Learning will continue during school snow days

The traditional snow day doesn't mean a day off from school anymore, according to Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB).

When buses are cancelled and schools are closed, students with WRDSB will move to a distance learning contingency plan.

WRDSB chief communications officer Alana Russell says students will be able to access their virtual classroom and continue their learning at home.

"For the most part, it will be asynchronous learning, which means not live teacher-led learning," said Russell.

"It'll be project based or materials that can be found in their virtual classroom and their teacher will be available to them during the day as they would be in an in-person situation."

Students who don't have access to devices will be provided with one.

Teachers, students and parents will find out when school buses are cancelled and schools are closed through an email sent by the school board by 6a.m. the day of the severe weather event.

Russell said what's also different this year is that if there is a system-wide cancellation of buses, all schools will automatically close.

Other school boards in the area including Waterloo Catholic District School Board andUpper Grand District School Board are discussing the same procedure.