Back-to-school 2020: #Togetherforthem

You will find on this page all that you need to join this special edition of HSD for back-to-school 2020.

Last updated August 31, 2020 – New videoclips : Back to school according to young people and their parents and La rentrée selon jeunes et parents.

The campaign | Audio messages | Videoclips

A special edition of HSD for back-to-school 2020

To highlight the very unusual return to school this fall, the Réseau québécoise pour la réussite éducative, of which Réseau réussite Montréal is a member, is today launching a special edition of Hooked on School Days with the slogan “Back to school. Together. For them.” The event will take place from August 17 to September 4.

Returning to school after the summer break is a key moment in young people’s lives. And while this year’s return to school is highly unusual, it still marks the beginning of a path of learning, challenges, socialization, and discovery for thousands of children, teens, and young adults.

In this unprecedented time, it is vital that adults come together with caring and goodwill to support them and get the new school year off to a good start.

This is their time. Let’s be there for them.

More info

Audio messages in 15 languages

In order to respond to various concerns expressed about the return to the classroom, a committee composed of professionals from the BINAM (Bureau d’intégration des nouveaux arrivants à Montréal ), the Direction régionale de santé publique de Montréal and Une école montréalaise pour tous produced informative audio messages for parents.

Thanks to a collaboration with Diversité artistique de Montréal (DAM), each message has been recorded in 15 languages.

Three messages are currently available and others will be added in the coming days.

Audio message 1

“Our kids will be heading back to school at the end of August. The public health authorities are helping schools put all necessary measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. All administrators, teachers and school staff are eager to welcome your children back safely. Back to school. Together. For them.”

Download this audio message in 15 languages (15 MP3 files)

Audio message 2

“Many families have had to cope with the long break from school. It hasn’t always been easy. School employees are ready to make the transition back to school as smooth as possible for everyone. For our kids, their desire to learn, their success, their dreams, and above all their happiness. Back to school. Together. For them.”

Download this audio message in 15 languages (15 MPS files)

Audio message 3

“This year’s back to school season is unlike any other. It’s more important than ever. Be encouraging and reassure your child about it. Focus on the positive aspects: their friends, their teachers, the playground, and their projects and activities. Back to school. Together. For them.”

Download this audio message in 15 languages (15 MP3 files)

Audio message 4

“Back to school for elementary students. No physical distancing will be required between students who are part of the same class group. Only students in 5^th and 6^th grade will be required to wear masks when moving between classrooms, in common areas when children from other class groups are present, and when taking school transportation. Students will not be required to wear their masks in their classrooms, during physical education class or when seated at mealtimes. Public health authorities are supporting schools in their effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Back to school. Together. For them.”

Download this audio message in 15 languages (15 MP3 files)

Audio message 5

“Back to school for secondary school students. Class schedules will be organized to minimize students’ movement between classrooms and maximize group stability. Some schools may offer remote learning options for secondary 4 and 5 students. Wearing a mask will be mandatory for all secondary school students when moving outside their classrooms and in common areas where students outside their class groups are present. Masks will also be required for all secondary students taking school or public transportation. Public health authorities are supporting schools in their effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Back to school. Together. For them.”

Download this audio message in 15 languages (15 MP3 files)

COVID-19 and back-to-school – Videos

Since Montreal has been especially hard hit by the health crisis, concerns and questions about the return to the classroom have been expressed.

To help disseminate relevant information about Montreal’s back-to-school situation, Réseau réussite Montréal has produced a number of various short videos in which education and health specialists answer various questions.

These videos were produced as part of the special back-to-school edition of Hooked on School Days, which runs until September 4 with the theme “Back to school. Together. For them.” Réseau réussite Montréal is pleased to have coordinated the Montreal edition of HSD for over 10 years.

We warmly thank the experts for their generosity.

Back to school with Despina Michakis, principal, Dunrae Gardens School

« Even though the school might look slightly different, we’re still here to help them learn. »

La rentrée selon Jennifer Ouellette, directrice de l’école primaire Montcalm

« On est toujours fébrile, on a vraiment hâte. Parce que une école vide, ce n’est pas une école. Ça prend des rires d’enfants, ça prend des cris d’enfants et ça nous manque beaucoup depuis le mois de mars. »

Back to school with Dre Marie-Joëlle-Bergeron, pediatrician at CHU Sainte-Justine

“I’m quite confident the health of children is not at stake when they are going back to school in September, and I’m quite sure it’s going to be a fun school entry even though it’s going to be a bit different.”

Available in French

Back to school with Montreal regional director of public health Mylène Drouin

“We have the role of writing the guidelines for the reopening of schools to make sure all measures are there to reduce at most the risk of transmission.”

Available in French

Back to school according to young people and their parents

La rentrée selon les jeunes et leurs parents