Hello Lyonsgate Families,

Below are the details we know regarding the Elementary campus closure and other information related to the ongoing pandemic response. As you know, case numbers are escalating and new measures are being announced frequently. As of Friday afternoon, April 16:

• Elementary campus is closed indefinitely. Elementary families have received their children’s online learning schedules and groups. Material pick-up will take place on Monday, April 19, at the Elementary campus, between 9:00-3:00.

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• Primary campus remains open to all students. All students in the Toddler and Casa programs can continue to attend school. (Note: there was some confusion as various pieces of government communication stated child care will remain open only for children ages 0-3.8 years; we have received confirmation from both the Ministry of Education and from the City of Hamilton that ALL children registered in Lyonsgate’s Casa and Toddler programs can continue to attend school).

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• Emergency child care available for eligible workers: Families of Elementary children who fall under one of the categories of “Eligible Workers” can register for free emergency child care. From the City:

City of Hamilton will be reactivating our emergency child care plan effective April 19. This means that eligible health care and essential frontline workers will qualify for free emergency child care for school-age children. We will be taking the same approach that we did during the last emergency closure period.

All emergency child care will be operated by the three licensed home child care agencies, given the smaller group sizes and reduced risk in these settings. We are not considering emergency child care in centre-based locations at this time. We anticipate that the list of eligible workers will remain the same and will be posted on the City’s website at www.hamilton.ca/childcare once confirmed by the province.
To apply for emergency child care, eligible families may contact one of the three licensed home child care agencies at the below contact information:

• Today’s Family, childcare@todaysfamily.ca, (905) 574-9344 ext. 112

• Wee Watch Galbraith, wee_watch@hotmail.com, (905) 561-0008

• Wee Watch Golfwood, julie@weewatch.com, (905) 574-5409 ext. 203

Click here to view the updated Eligible Worker List.

Thank you everyone. We are in the most severe conditions of the pandemic. Please continue to adhere to all public health measures so we can keep each other safe and healthy, and return to in-person schooling.