Students prepare for back-to-school

Students in local elementary and secondary schools can expect to be back in classrooms next month.
The Province of Ontario has released guidelines calling for all students in Grade 1 and up to wear masks while indoors.
Limited sports and extracurricular activities will return and remote learning will continue to be an option. Proof of vaccination will not be required.
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit reports that 70.3 per cent of area youth age 12 to 17 have received a first dose of COVID vaccine, with 51.9 per cent fully vaccinated. That lags behind the rates for the total population 12 plus where 79.9 per cent have received one dose and 66.4 per cent have received a second dose.
Given that vaccines have only been available to youth since May 31, it is hopeful that the rates will continue to rise as Labour Day approaches.
Ontario colleges, including the John Di Poce Southern Georgian Bay Campus of Georgian College will continue to offer a mix of remote and in person learning this fall.
Kevin Weaver, Georgian College’s Vice President of Academic says approximately 65 per cent of students will continue to study remotely.
Georgian campuses started reopening on a limited basis in July 2020 for courses which require an in person element. Since then, Weaver says, they have been surveying students on an ongoing basis. Some report that they like the flexibility afforded by remote learning while others miss the social interaction that comes with in person learning.
While many programs will continue to be delivered remotely, Weaver is hopeful there will be an increase in physical on-campus services such as the registrar’s office, student counselling, and the testing centre.
Students will be asked to be on campus only when scheduled, and the social components of college life will continue to be severely curtailed.
Pre-COVID, total enrollment across all Georgian campuses was approximately 13,000 full time equivalents, with roughly 30 per cent international students.
Last year’s enrollment was down about nine per cent, with many international students having issues with travel permits.
When classes resume in September, students attending in person sessions will be required to wear masks indoors and observe social distancing. There will be daily screening assessments at the door.
Only those students living in college residences in Barrie, Orillia and Owen Sound will be required to provide proof of vaccination.