Niagara Catholic Pens Letter to Parents

The Niagara Catholic District School Board has written to parents in response to the province's decision to keep schools closed until September.

The board notes that they had hoped to bring kids back this month, and they hope most families will return to in-person lessons in September. 

"Students learn best when they are in school with their peers and we look forward to having a more familiar school year in 2021-2022 for both elementary and secondary students and staff, with in-class learning and extracurricular activities. We hope that the majority of our students and families will choose to return to in-person learning for September."

The board says while Premier Doug Ford and Education Minister Stephen Lecce spoke of plans to bring students together for outdoor graduation ceremonies beyond grades 8 and 12, they haven't received any guidance on that yet. 

A copy of the letter can be found below. 

Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Dear Students, Parents and Guardians:

Like you, I and all of Niagara Catholic’s senior leadership team looked forward to today’s announcement from Premier Ford and Minister Lecce to learn the government’s final decision regarding a return to in-person for students before the end of the school year. While we had hoped that 
we would have been able to bring our students and staff back into schools this month, we now know 
that we won’t be together again until September. 

We are in the home stretch of this school year and I continue to be impressed at the incredible learning and good-news stories coming from our schools. Whether its students receiving scholarships, showing off their talents or doing amazing things to benefit others in the community, or staff being recognized for their contributions to the school and broader community, this is the one way that this school year has been like any other. Thank you to all of the students, staff and parents who have pulled together to make this very strange year as positive an experience as possible for everyone. 

We sincerely hope that this closure through the end of the school year allows us to have a safe and active summer and a return to primarily in-class learning in September. We were ready for our schools to reopen in June, and we will be ready to welcome our students and staff back in September. Students learn best when they are in school with their peers and we look forward to having a more familiar school year in 2021-2022 for both elementary and secondary students and staff, with in-class learning and extracurricular activities. We hope that the majority of our students and families will choose to return to in-person learning for September. Families of elementary students are reminded that the survey sent to you on Tuesday regarding your intentions for next year closes at 4 p.m. on June 7. Please check your email or the Virtual School website through niagaracatholic.ca to find and complete the survey. Families will be asked again in August about your final plans for the coming year. Families of secondary students will receive information about the start-up plan for September next week. 

During their address to Ontario residents, both the Premier and Education Minister spoke of plans to bring students together to hold class celebrations beyond the typical Grade 8 and 12 graduations. We have yet to receive any guidance from either the Ministry or Public Health on how such a celebration will work, and will communicate that to all families once we know. 

As the school year draws to a close, your child’s principal will connect with all families regarding picking up any personal items left behind in the school and returning any equipment that was borrowed from the school or Board for online learning, as well as plans for any celebrations to end off the school year. While schools remain closed to the majority of students and staff, Niagara Catholic will continue to use the time with the students out of school to do maintenance and upgrades to our schools to ensure they are safe and healthy places for students and staff in September. 

Part of that planning will be to continue to use the Optimizing Air Quality in Schools funding provided by the province to improve air quality. All of our HVAC systems have been audited and we have been updating them consistently since receiving the funding. We have also invested in over 250 portable air purification systems for our schools and buildings as well as the replacement of HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters. All of these investments and upgrades allow us to ensure the best possible indoor air quality for students, staff and visitors to our schools and sites when buildings reopen in September.

Facilities Services staff will also complete a number of other projects throughout the summer, according to our usual summer construction and renovation schedule. 

Thank you, once again, for your patience, understanding and commitment this school year. You have been extraordinary in all you have done, and I hope this final sacrifice brings you a summer filled with joyful rewards.

Sincerely,
Camillo Cipriano
Director of Education