Both the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) and the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario (CDSBEO) have adopted staggered back-to-school schedules for their students this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

Each school district has posted details of their back-to-school plans on their websites and sent letters and emails to parents of students in advance of their September school reopening.

CDSBEO

The first back-to-school day for CDSBEO on the staggered schedule is September 8, the first Tuesday after the Labour Day weekend as is traditional. But only the junior and senior Kindergarten children, the Grade 7 students, and students in the Select Special Education program (SSE) at all grade levels will attend school that day. Parents of SSE students will receive more information from their respective schools on the day’s curriculum plan for their children.

September 9 is the first day back to school for students in grades 1 to 3 at elementary schools, those in Grade 9 at high schools, and also those in Grade 8 at CDSBEO secondary schools that have Grade 8 as part of their setup. September 10 will the opening classes for students in grades 4 to 6 and in grades 7 and 8 at CDSBEO elementary schools, and grades 10 to 12 at secondary schools.

September 14 will be the first day of school for elementary school-level students learning at home through the CDSBEOElementary Remote Distance Learning program.

UCDSB

The first full week of September will consist of Professional Development Days for staff at UCDSB schools. Students won’t start returning to class until September 11. The first three days after the Labour Day weekend, September 8 to 10, are devoted to teachers contacting students doing their schooling at home through the virtual learning program.

For students in Kindergarten to Grade 8, those whose last names begin with the letter A to 6 will start class on September 11. Those whose last names start with the letter H to P will be in class on September 14, while those whose surnames start with the letters Q to Z are in class September 15.

For UCDSB high schools, Grade 9 students start classes September 11, while Grade 10 students start September 14. Students in grades 11 and 12 start September 15.

An explanation for the UCDSB staggered back-to-school setup is on the district website at www.ucdsb.on.ca/u_c_d_s_b_news/what_s_new/update_remote_learning_and_first_day.