More families at York Region public schools opt for online compared to Catholic peers

'I think we all are encouraging students to come to school': York Catholic teachers' association president Mike Totten

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 2, 2021
Dina Al-Shibeeb

About 15 per cent of the 84,952 enrolled elementary students and 8 per cent of the 41,724 secondary students have opted for the online stream at York Region District School Board schools.

From its information report published Aug. 30, the school board said families can connect with their school office until Sept. 2 if a change to the learning model is required.

However, fewer students at York Catholic District School Board schools have opted for online learning.

"At the York Catholic District School Board, approximately 7 per cent of our total student population have chosen to learn remotely this year," a board spokesperson said. "This is a significant decrease compared to last year, and in line with what we expected."

Mike Totten, president of the York Region branch of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association, described the figure as "amazing".

"I think we all are encouraging students to come to school," Totten said. "I think for both mental health and the socialization aspect, it is important for the students."

"Families are reminded that due to staffing implications, switching students between remote and in-person learning may not be possible and will be addressed on a case-by-case basis by the school," a YCDSB online document said.

The two boards are diverging in some of their policies.

The public board is implementing hybrid learning, with the same teachers instructing both in-class and online students.

Its Catholic counterpart, which had hybrid last year, has axed the model for its elementary schools.

All students who choose remote learning will be grouped by grade and assigned to one school, as follows:

• JK/SK -- Father Henri Nouwen;
• Grade 1 -- Corpus Christi;
• Grades 2 and 3 -- Blessed Scalabrini;
• Grades 4 and 5 -- St. Paul;
• Grade 6 -- Divine Mercy;
• Grades 7 and 8 -- St. Matthew;
• French immersion -- St. John XXIII.

YRDSB's calendar show the first day of school for students is Sept. 9, and the last day of classes is June 29 for secondary and June 30 for elementary.

For YCDSB, school starts Sept. 8, with the last day being June 28 for secondary and June 29 for elementary.