#alignment
The Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario (CDSBEO) and the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB), in partnership with Student Transportation of Eastern Ontario, began implementing unified bell times in September 2019, to facilitate a standard length of the school day, to support district wide timetable initiatives and to achieve transportation efficiencies, without loss of service.
Please refer to Bell Time Zone Map for September 2021 implementation, which includes the South Zone. NOTE: CDSBEO completed their district wide bell time alignment for all zones in the 2020-2021 school year, to support their COVID-19 School Re-entry Plan.
Elementary school bell times will occur between 9:15 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., while all secondary school bell times will occur at 8:00 a.m.
Bell time alignment supports consistent planning for families, the implementation of district wide learning opportunities for both CDSBEO and UCDSB and results in significant transportation related savings, without loss of transportation services to families.
Expanded learning opportunities within CDSBEO and UCDSB resulting from common bell times could ensure that high school students have a wider range of access to curriculum options offered by the boards regardless of their location.
Please note that these changes represent the final phase of a three-year implementation schedule.
A Helping Hand
STEO has set up a Bell Time Hotline that can be reached at 1-855-441-1589. It will be active as of May 10, 2021 and can assist parents in accessing online information and providing direction on where additional information resources can be found.
Information Sessions
UCDSB and STEO offered two interactive parent information sessions on May 17 and May 18, 2021 to provide information about the district wide bell time alignment and to address questions. A link to the May 18, 2021 recorded session is posted below for those who were unable to participate.
Link to Phase 3 Bell Time Implementation May 18th 2021 Presentation
Child Care Information
The boards recognize that changes in bell times may require families to make use of before and after school care services that they did not require in the past. To address this issue, the boards have been actively working with parents and childcare operators to assess the need for additional support.
UCDSB’s annual survey of parents by individual schools concerning their need for childcare services has been aligned with the notice of bell time changes to allow parents to consider their own needs in light of the anticipated changes.
The information parents provide to the annual childcare survey is critically important to helping childcare operators to properly assess demand and to plan accordingly for resources in the new school year.
The childcare survey is now closed.
If you have additional child care survey questions, please reach out as follows:
Upper Canada District School Board:
Judi Kaiser
[email protected]
1-800-267-7131 ext.1286
Some families may be eligible for financial assistance for their childcare needs through the municipality. Parents can learn if they are eligible for the assistance program by visiting the following website:
Stay Connected
We are encouraging all parents to ensure that their contact information is updated at their child(rens) school.
In order to be ready for September, we encourage all UCDSB parents to register at myfamilyroom.ca in order to receive notifications by email. Parents can also download the free STEO BusPlanner Delays App to their mobile phone to receive direct notifications specific to their child’s school.
Parents can visit STEO’s website at www.steo.ca and click on the School and Transportation Eligibility icon (link included below also) to verify your child’s eligibility for busing. 
Detailed student transportation information, including pick-up/drop-off locations and approximate times, will be available commencing August 23, 2021 using the FIND MY BUS STOP tool (link included below also) on STEO’s website.
