Sydenham News
March 20, 2022
Dear Sydenham Families,
Happy First Day of Spring! We hope everyone had a good March Break and that folks are feeling refreshed and restored.
There are some significant COVID-19 updates as we head into this coming week. Here are some school updates:
Morning and Dismissal routines:
-All students in Grades K-8 will continue to line up in their line up spots at the morning entry bell. They will be allowed to "mingle" with one another while waiting for the bell.
-Dismissal will be the same as it has been. We kindly ask that families dropping off or picking up their student(s) remain outside the yard at entry and dismissal times.
Recesses:
Cohorting in recess "zones" is no longer required. We will return to our established primary and junior/intermediate sides of the yard. The primary (K-3) side is the west side of the yard and the junior/intermediate side is the east side of the yard (side with the basketball nets).
Entrances & Exits:
These will remain the same as they have been.
Washrooms:
Students will continue to use the same washrooms, but there will be no limit to the number of students using at one time.
Visitors to SPS:
If you are picking up or dropping off a student during the school day, please continue to ring the buzzer and wait for someone to respond. (*Please note that the front door buzzer is not monitored during recess and lunch times - please either avoid picking up and dropping off at these times, or flag down a staff memeber on yard duty for assistance.) Families will be allowed into the building, but will need to complete a COVID-19 self- assessment, sign-in and out, and should not go further than the main office unless directed to do so. Meetings should continue to be scheduled in advance with educators. We thank you for your understanding.
Please read additional COVID-19 updates from the Board below!
Looking forward to seeing our Sydenham Storm tomorrow! We are also hoping that parents will consider joining us for our on-line School Advisory Council meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Monday. Details and the meeting link are below.
Cheers,
Mrs. Diamond and Mrs. Marshall
LDSB COVID-19 Advisory
As COVID-19 restrictions are lifted by provincial directives, students, families, and staff will have different reactions. We recognize that adapting to this new reality will take time and that not everyone will have the same level of comfort as measures are lifted. It is okay to be anxious about the coming weeks and it is also okay to be excited and hopeful. Respecting people’s individual decisions will continue to be important.
For Monday, we wanted to remind you of some of the changes and provide some additional information on how Limestone will implement the lifting of COVID-19 health and safety measures as announced March 9 by the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH), the Ministry of Education, and our local KFL&A Public Health.
Here's what you need to know as we return to in-person learning after March Break, March 21:
- Lifting of Health and Safety Measures in Schools: Measures including cohorting, distancing, immunization disclosure, confirmation of screening and more will be lifted as of Monday, March 21.
- Masks in Schools: As of March 21, masks will no longer be required to be worn in schools, or on student transportation, although they are strongly encouraged. The Ministry of Education will continue to provide free medical masks to students on request, and personal protective equipment, including medical and N95 masks, face shields and glasses, for staff until the end of this school year.
- Daily Screening (revised): KFL&A Public Health has updated its COVID-19 screening tool for schools and childcare settings to align with the new direction from the CMOH. Students, staff, and visitors should continue to do a daily self-assessment with this screening tool before coming to school and should stay at home if they are experiencing any new or worsening symptoms of illness.
- For Families Returning from Travelling Abroad: Under current federal travel regulations, individuals returning from international travel (including the U.S.) who are exempt from quarantine must wear a mask when in public spaces (including schools and childcare), maintain a list of all close contacts for the first 14 days of their return to Canada, and monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. Visit the Government of Canada website to learn more about international travel restrictions and exemptions.
- Cohorting and Physical Distancing : Cohorting and distancing will no longer be required in schools. Assigned seats and cohorting will no longer be required on student transportation.
- Gradual Changes in Schools: Each school community will have different wants and needs. As measures are lifted, activities such as fundraising, volunteering, excursions, events such as open houses, art performances and spectator sports will be resumed in a thoughtful and gradual way. Adjustments to classroom setups or use of shared materials and spaces will be determined at the school level after the March Break.
- Isolation Guidance: The province has updated their household isolation measures to indicate that in some cases, household members may not need to isolate if there is a positive case of COVID-19 in their home, depending on their vaccination status. Instructions for what to do if you have been exposed to COVID-19 as a close contact has also been updated.
- Visitors and Volunteers: We ask that all visitors remain patient as schools gradually begin to welcome community members back into schools. Families and visitors are reminded that they must check in at the office to sign in and out. Visitors will be required to do a COVID-19 self-assessment.
- Short-term Virtual School: LDSB will continue to consider accommodating requests for a short-term remote learning option within current teaching capacity in virtual learning, and in alignment with provincial guidance. Families should connect with their home school the week of March 21 if they wish to make a change.
- Unchanged Measures: As per direction of the Ministry of Education, the following health and safety measures will continue to remain in place:
- Students, staff, and any school visitors are expected to complete a daily COVID self-assessment before coming into a LDSB building. Students in Grades 7-12 will continue to receive a daily COVID-19 self-assessment screening email.
- Enhanced cleaning
- Optimizing air quality and ventilation
- Encouraging hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette, such as coughing into your sleeve
- Reporting daily absences of staff and student and notifying KFL&A Public Health when absences due to illness exceed 30%
- Distributing Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) provided to those who become symptomatic at school or returning from an unplanned absence.
- The province will continue to provide medical masks for use by students upon request, and medical masks and/or N95 masks and other PPE for staff on request until the end of the school year
- Symptomatic students/staff at school will continue to isolate and be sent home based on criteria in screening tool.
- Screening daily for COVID-19 symptoms continues to be a requirement. Staff and students are directed to stay home if they are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms.
While masking is no longer mandatory under the provincial directive, we strongly encourage those wanting to continue wearing masks to do so, and particularly, immediately following the break. Respecting and accepting individual choices will continue to be critical on the path ahead. Moving forward, we will continue to stay in close contact with our local Public Health to report on and monitor any changes in the local health situation.
Given the significant changes that have been announced, reactions will vary. With the experience with COVID-19 for the last two years, we recognize that for some people these public health measures represented protections, while for others they represented restrictions. Continuing to exercise patience, kindness, and respect for others will continue to be important.
The Limestone District School Board remains committed to supporting a healthy, safe, and respectful environment for all students and staff. Thank you for your continued patience and support. We look forward to welcoming students back next week.
Sydenham P.S. School Advisory Council
You are invited to a Zoom meeting.
When: Mar 21, 2022 05:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://queensu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUlc-uqpj4rH9ICNIelqdsdYrcb-j04zB5V
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Kindergarten Registration
Kindergarten registration for September 2022 is now underway. Discover more at https://bit.ly/KInder2022 #greatlearningstartshere #KindergarteninLimestone
Our skilled Kindergarten Team looks forward to welcoming your little Sydenham Storm to school next year! You can start the registration process on-line and please feel free to reach out to the school with any questions you may have! Pass it on if you know of a family looking to register for the fall!
From Our Classrooms....
Sydenham Public School
Website: https://sydenhamps.limestone.on.ca/
Location: 5 Clergy Street East, Kingston, ON, Canada
Phone: 613-548-3491
Twitter: @SydenhamPS_LDSB