January 4th, 2022

Hello Courtland families. On behalf of our Courtland staff, I hope you are doing well and I wish you all a happy new year and all the best in 2022.

As I am sure you are now aware, yesterday the Premier of Ontario announced the temporary closure of schools and move to remote learning, starting January 5 until at least January 17, to help control the spread of COVID-19. (here is a link for additional details relating to that announcement – (https://www.wrdsb.ca/blog/2022/01/03/ontario-announces-move-to-remote-learning-in-2022/)

Online learning will begin for Courtland students on Wednesday, January 5, with our regular school schedule. All our staff are set up to meet and support our wonderful students via their google classrooms. We are hoping that ALL students will be able to check in with their teachers on Wednesday and hear about the plan during the duration of the school closure. Students will be provided with an online schedule with easy to follow links to all of their classes (staff will explain those details).

Although we made the devices available before the holiday break to prepare for this possibility, we have been busy handing out additional devices to support our students since our return. If your student requires their Chromebook to support their learning from home, please reach out to the school (519-578-4690; or email their homeroom teacher or our head secretary at vicki_nanders@wrdsb.ca), and we can make that happen.

We know that remote learning is very challenging for some students, their families, and it is certainly not the preference of any of us here at Courtland. I want to ensure you that all of our staff will do what we can to support every student during these challenging times. Our number one goal is to support student well-being and connection, and we will need to all work together to make that happen.

Thank you so much for your ongoing support and partnership! Take good care!

Mike Coates (he/him)
Principal, Courtland Senior Public School