Ontario students and teachers will return to school classrooms on Jan. 17

Ontario elementary and high school students will return to in-person learning on Jan. 17.

Premier Doug Ford’s office confirmed schools will be reopening on Monday as planned.

Schools were set to return on Jan. 3 following the winter break but the government initially delayed the return to Jan. 5 to provide additional time for N95 masks to be handed out to staff and 3,000 more HEPA filter units to be installed in schools.

Ford then revealed the province would be moving back into a modified Step Two of its reopening plan and students would move to remote learning until at least Jan. 17.

The government says the decision was made in an effort to control the highly contagious Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Hamilton’s public school board says it is monitoring the situation and will communicate any information about schools reopening with families once they receive an official notification from the government.

HWDSB is monitoring this latest development and confirmation of the school reopening date very closely. Families can expect a communication in a timely manner once the @ONgov releases an official announcement about when students can return to school. Thank you for your patience. https://t.co/qY0qMgwmaQ

— HWDSB (@HWDSB) January 11, 2022

Education Minister Stephen Lecce recently revealed retired teachers will now be allowed to work more days to help offset COVID-19-related staff shortages at schools.

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