For the Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board, this withdrawal of service will include our Educational Assistants, Custodians, Office Administrators, Early Childhood Educators, Library Technicians, IT Field Technicians, and CUPE staff at our Catholic Education Centre. This comprises approximately 420 permanent and casual employees (about 41% of our staff). As such, all Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board schools will be closed to students until an agreement is reached. We received confirmation today from the Ministry of Education that we are to move to remote learning.
Tomorrow, Friday, November 4, staff will be preparing their lesson plans in order to begin remote learning on Monday, November 7. Please check your child's Google Classroom/D2L as of Monday, November 7 to connect your child with their classroom teachers. During this time in remote learning, attendance is required and will be taken daily. It is important that you contact the school to report your child’s absence. At this time, we do not have a scheduled return date but as soon as we hear we will let families know.
In terms of technology, students from Gr. 1-12 already have a device assigned to them and it should have been sent home with them today. If you require a device for your child in Kindergarten, or a student in Gr. 1-12 needs to pick up their device, please reach out to your school principal.
For those students with complex special education needs, principals and staff will be working with families to make arrangements about program delivery.
Mental Health Supports are available. If you require support please visit our Mental Health and Well Being support page where you can connect with a member of our mental health team and find resources available to you and your family. In addition, School Mental Health Ontario has many great resources for students, parents and families.
Please see our BGCDSB Digital Best Practices Document to support you and your child during remote learning.
Sacred Heart Teeswater Virtual Elementary School will operate as per its regular schedule.
Please continue to check the “CUPE Work Action Update'' section of the board web page bgcdsb.org/labour_update for regular updates. The Before and After school programs will be closed as well. The Brockton Child Care and Wooden Hill Child Care Centres (pre-school programs) will remain open.
We continue to pray that we will see a resolution soon. Be Safe and Be Well, God Bless,
Gary O’Donnell
Director of Education
Lori Di Castri
Chair of the Board of Trustees