Returning to School 2021-2022

The Superior-Greenstone District School Board's priority is the safety and well-being of our students and staff, particularly as we prepare for the return to school after a period of provincial closure.   We look forward to the start of the new school semester and we know that the first day of school will be filled with excitement and that there may also be some anxiety due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the length of time since students have been in school.  

We want the return to school to be safe and successful for everyone.  We are following the directions of the Ministry of Education and we will continue collaboration with the Thunder Bay District Health Unit to ensure that our schools and workplaces are safe.  We will be focusing on mental health and well-being strategies to support educator's and student's return to school.  This webpage will outline important information for students, parents and guardians about what a school day will look like, our health and safety protocols, well-being resources and more.    

The Government of Ontario released their Guide to Reopening Ontario's schools plan for the 2021-2022 school year on August 13, 2021.    

School Day Model

As per the requirements of the Ministry of Education, students of Superior-Greenstone District School Board will begin the school year following a Conventional Model (Normal School Day Routine) with enhanced public health protocols.  

• Will be a "layered" approach to safety, including multiple measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread, including decreasing the number of interactions with others and increasing the safety of interactions. 
• Training for all staff and students. 
• Signage on walls and floors will be provided as visual reminders for students.
• Students and staff will be required to engage in daily screening.  Families will be supported in completing this daily screening. 
• Hand hygiene routines and procedures will be scheduled throughout the day.  
• The use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will be required as appropriate (see Fact Sheet: Personal Protective Equipment (.PDF) for further details).
• Healthy environments will be maintained, including environmental cleaning and physical distancing.  
• Healthy operations will be maintained, including mitigating risks for students at higher risk of infection, protecting staff and at-risk persons or families, daily screening, and the management of cases and outbreaks.  

Elementary Schools (Kindergarten to Grade 8)

Elementary schools will reopen with conventional in-person delivery of teaching and instruction, with enhanced health and safety protocols.  Elementary students will attend school five days per week, with students grouped together in a cohort for the full day, including recess and lunch.  The full range of elementary curriculum will be provided.   Although it is our hope to return as many students to face to face learning as possible, there will be some families who continue to be affected by COVID-19, and options for programming will be available for those families through home school educator teams.  Elementary student not attending in-person learning will be able to continue learning from home using a blended model.  Those who have requested remote learning will be programmed for on a case by case basis in conjunction with the school Principal, Teacher, Parent, Student, and any other staff or support persons necessary.  For complete details, please read the Elementary School Fact Sheet (.PDF)

Secondary Schools (Grade 9-12)

Secondary schools will reopen with a conventional, in-person, five days per week schedule with enhanced health and safety protocols.  The high school will be adopting a timetabling method that emphasizes cohorting of student as much as possible to limit the number of student-to-student contacts.  Although it is our hope to return as many students to face to face learning as possible, there will be some families who continue to be affected by COVID-19, and options for programming will be available for those families through home school educator teams.  Secondary students not attending in-person learning will be able to access learning using e-learning courses or video conference courses.  Those who have requested remote learning will be programmed for on a case by case basis in conjunction with the home school team.  For complete details, please read the Secondary School Fact Sheet (.PDF)

Synchronous & Remote Learning

Parents and Guardians will make decisions regarding in-person attendance for their child(ren) for this school year and will have the option of remote/online learning if they do not wish to send their child(ren) back to school.  Pre-registration for Synchronous Learning will be required.   For complete details, please read the Fact Sheet for Synchronous Learning (.PDF).   For those choosing to option of Remote Learning, please contact the school Principal and read the Fact Sheet for Remote Learning (.PDF)

• Elementary School Fact Sheet (.PDF)
• Secondary School Fact Sheet (.PDF)
• Synchronous Learning: Best Practices in Virtual Environments Fact Sheet (.PDF)
• Virtual Classroom Guidelines for Safety and Security Fact Sheet (.PDF)
• Remote Learning Fact Sheet (.PDF)

Fact Sheets

The Fact Sheets have been designed to provide information for school communities considering the changes required by COVID-19.  For any questions, concerns, or accommodations, please contact the Principal of your child's school.  

• Student Transportation (.PDF)
• Hand Hygiene and Respiratory Etiquette (.PDF)
• Custodial/Plant Cleaning Disinfecting Practices (.PDF)
• Special Education Fact Sheet (.PDF)
• Physical Distancing and Cohort Fact Sheet (.PDF)
• Information Technology Support Fact Sheet (.PDF)
• COVID-19 Related Personal Protective Equipment Fact Sheet (.PDF)
• Return to School Support for Families Fact Sheet(.PDF)
• Remote Learning Fact Sheet (.PDF)
• Synchronous Learning - Best Practices for Virtual Environments Fact Sheet (.PDF)
• Mask/Face Coverings Fact Sheet (.PDF) (NEW)
• What to Expect When First Positive Case of COVID-19 is Confirmed in SGDSB Schools (.PDF)
• Staff Guidelines: Using an N95 Non-Fit Tested Mask (.PDF) (NEW)