July 22, 2020
Dear Parent/Guardians,
As we proceed in the month of July, many parents/guardians as well as students may be wondering what the new school year will bring. From a strong sense of obligation, Prince Albert Catholic Schools is striving to protect the health and well being of all of our students, staff and educational community during this pandemic. This letter is intended to update parents and guardians on our efforts and provide more information about our processes, preparations and procedures. It is important to note that the situation regarding COVID-19 is fluid and ever changing. Updates and adjustments to school operations will occur on an as need basis.
In light of the clear recommendations (Primary and Secondary Educational Institutional Guidelines which can be found on Saskatchewan.ca website) of the Ministry of Education and Chief Medical Officer, our school division is developing plans to have students return to school this fall. A COVID Preparedness Plan has been submitted to these officials for review of compliance on the mandate that classroom learning will resume fall 2020.
Along with the collective effort of working with our local Chief Medical Officer Dr. Chokani, other public health professionals, and our administrative team, we will continue to follow the advice of the medical officials guiding us through these pandemic times.
The re-open plan for all our schools within Prince Albert Catholic Schools while striving to prevent the spread of COVID-19 includes the following but is not limited to:
- Minimizing physical contact rather than physical distancing
- Increased hand washing and sanitizing of hands
- Increased education and awareness of proper hygiene
- Enhanced cleaning procedures in compliance with public health protocols
- Only essential personnel and students permitted in schools (parents and guests will need report to office)
- Parents will need to keep children home if they are sick
- Calls home to have children picked up will occur when children become sick at school
- Staff will not be permitted to be at work if they are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19
- Parents are encouraged to drive/pick up their children to/from school or walk their children to school (Parents may choose school bus transportation within attendance area but is optional)
- School busses will have enhanced cleaning and students will have assigned seating (family members will be seated together when possible)
- Sharing food will not be permitted
- Students will be required to bring their own water bottle, scent-free sanitizer and supplies
- Students that travel out of country will be required to have a 14-day isolation period away from school.
- Non-medical masks are not required for students at this time however may be required in the future. Staff will be required to wear masks or shields for specific tasks. Students may wear masks if they choose. This may be subject to change.
We are looking forward to opening our school doors to our students this fall and offer the full Saskatchewan Curriculum. The following are educational tools and communication tools we will be using:
- We have a new web-based information system called EDSBY. This will be a communication tool and our digital learning tool. Edsby will be our standard tool for all of our Catholic schools for all grades. It will be our single point of access for all programming and information. It is a free web-based tool with one login. You will need to provide a parent email address to get started. A demonstration video for students and parents will be posted to support you and orient you. More information will be sent home this fall.
- Microsoft Office 365 Suite is a free tool available to students in our school division. Students can access email, Microsoft word, excel and power point. Students will be provided with information about how to access this tool in the fall and will be given a specific email address to use.
- School Messenger is a text and phone feature our school division will use to provide urgent messages such as bus cancellations or other urgent COVID-19 messages. Parents can sign up for the school messenger feature to their cell phones or provide a home number that urgent messages can be sent to. This is a free feature for parents/guardians of Prince Albert Catholic Schools.
In the meantime, please continue to checkout our website for new developments and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please take precautions to protect yourself, your families and everyone who lives in the community. COVID-19 is present in Saskatchewan and we all have a responsibility to minimize the spread of the disease.
Please follow the guidelines for handwashing, social distancing and self-isolating shared by provincial and municipal governments to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus. Together we can make a positive difference in our community by reducing the spread.
Stay safe and God Bless!
Yours truly,
Lorel Trumier
Director of Education
