Back to school for students and teachers against backdrop of possible strikes

School is back!

Most school kids are returning to classrooms around Durham Region today as school re-open for the 2023-24 season.

Some students started early while others chose to continue virtual learning, a holdover from the pandemic that is still available.

The students are returning against the backdrop of a possible teachers strike, with all four unions representing teachers and support workers still negotiating on a new contract with the Province. Three of those unions have committed to a strike vote this fall if those talks don’t go well, with votes scheduled for mid-September to mid-November.

Schools were closed briefly last fall following a walkout by thousands of teachers across Ontario.

Until that vote arrives it will be education as usual for Durham’s elementary and secondary students and teachers, with Orange Shirt Day and the Terry Fox Run two very significant events on the horizon this month.

Both the Durham District and Durham Catholic District school boards are also working on multi-year strategic plans, with student achievement and the Province’s new emphasis on the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic as the focus.

Schools will be continue to be mask-friendly this year, though masks are not required and the public board will continue to publicly report data on the COVID-19 Advisory page of the DDSB website.

Durham Police will be out in force this week reminding drivers to take extra care this week in school zones.

Watch the Durham District School Board’s Return to School Video. 

Happy back-to-school day! Remember to slow down and give yourself extra time! We are heading out on our tweet-a-long! We will have officers patrolling school and safety zones this week! Let’s make sure the kids have a safe return to school. #durhamvisionzero pic.twitter.com/yKz3LyoP3w

— Durham Regional Police (@DRPS) September 5, 2023