Dear Owen Parents/Guardians,
We hope that families can enjoy some happy times despite the unrest that is happening in the Ukraine. We understand that students, staff and school communities would like to and donate funds to support Ukraine.
For international disaster relief effort, TDSB prefers that schools promote any type of fundraising or donation through external charity platforms. Donors receive a tax receipt directly from these external charities.
It is our general recommendation, schools should refrain from collecting funds themselves due to the time, tax receipting for individual donors, and effort to redirect the funds.
Here are a couple of external charity platforms:
- Canadian Red Cross
https://donate.redcross.ca/page/100227/donate/1?locale=en-CA
- UNICEF Canada
We would like to wish everyone a happy March Break! We will be using this time to rejuvenate our minds and body and enjoy quality time with family and friends. We hope all our families have an opportunity to do this too.
Parent Letter from TDSB
As TDSB adjusts our Operational Guidelines for the new Covid-19 measures, we will share anything new with our Owen Community. We will be adapting to new measures and always ensuring the health and safety of our students and staff in an inclusive and respectful way. Please help us by honouring those who have made choices for their child and talking to your child to help them with this transition.
Dear Parents/Guardians and Students,
Earlier this week, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore announced additional changes to COVID-19 guidance for the province. His update was followed by additional details from the Ministry of Education which provided specific guidance to school boards. Last night, Trustees held a Special Board Meeting to review the guidance and determine the impact on staff, students and school communities in the Toronto District School Board.
For the past two years, the TDSB has prioritized the health and safety of students, staff and school communities. As we move to a more sustainable, long-term approach to managing COVID-19, you are encouraged to continue with the layers of protection that make you feel comfortable. Please remember to show respect for others and their individual choices based on their own assessment of risk.
We remain committed to supporting a healthy, safe and respectful environment for all students and staff. Let’s ensure that our schools continue to be welcoming and inclusive spaces for all, regardless of personal decisions related to COVID-19 health measures.
As per the guidance of the Ministry of Education, the following health and safety measures will continue to remain in place:
- Students and staff are expected to complete daily screening before coming into a TDSB building
- Enhanced cleaning
- Optimizing air quality and ventilation, including having more than 17,000 HEPA filters in every occupied classroom
- Encouraging hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette, such as coughing into your sleeve
- Reporting daily absences of staff and student and notifying Toronto Public Health when absences exceed 30%
- Distributing Rapid Antigen Tests to support symptomatic testing only
- Providing medical masks to students upon request and medical masks and/or N95 masks and other PPE for staff on request
As per guidance from the Ministry of Education, the following health and safety measures will change or no longer be in place.
Masking
As of March 21, masks will no longer be required to be worn in schools, though they are strongly encouraged. Personal protective equipment, including medical and N95 masks, face shields and glasses, will continue to be provided to school boards for staff. Medical masks will also be available to students.
Vaccination
The Board of Trustees has voted to rescind the COVID-19 Vaccination Procedure for Employees, Trustees and Other Individuals (PR734) and lift the mandatory requirement for staff to be vaccinated, as of March 14. This move is in line with the provincial direction on health and safety measures and follows consultation with TDSB union and federation partners. To date, more than 90% of TDSB staff are fully vaccinated. In addition, older students have high rates of vaccination and numbers continue to increase in students aged 5 to 11. The TDSB will now begin to plan for a transition toward returning unvaccinated staff to work.
Isolation Guidance
The province has updated their household isolation measures to indicate that in some cases, household members may not need to isolate if there is a positive case of COVID-19 in their home, depending on their vaccination status.
Screening Verification
A daily COVID-19 self-assessment, which includes understanding of federal travel guidelines, should continue to be done before leaving for work or school, but, as of March 21, 2022, students and staff are no longer required to show proof of verification of their daily screening on the ServiceNow app. Visitors will be permitted into school buildings and are also required to do a COVID-19 self-assessment.
COVID-19 Testing and Updates
The province will continue to provide Rapid Antigen Test kits to school boards bi-weekly to support symptomatic testing for students and staff. Positive case notification letters to impacted classrooms will continue until the end of March and will be reassessed at that time.
