We recognize that severe weather may pose challenges for some students. This includes extremely hot or cold temperatures, or a high ultraviolet index. We have procedures in place to prepare for and respond to extreme and inclement weather conditions to ensure student safety and well-being, including an Extreme Hot and Cold Weather and UV Protection Guideline.
Recess
All students are expected to go out for recess unless the principal or vice-principal decides that weather conditions are posing a safety risk to the well-being of students. Temperature, wind chill, sun/cloud conditions, humidity and wind velocity are monitored. On days of extreme weather conditions, schools will consider a shortened or indoor recess.
Dress for the Weather
Students are expected to come to school dressed appropriately for the weather conditions and outdoor play. Parents sometimes request their children be kept indoors during recess times because they are not feeling well. Students with illnesses serious enough to prevent them from participating in normal school activities - physical education, recess or other outdoor activities - should remain at home until their condition improves.
Transportation Cancellations and School Closures
We are committed to keeping our schools open on every instructional day to meet the needs of students and the community. Recognizing that emergencies such as the breakdown of essential services or inclement weather can occur, the safety of students and staff are the prime consideration when decisions are made.
There may be rare occasions when emergency weather conditions occur and we may need to close all schools and Board locations. We encourage families to have plans in place in the event of an emergency school closure.
Transportation will be cancelled by 6:00 a.m. if road conditions are unsafe or are expected to deteriorate significantly by the time students are to be bused home.
Schools will remain open unless otherwise stated, even when buses have been cancelled.
Extreme Cold Weather and Inclement Weather Days
An extreme cold weather day is declared when roads are clear but extreme cold temperatures make it difficult for buses to operate reliably, posing a safety risk to students.
An inclement weather day is declared when road or weather conditions make it impossible to operate a school bus safely.
When extreme cold or inclement weather days are called, school transportation, including buses and taxis, are cancelled in the morning and afternoon. Schools will remain open.
Please note: there may be rare occasions when emergency weather conditions occur and we may need to close all schools and Board locations. Please ensure that you take the time to make plans in the event of an emergency school closure.
The decision to declare an extreme cold or inclement weather day and to cancel transportation is made by 6:00 a.m. To find out if transportation is cancelled, check: the Board website, the @YRDSB Twitter account, the Student Transportation Services’ (STS) website or hotline: 1-877-330-3001, school websites, radio and TV media outlets. For more information, including how to check if buses are cancelled, please visit the School Transportation webpage.
Important things to note on designated extreme cold and inclement weather days:
- Students will not be penalized for missing school. If you have concerns about how an extreme cold or inclement weather day will affect your coursework, please speak to your school principal or teacher.
- Any lunch service arrangements made by the school, special lunches or special events/field trips will be cancelled. If you have made lunch arrangements directly with a third party provider please check with them directly, otherwise parents should send a lunch with their child.
- If your child does not take the bus, you need to inform the school office if their child will not be attending on extreme cold and inclement weather days, otherwise the school’s safe arrival procedure will apply.
- If transportation is cancelled in the morning, it will also be cancelled in the afternoon. If students do go to school, families will need to arrange to pick up their children.
- Parents should use their best judgment to decide whether to send their children to school, understanding that if they choose to send their child, that the child should remain at school for the day and must be picked up at the end of the day.
On inclement weather days:
- For programs such as before and after school programs, or post-secondary student practicums that are operated by external organizers in Board facilities, cancellations will be determined by the provider.
- All interviews, practicums, French-language assessments, sign-up sessions, Police Vulnerable Sector Checks (PVSC) and PD/Training sessions and workshops will be cancelled.
On extreme cold weather days, before and after care programs, interviews, practicums, French-language assessments, sign-up sessions, Police Vulnerable Sector Checks(PVSC) and PD/Training sessions and workshops will continue to operate. Please call the Board office if you have any questions.
For more information, please review the Severe Weather Days Policy.
Emergency Weather Days
There may be rare occasions when emergency weather conditions occur and we may need to close all schools and Board locations. Closures will be considered when facilities may not be safe for students and staff members to attend school for the full day. This may include events that significantly limit school operations such as a significant snowfall or ice storm that restricts access to the school site, causes widespread or prolonged power failures or downs power lines.
In keeping with our current practice, we will continue to keep our schools open as much as possible. However, it is important that families have alternate child care arrangements planned for the rare occasions when schools may be closed. Before and after care programs will also not operate if schools are closed. Please ensure that you take the time to make plans in the event of an emergency school closure.
Decisions about student transportation and school closures will be made as early as possible and no later than 6:00 a.m.
Frequently Asked Questions
Extreme cold days are declared when roads are clear but extreme cold temperatures make it difficult for buses to operate reliably, posing a safety risk to students. An inclement weather day is declared when road or weather conditions make it impossible to operate a school bus safely.
Bus cancellations are related to road conditions being unfavourable for buses and bus transportation, or to extreme cold temperatures that may make it difficult for buses to operate reliably. Schools remain open on these days.
School closures will be more rare, and are related to school and board sites and facilities being unsafe or inaccessible for students and staff. This could include unprecedented weather events or emergency situations.
Families should use their best judgment to decide whether to send their children to school on extreme cold or inclement weather days, understanding that if they choose to send their child, that the child should remain at school for the day and must be picked up at the end of the day. Students will not be penalized for missing school due to designated extreme cold or inclement weather days.
Students will not be penalized for missing school due to designated extreme cold or inclement weather days. Exams will not take place and will be rescheduled. If you have concerns about how an extreme cold or inclement weather day will affect your coursework, please speak to your school principal or teacher.
We will continue to keep our schools open as much as possible. However, it is important that families have alternate child care arrangements planned for the rare occasions when schools may be closed. Please take the time to make plans in the event of an emergency school closure. If an emergency winter weather day is declared, schools will be closed and students will not be able to enter the building.
If school transportation is cancelled or schools are closed, special events and field trips will not take place.
Any lunch service arrangements made by the school or special lunches will be cancelled on designated extreme cold or inclement weather days. Families should send a lunch with their child.
If schools are closed due to unprecedented winter weather events or emergency situations, before and after care will not operate. These situations will be rare, however, we encourage families to have alternate arrangements planned for the care of their children. If an extreme cold or inclement weather day is called, families should check with their before and after care provider to determine if care will be available.
We try to keep our schools open as much as possible, there may be rare situations during unprecedented winter weather events or emergency situations when we will have to close schools and Board locations for safety reasons. School closures would be very rare occurrences.
Decisions about school transportation and school closures will be made as early as possible and no later than 6:00 a.m. We will do our best to notify families in advance when we may be considering closing school and Board offices. Transportation cancellations or school closures are communicated through:
- Student Transportation Services - www.schoolbuscity.com or 1-877-330-3001
- Board and school websites
- @YRDSB Twitter account
- Radio and TV media outlets
You will not receive regular text messages from the Board. Text messages will be used in emergency situations only, such as for the elementary safe arrivals program (if a student absence has not been reported and we cannot get in touch with you by phone), or for school closures.
Please confirm that we have your correct cell phone number captured in the cell phone field in our system.