Parents and Caregivers 

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  • Parents and Caregivers 

For frequently asked questions around the re-openings of schools, please visit our associated webpage.

For school specific re-opening information and policy information, visit your child’s school board website:

For private schools, refer to the school website.

For more information from the Province of Ontario about the 2021/2022 school year, please visit the Province’s website.

For matters specific to your child’s health, please contact their primary health care provider.

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Students, teachers, and school staff must self-screen for symptoms of COVID-19 every day before going to school.

Use the COVID-19 school and child care screening tool to  assess your child or yourself for symptoms. The results will tell you:

  • if you should go to school or stay home
  • what to do next

You can download, print, or email your results through the tool.

In alignment with community masking requirements, masks will no longer be required for students, staff and visitors in schools, school board offices and on student transportation. Eye protection for staff will also no longer be required. Students and staff may choose to continue to wear masks or eye protection at times, or consistently for the remainder of the school year. We encourage respectful, welcoming and inclusive practices around personal choices within school communities.

Learn more about face coverings, including how to wear, remove and clean your non-medical face mask.

You and your children have already been practicing the actions that will keep your family healthy as children return to learning. Remind your child and other family members about the importance of continuing these actions, whether at home, school or in the community:

  • Stay home if you are sick so you don’t share your germs with anyone else.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water often or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer to clean away germs.
  • Sneeze and cough into your sleeve to keep germs to yourself.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth because these are spots where germs from your hands can easily get into your body.
  • Avoid contact with people who are sick so you don’t get their germs.
  • We encourage individuals to continue wearing a mask, and remain respectful of others, whether or not they choose to wear a mask.
  • Practice physical distancing, when possible. This means when you are in public you can help to reduce the spread of COVID-19 by staying two metres (six feet) apart from anyone outside your household.
  • Make sure your COVID-19 vaccination status is up to date.  Looking for more information on child and youth vaccination? Visit our COVID-19 Vaccines for Children & Youth webpage.
  • Stay home if you have any symptoms of COVID-19 or feel sick.
  • Have regular, open conversations with your child. Offer the information that you do know, such as if they will attend in person, learn at home, go to before or after child care, use the school bus or walk/bike to school.
  • Explain we can limit the spread of germs by wearing a face covering, avoiding touching eyes, nose or mouth, and sneezing and coughing into a tissue or elbow/sleeve. Be positive as your child works to develop these skills, as it takes time to develop new habits.
  • Teach your child how to wash hands properly. Learn handwashing together by watching videos geared to your child’s developmental age and practice timing 15-20 seconds by humming musical tunes together.
  • Ask your child what questions or worries they have and respond as best you can. It is okay to say there is information that you don’t know yet, and you will learn together.
  •  School Mental Health Ontario has resources to help you support your child’s mental health.
  • If your child has unique needs, speak with the school in advance to consider and plan for the changes in the school environment.

Cohorting and distancing will no longer be required in schools. Assigned seats and cohorting will no longer be required in student transportation. Elementary students can play and learn together across cohorts, classes and grades, both indoors and outdoors and during lunch and recess. Shared spaces, such as libraries, tech labs, theatres and music rooms can be fully utilized without distancing. Programs across grades, such as reading buddies, can return. Limitations on in-person gatherings and assemblies will also be removed; therefore, schools can plan and host in-person events (e.g., proms, graduation ceremonies, and assemblies).