September 8th, 2020

Welcome back to W-O. We hope that you are as excited as us about your return to school over the course of the next two weeks. Teachers and support staff have been working hard this past week to prepare to welcome the vast majority of our students back into the school building and facilitate the move for those going into the Distance Learning Program. Please know your health and safety is our number one priority.

There will be many changes to school routines as a result of COVID-19, and information that has been posted on the WRDSB website, regarding some of the changes, is a helpful starting point. We will share more information with you once you’re at school and will work with you to make sure that you feel safe and ready to learn.

We know that you are wondering about your timetable, your cohort, and what to do on the first day of school. Teachers will be in contact with you no later than Thursday of this week with that information.

Please review the following links for more information regarding how the learning blocks for when students are working at school or at home will be structured and which days each cohort will be attending at school.
WODSS Quad 1 Calendar 
Waterloo Oxford Daily Schedule-2020

When do I start school?
Students in different grades and programs will start school on different days. The day that you first come to school for in-class learning also depends on which cohort you are in.
School will start at 8:10 am and all students will be dismissed at 12:40 pm. On the days that you are scheduled to be at home, you are expected to be available to participate in synchronous online learning and other learning activities. Your teacher has created a full program for you during the days you are working from home. It is an expectation that you will engage in these activities.

Distance Learning Program
Distance Learning Program students will be contacted between Sept 9th and 11th by their DLP teacher with more information.
Note: Senior students taking a spare period that lands during Course 1, will start attending school when Course 2 starts on Thursday, September 17th.

How do I know which courses I have in my timetable?
Before your first day of class, your Course 1 teacher will be contacting you directly (e.g. email and/or phone call) to provide information regarding your course, room, cohort, and how to access your on-line learning platform. They will also provide you with your cohort information if you are a student who walks or is driven to school.

Once timetable conflicts have been resolved, timetable changes to Quadmester One courses will be made only to accommodate graduation or post-secondary application requirements. We will inform students when guidance counsellors will be available to schedule appointments (late September) regarding requests for timetable changes for the remaining three Quadmesters.

How do I know if I am in Cohort A or B?
If you ride a school bus, you are able to find out your cohort information by checking the Student Transportation Website. Your cohort letter is written beside the route number (Route 181B, student in cohort B) and was determined by the home address. You will need your OEN number, which you can find on a copy of your latest report card, to log-in to the Parent Portal to find your bus route. Cohorts cannot be changed.
Students who have not received their cohort information by the day they are scheduled to start school must NOT come to school that day. Instead, call the school at 519-634-5441 or send an email for information regarding cohort placement and your class.

What do I need to know about the first day of school?
We have introduced many Health and Safety protocols to help keep everyone safe. Please review all safety information that has been provided on the WRDSB and WO school website.

The most important rule is that you do not come to school if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or of any respiratory illness, if you have traveled outside of the country within the last 14 days, or if you have come in close contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19. You must stay home if you are sick.

Plan to bring the following items with you on the first day of school:

Cloth mask that comfortably covers your nose, mouth, and chin. If you do not have one, we will provide you with one.

Refillable water bottle, labeled with your name.

Charged Chromebook or electronic device.

Pack a lunch and snacks – any containers or litter from lunch will need to be taken home at the end of the day. THERE IS NO CAFE & YOU CAN’T LEAVE DURING NUTRITION BREAK

A pair of headphones, earphones, or earbuds.

When you arrive at school:
Use only designated entrances. Look for the signs posted on the doors.
Enter the school and proceed directly to your classroom. Note that the school doors will be opened no earlier than 7:55 am for students who walk or are driven. Follow the arrows posted on the walls and floor. There will be staff members in the hallways to help you find your room.
Ensure that you wear your mask at all times inside the school.
Sanitize your hands at any of the available stations, before entering your classroom.
As you move through the school, try and maintain 2 metres of distance between yourself and other students.
We encourage you to watch a Day in the Life of a Secondary School Student in the WRDSB.
We appreciate your patience and look forward to seeing you.

Carolyn Salonen
Principal