School COVID-19 Resources for Parents

Promotion for School Reopening information for parents

School COVID-19 planning

 Information  was developed by Hamilton Public Health Services to aid schools in planning and managing COVID-19 within schools. Schools have the responsibility to ensure that staff and student health, safety and well-being are protected and measures to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.

Learn more about school COVID-19 plans

Maintaining public health measures such as staying home when you are sick, physical distancing, hand washing and mask wearing will be very important to reduce the likelihood of infection within school settings, contain outbreaks and protect those who are most vulnerable. Everyone has a part to play to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, including parents, school boards, and public health.

Screening your child

All staff, students and visitors must self-screen every day before attending school.

  • Individuals who are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 as identified in the screening tool, must not attend school and should follow the guidance provided in the screening tool, which may include seeking appropriate medical attention as required, and/or getting tested for COVID-19.
  • If you feel sick or not well, or have symptoms not listed in the screening tool, stay home. Talk with a doctor if necessary.
  • If you are not sure if a child should attend school, check the decision guides and information below.

COVID-19 in schools

Ministry guidance on case, contact and outbreak management in schools

Testing

Read more about:

  • COVID-19 symptoms
  • Testing Centres in Hamilton
  • Self-collection PCR testing
  • Rapid antigen testing

Public health measures

To protect ourselves and others from spreading COVID-19, there are some important things we can do:

Hand hygiene is one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of germs. It is important to wash hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Teach children & youth about handwashing:

Children should be taught proper respiratory etiquette, i.e. to cough into their elbow or sleeve or to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when they cough or sneeze and to put used tissues in the garbage.

Students in Grades 1 to 12 are required to wear properly fitted non-medical or cloth masks (three-layer mask)indoors in school, including in hallways and during classes, as well as on school vehicles. Masks may be temporarily removed indoors for the following activities, with a minimum distance of two metres between cohorts and as much distancing as possible within a cohort to:

  • engage in low-contact physical activity such as physical education
  • consume food or drink

Students are not required to wear masks outdoors, but should keep as much distance as possible between cohorts.

Both the HWDSB and the HWCDSB are requiring that JK and SK students wear their masks at school.

Read about:

Physical distancing helps limit the spread of infection when used with the other public health measures such as wearing a mask, staying home when sick and hand washing.

Local school COVID-19 vaccination rates appear to correlate with a community’s socioeconomic status, which are consistent with what is seen in Hamilton’s general population. COVID-19 vaccination rates — similar to vaccine coverage rates of required vaccines under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) — are not reflective of school performance; rather, are rooted in the social determinants of health which differ across school communities. Having access to COVID-19 vaccination rates of local schools will provide Hamilton Public Health Services and school board partners an important tool to support COVID-19 case, contact and outbreak management within schools.

Frequently Asked Questions

Testing

No, you do not need a note from your doctor or proof of a negative test before your child returns to school/ childcare. Some schools require an attestation be completed prior to your child’s return, please follow up with your school.

Child with symptoms

Please follow the guidance on the self-assessment tool and for those who have symptoms

Please follow the guidance on the self-assessment tool and for those who have symptoms

Please follow the guidance on the self-assessment tool and for those who have symptoms

Please follow the guidance on the self-assessment tool and for those who have symptoms

If your child has a symptom not listed in the screening tool, follow the directions in the self-assessment tool.

Graphic identifying who is and is not a close contact in school

Public health measures

You should follow the usual process for reporting concerns to your school, either through your child’s teacher or by contacting the school administrator (Principal/Vice-Principal). You can also speak with your child about what they can do to stay safer at school, such as washing their hands/using an alcohol-based sanitizer, keeping their distance, and wearing their mask.

Travel

Individuals who under 12 years old and travelling with a fully vaccinated adult may be exempt from quarantine upon return from international travel. However, they should not be returning to school (or child care) for 14 days after re-entry to Canada. When completing the provincial self-assessment, children should answer yes to the question about international travel.

Individuals with all other quarantine exemptions (e.g., travelling for cross-border custody arrangements; travelling for medical treatment) may continue to attend school or child care.

Federal quarantine fact sheet

School re-opening

It may be helpful to review the following with your child:

  • COVID-19 vaccines are available to those who are age 5 and older..
  • Stay at home if you are sick, even when a symptoms is mild. Staying home helps prevent spreading your illness to others.
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands. Wash hands after coughing and sneezing.
  • If you don’t feel well, tell someone.
  • Avoid touching your face. Avoid touching your mask once it has been put on.
  • Bring your own water bottle from home to stay hydrated throughout the day.
  • When not wearing a mask, physical distancing is especially important to keep you and the friends around you healthy.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Clean phones and other devices regularly.
  • Make sure immunizations are up to date.

Getting ready for back to school (August 25, 2021 with Ontario physicians)

Tips for parents for preparing their child for school during COVID-19

Role of parents

You can create a family isolation plan to keep sick children away from vulnerable person(s) in your house and reduce contact with other social networks to lower risk. As well, you will be responsible to follow school protocols such as: 

  • daily screening of your child(ren) for symptoms using a tool as directed by your school board
  • keeping your child at home if they are ill or have a symptom and reporting illness to school
  • dropping off and picking up your child outside the school at the designated area
  • picking up your child promptly, should they become ill at school 
  • arranging for COVID-19 testing if your child becomes ill or has a symptom

  • talking to your child about COVID-19 vaccines, if applicable, and supporting COVID-19 vaccination when your child is eligible

Role of school board

Guided by the Ministry of Education and supported by public health, school boards are putting in place infection prevention and control measures to support student and staff safety, such as:

  • screening to ensure sick children and staff do not attend school
  • prompt isolation of sick children and staff on premises with supervision
  • contacting parents/guardians of sick children for immediate pick up
  • physical distancing to the extent possible
  • enhanced cleaning and disinfecting measures
  • student cohorting (keeping groups together) to the extent possible
  • mandatory use of masks for students and staff

School boards and public health will work together to decide on the status of schools and outbreaks.

Role of public health

Public health has been in contact with school boards throughout the pandemic. Hamilton Public Health Services supports the return to school following the directions and guidelines developed by the Ministry of Health and is committed to ongoing support of schools as they re-open by:

  • consulting on infection prevention and control measures and policies
  • providing Public Health Nurses to work with schools
  • providing health-related COVID-19 information and resources
  • advising and supporting administration on probable and confirmed cases of COVID-19
  • working with and directing administration, should an outbreak occur, around:
    • enhanced cleaning and disinfecting procedures
    • additional testing or self-isolation for close contacts (i.e. staff/students), if required
    • determining if additional protocols should be in place

Resources

Contact us for school-related COVID-19 questions

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 905-974-9848 Line 5 for COVID