Cohorting and Physical Distancing
Cohorting and distancing will no longer be required in schools. Assigned seats and cohorting will no longer be required in student transportation. Elementary students can play and learn together across cohorts, classes and grades, both indoors and outdoors and during lunch and recess. Shared space can be fully utilized without distancing and programs across grades, such as reading buddies, can return. Limitations on in-person gatherings and assemblies will also be removed and schools can plan and host in-person events.
In addition, extra-curricular activities may resume as normal pending the availability of staff volunteers to lead the activity and music programs, including vocal and wind instruments may continue.
Remote LearningWhile these changes may be welcome for some, some students and families may find this transition challenging. The TDSB will consider accommodating requests for short-term remote learning within current teaching capacity in virtual learning, and in alignment with provincial guidance. Remote learning resources are available to students and families to support this transition.
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Virtual Learning 2022-2023
The Toronto District School Board is asking families interested in requesting Virtual Learning for the entire 2022-2023 school year to complete a Virtual Learning Registration Form.
If your child will be attending school in-person next year, no action is required.
The deadline is Monday, March 21 at 11:59 p.m. and there will be no opportunity to switch in either direction between In-Person and Virtual Learning once the Registration Form closes. This is a final decision for the entire 2022-23 school year.
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Police Check
As we slowly transition to having visitors back at school we want to remind parents that a police check is required to volunteer at our school events, lunch programs or class trips. If you have already done a police check please see Ms Nahid to do your annual declaration online. If you have not done one, please pick up a police check form and take it to your nearest police station for a check as a volunteer. It does take some time so please start this process early so you won't be disappointed!
Returning from Travel?
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Information from Toronto Public Health
You do not need to isolate if one of the following applies to you:
You have previously tested positive in the last 90 days and do not have symptoms
- you are over 18 years old and have received a COVID-19 booster dose
- you are under 18 years old and are fully vaccinated
Instead for 10 days after exposure:
- self-monitor for symptoms
- wear a mask and avoid activities where mask removal would be necessary
- do not visit anyone who is at higher risk of illness, such as seniors, or any highest risk settings (unless you previously tested positive in past 90 days)
If you do not meet any of the criteria above, you must isolate while the person with symptoms/positive test result isolates (or for 10 days if you are immunocompromised).
Book your appointment here: https://schoolclinic.parentinterview.com Access Code: city2022
Completed PCR Tests
With March Break right around the corner, please find our SickKids March Break school drop off hubs below. Please note any students and staff with completed saliva PCR test kits can use the hub locations for drop off only, courier pick up will be done on Mon-Wed-Fri during the break.
Happy New Year - Nowruz Mobarak
Message from the Eco Club!
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Loads of kids come to school with plastic forks/spoons or come to the office not having utensils. The office only has non-reusable plastic which means the plastic gets thrown away and is not recycled. All of the garbage that our school is producing is contributing to the landfills, ocean garbage etc. By using less plastic, we are reducing waste, and even one school can make a difference in the world! To help save the environment, we would appreciate a donation to our school. If you happen to have extra mismatched spoons/forks at home, please bring them to our school to help! Please do not go out and buy any extra utensils, it will just add to the consumption problem. Our goal is to create a reusable utensil station so students can borrow a spoon or fork when needed!
If you would like to learn more about what the city of Toronto is doing too to reduce single-use plastics, take a look at this website! City of Toronto Reducing Single-Use Plastics Campaign
Together we can save the world!
Written by Addison Lam G5
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Lost and Found
We have decided to wait for warmer weather and parents will be able to come and check out the Lost and Found. We will have these available and whatever is left over will be donated to our ECO club to donate it to an organization who can find them a good home.
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Indoor Shoes and Clothing
Many students brought home their indoor shoes and extra clothing. Please go through and check the sizes to see if your child requires a bigger size. Don't forget to return them on Monday March 21st!________________________________
Kindergarten Registration
Morning Announcers and Ms Catherine Leading the Fun Friday Video Dance
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