WRDSB schools closed March 14 through April 5
March 16th, 2020
We are writing today to provide you with an update on our response to the COVID19 pandemic. We recognize that this is a challenging time and are focused on the health and well-being of students and families. The Ministerial Order closing all publicly funded schools in Ontario as a result of COVID-19, includes Board Operated Extended Day Programs. As a result, the Waterloo Region District School Board is deferring Extended Day invoices and pre-authorized debit (PAD) for families until further notice. Families registered in WRDSB operated programs will not be charged fees during this closure period. As we progress through this difficult time, we will continue to assess the situation and will communicate plans to process March invoices and pre-authorized debits at a later date.
Please note that Waterloo Region District School Board offices are also closed during this time and therefore in-person payment or payment by telephone is not available. If you have questions concerning your invoice or payment, please contact finance-exdar@wrdsb.ca
March 12th, 2020
Based on advice from Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health and the experts at the COVID-19 Command Table, the Minister of Education has issued a Ministerial Order to close all publicly funded schools in Ontario for two weeks following March break, in response to the emergence in Ontario of COVID-19. This order was approved by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.
This means that Ontario’s publicly funded schools have been ordered to remain closed from March 14 through to April 5, 2020.
At this time, we can confirm the following:
- This closure includes Board Operated Extended Day Programs in our schools operating during March Break
- Families registered in WRDSB operated programs will not be charged fees during this time period
- All secondary Co-Op placements are postponed during this time
We are working to confirm the status of our child care centres during the closure period.
We are asking students to take their personal belongings from their lockers and desks home with them before March Break.
We know our students, families and staff will have many questions and we are working with our education and health partners to better understand the impact of this decision. We will update you as we learn more.
We continue to be reassured by Region of Waterloo Public Health that the risk to residents of Waterloo Region remains low.
We will continue to provide updates as information becomes available. For information and updates, please refer to these resources:
- Region of Waterloo Public Health webpage: regionofwaterloo.ca/2019NovelCoronavirus
- Ontario Ministry of Health webpage: ontario.ca/coronavirus
- Information is available in multiple languages
- Public Health Agency of Canada webpage: canada.ca/coronavirus
- World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/
- Subscribe to our website at www.wrdsb.ca to receive updates
- Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Tags: closure · Coronavirus
We offer two fee-based Before and After School Programs for our students: Extended Day for children in JK – Grade 2 and Youth Development for children in Grades 3 – 6. These programs are led by Early Childhood Educators out of our classrooms and other spaces in our schools. All programs offer flexible registration and nutritional snacks.
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 2019 – 2020 School Year WRDSB Extended Day and Youth Development Programs will be closed on:
September 20, 2019 – Professional Development Day
October 14, 2019 – Thanksgiving
December 25-31, 2019 – Winter Break Closure
January 1, 2020 – New Years Day
February 17, 2020 – Family Day
April 3, 2020 – Professional Development Day
April 10 and 13, 2020 – Good Friday & Easter Monday
May 18, 2020 – Victoria Day
June 26, 2020 – 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 | |
