessing outdoor activities (and recess) and departing at the end of the school day.
Door 1 (Main Office) – KA, 6/7, 8, 7/8
Door 2 (By Kindergarten Rooms) – KD, KC, KB, 6
Door 3 (South/East Door) – 3A, 3B, 4, 4/5, 5
Door 4 (South Door) – 1A, 1B, 1/2, 2A, 2/3
School Greeters
A “Greeter” will meet students at the assigned point of entry first thing in the morning. Students will be reminded to put on a mask and to socially distance as they enter the building and they may assist with hand sanitizer.
Entering the Building
All students will always enter and exit through the assigned doors. Entry and exit will be staggered to maximize physical distancing.
There will be decals indicating flow and social distancing.
Late Arrival
Students who arrive late will come through the front door and check in at the office. Parents/guardians are not to come into the building. If there is any communication that needs to come to the office, please call the school at 519 824-3661. Parents/guardians please remind your child to check into the office before going to the classroom.
At entry and dismissal times, parents/guardians are to remain outside the school and adhere to physical distancing protocols. Please help us to make this successful by dropping off or picking up your child and quickly exiting the school property.
Recess Information
We have created a plan for staggered recess break and lunch times to minimize student contact. All classes must remain in their homerooms to eat snacks and lunches. During recess times, students must play only with members of their class cohort in a designated outdoor space. Masks do not need to be worn on the yard where physical distancing can occur. Please note all climbing structures on the school yard are closed for the start up of school.
Lunch Procedures
- Wash hands/sanitize before and after eating.
- No sharing food.
- Use water bottles and filling stations. Water fountains will be closed for drinking.
- Students eat at their individual station in their own classrooms.
- Physical distancing must be maintained during eating.
- Students will be asked to take home their recyclables.
- At this time, students will not be permitted to go off-site for lunch.
End of Day Procedures
- Students will be dismissed in a similarly organized manner to how they enter the building and classroom with teacher support to reinforce expectations.
- Students must be physically distanced and wearing a face mask at the school and sanitize hands before leaving the classroom.
- Grade 1-3 students will line up at their assigned class line up location at the bell. This would be a good meeting spot for a parent/guardian or sibling to pickup.
- Protocol for bus students:
- Students will have marked areas in the foyer to line up with their bus group. If students are outside with their class they will go through the school to their assigned bus area in the foyer.
- There will be Safety and Bus patrols using social distance protocols
- No unstructured play in the school yard after school.
- No parents in the building to pick up students.
- Parents should be physically distanced on school property: no congregating.
- Students must leave school at the bell.
- After school community program:
- Students will leave with the walking students and meet the after school program at the agreed upon location on the hardtop. Face masks may come off once outside.
Again, we are encouraging families to walk, or park on the side streets and limit the use of the drop off zone. If social distancing can not be maintained we will have to close the parking lot during drop off and pick up.
Communication with the School
Communication between school and home will continue to be very important. We will use the school website and email as a means to share important school and board information. As items come up, they will be posted in our News and Announcements section of the school website. Our website and the school board is an important link to have in your favourites to stay on top of what is going on at the school. Please check it often at www.ugdsb.on.ca/winegard and https://www.ugdsb.ca/. We will also be using the messenger phone call out and email system and twitter as a means to share information. There is a link on our website to follow us on Twitter (@williamcwinegardps). Please consider downloading UGConnect from the App Store/Google Play.
We will be sending home our regular package of information in the second week of school. Please place all the completed forms in the provided envelope, and return them to your child’s teacher as soon as you can.
Classroom teachers will be using Google Classroom to support home and school communication. Teachers will be providing specific details on this with you.
Access to the School
Only essential visitors are permitted inside the school (e.g., maintenance personnel).
All parents and visitors will not be permitted inside schools during the pandemic, except in case of emergency. At entry and dismissal times, parents are to remain outside the school and adhere to physical distancing protocols.
Hand Washing and Sanitizing
All staff, students and essential visitors will be expected to conduct proper hand hygiene, washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using hand sanitizer, at the following times:
- Upon entering the school
- At regular time intervals throughout day
- Before/after eating food
- After using the restroom
- Before/after outdoor play
- After sneezing or coughing
- Before putting on and after removing PPE and/or non-medical masks/face coverings. Where possible, windows and doors will be opened to allow fresh outdoor air into the school.
Class Groupings
Students remain with only their class during the day, including during recess and lunch. This class is considered their “cohort.” There will be signage on walls and floors to help students maintain physical distance from one another, where possible. Staff will attempt to maximize physical distance between chairs and tables/desks in all rooms.
Water Bottles
Students will be encouraged to bring their own labelled water bottle to school each day. All water fountains can be used to refill water bottles. Drinking directly from water fountains during COVID-19 will not be permitted.
We will continue to share information and updates with the William C. Winegard community as information comes available. Please do not hesitate to contact the school if you have any questions.
Categories: News