A Prince George catholic school is closing its doors early for winter break citing staff shortages due to COVID-19.
In a letter to parents, Catholic Independent Schools Diocese of Prince George Superintendent Chris Dugdale says St. Mary's Catholic School will be closed as of today until Friday at noon due to staffing shortages.
Students were set to begin winter break on Friday.
"After consultation with our Northern Health Officer, the Ministry of Education and Principal Jenny Schroeder, St. Mary's will be closed Wednesday December 16 until noon Friday, December 18 inclusive due to staff shortages stemming from the coronavirus," Dugdale said.
"Opportunities for the continuity of learning will continue for your child for the 2.5 days remaining this week.
"Your child's classroom teachers will make contact with your child prior to noon on Friday. The office will remain open during these days to facilitate picking up belongings and/or work packages.
The private school has been flagged for COVID-19 exposure twice to date with Dec. 1 and 2 being listed for the first alert and Dec. 3 and 4 for the second.
"We are sorry to have to take these steps which we know impact you and your family deeply.
"The safety of our school community is of utmost importance and we appreciate your patience, understanding and prayers.
"We recognize that this has been a stressful time, we look forward to a healthy fresh start resuming January 4, 2021."
Northern Health's school-exposure section explains students should still go to school "if you do not receive a phone call or letter from Public Health," but you're also encouraged to monitor symptoms daily.
- Contact tracing is initiated to determine how the individual was infected and who they were in close contact with
- We identify and notify close contacts who may be at an increased risk, and advise them to self-isolate and monitor for symptoms for 14 days
- Only Public Health can determine who is a close contact
- Learning groups, friends or other connections may not be determined to be a close contact
- Public Health staff works closely with the school and school district throughout the case and contact management process to maintain close communication with the school community
The following is a list of northern B.C. schools marked for a COVID-19 exposure event:
- Smithers Secondary School (SD54) - Dec. 7, Dec. 10, 2020
- Westwood Elementary (SD57) - Dec. 8, 2020
- Heather Park Elementary (SD57) - Dec. 1-2, 4, 7-8, Dec. 3, 2020
- Fort Nelson Secondary (SD81) - Dec. 7, 2020; Oct. 15-16, 2020
- Skeena Middle (SD82) - Dec. 4 and 7, 2020
- Ecole Central Elementary (SD60) - Dec. 4, 2020
- Nak’albun Elementary (Independent) - Dec. 3-4, 2020; Nov. 22-25, 2020; Sept. 16-18, 2020
- Ecole Central Elementary (SD60) - Dec. 2-3, 2020
- Suwilaawks Community School - Terrace (SD82) - Dec. 1-2, 3-4, 2020; Nov. 27, 30, 2020
- St. Mary's Catholic School (Diocese of Prince George) - Dec. 1-2, 3-4, 2020
- Kitwanga Elementary (SD82) - Dec. 1-3, 2020
- Prince George Secondary (SD57) - Dec. 1-3, 2020; Nov. 18, 2020; Oct. 2, 2020
- Caledonia Secondary (SD82) - Dec. 1-2, 2020; Nov. 30, 2020
- Bert Bowes Middle (SD60) - Dec. 1-4, 2020; Nov. 16, 18-20, 30, 2020
- Margaret Ma Murray Community School (SD60) - Dec. 1-4, 2020; Nov. 23-26, 27, 30, 2020
- Shas Ti-Kelly Road Secondary (SD57) - Dec. 1-2, 2020; Nov. 30, 2020
- Uplands Elementary (SD82) - Dec. 1, 2020; Nov. 30, 2020
- Fort St. James Secondary (SD91) - Dec. 1, 2020; Nov. 19-20, 20-26, 30, 2020
- Veritas Catholic School (Diocese of Prince George) - Nov. 30, 2020
- Anne Roberts Young Elementary (SD60) - Nov. 30, 2020
- Bert Ambrose Elementary (SD60) - Nov. 30, 2020
- David Hoy Elementary (SD91) - Nov. 30-Dec. 1, 2020; Nov. 25-26, 2020; Sept. 17-18, 2020
- William Konkin Elementary in Burns Lake (SD91) - Nov. 16, 23-24, 23-27, 2020
- Energetic Learning Campus in Fort St. John (SD60) - Nov. 16-20, 23-27, 30, 2020
- Peden Hill Elementary (SD57) - Nov. 12-17, 17-20, 24-27, Nov. 30, 2020
- Centennial Christian in Terrace (Independent) - Nov. 23-26, 2020
- North Peace Secondary (SD60) - Nov. 10, 12-13, 16, 19-20, 24-26, 2020
- Sacred Heart Elementary (Diocese of Prince George) - Nov. 25-27, 2020
- Charlie Lake Elementary (SD60) - Nov. 23-24, 16-26, 2020
- Ecole College Heights Elementary (SD57) - Nov. 19-20, 20-24, 2020
- Beaverly Elementary (SD57) - Nov. 23-24, 2020
- Foothills Elementary (SD57) - Nov. 23, 2020
- Lakes District Secondary (SD91) - Nov. 23, 2020
- Dawson Creek Secondary - South Peace Campus (SD59) - Nov. 16-18, 2020; Sept. 23-25, 2020
- Chetwynd Secondary (SD59) - Nov. 13, 2020
- Van Bien Elementary (SD57) - Nov. 9-10, 2020
- Ron Brent Elementary (SD57) - Oct. 30, 2020
- Hudson's Hope Elementary-Junior Secondary (SD60) - Oct. 26-Nov. 4, 2020
- Immaculate Conception School (Diocese of Prince George) - Oct. 21-23, 2020
- Roosevelt Park Elementary (SD52) - Oct. 21-22, 2020
- Notre Dame in Dawson Creek (Private) - Oct. 13-14, 2020
- Quesnel Junior Secondary (SD28) - Sept. 10-11, 15-18, 2020
- Ecole Frank Ross Elementary (SD59) - Sept. 10-11, 2020
A letter has been sent to parents of children that go to St. Mary's Catholic School advising of an early start to winter break due to staffing shortages at the school amid COVID-19. (via submitted)
