Dear Parents/Guardians,

The Government of Ontario, on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, has announced some important changes that will take effect in Ontario schools, over the course of the next several weeks.  These include:

Semester Two Timetabling in Secondary Schools:

The Ministry of Education has announced that beginning with the winter semester in February 2022, school boards, which are supported by their local public health units, can resume regular timetabling with four courses per day for in-person classroom learning.  However, the local Medical Officers of Health in Chatham-Kent and Sarnia-Lambton have not yet given their support to this model, due to low rates of vaccination locally for youth aged 12 to 17, which lag behind the provincial average.  Discussions with our public health partners are ongoing.

As always, St. Clair Catholic will follow the advice of public health, with the health and safety of our students and staff and maintaining continuity of in-person classroom learning as the overriding factors that will guide our decision-making.  We will provide more information as planning for the second semester is finalized.

COVID-19 Vaccines for Five to 11-Year-Olds:

Health Canada has approved the paediatric Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children aged five to 11.  To book an appointment online, children must be turning five years old by the end of 2021 (born in 2016).

It is important to note that immunization clinics will not be held in St. Clair Catholic elementary schools.  In addition, the decision whether to receive a vaccine is a family decision.  The St. Clair Catholic District School Board facilitates the provision of public health information but does not provide health care advice or recommendations.

For more information about the vaccine and details regarding how to book an appointment, visit the Chatham-Kent Public Health and Lambton Public Health websites.

Returning to School After Christmas Vacations Outside of Canada:

Fully vaccinated Canadians are permitted to travel outside of Canada and are not required to quarantine upon their return.  This exemption extends to accompanying children under 12 years of age.  However, children under 12 who are not vaccinated must not go to school/child care for 14 days, regardless of the quarantine exemption.   Please be sure to follow the directions of the daily Ontario COVID-19 school and child care screening.

For more information regarding travel outside of Canada, visit here.

These important safety measures are for the protection of our students and staff, with the further goal of keeping our schools and classrooms open, to maintain in-person classroom learning throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.  Thank you for your ongoing support.

Sincerely,

Scott Johnson
Director of Education