'We don’t have to be afraid': Windsor parents glad kids are back in school
Many Windsor parents were expressing relief on Monday as their kids headed back into schools.
Students in Windsor-Essex and across the province have been remote learning since Jan 5., when school resumed after the holiday break. The Ontario government delayed the school reopening due to a surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.
“I’m glad they’re going back to school” said Coila Ortiz as she saw her kids off to the bus. “We gotta put up with this. I’m not scared. We don’t have to be afraid.”
Another parent was a bit more hesitant.
“I think it’s a little bit too early but it’s good for them because they need to be in school,” said Ed Hughes who was dropping off kids at Our Lady Of Perpetual Health.
Windsor-Essex acting medical officer of health Dr. Shanker Nesathurai said he supports the move to resume in-person learning.
The province has enhanced protocols in place and made changes to the reporting of school cases. Here’s the back-to-school plan.
“That’s particularly important for young people who are in elementary ages to get the benefit of in-person instruction,” Dr. Nesathurai.
The return to school didn’t go without a hiccough or two.
Too many people were online between 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday morning trying to access the public board’s self-screening tool. That caused an interruption that lasted minutes and caused some delays.
“They were doing the assessment. There’s a new update with the system that they had to go back and click so I imagine looking forward it’s going to be a lot smoother,” said Matt Burkhart, principal at John A. McWilliam.
Burkhart says attendance was high but there are some who chose to continue online learning.
“Teachers are providing work to them in synchronicity on an as needed basis,” he said.
Under the provincial plan, school boards won’t regularly report a COVID case or cohort dismissal unless a 30 per cent absenteeism threshold is met.
With files from CTV Windsor's Melanie Borrelli.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.