When does my kid go back to school? A rundown of start dates for GTA boards this fall

Yorkregion.com
September 4, 2020
May Warren

It’s a September like no other.

With all of the changes to keep kids safe from COVID-19, many boards have opted to delay the start of the year, and staggered the return so kids arrive in smaller groups.

But as each board sets its own, sometimes confusing and ever-changing schedule, parents and teachers are left trying to sort through a hodgepodge of different dates for back-to-school.

If you don’t feel like sifting through websites and internal documents, the Star has you covered with this guide to the region’s school boards.

Keep in mind some plans are still in flux, so check back often.

Toronto District School Board

The country’s largest board is taking a staggered and delayed approach instead of having everyone return right after the Sept. 7 Labour Day holiday, according to its back-to-school plans.

School starts Sept. 15. But elementary students will come back in stages based on grade, over three days that week.

High school students, grouped in cohorts so that in-class learning happens on alternate days, will also begin Sept. 15.

Check out the TDSB’s website for the details on which grades start when.

Toronto Catholic District School Board

This board is also taking a staggered and delayed approach, starting Sept. 14, according to its website.

For elementary kids, a fourth of each class starts each day, with everyone back in the classroom by Thursday, Sept. 17.

Grade 9 students start first in high school, with grades 10-12 cohorts starting on Wednesday, Sept. 16.

Siblings who are at the same school will be scheduled on the same days.

The dates for individual students are being finalized and parents and guardians will receive information about this shortly.

Peel District School Board

Students will come back gradually by attending orientation sessions from Sept. 8 to Sept. 14.

Elementary kids will be assigned two orientation days between Sept. 9 and Sept. 15 based on the first letter of their last name, and will return completely on Sept. 16. Adjustments will be made to keep siblings with different last names together.

More details on how this alphabet soup will break down are on the board’s website.

High school students coming back for the mix of online and in-person learning will attend a morning orientation session at school between Sept. 8 and 11, with a full return on Sept. 14. Schools will contact families directly with details.

Schools will also contact the parents and guardians of special education students, who will follow a different model.

Virtual classes will start the week of Sept. 14, with more details on that coming soon, a spokesperson confirmed.

Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board

According to the most up-to-date guidance from the board, there will be a staggered start on Sept. 9. The day before will be for staff to prepare.

Elementary students will arrive in small groups each day, depending on the first letter of their last name, with all kids in class by Monday, Sept. 21.

Secondary students will start Sept. 8, as usual, with cohorts phased in starting with Grade 9’s only.

All regular scheduled classes by cohorts will begin on Monday, Sept. 14.

Durham District School Board

Classes start Sept. 8. But the board is taking a staggered approach for elementary students, over the first two weeks of school, based on the first initial of their last name, according to the website. All students will be in school by Friday, Sept. 18.

Durham Catholic District School Board
There was supposed to be an in-person orientation on Sept. 8, but it will now be virtual, due to busing not being available, a spokesperson confirmed.

Therefore, the week of Sept. 8 is virtual for all students, even if they chose the face-to-face option.

Elementary and secondary students will start school the week of Sept. 14. They will go three times that week.

All students will return to school Friday, Sept. 18.

York Region District School Board

The board will have staggered start dates for both elementary and secondary students, according to its website. Kids will start returning on Thursday, Sept. 10 in phases, depending on their grade and cohort. The regular schedule for both face-to-face and virtual learning will begin on Monday, Sept. 14.

Special considerations will be given for siblings and before- and after-school programs.

York Catholic District School Board

Another staggered approach. There won’t be any students on Sept. 8 and 9, as staff prepare for their return, a spokesperson confirmed. Elementary kids will arrive in waves, starting on Sept. 10 with grades 1-3, and other grades attending each day that week.

Grade 9 orientation will be Sept. 10-11 by cohort, with other grades and cohorts spaced out over the week.

Halton District School Board

The start of the school year will be delayed until Monday, Sept. 14 for both elementary and secondary students and those choosing a virtual-only option, according to a spokesperson.

There will be an in-person orientation for both elementary students, who will be split alphabetically into two groups, on either Sept. 10 or Sept. 11, to help them adjust to new health and safety measures.

Grade 9 students will have a virtual orientation on Thursday, Sept. 10 or Friday, Sept. 11.

More details will be coming directly to parents from individual schools.

Halton Catholic District School Board

The first day is Wednesday, Sept. 9, a spokesperson confirmed.

The cohorts of secondary students will start then.

Elementary students will be easing back in smaller groups starting Sept. 9, with everyone returning Monday, Sept. 14.

Remote learning for those staying home will also start that day.

Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board

School is staggered and delayed, a spokesperson confirmed.

All elementary students start on Sept. 16, with groups split alphabetically coming the two days before.

Students will special needs will come in on Sept. 10-11.

Secondary school students of all grades in cohort A start on Sept. 16, and all grades in cohort B the next day, and so on.

Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board

The board has also adopted a staggered return, according to a spokesperson. The first students start on Wednesday, Sept. 9 with grades 1-2, Grade 9 orientation, students with special needs, and one kindergarten cohort.

Each kindergarten class is divided into four cohorts, with one going each day until they all join on Tuesday, Sept. 15.

Classes will start for the first cohort of secondary students on Sept. 10.

Kids doing online-only instruction start the following Monday.

Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board

Both elementary and secondary students will have a staggered start over two weeks, a spokesperson said. The first kids will return on Sept. 14. Student and class groups will come on different days, with full time attendance starting on Friday, Sept. 18.

The Learn at Home program will also have a staggered start over two weeks.

Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board

The board will begin the year with a staggered entry of students, according to most up to date plans.

Elementary kids will be split into two groups by first letter of their last name. Each group will attend on two days, starting Thursday, Sept. 10.

Secondary students will also start attending just for two days, grouped by grade.

All students will begin full attendance on Wednesday, Sept. 16.

Conseil scolaire Viamonde

This French-language public board has planned a staggered start for all elementary and secondary schools, starting Sept. 8, for two weeks.

Each school is informing families about when the small groups of kids will attend, a spokesperson said.

Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir

Classes start on Sept. 8, for this French-language Catholic board. There is a staggered start for both elementary and secondary students, starting that day.

All students will be in class or learning online as of Sept. 14.