Bracing for an extended school break: period of virtual learning possible
While the schoolyard play continues for now, the yards could be silent for an extended period of time after the holiday break.
"We've heard nothing formal. Of course, there are conversations and speculations and rumours that we hear and where there's smoke there's usually a little bit of fire," said Craig Smith, president of the Thames Valley local of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO).
He's expecting some form of announcement in the near future that may include a two-week virtual learning period after Christmas.
A similar step was taken after last Christmas with the expectation there would be spread through family gatherings and parties. It was hoped infections could be identified and students put in isolation before a return to school.
"My understanding is the medical officers of health province-wide are being called in to a meeting within the next day or so. So we may see some communication about what the next week and a bit looks like, and more importantly I think, what they're looking at past the Christmas break,” said Smith.
The province is reporting 260 active outbreaks connected to schools, with 239 linked to elementary schools and uncertainty about Omicron is persisting.
There are reports that parents have already begun keeping students at home in advance of the Christmas break.
Arthur Ford Public School parent Amanda Titus says it's not something she's witnessed and it's not something she's considering for her daughter, "Sometimes we do when it's a little bit closer to the end of school, just depending on what's going on in class, things like that, but because of what's going on, no."
Daughter Ava Denomme says she still likes being in school, "I feel I like the way it's going, it's kind of like normal."
Smith says, while there was hope going into the current school year that things might soon return to normal, he doesn't see normal coming any time soon, "It's still an uncertain time and, in many ways, this school year is more off-kilter than last years was."
He is encouraged by the uptake in COVID-19 vaccine. The latest report from the Middlesex-London Health Unit shows about 24 per cent of eligible children ages five to 11 in the region have been vaccinated.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
U.S. vetoes a widely supported UN resolution backing full membership for Palestine
The United States has vetoed a widely backed UN resolution that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for the state of Palestine.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
Cat found on Toronto Pearson airport runway 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
B.C.'s short-term rental regulations include $10K daily penalties for Airbnb, other platforms
Short-term rental platforms that violate B.C.'s pending regulations can face administrative penalties of up to $10,000 per day, officials announced Thursday.