School Closing Message from Director Stuart Miller

Hello everyone,

I have a message for the parents, the staff and especially the students at the Halton District School Board.

But first of all I'd like to thank you for all your efforts with social distancing and practicing what public health has directed us to do. You are making a difference and because of that, we will get through this together and resume school in a normal fashion some time in the future.

The message involves a couple of things. First of all, I'm sure you’re all aware that the minister announced that schools are shut down until the end of June. I know that has been extremely challenging for many of you and will continue to do so. As a result of that we have implemented fully synchronous learning. But synchronous learning means it can be a whole class, small groups, individual meetings and/or even by the telephone. So, synchronous learning is, the primary function of it, is to allow teachers and students to connect with each other and for students to connect with each other.

The second point I’d like to make is that the ministry of education will be delivering a memo around summer learning. They will be providing that by the end of June and we will get it out to families but in the meantime we are working on our own virtual summer program for students.

The ministry will also be providing a memo by the end of June on what schools might look like in September. We, of course, will follow ministry of education direction in consultation with our own public health on how schools might look like in September.

The last thing I’d like to say is I know many of you are now going to schools in June to pick up goods and secondary students and parents going to their elementary schools to pick up their personal possessions. I ask that you please follow the protocols and processes that the public health have put in place and our Board.

With that. I again thank all of you, thank you.