Last week the Ontario government in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario updated the COVID-19 school screening tool that is found on our Board’s website.
“Based on a review of the current evidence and consulting with paediatric infectious disease experts, we are updating the list of symptoms in the COVID-19 screening tool for schools and child care to ensure that our children receive the education and the care they need while minimizing the risk of COVID-19 transmission.” Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical of Health
The tool now has two sets of questions about symptoms and information to help parents make informed decisions about whether their children should attend school. The first set of questions asks about symptoms such as fever and cough and the second set of questions asks about other symptoms that are commonly associated with other illnesses, such has a runny nose or headache.
Throughout this school year we continue to address Anti-Racism, Inclusivity and Diversity as we commit to educating ourselves about racism and doing our part in taking action to become anti-racist. The following professional learning video, shared earlier with staff, addresses unconscious/implicit bias, which can be thought of as “prejudice without awareness.”
The video presents two powerful brain analogies and assists us in reflecting on the way we view ourselves and others.
- Jonathan Haidt’s analogy of “The Rider, The Elephant and The Path” helps to better understand the rational and emotional sides of our brain. How we can direct the rider (rational brain) by motivating the elephant (emotional brain) to shape the path forward.
- Dr. Daniel Siegel’s 5 Finger Model of the Brain, as shared by Jennifer Lester, one of our Board’s Social Workers, addresses how we can avoid ‘flipping our lid’ in our interactions with others
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. - Nelson Mandela
Love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite. - Nelson Mandela