As part of B.C.’s restart plan, beginning the week of June 1, more students in School District No. 57 (SD57) will return to in-class instruction by parent or guardian’s choice.
The plan includes a five-stage return to full in-class instruction in K-12 schools, guided by health and safety standards determined by the Provincial Health Officer, BC Centre for Disease Control and WorkSafe BC.
June 1 marks the beginning of stage three which includes more students returning for in-class instruction.
In a letter send to parents, SD57 Superintended Anita Richardson says parents and guardians should have already been contacted by schools to find out whether or not their children will be attending school on a part-time basis.
In general terms, elementary students in kindergarten to grade 5 will be able to attend in-person for two days of the week while students in grades 6-12 will be able to attend in-person one day per week.
“In all cases, we ask that parents and guardians do not enter the school site so that we can keep the number of persons on site to the targets set by the Ministry of Education,” says Richardson in the letter. “Meetings over the phone may be arranged in advance by contacting the school.”
She says schools are also asking any families that normally take the school bus if they still need the service as it’s recommended parents transport students themselves if they are able.
Other safety measures for stage three include staggering lunch breaks, recess, pick-up and drop off times, rigorous cleaning schedules for high contact surfaces, and an increase in the number of hand sanitizing and cleaning stations.
Parents, students and staff will have to do a daily self-assessment for symptoms of COVID-19 influenza and the common cold and must stay home if any symptoms, however mild, are identified.
