February 11 2021
Today, the Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce, announced that this year’s normally scheduled March Break would be delayed based on the advice of Public Health officials in order to contain the spread of COVID-19. We recognise the substantial impact this will have on students, staff, and families.
The one week break normally scheduled for March 15-19, 2021 has been rescheduled for April 12-16, 2021.
Schools will be open to students the week of March 15 – 19 and Before and After school programs will be offered. Please verify your child’s care schedule on-line given this new announcement to ensure it reflects the before and after care you need for the week of March 15 – 19. In addition, please verify the care schedule for your child in OneList for the camp week of April 12 – 16.
The pandemic has demanded extraordinary sacrifices from us individually and collectively. The WRDSB will continue to put the well-being of our students, staff, and families at the centre of our efforts, and support our community through this difficult change. Thank you for your ongoing patience and understanding.
February 4 2021
Stephen Lecce, the Minister of Education, announced that some Ontario School Boards will re-open to in-person instruction on Monday, February 8th, 2021. The WRDSB will welcome students enrolled in the in-person mode of learning back to school on Monday February 8th 2021. Before and After School Programs will also re-open on February 8. We look forward to welcoming your child back to Before and After School care.
January 27 2021
Please login to your OneList account to verify your child’s care schedule is correct. OneList is available throughout the year for you to confirm your registration information and to enter your child’s schedule for the Extended Day program. Please note that for safety reasons, schedule changes need to be completed two weeks prior to the effective date. While students participate in remote learning and Before and After School programs are closed, fees will not be charged. Parents are still required to verify the schedule is correct to ensure that schedules are accurate for when Before and After School programs reopen.
December 13 2020
Health & Safety Protocol Reminder
Dear Parent / Guardian,
Thank you for your ongoing efforts which have made the child care reopening process possible, and for adhering to public health and safety measures that have ensured child care settings remain safe places.
The holidays are going to look a little different this year and we understand that there may be challenges as the winter break approaches, but we encourage all families to consider how we can work together to make this time as safe as possible, and start 2021 off right. We would also like to remind you about the actions we are taking to reinforce the health and safety protocols aimed at protecting us all while limiting the spread of COVID-19 within Before and After School programs.
During the holidays, it is important for everyone to adhere to the public health measures in our community, at home with family, at work and at child care. By following public health advice, we can all have a safe and fun holiday season. You can check the government’s holiday web page for more direct and up-to-date guidance on how individuals and families can plan for a safe holiday season.
Throughout the holiday season, WRDSB Before and After School Programs will continue to:
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Reinforce masking and hand hygiene etiquette, as well as physical distancing
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Limit interactions between groups of children and staff/providers
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Ask parents to ensure they complete the self-screening tool prior to arrival
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Perform enhanced cleaning and disinfecting of the toys, equipment, and premises
As a reminder, individuals showing symptoms of illness should not attend the program. All children, students, staff, and visitors must be screened for symptoms of illness every day before attending school or child care. To help meet this requirement, you may use the provincial COVID-19 school screening tool.
We encourage you to visit Ontario.ca/covidresponse to learn the public health measures in place in our community and remind you that these measures could change depending on public health trends, so please visit the website regularly. We also suggest checking out the region of Waterloo Public Health website as they may also have helpful resources and supports.
November 17 2020
Update to Screening Protocol for Before and After School Programs
Please note that the Ministry has revised the 2020-21 Before and After School Kindergarten to Grade 6 Policies and Guidelines to no longer require educators to screen upon arrival.
All individuals must self-screen every day before arrival at the before school program or school (if only enrolled in an after school program).
- Individuals who do not pass the screening are not permitted to attend the program and must stay home.
- An ill individual who has a known alternative diagnosis provided by a health care provider may return to the before and after school program if they do not have a fever and their symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours.
https://covid-19.ontario.ca/school-screening/ is available to support parents/guardians, staff/providers and essential visitors in a before and after school program setting in meeting this requirement.
October 19 Update
Dear Families,
As part of the Provincial guidelines, it is important that all children entering the Extended Day Program be screened. Students will not be permitted into the Extended Day Program without completion of this screening.
