Physical distancing. The great majority of elementary classrooms have tables, not individual desks that can be moved and spread out. It is too late and there is no money to equip every classroom with desks. 
So kids may be sitting with other kids, facing each other. Or the other option, if we don’t have the appropriate furniture, is put kids on the floor, as per this pic from the government’s toolkit? I mean, okay. We sit on the floor sometimes. Not all day though...
Hand washing. Some classrooms have sinks. Lucky! Mine does not. Students who do not have a sink in their classroom may not have opportunities to wash their hands “a lot” every day.
Speaking of bathrooms. My large school has 2 custodians during the day. And I think 8 bathrooms? There will not be any money to hire more custodial staff to clean bathrooms throughout the day.
Hand sanitizer. Honestly, I’d make sure your kid brings their own if you have the means.
Water bottles. Please make sure your kid has one every day. If they forget, they won’t have anything to drink all day if fountains are only to be used to fill bottles. Some teachers may buy their own stock of water bottles, but please don’t expect that.
Masks. This will be your choice. Please don’t expect your child’s teacher to monitor their mask-wearing. Please don’t ask the teacher to deal with another child commenting on your child’s mask choice. Please don’t comment on the teacher’s mask choice.
Staggered entry. If this is implemented please understand that your child, especially if they are older, may be waiting a while to enter the school after the first bell has rung.
Staggered exit. This is a big question mark. Will some grades be dismissed up to 30 minutes early?
School supplies. No sharing. Will this include reading materials? If so, you may need to send your child with appropriate reading material every day. For younger grades that could mean multiple books a day.
Technology. Please be prepared for significantly reduced access to chrome books and computers.
Physical activity. Please understand that your child may have little to no access to physical activity/Phys Ed during the school day.
Cohorting & French. Please understand that your child may not receive instruction in FSL or that it will be provided by a teacher who has never taught French or doesn’t know any French.
Cohorting & Fine Arts. Please understand that your child’s access to instruction in Fine Arts and art materials may be significantly reduced.
Recess. Not sure...
Most importantly, please know that your child’s teacher cares deeply about them and will do everything in their power to keep them safe. Please remember that their power is limited.
Teachers’ top priority will be adjusting our practice so that we can teach the core subjects well in a very new environment.
I know the great majority of parents will understand our new reality.
If you have concerns with what’s happening in your child’s school, please don’t take those concerns to teachers. Go higher. The highest. If you get my drift.
In the same vein, if you hear that a nearby school district is doing something that you think is better, don’t complain to your school district. It was the govt who made the choice to let individual boards make plans. Complain to them, about that.
And finally, please know that all of these things will apply to your child and their education, whether you believe in COVID or not.
