No more snow days under pandemic

“So essentially, and this might be bad news for students, there will be no real snow days because they're still going to be in school,” said School Board Trustee Kathleen Woodcock.

That's the word coming down from the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) after Monday evening's virtual board meeting. 

With all the work done by teachers and the board in setting online distance learning, there was little reason to cancel school in the event of severe weather.

So instead of the traditional snow day, under the pandemic, students will now have “weather impacted distance learning days.”

“All WRDBS schools and sites will be closed. Students will access learning resources through their respective virtual classrooms, and educators will provide educational content in those virtual spaces,” said Superintendent Bill Lemon. Extended day childcare programs will also be closed.

In the event of severe weather, the WRDSB will work together with Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region in determining whether or not to cancel school buses and other student transportation. A message will be put out to parents and guardians before 6:00 a.m.

In the event transportation is cancelled due to severe weather, the day will be designated a weather impacted distance learning day. All #WRDSB schools and sites will be closed, and students will access learning materials through their respective virtual classrooms. #WRDSBmtg

— Waterloo Region DSB (@wrdsb) November 17, 2020