We have created an online screening form – COVID-19-Screening Form.
The screening must be completed online prior to the start of your child’s day. If your child only attends after school this screening must also be completed prior to their school day start. One form per child is required.
Please note – The form is available between the hours of 4am and 10am each day to be completed.
We thank you in advance for your understanding.
*Sent from OneHSN on behalf of the Waterloo Region District School Board
September 30 Update
Dear Families
We recognize that this year wasn’t a typical school year start up and the staggered entry schedule was challenging for families. For those families who were billed for 11 days in September, a one day credit will be applied to your October invoice. We are waiting on information from the Ministry relating to COVID financial protocols and will update this page as information is received. Thank you
August 26 Update
Dear Families
As we prepare to welcome our students and staff back to our schools, their health, safety and well-being are our primary focus. In support of this, the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) will be using a Staggered Start to the school year for all our elementary students over the first two weeks of the school year.
We believe that this two week time period to transition gradually back to school will provide students and staff with more focused time for the necessary teaching, learning and practicing of the health and safety protocols, in smaller groups of students.
Students who have registered for our Extended Day program will attend full days starting on Wednesday, September 16, 2020. Before and After School Programs will not be available prior to September 16. The last day to make schedule changes online in OneList will be September 1 if you require care on the 16. Fees will not be charged for board operated programs from September 8 until 15, inclusive.
Before and After school program educators look forward to welcoming your child on September 16 with the following health and safety protocols in place;
- Children cannot attend the Before and After School program if they are ill or exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19.
- Screening protocol prior to entering the Before School Program.
- Educators will greet families at the designated entrance and ask you the health screening questions (as posted) prior to bringing your child to the program.
- Access to the school is restricted, parents will not be permitted to enter.
- Although drop off times vary by family care needs, please plan for a potential wait time for the screening protocol at drop off.
- At pick up time educators will bring your child to the designated entrance for you to sign them out
- Mandatory masks for children and educators
- Enhanced health & safety measures including frequent handwashing and additional cleaning
- Increase in outdoor time
We thank you for your patience as we prepare for a new school year and plan for a safe and healthy return. We will continue to provide updates to families as we get closer to opening and look forward to welcoming your child into Before and After School Programs in September.
August 13 Update
Registration and care schedules are now open for the 2020-2021 school year for Before and After school programs. Please login to Region of Waterloo OneHSN to complete your care schedule by August 31 if you require care for September 8. We look forward to welcoming your child back to the Before and After school program!
Before and After school programs will continue to offer play based experiences. The Before and After school program groups will be different from the school day cohorts for your child.
Parents will be able to access the school to drop off and or pick up their child attending Before and After care provided they wear a mask.
Enhanced health & safety measures will be implemented such as;
- increased cleaning in shared space
- frequent hand washing
Please monitor our WRDSB Return to School page for updates on return to school plans, or email us at care@wrdsb.ca if you have questions.
Program Information
Programs are offered from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, PD Days, March Break and the non-statutory week at Christmas.
For the 2020-2021 School Year WRDSB Extended Day and Youth Development Programs will be closed on:
September 7, 2020 – Labour Day
September 8 – 15, 2020 – Staggered Start
October 12, 2020 – Thanksgiving
November 23, 2020- Professional Development Day
December 25 – 31,2020 – Winter Break Closure
January 1, 2021- New Years Day
February 15, 2021 – Family Day
April 2and 5, 2021- Good Friday and Easter Monday
May 24, 2021 – Victoria Day
June 29, 2021- Professional Development Day
All of July and August
School closure announcements including before and after school program closures due to severe weather conditions, will be announced on the WRDSB website and/or to the following radio stations:
| KOOL-FM | FM 105.3 | CKWR Kitchener | FM 98.5 |
| MAGIC FM | FM 106.1 | CHYM Kitchener | FM 96.7 |
| 570 News | AM 570 | Dave FM | FM 107.5 |
| Oldies 1090 | AM 1090 | Kicx | FM 106.7 |
| Faith FM | FM 94.3 | The Beat | FM 91.5 |
| CTV Kitchener is also contacted | CBC Radio | FM 89.1 | |
