Here's what a school day could look like in Hamilton in September

After months of planning three different scenarios for students, schools are getting closer to the new year in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

CBC News has learned Ontario's education minister Stephen Lecce will unveil the province's plans for the upcoming school year on Thursday.

Here's a summary of what Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board and Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board have prepared:

Scenario 1 - Almost back to normal

Students will attend school five days a week. The length and structure of the school day will be as close to normal as possible. Schools will avoid having students move between classes.

Temporary barriers, signs and markings around the school will also promote and facilitate physical distancing. That includes Plexiglas in offices, bagging up water fountains and restricting urinals in washrooms. There will also be regular handwashing breaks.

Both schools will also minimize visitors, enhance cleaning and have personal protective equipment available. Masking is optional but may be required for visitors after filling out a screening form.

Extracurricular activities will be affected and schools will try to prevent large groups during recess.

Teachers in their first two years of their roles will get additional support and both boards indicated they may need more staff.

High schools may also see alternate lunch locations, which could include shared spaces like libraries and gyms.

Parents have the option to keep their kids at home. 

HWCDSB students also won't use lockers and should minimize what they bring to school.

The public board notes it upgraded its airflow system.

Scenario 2 - In school every other day

HWDCSB says this scenario is "presents the greatest challenge and need for flexibility." It actually has two separate plans for high schools if the government wants a mix of online and in-school learning.

But in general, plans from both school boards has students in groups of roughly 15 who will learn in classrooms every other day Monday to Thursday with alternating Fridays. The idea is students would remain in these cohorts and avoid interacting with those outside of the cohort.

Students in class would sit six feet apart and when students aren't in school, they would use e-learning.

HWDCSB says students that are working online will be supported by non-classroom teachers like librarians.

In general, high schools will have a morning class face-to-face with a teacher while the rest of the day would be online or pre-recorded.

Scenario 3 - Online learning only

With this option, Staff will be in school teaching students at home in real-time every day.

What if there's an outbreak?

HWDSB says it is working with the Catholic board and public health but say an outbreak could cause the school to close and go into fully online learning.

HWDSB also says parents will have to screen children daily and will pickup their children from school if they are sick.

What about school buses?

HWCDSB says bus loading will be significantly compromised because of physical distancing and cleaning. Both school boards recommend that parents find other ways to get their kids to school.