Welcome to the 2021/2022 School Year!

Posted September 1, 2021

Welcome to the 2021/2022 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 plans in place to support our reopening.  Our school has now created plans that include both operational updates (how we manage the people and resources within the school) and health and safety (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 the Student and Family Guide posted on both the Board and the School Website.  Student and Family Guide

Before Coming to School

COVID-19 Screening:

  • All parents must screen their children every day before leaving home for symptoms of COVID-19  
  • Link to self-screening tool
  • Please follow the direction from the self-screening

What to Bring to School

Please keep your child’s personal items to a minimum!  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 

Note: Lockers will not be used for the first few weeks of school.  We will revisit this in the fall.

How Will I Know What Class My Child is In?

You will receive a phone message from the school indicating your child’s class, teacher and meeting space for the first day. Please understand that this placement is tentative and will not be changed at this time. 

First Day Procedures

Morning Drop Off:

  • Please drop your child(ren) off at the tarmac area and have them line up at their class line.  There will be staff available on the tarmac to help direct any students.  
  • Teachers will be waiting at their class lines at 8:35am – 8:40am on Tuesday, September 7th.  Arrival closer to 8:40am is recommended to reduce the number of people at the school.  
  • We also encourage 1 parent/guardian accompanying children
  • The school day will begin at 8:40am and end at 3:00pm.
  • 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.  
  • 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 and will support by  finding non-classroom staff who are available to help them if they become unsure of where to go.
  • Students will wear masks while on the bus. 
  • 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.

2021 WCW Final Morning, First Day Line Up Routines (9)

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, 5
  • Door 3 (South/East Door) – 3A, 3B, 4A, 4/5B, 4/5C
  • Door 4 (South Door) – 1A, 1B, 1/2, 2A, 2B, 2/3

WCW Draft School Entry Map (2)

Entering the Building

All students will always enter and exit through the assigned doors. Entry and exit will be staggered to maximize physical distancing.

Masks

Masks should be worn at recess when playing with students from other classes.  Masks may be removed when outside with their class cohort only or eating (kept in pocket/pouch or break-away lanyard around neck)

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 breaks and lunch times to minimize the number of students outside and support physical distancing.  Masks do not need to be worn on the yard where physical distancing can occur. 

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 classrooms.
  • Physical distancing must be maintained during eating. 
  • At this time, students will not be permitted to go off-site for lunch.

Litterless Lunches

We will be promoting a litterless lunch model and using the boomerang model that helps to reduce garbage in the school.   All lunch garbage will be sent home.

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 as they exit 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 pick up.  
  • 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 re-enter through their assigned entry door and go 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.  

Communication with the School

Communication between school and home will continue to be very important.  We will use the school website, email and phone call out 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 use 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 return all the completed forms to your child’s teacher as soon as you can.

Classroom teachers will be using GoogleClassroom 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.

We will continue to share information and updates with the William C. Winegard community as it becomes available.   Please do not hesitate to contact the school if you have any questions.

 

Categories: News • Newsletter