Skip to content

Educators and doctors present a united front for back-to-school plans in northern Ontario

The document includes a list of 10 basic rules for safe schools
classroom

Educators and public health officials across Northern Ontario have announced they are united in their commitment to deliver on COVID-safe schools, now that the new school year has begun.

The announcement was made in a joint news release issued Wednesday afternoon.

"With schools reopening, many are experiencing mixed emotions. Families, educators and support staff, and students young and old, may all feel a combination of relief, fear, pride, worry, and excitement. We all share in this experience, and all our varied emotions are valid. We also all share a common aim -- our unwavering commitment to protect our students and our entire school community from COVID-19," said the joint statement. 

The document is endorsed by the seven medical officers of health in Northern Ontario and 24 directors of education at Northern school boards.

"Our respective teams are working tirelessly -- public health and education together -- to put into action the provincial direction on COVID-19 prevention and management in schools. Although the basic rules are the same for all, parents, guardians, and students will hear tailored messaging from their own schools and school boards and their own local public health units. Everyone will be able to ask questions specific to their own situations," the statement continued.

The document includes a list of 10 basic rules for safe schools:

The best way to protect schools and support a successful school reopening is to keep COVID-19 out of our communities. Now, more than ever, we need to recommit to COVID-19 prevention. Follow the guidance set out by your local health unit.

Make COVID-19 symptom screening part of your daily routine. Just like brushing your teeth every morning, checking for COVID-19 symptoms, and using a COVID-19 self-assessment tool, are essential parts of your daily habits.

Got symptoms? Stay home! Now is not the time to “tough it out” when you are under the weather. No one will thank you for showing up to school sick. When in doubt, wait it out—and let your school know!

Have a “Plan B”. Things can change quickly with COVID-19. You know your “Plan A”. Have a back-up plan so you can deal with unexpected changes caused by COVID-19 in your school, like needing to stay home and being prepared to shift from in-school learning to distance learning, or a combination of both.

Talk to each other. Discuss different age-appropriate scenarios and role play them to support kids in how to handle them safely. Examples include situations in the school or classroom related to masks, distancing, touchless greetings, or handwashing, and getting to and from school.

Stay informed. School boards and public health units post valuable information on their websites and on social media. It’s also available by phone. School boards are required to post COVID-19 case information and share any real-time impacts on their schools, such as class dismissals or school closures.

Be prepared. This year back-to-school supplies include non-medical masks. Follow your school’s policies on what to bring and what they will supply.

Get involved. As we work through this together, we will face unknowns and unexpected situations. Be solution-oriented and know that we all have the same aim. Share your observations and your suggestions with your school.

Take care of yourself. You may feel alone as a student or someone who cares for a student. Unsettling feelings at school re-entry are very normal—and even more so right now with a global pandemic in our midst. You are never as alone as you feel. Whether you need clinical information or mental health supports—reach out for help when you need it.

Be COVID kind. Practice kindness, patience, and gratitude—we are all in this together

Those who have joined the united front include the following Medical Officers of Health:

Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, Medical Officer of Health, Public Health Sudbury & Districts.

Dr. Marlene Spruyt, Medical Officer of Health, Algoma Public Health Unit.

Dr. Jim Chirico, Medical Officer of Health, North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit.

Dr. Glenn Corneil, Acting Medical Officer of Health, Timiskaming Health Unit.

Dr. Lianne Catton, Medical Officer of Health, Porcupine Health Unit.

Dr. Kit Young-Hoon, Medical Officer of Health, Northwestern Health Unit.

Dr. Janet DeMille, Medical Officer of Health, Thunder Bay District Health Unit.

Public school, separate school, English and French school board directors have also signed on:

Norm Blaseg, Director of Education for Rainbow District School Board.

Joanne Bénard, Director of Education for Sudbury Catholic District School Board.

Marc Gauthier, Director of Education for Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord de l’Ontario.

Paul Henry, Director of Education for Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario.

Lucia Reece, Director of Education for Algoma District School Board.

Rose Burton Spohn, Director of Education for Huron Superior Catholic District School Board.

Derek Haime, Director of Education for Kenora Catholic District School Board.

Heather Campbell, Director of Education for Rainy River District School Board.

Sherri-Lynne Pharand, Director of Education for Keewatin-Patricia District School Board.

Brendan Hyatt,  Director of Education for Northwest Catholic District School Board.

Lucie Allaire, Director of Education for Conseil Scolaire des Aurores Boreales.

Lesleigh Dye, Director of Education for District School Board Ontario North East.

Sylvie Petroski, Director of Education for Conseil scolaire catholique de district des Grandes Rivières.

Tricia Stefanic-Weltz, Director of Education for Northeastern Catholic District School Board.

Simon Fecteau, Director of Education for Conseil scolaire public du Nord Est de l’Ontario.

Kelly Brown, Director of Education for Moosonee District School Area Board.

Angela Tozer, Director of Education for James Bay Lowlands Secondary School Board.

Anna Marie Bitonti, Director of Education for Nipissing Parry Sound Catholic District School Board.

Monique Menard, Director of Education for Conseil scolaire catholique Franco-Nord.

Pino Tassone, Director of Education for Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board.

Nicole Morden Cormier, Director of Education for Superior-Greenstone District School Board.

Maria Vasanelli, Director of Education for Superior North Catholic District School Board.

Dobi-Dawn Frenette, Director of Education for Northern Nishnawbe Education Council.

Ian MacRae, Director of Education for Lakehead Public Schools.

Len Gillis is a Local Journalism Initiative Reporter with Sudbury.com.

LJI is funded by the Government of Ontario.


Len Gillis, local journalism initiative reporter

About the Author: Len Gillis, local journalism initiative reporter

Len Gillis is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter at Sudbury.com covering health care in northeastern Ontario and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more

Reader Feedback