To All In-Person Elementary Parents/Guardians,

Please find below an update related to switching between In-Person Learning and the Virtual School and the challenges with recruiting French teachers for French Immersion (FI) and Extended French (EF) Programs.

Switching Between In-Person Learning and the Virtual School
As you know, elementary students may request to switch between In-Person Learning and the Virtual School at key dates during the year. This is a reminder that the first deadline for requesting a change is on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 at 4 p.m. This change would take effect on October 13, 2020 (the day after Thanksgiving). After that, students will remain in their current learning model until the next key entry date.

Families of elementary students who would like to switch from in-person learning to the Virtual School must contact their in-person school before the deadline to request the change. Families of elementary students who would like to switch from the Virtual School to in-person learning must complete the TDSB Virtual School Opt-Out online form before the deadline to request the change.

French Immersion and Extended French Update
As you may already be aware, there is an ongoing shortage of French teachers across Ontario. Today, the Ministry of Education issued a news release that confirms what the Toronto District School Board and school boards across the province have been experiencing for years related to challenges with French teacher recruitment.

Currently, we still require approximately 80 French teachers to meet the needs of current students in the Elementary Virtual School. For this reason, it is important for families to be aware that it may not be possible to accommodate French Immersion or Extended French for those students applying to switch from In-Person Learning to the Virtual School.

Thank you.