August 31st, 2020

Dear Sunnyside Families,

As we get closer to the start of our new school year, we wanted to reach out to share some important information and most importantly, to let you know how excited we are to have your child(ren) returning to school! We have been hard at work setting up our environment according to the established health & safety protocols to keep our students and staff safe as they return to learning.

As you know, school routines and procedures will look different than they have in the past so we would like to take this opportunity to share some of those with you. We thank you in advance for adhering to these guidelines to help keep everyone safe while at school. Please visit the COVID-19 tab at www.wrdsb.ca for the most up to date information and responses to FAQs for safety procedures and protocols.

What days do my child attend?

  • Last name starting with A-L attend September 8,10, 14,16 and every day from the 18th on
  • Last names starting with M-Z attend September 9,11,15,17 and every day from the 18th on

How do I find out bus information?

  • Visit www.stwr.ca for information about bus number, stop location and bus times – You will need to know your child’s OEN number. That can be found on the top of any report card.
  • Students are asked to go directly to their class lines after exiting the bus
  • Masks must be worn on the bus

How do I find out my child’s class number?

  • Log-in to School Day during Labour Day weekend to check your child’s homeroom number (7-1, 7-2 etc…)
  • On the morning of the first days, staff members with class lists will be out in the field to help find the right class – please be respectful of social distancing when waiting for this information

What do I do on the first day?

  • Teachers will be outside with signs indicating their homeroom numbers – find your teacher and line up in your class (remember to wear your mask once in line and stand 2 m apart)
  • Once all students have arrived, teachers will guide their classes safely into the school

What are the entry procedures?

  • Students will follow the same routine as the first day – line up with their class and wait for the teacher to bring them safely into the school (classes will enter one at a time to ensure distancing)
  • This safe entry process will result in students being outside for longer periods of time. Please be sure that students are dressed appropriately as this process will continue to be in place during inclement weather (rain gear/umbrella, warm clothes, etc.)
  • To keep everyone safe – stick to your designated area and not in other class lines
  • We kindly ask, that parents wait on the edge of the field and do not accompany their students in line

What are the dismissal procedures?

  • Teachers will have students prepare for the end of the day during last period, and will walk their class to their designated line area outside, where they will wait for the 2:40 bell for dismissal.
  • Classes will exit the school in a staggered fashion to minimize congestion in the hall and maximize appropriate distancing.
  • Again, parents are asked to wait at the edge of the field and not in the line up area
  • Students are asked to leave school property promptly and not socialize on the field

School Access for parents and visitors?

  • Access to the school will be greatly reduced and only essential visitors will be allowed
  • Parents/guardians will not have access to the school. We still value and encourage parent communication, so if you need to speak to a staff member, please email or call directly (519-896-1130). If a student needs to leave for an appointment, please buzz at the main entrance and we will have your child meet you at the front door of the school.
  • Please ensure students have all items needed for the day, including lunches, when they leave each morning as we will not be able to accept deliveries of these items during the school day
  • All students will need to remain on property at both lunches

What should students bring to school?

  • Students will be expected to bring all personal items home each day
  • Students will be given reusable masks, but can wear masks from home
  • Please only send essential items. Lockers will not be available and in many cases, students will be keeping their items with them at their desk.
  • Students should pack a healthy lunch and a full water bottle labeled with their name. They will have access to touch-free water filling stations as needed during the day, however to lessen traffic in the halls, we encourage bringing full water bottles from home.
  • Students will stay in the shoes that they wear to school – no “indoor shoes” are required
  • Students are welcome to bring in their own pencils, pencil crayons etc, but most essential learning materials will be provided. Everything they bring must be stored at their desk or brought home every day so less is more!

What if my child is late?

  • Students arriving after 8:20 should determine if their class is lined up outside – if so, they should join the line
  • If your child arrives after the class has entered, they are to buzz into the school and report to the main office to be signed in by the school secretaries
  • If they arrive while classes are entering the school but their class is already inside, they must wait by the main entry door until everyone is inside and report to the office before going to their classroom
  • Parents can wait outside with late students, but cannot enter the school once the child is buzzed in

What happens throughout the day?

  • Students will stay with only their class/cohort through the school day including outdoor time and nutrition breaks
  • Rotary teachers will come to their classrooms to teach (Music, art, French Science…)
  • Phys Ed will be taught outside except in the case of inclement weather in which case they will go to the gym where there is enough space to appropriately distance
  • We will follow Public Health direction on the removal of masks outside or during physical activity (masks must be worn in the lines for entry and dismissal)

Will they get to go outside?

  • Weather permitting, all students will go outside for phys.ed and for at least one more period throughout the day
  • Due to the need to distance and to ensure supervision and safety, they may not be able to go outside during nutrition breaks

How will illness/COVID symptoms or diagnosis be handled?

  • Please be sure to complete the pre-screening check with your child daily.
  • If they are showing any symptoms, do not send your child to school.
  • Please call the attendance line if you are keeping them home – 519-896-1130
  • The board’s safety protocols require that students who display symptoms at school be removed from class and parent/guardian called for prompt pick up. Symptomatic students will wait, supervised in a designated room
  • If your child(ren) has been exposed to an active case of COVID-19, they must also stay home. Please contact the school to discuss next steps.
  • Please be sure the school has up-to-date contact information for you and your emergency contacts
  • Information regarding WRDSB protocol for suspected cases and exposure can be found at www.wrdsb.ca