January 16th, 2022

Dear WCI Students & Families

WELCOME BACK!

We are so excited to welcome all our students and staff back for in-person learning on Monday, January 17th, 2022. 

We would be remiss to post this message today without acknowledging that the weather for tomorrow is predicting the potential for significant snowfall overnight into the morning.  Remember to check the WRDSB Twitter account, the WCI Website or the STSWR website for closures that may result from bad weather.   If school is closed due to bad weather students will be able to learn as described in the Severe Weather Impacted Learning Day message from the WRDSB.

To ensure a safe return to in-person learning for everyone, we have a few important COVID19 Health and Safety Reminders:

Mandatory Daily School Screening and Verification

  • The Ontario School Screener Tool has been updated. 
  • Step ONE: All students must self-screen every day before attending school using the Ontario School Screener Tool 
  • Step TWO: All students will have to confirm that they have completed the Ontario COVID-19 School Screener and received clearance to attend school (Green Check) using the WRDSB Secondary Student Verification Portal. 
  • Additionally, until everyone is comfortable with the system Homeroom teachers will check with every student each morning that they have the Green Check) 
  • If you get the Red X – do NOT attend school.  Please follow the detailed instructions under the Red X

 

 

School Arrival

  • We encourage all students and families who do not take WRDSB provided school buses to plan to arrive at WCI after 8:00 AM, as teachers will not be available until this time.
  • Students will be permitted to enter the school after 7:45 am (classes start at 8:15 am) and must proceed directly to their classroom. 
  • Students cannot gather in the hallways or other common spaces and should only go to their first-period class.

Social Distancing 

Students are not permitted to gather in the hallways or other common spaces.  Please pay special attention to directional arrows, staircase directions, and capacity limitations to common spaces such as washrooms and offices.  

Masking 

  • Students must wear masks indoors, including in hallways, during classes, and on school vehicles.  Students may wear their own, or school-provided masks.  
  • Masks must be well fitted and must be worn over the chin and nose.
  • During nutrition break, students should wear their masks as much as possible. Limit removal of the mask to only moments when you are eating and drinking. Please aim to have your mask off for only a few minutes.
  • When removing your mask to eat or drink you must be seated in your classroom.

 

 

Hand Hygiene

Everyone attending the school must sanitize their hands upon entry to the school.  There are sanitation stations at every door.
Additionally, everyone is expected to sanitize their hands upon entry or exit from any classroom.  There are sanitation stations in every classroom.

Nutrition Break (Lunch)

  • At this time students will no longer be permitted to eat in the hallways or cafeteria
  • Students choosing to stay indoors will be required to eat lunch in their first-period classroom
    • Staff will be encouraged to open windows during nutrition break
    • All students will be facing the same direction
  • Students will be permitted to leave the building during the lunch break. 
    • Students may leave the school at any time during the lunch period
    • Students will only be allowed to reenter the building during the last 5 minutes of the lunch break – Doors will reopen at 11:20 AM
  • Students are not required to wear masks outdoors, but physical distancing must be maintained as much as possible.

Class Pass & Washrooms

  • Students needing to leave class for any reason will be expected to continue to complete the class pass.
  • Students must use the washroom on the floor of their class and should not be travelling to other floors (exception for students accessing the All Gender bathrooms)

Extra-Curricular Activities

  • All in-person extracurricular activities are paused at this time, as we attempt to limit the number of cohorts that a student is in contact with.

Short Term Virtual Learning

We understand some parents and caregivers may not feel comfortable sending their children back to in-person learning at this time. We will be offering a Short Term Virtual Learning option to meet the needs of families who wish to temporarily continue with remote learning. Further details can be found on the WCI website.  Families are asked to email wci-attendance@wrdsb.ca if they are going to be learning from home.

Thank you,

WCI Admin Team