Mar 17, 2020: Letter from superintendent Sylvia Russell

Dear families,

This afternoon, the provincial government announced that it would be indefinitely suspending all in-class instruction for BC’s Kindergarten to Grade 12 learners. This means that schools will NOT be opening after spring break for regular daily instruction. This temporary measure is being put in place to help keep students, staff, families and wider community safe as the province responds to the COVID-19 outbreak.

I know you will have many questions about what this announcement will mean for you and your family.

I have attached for you a letter from Minister Fleming, in which you will find additional information about this decision. In the letter, Minister Fleming stresses that every student will receive a final mark, that all students on track to graduate this year will graduate, and that the province is working with post-secondary institutions to ensure the transition for our grade 12 graduates is supported.

The letter also outlines a number of key directives for school districts. School districts are expected to:

• begin planning for continuity of learning;
• develop plans to maintain some level of service for children whose parents are performing essential services;
• address the question of important services like school meal programs and childcare services operating on school grounds.

Our school district has already begun some of this planning work as a part of our Pandemic Response Plan. We will provide you with additional information as soon as these plans are more fully develop and will continue to update you through the parent portal and the school district website at https://www.sd42.ca/coronavirus-district-response/.

For information about COVID-19, visit the BC Centre for Disease Control website http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19.

I know these are challenging and uncertain times, but I am confident we will get through them together. Thank you for your patience as we work through this evolving situation.

Sincerely,

Sylvia Russell
Superintendent of Schools