District School Board of Niagara is planning for a regular school year starting in September.
An announcement, posted to the public board’s social media by education director Warren Hoshizaki, said parents and students can expect the return of in-person learning during regular school day hours, regular classroom schedules and the return of extracurricular activities and clubs.
“All students currently enrolled in DSBN schools will be automatically enrolled in their home school for 2021/22. The elementary virtual school will officially close at the end of June 2021 and will not reopen in the fall,” said Hoshizaki.
“As always, parents with children requiring specialized programming will be able to review their individual circumstances with their home school principal in late August. If required, remote learning options will be available.”
Hoshizaki said safety protocols will be in place in September as directed by Niagara Region Public Health and the Ministry of Education.
The board’s planning will include contingencies should boards of education need to revert to remote learning.
“The best place for students to learn is in-person, in their classrooms with their teachers and their peers,” Hoshizaki said.
Meanwhile, Niagara Catholic District School Board education director Camilo Cipriano said in an email his board has had a conversation on September, but no official decision was made.
“There have been discussions about this at our senior level, but are awaiting more direction from the Ministry of Education before making a decision,” he said.
Sean Vanderklis is a Niagara-based reporter for the Niagara Falls Review. His reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. Reach him via email: [email protected]
